***Official*** Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series

[McKanga]

You quite new to cricket McKanga?

I have the average oik's understanding of it and enjoyment from it and have for 7-8 years now. I can't quote the various limitations on fielding in the One Day and Twenty/20 games, nor intelligently discuss rule changes in relation to LBW since 1933. If that is what you mean.

 

[James90]

McCullum is a gun bat but I assume most people would prefer to see him as a finisher. It would be much easier if Vincent could string two scores together. It's odd seeing such a long NZ tail. Last time they were here Mills almost won a game from #11. It will be a lot better when Oram returns though.

 

[Fiery]

Why the hell did the kiwis play 5 batsmen and mcallum the keeper and 5 bowlers.Neither vettori or franklin is a no 7 is this a joke.
When nz last toured here last mccallum was at no 8 where he belongs.

Oram and Styris who are injured would have been playing then probably

 

[Prince EWS]

As much as I really like Franklin and always will him in to every lineup, his bowling is less reliable in ODIs than the likes of Astle and McMillan. With or without Oram - I'd be dropping Franklin for a batsman. The batting of Hamish Marshall hasn't been ultra impressive in the last year or so, as Franklin's batting is improving, but it's still clear to me who would be more reliable to score runs at international level, and with Macca and Astle both in the team, Franklin's bowling adds very little IMO.

I'm in two minds about McCullum opening the batting. I can see several pros and cons of both sides to the argument but it's been done to death in recent times so I won't go there. What I can add, though, is that I think he'll be given an extended run - ie. this series or most of it - to show something before he gets the tap back down. Hence, this is the side I'd go for in the next game:

1. McCullum
2. Astle
3. Fleming
4. Taylor
5. Fulton
6. Marshall
7. McMillan
8. Vettori
9. Bond
10. Patel
11. Gillespie

Looks a lot better balanced IMO.

 

[Fiery]

I have the average oik's understanding of it and enjoyment from it and have for 7-8 years now. I can't quote the various limitations on fielding in the One Day and Twenty/20 games, nor intelligently discuss rule changes in relation to LBW since 1933. If that is what you mean.

Cool. It was just your view on County cricket and where NZ players should be playing which made me wonder. No offence. Love the car

 

[Sir Redman]

FFS. Was listening to it on the radio at work (which seemed to piss off all my work colleagues because they're peasants who wanted to listen to their garbage music instead) and had actually started to get my hopes up when Taylor and Fulton were going well. I blame the radio commentators for the loss actually, since they were clearly trying to jinx them ("Taylor and Fulton looking superb here" etc).

As has already been said, our tail is way too long at the moment. Vettori and Franklin should be down a place each (Franklin shouldn't play at all tbh) and I think McCullum might have to drop back down the order because we need the batting depth. This kind of collapse is happening far too often.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Caught some of the game on TV last night having not realised it was on - ended up watching most of the Australian innings. Was especially pleased with White's hitting at the end, to reduce Symonds to the straight man is something special. Pretty glad NZ didn't win, as that would have caused us even more problems.

 

[marc71178]

I cannot let that go. Of what value would it be to an up and coming NZ player to play County Cricket? Far better to play Pura Cup here in Australia.

Aside from Pura Cup cricket being all but impossible to get into if not Australian and from the fact that it clashed with the NZ season that is...

 

[NZTailender]

Why the hell did the kiwis play 5 batsmen and mcallum the keeper and 5 bowlers.Neither vettori or franklin is a no 7 is this a joke.
When nz last toured here last mccallum was at no 8 where he belongs.

1. Injuries and experimenting with McCullum opening, to hit over the field (hasn't worked well at all).
2. Vettori has improved enough to be around 7, but we have enough players (when fit) for him not to be needed there. Franklin isn't a 7...yet.
3. McCullum at 8 would be too low, in some cases. He's definitely a number 7 finisher. Like Cameron White showed us today.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Well yes it is a case of either/or, unlike if you were to forge a dual career in NZ and England.

It's just not that even a spread of talent across Australia.
I have no knowledge of eligibility requirements re OS players but some states would happily seek an injection of foreign talent to make them more competitive in the domestic series (Sheffield Shield, currently called the Pura Cup after a milk producer).

The major benefit of County Cricket for a young player is the quantity of cricket played, something that isn't copied elsewhere.

And no, states aren't interested in young foreign talent. Maybe an experienced player to provide leadership etc. (e.g. Andy Flower), but states place so much importance on producing Australian players, in combination with winning, that they'll very rarely get someone like Taylor.

 

[Natman20]

The line-up was horrible. Our batting performance was proven to be frail in the last series but again they have persisted in probably including one bowler too many when what we really need is a batsman. Drop Franklin! He is no asset to any team in the shortened version of the game.

 

[Natman20]

My Prediction for tommorows match:

1st Innings: England - 192/10 (45.5 overs)
Flintoff - 63 - Vaughn - 52
Gillespie 3-42, Bond 2-36, Vettori 1-33, Patel 2-23

2nd Innings: New Zealand - 193/7 (47 overs)
Fleming - 53 - McMillan - 72*
Dalrinfksnd - 2-39 - Anderson 3-54

 

[PhoenixFire]

Ross Taylor being a bit of a gun here, and Bond. Really hope Taylor's knee wasn't anything serious, him and Fleming are the only real NZ prosects with the bat.

 

[aussie]

Really worried about how England will end this ODI series in Australia now that KP is going home. Freddie needs to do something superhuman so that England don't leave down under with nothing to show.

Australia on the other hand well what can you say, White has added new dimension to the ODI side it will be hard to drop him even when Watson returns (hopefully). The ODI side has so much depth in all area's with the ball & with the bat has superb flexibilty. If they don't win the WC at this stage i'll be shocked.

 

[Natman20]

I just heard that KP is planning on being able to come back for the final or near finals. It was on an australian tv show which im watching in nz which was commenting on what KP said to an English newspaper

 

[Barney Rubble]

My Prediction for tommorows match:

1st Innings: England - 192/10 (45.5 overs)
Flintoff - 63 - Vaughn - 52
Gillespie 3-42, Bond 2-36, Vettori 1-33, Patel 2-23

2nd Innings: New Zealand - 193/7 (47 overs)
Fleming - 53 - McMillan - 72*
Dalrinfksnd - 2-39 - Anderson 3-54

I hear Dalrinfksnd is the next big thing.....

 

[howardj]

Brad Hodge has been called in to replace Ricky Ponting who evidently needs a rest. Ponting will be back in the saddle on January 26. Hodge's Mum will be stoked!

 

[Johnners]

Brad Hodge has been called in to replace Ricky Ponting who evidently needs a rest. Ponting will be back in the saddle on January 26. Hodge's Mum will be stoked!

I'm not Was looking foward to seeing Ponting bat at the Gabba on friday

 

[Macka]

Brad Hodge has been called in to replace Ricky Ponting who evidently needs a rest. Ponting will be back in the saddle on January 26. Hodge's Mum will be stoked!

Ponting should have a look at this video. [EDIT - Link removed]

 

[vic_orthdox]

Ponting should have a look at this video. [EDIT - Link removed]

Despite being hilarious, that link isn't appropriate for a family forum, Macka.