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

[pup11]

i think the timing of the retirement is completly wrong he should have done this a lot earlier at this time he would leave the kiwis in trouble because his replacement will not get enough games to settle in the team for the world cup and it also makes light on experience front.But really he was a treat to watch his most memorable innings was against england where he scored 222 which is till date the quickest double ton in test match history.

 

[Natman20]

I think they might put McCullum up the order again or maybe include either Vincent or How players that have had recent international experience at the top of the order. I would like to see Vincent again.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Dear god don't put McCullum up again. I would like to see Vincent or How as well, preferably How as we have seen a lot of Vincent (87 games) and he hasn't really come up with the consistent goods at ODI level, averaging 25.34, but How has had a mere 6 games and I would like to see if he can improve on his 28.20. How is a specialist opener as well.

This is the kind of injection we need into our top order. And this was only half a year ago against a pretty good aussie attack. Gillespie has stepped up, why not the batsmen?

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/246732.html

 

[Raghav]

Why do you not dare to ask McCullum to open the innings? He will definetly help the Nz team better as a top order batsman. Since many years, we know that Nz top order failed regularly because we start to play very defensively at the beginning of the innings. McCullum is the one who puts the attack straight to bowlers from the start of the NZ innings. So, It would be better that McCullum opens..As we also got Oram back, its good plot to ask McCullum to open. He is better player who can use most of the powerplays for hitting boundaries. A good pacy innings at the start of the NZ innings is very much needed. A quick 30's , 40's or some 50's at the top is very much helpful to get away from the new ball threat.

It's only that McCullum is not in form at the moment, it looks that he cant open the innings. Once, if he is back to form, he can be really destructive.

What more were you are looking than a quick 30-40 even if he plays in the middle order?

McCullum can be better with the due course as a better opening batsman than any other present NZ batsmen.

I think that Vincent and McCullum should open the innings. They can really take the attack to the bowlers. Thats where NZ players can really get away from the poor form. You cant just sit there defending all the time when you are not in good form. So, Vincent and Mccullum will surely help with good scoring rate at the start of the innings. If anyone from them stays for first 15 overs, then it would be real big score for NZ on that day... Think Positively and go at AUSSIES BRAVELY.......

 

[JBH001]

Well it seems like Astle is pulling stumps and heading home.

(Will have to wait for the final official word though)

Also, I hear that Vincent is on his way to Australia.

 

[Raghav]

Just Heard from Radio Sport NZ that Astle is about to retire...He is arranging Press conference only to make it official

 

[Smudge]

Just Heard from Radio Sport NZ that Astle is about to retire...He is arranging Press conference only to make it official

It's the first I've heard of it...

 

[Fiery]

It's the first I've heard of it...

 

[Raghav]

It's the first I've heard of it...

got to give you award for that?

 

[NZTailender]

He's retired.


Sad to see him go. He was one of my favourite players to watch. You never really thought too much of him in the test side - he was jsut always there. Quiet and unassuming. In ODI's he would get us off to a quick start and his playing style was well suited to the quicker format by scoring the most centuries by any NZ player in the coloured uniform.
His handy medium pacers broke partnerships in tests and tied down batsmen in one dayers. His fielding was electric, right up until recently. That catch against the West indies will go down as one of the most freakish catches in history.

But you also got the slight feeling of underachievement with Astle. I guess you get that with most New Zealand players. A test average of under 40 from 80 test matches won't be remembered as being top level, but he did the job required in the middle order.

His 222 will obviously remain the highlight of a fantastic career, and there are quite a few memorable innings to choose from, but my personal favourite would be his unbeaten 150 against Australia in 01/02. Thank you Nathan, for the memories and service

 

[Matt52]

With Astle Retired, who do you guys think will open or should open. To my mind, Fleming is not an opener, neither is Vincent, and McCullum has been tried but not done to well. I cant see an opener in the entire squad now that Astle is gone. Time for Jesse Ryder I think.Desperate times call for desperate measures,.

From the current squad, I would hope they choose.

McCullum
Fleming
Taylor
Vincent
Fulton
Marshall
Oram
Franklin
Vettori
Bond
Gillespie

Our team looks a lot dodgier with Astle gone.A Bit of a rag tag bunch, but thats the best we can do I think. We have lost our best odi batsman but also lost 5 or 10 overs at the bowling crease. Ryder can make those up.

 

[meatspx]

Vincent has a good strike-rate and average (if the cancel out the last 10 games when's his form has been horrible) opening. We need so some fast singles and hitting power, Vincent is the man for that.

I personally would have kept opening with McCullum for another 2 games and had ignored the public pressure.

Oh, and Ryder isn't in WC 30 so he's no show ;P

 

[Arrow]

Im genuinely pissed off England won the toss AGAIN. Now we will be forced to watch their batsmen stint up the afternoon and crawl to some ****ty score.
No Braken and Mcgrath so maybe they might score some runs.

 

[Johnners]

****ing pissed off tbh.... just ****ing let Australia bat first for once... , hoping against hope that England can muster some sort of 200+ score to at least make a game of it

 

[pasag]

This is going to be ugly.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Nice to see Johnson get the new ball. Big moment for him.

Signals that McGrath will probably be first change replacing Lee in the World Cup as well. Obviously favouring giving swing bowlers the new ball every time.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

No Bracken or McGrath. Terrible.

 

[Johnners]

fair six from Loye.... please please please keep the fight happenin

Loving Johnson getting the new ball though

 

[_Ed_]

Shot!

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Same dismissal in every game for Loye, basically.

Really hard to see who is going to get England up to 250 odd. Maybe a decent stand in the middle order from Bell, Collingwood etc and then Flintoff in the last 10?