I think NZ are a good chance of winning this. Ponting was the difference between the sides in two of our losses to Australia in the CB series. With him gone, my hopes are high.Lol.
Australia 2-1.
I think NZ are a good chance of winning this. Ponting was the difference between the sides in two of our losses to Australia in the CB series. With him gone, my hopes are high.
Having said that though, I'm not looking forward to the comments of a certain English poster should NZ win, and should any kiwi posters actually respond with any enthusiasm.
Don't worry, it isn't you
A couple of candidates spring to mind...
Script will go something like this... Blackcaps will nearly win the first 2 matches and will then win the 3rd match after the series has been won by the Aussies.
Anyway, 3-0 Oz for mine. Sorry kiwis, but it's getting to be a mental thing now I reckon.
Yeah hate to say it but Scaly may be right, tbh.Script will go something like this... Blackcaps will nearly win the first 2 matches and will then win the 3rd match after the series has been won by the Aussies.
McGrath was the leading wicket taker in the CB series. He's adapted very well to the first change role and he's a very flexible bowler, He had a couple of quiet games and is struggling in the field, but I don't think his place is in danger at all.Resting Ponting & Gilly especially will do them well IMO, we say last year when Gilly had a break he came back smoking. Also looking foward to a big series from Watson & Haddin especially. Watson to find give his bowling form back mainly & a few runs will be good as well, while for Haddin to score a few, would like him to be picked for the WC but then again i guess he won't be picked.
Hayden
Haddin
Watson
Hodge
Clarke
Hussey
White
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath/Johnson
For once i guess the great pigeon place is under threat i guess, his bowling in the last few games hasn't been the worst but it has been his usual best. Gilchrist has had to stand up to him a few times just to prevent the batsmen from advancing to him & looking at the grounds in the caribbean he really could be in for some tap i fear. But then again he's a champion won't be surprised if he lifted his game to counter that during the WC.
Of course that'd never get picked, bar Fulton, McMillan and the Marshalls getting injured.Although it'd never get picked, I'd like to see this team for the game on Friday.
Fleming
Vincent
Taylor
Styris
Oram
Christopher Zinzan Harris
McCullum
Franklin
Vettori
Bond
Gillespie
Interesting that Brett Lee commented tonight on Inside Cricket that he is desperate to play successive matches and get some momentum during the CH Series. Also, there's little doubt that rotation doesn't help somebody like McGrath. Finally, have we won two World Cups because of rotation or despite the rotation policy? Nobody minds giving certain players a week off during the Summer. Resting is fine, rotation for the sake of it is not. And there is a difference.there was a big hoohah about the rotation policy last time we failed to win the VB/CB series, with all kinds of sages denouncing it as cricketing suicide and a bridge too far from the boffins with their computers. We've won two World Cups, a Champions Trophy and god only knows what else, since that happened using the policy. They ain't going to change it any time soon.
I'd be interested to know who was rotated out of the team during this CB series that actually hurt the Australian performance. Symonds was a forced change, Hogg could have bowled more, but was never going to be a game winner with a wet ball today, and the bowlers bowled pretty well in the finals...
Fair enough - it has its down points undoubtedly. I guess my question would be whether McGrath would even still be available to play for Australia if the selectors had always played him for every match in which he was available. Would Gilchrist?Interesting that Brett Lee commented tonight on Inside Cricket that he is desperate to play successive matches and get some momentum during the CH Series. Also, there's little doubt that rotation doesn't help somebody like McGrath. Finally, have we won two World Cups because of rotation or despite the rotation policy? Nobody minds giving certain players a week off during the Summer. Resting is fine, rotation for the sake of it is not. And there is a difference.