**Official** Chappell-Hadlee Series

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I love my country

And I love the West Indies. But I'm realistic and reasonable in my assessments of the West Indies.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Who in their right mind unless they are bitter could criticise the pitches after the last 2 incredible games of cricket Take the eye-patch off for a minute and appreciate these amazing last couple of games of cricket

It's got nothing to do with the results mate. I'm just not a huge fan of really flat wickets, particularly not with short boundaries. I think you'll find a lot of people on CW feel that way, regardless of who is playing. Doesn't mean they weren't good games, or that the pitches were necessarily all that horrible, but I certainly wouldn't single them out for praise.

I'm not exactly relishing the prospect of a WC on similar grounds either, but I'm confident we'll get a bit of variation in the Windies.

 

[Fiery]

I'm not bitter and I'm criticizing the pitches. Not the games per se, which were exciting, but the pitches. Those sorts of pitches ruin cricket for me in the long run, because they take the bowlers out of it for the most part. People are getting way too carried away with Sean right now.

Go off to some other thread if you're going to come in here to piss on our parade

 

[Dasa]

Who in their right mind unless they are bitter could criticise the pitches after the last 2 incredible games of cricket Take the eye-patch off for a minute and appreciate these amazing last couple of games of cricket

I can.
Sure, we saw plenty of fours and sixes, but I just didn't find much pleasure in watching the batsmen dominate to such an extent. I liked the close nature of the games and that New Zealand were able to lift to such an extent to beat Australia, but I think the pitches (bar the first ODI) were far too flat and weren't good for cricket as a whole.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

But Aus are not the best team in the world, SA are now

SA is ranked number one. Until South Africa beats Australia convincingly, Australia is still actually number one. You can lose a ranking, but you can only gain actual status.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Go off to some other thread if you're going to come in here to piss on our parade

That's really a very mature stance. Cheers.

 

[Prince EWS]

Last 2 pitches have been great, first was horrible for an ODI - people attend these matches to see runs scored and it doesnt really matter if the purists disagree with such uneven contests between bat and ball because they make up such a small percentage of crowd coming thru gate

Since when did cricket start becoming about gate receipts and stop being about cricket though?

 

[Somerset]

I can.
Sure, we saw plenty of fours and sixes, but I just didn't find much pleasure in watching the batsmen dominate to such an extent. I liked the close nature of the games and that New Zealand were able to lift to such an extent to beat Australia, but I think the pitches (bar the first ODI) were far too flat and weren't good for cricket as a whole.

Hard for NZ to find a balance as we have constantly been criticised for producing pitches for not enough runs in the past. I have no complaints about the pitches, I would obviously not complain about a little more assistance but is that what the spectator wants?

 

[Fiery]

SA is ranked number one. Until South Africa beats Australia convincingly, Australia is still actually number one. You can lose a ranking, but you can only gain actual status.

So how many more games do they have to lose before they lose that number 1 status in your eyes then? 5 and counting

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Hard for NZ to find a balance as we have constantly been criticised for producing pitches for not enough runs in the past. I have no complaints about the pitches, I would obviously not complain about a little more assistance but is that what the spectator wants?

Depends on the spectator, I guess. I've always liked watching cricket in New Zealand, particularly test matches, because of the variation in wickets that you get. I'm sure some people feel the exact opposite, though.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

So how many more games do they have to lose before they lose that number 1 status in your eyes then? 5 and counting

It'll be decided in the WC IMO.

If Australia bomb out and South Africa win, I think we'll have seen a changing of the guard in ODIs.

 

[MoxPearl]

I can.
Sure, we saw plenty of fours and sixes, but I just didn't find much pleasure in watching the batsmen dominate to such an extent. I liked the close nature of the games and that New Zealand were able to lift to such an extent to beat Australia, but I think the pitches (bar the first ODI) were far too flat and weren't good for cricket as a whole.

for 95% of people coming throu the gate at a game.. they could not give 2 rats bout that..

Why do u think 20/20 has taken off over in england ??

There is a reason its not taking off down here in nz and aus.. cause the 2 teams have always been able to hit the crap outta the ball and put on a spectacle

 

[MoxPearl]

is the rankings now

1. South Africa
2. Australia
3. New Zealand

?

 

[Fiery]

That's really a very mature stance. Cheers.

Yes, and you love to mention your opinion of my maturity at every opportunity I've noticed oh wise one. When you get to my age you don't really feel like "growing up" any more. Get off your high horse

 

[Somerset]

Depends on the spectator, I guess. I've always liked watching cricket in New Zealand, particularly test matches, because of the variation in wickets that you get. I'm sure some people feel the exact opposite, though.

As I say, some of the pitches we have produced in the past have produced ridiculously low scoring games; therefore I would have to imagine that the NZ average spectator would prefer the current pitches.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

So how many more games do they have to lose before they lose that number 1 status in your eyes then? 5 and counting

Someone has to take it from them. England is not the team to take it from them, given that they lost against pretty much everyone until recently. England has accounted for half of the last 6 defeats. New Zealand needs to take it from Australia by now going on to beat other teams and proving worth. Much the same for South Africa, who now have to beat Australia consistently, if not overwhelmingly, to take the number one spot.

It's more about how many the other teams win - especially against Australia - than how much Australia loses. Because if the other teams aren't doing much better, the top team can't be unseated. It's a simple principle. New Zealand is not the best team in the world after 3 wins in a row.

 

[Somerset]

is the rankings now

1. South Africa
2. Australia
3. New Zealand

?

I believe Pakistan was number three two days ago but will be interesting to see the ranking post tonight's match.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yes, and you love to mention you're opinion of my maturity at every opportunity I've noticed oh wise one. When you get to my age you don't really feel like "growing up" any more. Get off your high horse

Really? I challenge you to show me the number of times I've responded to your posts outside of this thread, let alone challenged your maturity.

In this thread I've taken note of the maturity of your approach only once. Maybe you're confusing me with Mrs. Mxyzptlk, because you're clearly confused.

 

[pup11]

Oh gosh what can i say this doesn't seem real i have got to ask, how do the aussies manage to lose such games. I really feel for hayden, just imagine how gutted he would be feeling to be on the losing side after scoring 181*.

 

[Dasa]

Hard for NZ to find a balance as we have constantly been criticised for producing pitches for not enough runs in the past. I have no complaints about the pitches, I would obviously not complain about a little more assistance but is that what the spectator wants?

I'm not criticising the administrators. Obviously they want to make money, and providing high-scoring, close matches will do that. Just saying as a cricket fan, I'd like to see more of the 1st ODI and less of the 2nd and 3rd.

for 95% of people coming throu the gate at a game.. they could not give 2 rats bout that..

Why do u think 20/20 has taken off over in england ??

There is a reason its not taking off down here in nz and aus.. cause the 2 teams have always been able to hit the crap outta the ball and put on a spectacle

As I said above, it's entirely understandable that these are the sorts of pitches the administrators and most cricket fans want. It's just not what I like to see.
Also, Twenty20 has done pretty well in Australia - some pretty decent crowds at some of the matches.