***Official*** New Zealand in Australia

[Bahnz]

We don't know we're short of em until we test a few. I'd rather try a couple of options just to see if we can find someone better, even if its only a marginal difference.

I think it was Perm that suggested three spinners? (McCullum, Vettori, Patel) It could be worth a go, there'd be less pace on the ball with which to socre off.

Nah, with three spinners we wouldn't have enough pace to fill out the first twenty, and they'd be reduced to cannon fodder everytime the opposition got off to a decent start.
And over the last few years we have been testing a few seamers, the best seamers, from our domestic comp. Mason, O'Brien, Gillespie etc. All failures. I'm not saying that we shouldn't give new guys a shot. But a) don't expect them to succeed any better than the current lot and b) don't under any circumstances introduce them in Australia, they'll get slaughtered and may struggle to recover mentally.

Huzzah the rain! Now we can say we would've won had the match been finished. Take that Australia! You can have your hollow victory! All us kiwi's know we were heading for a come from behind win until the rain intervened! BWAHAHAHA!

 

[Laurrz]

I wasn't able to watch the Australian bowling, how did our bowlers bowl and were Tait and Lee dire.

Tait was **** early on.. too much leg side rubbish and McCullum cashed in
Lee was excellent early on.. very tight bowling... but then McCullum got stuck into him ...good batting more than bad bowling
Bracken was as usual consistent... Hopes was very tidy, back of a length stuff and good chances of pace..
when Tait came back he bowled much better..much better line

anddd i think that's all... overall... very good bowling on a flat wicket..and good comeback.. they were looking at 280

 

[Flem274*]

Nah, with three spinners we wouldn't have enough pace to fill out the first twenty, and they'd be reduced to cannon fodder everytime the opposition got off to a decent start.
And over the last few years we have been testing a few seamers, the best seamers, from our domestic comp. Mason, O'Brien, Gillespie etc. All failures. I'm not saying that we shouldn't give new guys a shot. But a) don't expect them to succeed any better than the current lot and b) don't under any circumstances introduce them in Australia, they'll get slaughtered and may struggle to recover mentally.

Huzzah the rain! Now we can say we would've won had the match been finished. Take that Australia! You can have your hollow victory! All us kiwi's know we were the better on the day! BWAHAHAHA!

That is true, could introduce a few against Bangladesh and England I suppose.

TBH I think the bowling problem stems from the very grass roots in primary school cricket where they bowl on a mown bit of school field with a plastic ball. The pitch is slow with excessive movement and uneven bounce and encourages slower seamers rather than quicker seamers. Then you go onto the artificial pitches at intermediate and the quality of them is awful. Some are way too short, some are way too narrow, theres no/little movement or bounce because you use warehouse concrete balls and then there's the short boundaries...

 

[Craig]

Which is significantly longer than Todd Carney can tbh..

Indeed.

 

[Natman20]

Duckworth-lewis scores anyone? Dont think it'll be an issue but may be interesting.

 

[Laurrz]

2/114 i think they have to be

 

[Flem274*]

If we get more play I fancy our chances, Chris Martin the greentop bully on a moist wicket in overcast conditions.....then there's the good bowlers.

 

[Natman20]

Duckworth-lewis says 110/2 is needed. How can you seriously say that a game is finished at that score at this stage. I do not like the system.

However in this case, yeah it'll be accurate enough

 

[James]

I didn't think Martin was too bad actually, certainly a huge improvement over Gillespie who like O'Brien just seems to have lost it.

 

[four_or_six]

I've only seen the scorecard, not the match. Did Hopes really bowl that well, because that would seem to be where NZ should have scored more?

 

[Laurrz]

I've only seen the scorecard, not the match. Did Hopes really bowl that well, because that would seem to be where NZ should have scored more?

was very tidy and back of a length..
Gilly was up to the stumps and he was bowling clever offcutters..so yes he did bowl that well... like the other spells he had bowled in India

Oram pace but more fuller.. Oram was too short to Punter..(although Ponting sometimes makes it look short)

 

[Craig]

I thought Hopes was tidy. Are you Australian four or six?

 

[sideshowtim]

I've only seen the scorecard, not the match. Did Hopes really bowl that well, because that would seem to be where NZ should have scored more?

Hopes was excellent. Really pegged back the run rate when NZ were in a damn good position around the 15 over mark. And that's what he's good for in ODI cricket. Will never be a huge wicket taker, but is brilliant at keeping the runs down. Really underrated ODI 5th bowling option.

 

[four_or_six]

I thought Hopes was tidy. Are you Australian four or six?

No, English...

 

[pup11]

Would have loved to have seen Pup and Punter stay together there till the end but they both did quite well by sealing the game in our favour by a building a steady partnership after Gilly's superb knock, Punter heading towards another Odi ton has played very well today.

 

[sideshowtim]

That's a damn fine innings.

Ponting is God.

 

[Laurrz]

all class is punter

 

[sideshowtim]

Comfortable victory. Australia quite simply far, far, far too good for the Kiwis.

Brilliant knock by Ponting, brilliant knock by Gilchrist.

Oram's innings at the end was poor IMO. Really should've accelerated much sooner.

 

[Nate]

Thought our bowling was great. Tremendous consistency by Bracken, really kept the pressure on when NZ could've run away with the match, Lee was sharp, Tait was Tait and the Hogg/Hopes combo was very nice on the deck. Was v impressed.

 

[sideshowtim]

Thought our bowling was great. Tremendous consistency by Bracken, really kept the pressure on when NZ could've run away with the match, Lee was sharp, Tait was Tait and the Hogg/Hopes combo was very nice on the deck. Was v impressed.

Agree about Bracken. His figures in no way do him justice.