McCullum took the attack up very well and is certainly trying out Taits mental state a verbal barrage here, should be interesting.
fair call
Sig-worthy IMO. You're telling me that when a side bats first, scores 300+ and gets to bowl under lights half the time, they're at a disadvantage? When you have runs on the board, that is a massive pro. Who cares if you know what your target is when that target is something ridiculous.
And the "fab-three" are?
true,
They only do that in Aussie don't they?
Eng, NZ... they do it to Lee
They do?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/the_ashes/2608639.stm
OK. Gotta love the barmy army
Obviously when a side scores 300+ they go into the second innings as favourites. But you're forgetting that, even in the modern age, scores of that magnitude are pretty rare (unless its Australia batting first). And given a side like New Zealand, who's bowling are so weak, but have some explosive batting, in a match against Australia I'd rate us a better chance of chasing down 300, then setting 300 and defending it.
I'm not saying that if a side bats second they're bound to win. Nor am I saying that if a side scores below a certain amount in the first innings they're bound to lose. The point that I'm trying to make is, the basic rules and structure of ODI cricket, and the way that teams generally go about playing gives an advantage to the side that bowls first. This is because its a batsmens game, and the side that bats second is generally better informed about the state of the pitch, the nature of the conditions, and how to go about their task. That doesn't mean they'll win 100% of the time. Each team is different. Each sides have different strengths and weaknesses. As a result they're each in a different position to take advantage of the formulaic nature of ODI's. If a side has decent bowlers, then the advantage to the side that bats first is marginalised and even reversed (as I've already stated). But for a side like New Zealand, who have a poor and largely indisciplined bowling lineup, this is not the case. And when they come up against a vastly superior outfit like Australia, they're only realistic chance of winning is to bowl first, try and keep the Australians to a gettable total and then chase it.
Look at a couple of Australian posters circling the wagons. How predictable. Fact is, Tait has a weakness - which is his inaccuracy. McCullum obviously noted how wayward he was in the first few overs and has decided to put the pressure on a little more. Mind games are all part of international cricket - if Tait can't handle it (and we'll find out as the series goes on), perhaps he's not cut out for international cricket.
valid
Yeah, spot on. Overcast all day today though, would expect lots of movement throughout the day/night. Good conditions for Bracken one would think.
If it is going to rain tonight, with a team that relies hevily on a spin bowler, this occasion it may be prudent to bowl first for the kiwi's.
