**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[_Ed_]

Interesting that the TAB is offering $10 on Vettori being NZ's top scorer in the series. While I hope someone further up the order can get the job done, that strikes me as pretty generous.

 

[Mister Wright]

The weather could be doing N.Z. some favours, and it may be one of the occasions when it is actually advisable to bowl first at the 'Gabba. It has been raining fairly constantly since one of the biggest storms in Brisbane's history on Sunday afternoon and with more rain predicted tonight and for storms on Wednesday and continued rain on Thursday it could be right up New Zealand's alley if they can bowl well.

 

[Natman20]

Interesting that the TAB is offering $10 on Vettori being NZ's top scorer in the series. While I hope someone further up the order can get the job done, that strikes me as pretty generous.

I would bet on that. It's highly likely IMO. Boost him up a couple places, maybe a spot better than McCullum. Lets hope that the new guys (who should be well accustomed to their playing roles and who should be more confident) actually find some form and not just one of them an innings but build substantial partnership. My squad would be:

J How
A Redmond
J Ryder
R Taylor
D Flynn
D Vettori
B McCullum
T Southee
K Mills
I O'Brien
C Martin

although tempted to put in Fulton and Elliot rather than Flynn (I seem to have some reservations with him, seems to always score slowly and not much, great in pressure situations when needed but absolute rubbish when trying to build a substantial total to begin with). Also for some reason Gillespie rather than Southee, I don't know why, usually Gillespie throws down pies amd the mince gets splattered all over the crowds face, but I think he could be more fitting as a slightly quicker different styled bowler than the rest which may provide some greater variation in the attack rather than fast-medium largely swingers of the ball (then again I don't even know if hes over there atm). Also Mills to me still hasn't proven himself in Tests yet, great in ODI's bu I don't know if he could penetrate often enough or quickly.

 

[jondavluc]

Also for some reason Gillespie rather than Southee, I don't know why, usually Gillespie throws down pies amd the mince gets splattered all over the crowds face, but I think he could be more fitting as a slightly quicker different styled bowler than the rest which may provide some greater variation in the attack rather than fast-medium largely swingers of the ball (then again I don't even know if hes over there atm). Also Mills to me still hasn't proven himself in Tests yet, great in ODI's bu I don't know if he could penetrate often enough or quickly.
Today 07:46 PM

I would rather bowl with Richard hadlee at his current age over Mark.Lets face it Mark Gillespie is a run mechine with the ball and not a great wicket taker.

 

[Craig]

The weather could be doing N.Z. some favours, and it may be one of the occasions when it is actually advisable to bowl first at the 'Gabba. It has been raining fairly constantly since one of the biggest storms in Brisbane's history on Sunday afternoon and with more rain predicted tonight and for storms on Wednesday and continued rain on Thursday it could be right up New Zealand's alley if they can bowl well.

AWTA, it will be a bowl first track here. Could be one of those Tests where we see bat out do bat.

 

[Polo23]

Robots 1 and humans 0.

 

[Craig]

Can’t see New Zealand getting 20 wickets or indeed scoring many runs. Aussies to waltz home and unless Mills gets the ball to move, a **** load of runs from Haydos…

Been pissing down all week, it could suit Mills and his mates.

 

[Polo23]

You know whats going to happen don't you?

NZ will bowl superbly to dismiss the entire Australian top order, then Haddin and Watson (or Haddin and Lee) will have a 200 run partnership, Australia will amass 400 on a pitch seaming all over the place and then bowl us out for 150 and 200. It's bound to happen.

 

[Top_Cat]

You know whats going to happen don't you?

NZ will bowl superbly to dismiss the entire Australian top order, then Haddin and Watson (or Haddin and Lee) will have a 200 run partnership, Australia will amass 400 on a pitch seaming all over the place and then bowl us out for 150 and 200. It's bound to happen.

The 'Gabba rarely seams beyond the first day but this storm might cook something nasty up. Even then, when it was doing heaps early in 2003/04 against India when there was some inclement weather during the Test let alone before it, Ganguly still got a ton and it flattened out when the weather improved. The true nature of the pitch, to me, means that for it to be tough to bat on throughout the entire Test, it'd have to be raining throughout the whole Test because as soon as the sun pops out, any movement will disappear.

 

[howardj]

The 'Gabba rarely seams beyond the first day but this storm might cook something nasty up. Even then, when it was doing heaps early in 2003/04 against India when there was some inclement weather during the Test let alone before it, Ganguly still got a ton and it flattened out when the weather improved. The true nature of the pitch, to me, means that for it to be tough to bat on throughout the entire Test, it'd have to be raining throughout the whole Test because as soon as the sun pops out, any movement will disappear.

Spot on mate. Only Gabba Shield wickets are greentops. Test wickets, by contrast, are absolute belters up here. Even, as you say, in 2003 when the weather was dire, the pitch was still good enough for Ganguly to peel off a century and for Marto to stroke a majestic 80 odd, before he was 'Tuggered' (i.e. a run out victim of the Steve Waugh farewell tour).

 

[Burgey]

You know whats going to happen don't you?

NZ will bowl superbly to dismiss the entire Australian top order, then Haddin and Watson (or Haddin and Lee) will have a 200 run partnership, Australia will amass 400 on a pitch seaming all over the place and then bowl us out for 150 and 200. It's bound to happen.

This.

 

[IndGunner]

"Season after season, cricket fans turn on their radios and television sets and settle in for another summer of humiliation."
The Dominion Post on the masochism of New Zealand's cricket fans as they prepare to take on Australia

Nov 18, 2008

 

[_Ed_]

Typical NZ media.

 

[Burgey]

Siddle has been sent home, according to reports here on the radio.

Apparently he went fishing.....

 

[jondavluc]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket

Andrew symonds will play.

 

[IndGunner]

Ye it was pretty evident he would. i think krezja will get a game as well.

 

[duffer]

Ye it was pretty evident he would. i think krezja will get a game as well.

Cue mass suicide from the Watto prison party crew.

 

[jondavluc]

Yea and if the Avatar wasn't proof enough I'm really happy he got the game,

I have a feeling watson will miss out even though I think his great I think every side needs a spinner.

 

[Craig]

Ten reasons why New Zealand can win

"Jesse Ryder is the new messiah of the Black Caps. The New Zealand version of Greg Ritchie is something of an unknown quantity for Australia, and his magnificent timing and utter disdain for bad bowling augurs well if Watson, Clark and Johnson dish up anything short and/or wide. That belligerent streak can be his Achilles heel of course – a la Craig McMillan he tends to occasionally contract a bit of white crease fever that affects his decision-making."

Paul Ford is really Jesse Ryder's alter ego and I claim my five pounds

 

[NZTailender]

I clicked that link and was surprised that the ten reasons were not simply each Australian's position by batting with the word 'injured' next to it.