**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[Johnners]

Annoyed Ferguson only got to face 6 balls. Still a bowler short which is ridiculous, especially when you consider that Hopes didn't even get a bat.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

It'll be quite a blow for Australia if Clarke can't bowl.

Cameron White might have to bowl some overs.

 

[Craig]

Have you been sweating over song lyrics in your spare time at work again Craig?

I way too much spare time on my hands.

 

[Athlai]

Mucho pressure on Bracken

 

[Craig]

Cameron White might have to bowl some overs.

McCullum would hope he is still batting when/if it happens.

 

[Nate]

Reckon 225 is quite a decent score imho. Bracken will be great, Jonners should go well... but the rest is a mixed bag. As Clapo said, we could really have used the extra bowler.

 

[Craig]

Would Hussey be captain if Clarke can't field?

 

[Son Of Coco]

I way too much spare time on my hands.

 

[Evermind]

Cricinfo - 1st ODI: Australia v South Africa at Melbourne, Jan 16, 2009

How does Hussey say 225 is a par score, after looking at that match played less than a month ago?

 

[Zinzan]

Anyone else sick of everyone always saying ..'these smallish totals are always tricky'?
First the C9 commentators & now cricinfo. It's better chasing 226 than 260 last time I checked

 

[Nate]

Cricinfo - 1st ODI: Australia v South Africa at Melbourne, Jan 16, 2009

How does Hussey say 225 is a par score, after looking at that match played less than a month ago?

Very different deck, quite slowish. You watching the game?

 

[Son Of Coco]

Cricinfo - 1st ODI: Australia v South Africa at Melbourne, Jan 16, 2009

How does Hussey say 225 is a par score, after looking at that match played less than a month ago?

Call me silly, but it is possible conditions are slightly different to a month ago? I don't think they only take where you're playing into account for the par score on a given day.

Besides, any golfer will tell you 225 is actually 153 over par on a course with a par of 72. I think it's safe to say Australia won't be playing the money rounds on the weekend

 

[Redbacks]

Cricinfo - 1st ODI: Australia v South Africa at Melbourne, Jan 16, 2009

How does Hussey say 225 is a par score, after looking at that match played less than a month ago?

The wicket has had a 4 dayer and a ODD match played on it in the last week.

 

[Pieface]

Important knocks for Clarke and M. Hussey purely for the confidence.

NZ to win for mine. Can't see them getting dodgy calls etc and mucking up the chase twice in a row.

 

[MoxPearl]

Anyone else sick of everyone always saying ..'these smallish totals are always tricky'?
First the C9 commentators & now cricinfo. It's better chasing 226 than 260 last time I checked

Half the time i back NZ to get 300 chasing rather than 150.. we just seem to make the smaller ones a challenge.

or maybe it just seems like that

 

[Evermind]

Mark Nicholas talks to Michael Slater.

Just went on my list of "least favourite things in the world"

Edit: Clarke on now.

 

[Evermind]

Very different deck, quite slowish. You watching the game?

Yep, yep - watched both games. And definitely it's slower, but I'm really not sure it's that much slower. I think I'd say it's more of NZ discipline and Aussie waywardness rather than pitch conditions playing up here.

 

[Redbacks]

Half the time i back NZ to get 300 chasing rather than 150.. we just seem to make the smaller ones a challenge.

or maybe it just seems like that

I thinks it relative, defending 300 a captain is likely to be happy keeping the opposition at 4.5 an over so will be keeping scoring to 1's then on the other hand when defending smaller totals the expectations change, and vise versa with the batters. A bit similar to how tasks seem to always expand out to fit a deadline.

 

[Mister Wright]

Surely this will be Warner's last game of the series. Should also be Dussey's last game no matter what the result tonight. Get rid of Warner and promote Hopes!

 

[Precambrian]

Selfish innings from Clarke. 98 from 133 is a mediocre ODI effort these days.