**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[Flem274*]

Cam White is the specialist spinner I think that may have weighed into our decision.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ottttttaaaaaaggggoooooooooo

Aren't Otago on the list of teams you've been forbidden to support by cranky CW members?

 

[Precambrian]

Good start by Aussies. Finally some sense prevails.

 

[inbox24]

"We must pick the best batsmen available" yet you had Warner ahead of White/Ferguson. No matter what potential Warner has, there's not way he is currently a better batsmen than either of White/Ferguson.

Ferguson has no future in the Australian colours. The only reason he's playing is that the selectors think "no one is available", yet even now (in this player 'crisis'), if we do pick the right team combo 7 bats and 4 bowlers, there's no way we can fit him in.

Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Hussey
Haddin
Hopes
Warner

That's 7 of our best at the moment (not in batting order).

If Ferguson plays now and has a few good innings so what? When the good players come back he'll be straight out again. If Warner could have had some more opportunities in these last matches then we have a decent opening combination. There's a big difference.

Edit: In terms of Cam White

1. He can't bowl
2. He does better up the order
3. There's no room for him up the order

 

[Athlai]

Aren't Otago on the list of teams you've been forbidden to support by cranky CW members?

Voltman is like the Queen, a figurehead but no real power. Also is a woman.

 

[Flem274*]

Aren't Otago on the list of teams you've been forbidden to support by cranky CW members?

Probably.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I disagree strongly. Ferguson has had a future in Australian colours since he was 15, especially in one day cricket. He's one of the classiest batsmen going around, reminds me of Mark Waugh but hits the ball harder.

I don't think he should be playing yet though, if he's still in good form next season he should be in and batting 4 or 5 for the OD side.

 

[Prince EWS]

Voltman is like the Queen, a figurehead but no real power. Also is a woman.

Yeah, unlike MendisNuffSaid, who is all seeing and all powerful.

 

[JBH001]

This is a poor start for us. The noose has slipped a little and we are leaking some runs.

 

[Zinzan]

This is a poor start for us. The noose has slipped a little and we are leaking some runs.

That said, this looks like a peach of a pitch, they're just able to hit anything on the up, the slower ball will be key today

 

[Athlai]

Not too worried yet, I mean we can't expect to get 2/30 from the first 10 every game.

 

[inbox24]

Definitely a 300+ pitch, Sydney almost always is.

Hopefully David Hussey can get a biggie and try to cement himself.

 

[Flem274*]

Would be nice for O'Brien to tear up today.

 

[Prince EWS]

Would be nice for O'Brien to tear up today.

I'm still not convinced he's cut out for one day cricket in normal, non-200-is-par circumstances, so this'll be a big test for him.

 

[Prince EWS]

Is it just me, or is the phrase "handy one day cricketer" just a tad patronising when describing Kyle Mills while he's bowling? The commentators seem to say it three or four times a game about him. It's the kind of thing I'd call James Hopes or Graeme Swann; Kyle Mills is one of the best one day bowlers in the world.

 

[Flem274*]

Neither am I, but he (and Elliott) are still awesome.

 

[Johnners]

Ferguson has no future in the Australian colours. The only reason he's playing is that the selectors think "no one is available", yet even now (in this player 'crisis'), if we do pick the right team combo 7 bats and 4 bowlers, there's no way we can fit him in.

Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Hussey
Haddin
Hopes
Warner

That's 7 of our best at the moment (not in batting order).

If Ferguson plays now and has a few good innings so what? When the good players come back he'll be straight out again. If Warner could have had some more opportunities in these last matches then we have a decent opening combination. There's a big difference.

Nah, Ferguson does have a future in Australian colours, has been that way for quite a while, the blokes got class. Hussey/Ponting/Symonds aren't going to be around forever, and I'd expect to see Ferguson getting more opportunities in the short-mid term future because of this. Warner has had plenty of opportunities, and he's failed miserably in the majority of them because at this stage he's quite simply nothing but a slogger. Hoiks across the line that regularly result in scores of 10 > is not what Australia need now when they're in a must win game, nor in the future. He needs to go back to domestic level and find a way to bat when the conditions aren't right for having a swing. The idea that he's one of our best 7 options when taking team balance into perspective is laughable, even though I detest the idea of Haddin/Clarke opening.

 

[Flem274*]

Is it just me, or is the phrase "handy one day cricketer" just a tad patronising when describing Kyle Mills while he's bowling? The commentators seem to say it three or four times a game about him. It's the kind of thing I'd call James Hopes or Graeme Swann; Kyle Mills is one of the best one day bowlers in the world.

No NZ medium fast bowler can be anymore than a hard working handy cricketer.

 

[JBH001]

That said, this looks like a peach of a pitch, they're just able to hit anything on the up, the slower ball will be key today

Ah, ta for that. Am following on cricinfo at uni so I cant really tell.

Off to the domain now for some pick up cricket, hope the Aussies havent scored too big by the time I get home.

 

[Athlai]

If this is looking like a 300+ pitch I think we'd take 44/0 off 10.