*Official* Australia in New Zealand

[slugger]

MATHEW SINCLAIR I can not believe it Ihonestly thought his international career was over....unbelieveable...

 

[NZTailender]

Haha Skippy you ****ing legend. Apparently he's in as top order cover, so I have no idea whether that means he'll play or he's just there as injury cover. Rob frothing aws.

Jeetan Patel also included, itstl. Don't suspect he'll play. Hope Arnel does, though.

 

[Prince EWS]

HOLY ****!!!!

Wow, never thought I'd see the day again. Typical that it has to be against Australia, but I'll take it.

 

[James]

FANTASTIC - awesome news with Skippy returning

 

[NZTailender]

HOLY ****!!!!

Wow, never thought I'd see the day again. Typical that it has to be against Australia, but I'll take it.

He's like some sort of...non...giving up...cricket guy!

 

[NZTailender]

Squad, for those who cbf finding it:

Daniel Vettori - Northern Knights
Brent Arnel - Northern Knights
Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces
Peter Ingram - Central Stags
Brendon McCullum - Otago Volts
Tim McIntosh - Auckland Aces
Chris Martin - Canterbury Wizards
Jeetan Patel - Wellington Firebirds
Mathew Sinclair - Central Stags
Tim Southee - Northern Knights
Ross Taylor - Central Stags
Daryl Tuffey - Auckland Aces
BJ Watling - Northern Knights

I suspect they'll mostly go with the previous XI versus Bangladesh? Which would be:

1. T McIntosh
2. BJ Watling
3. P Ingram
4. R Taylor
5. M Guptill
6. D Vettori
7. B McCullum
8. D Tuffey
9. T Southee
10. J Patel (suspect he'll be replaced by Brent Arnel)
11. C Martin


Personally I'd go
1. T McIntosh
2. BJ Watling
3. M Sinclair
4. R Taylor
5. M Guptill
6. D Vettori
7. B McCullum
8. D Tuffey
9. T Southee
10. B Arnel
11. C Martin

4 right arm seamers

 

[Athlai]

Jeets is so out of form... even I'm struggling with this one. Started his season great but hasn't done anything since around December.

McIntosh
Watling
Sinclair/Ingram
Taylor
Guptill
Vettori
McCullum
Tuffey
Southee
Arnel
Martin

Not a big fan of that team, very long tail and not particularly great bowling. Will be looking for a miracle.

 

[Craig]

At least they didn't pick Williamson. I sort of feared that would happen.

 

[NZTailender]

I'd have picked him. A two Test series and he's not in the ODI setup, would be good for him after a season of scoring heaps of runs. If he fails miserably then he's got most of the year to figure out why and develop himself more.

 

[Athlai]

Poor Broom though, never gets a chance in the form of the game he excells in. Think I'd have rathered Franklin in the team too, just to bolster the batting even if it is for a marginal 5th bowling option.

 

[Prince EWS]

It's been confirmed that Vettori's batting six.

 

[slugger]

is there a chance sinclair wasnt solely picked for his batting, but maybe as a batsmen he can bowl alittle.

 

[Zinzan]

Sinclair's back, never thought I'd see the day

Hope he gets to play

 

[Howsie]

So should we expect an an announcement from Martin Crowe in the next few days?

 

[slugger]

martin crowe can stick a cork in it.

 

[Days of Grace]

It's the best team we can muster at the moment.


But I have the strange feeling that we won't bowl Australia out throughout this series. The bowling attack has absolutely no teeth to it whatsoever. Only Southee is a chance on a seaming track with swinging conditions. As if that will happen...

Martin is over the hill. I predict this series will finish him. For some reason I have been really disgusted with his bowling of late.

Which means that our only chance for a draw is to score big ourselves. I can't see that happening with the lack of mental fortitude of our batsmen. On flat decks the Aussie attack can just wait till Taylor et al get themselves out.

Really hope though that Skippy gets a go and tons up. Would be a real hoot.

In conclusion, a very pissimistic DoG for this test series. Prove me wrong boys!

 

[Bahnz]

It's the best team we can muster at the moment.


Martin is over the hill. I predict this series will finish him. For some reason I have been really disgusted with his bowling of late.

Ermmm...why? Yeah he didn't have a great test against Bangladesh, but none of our bowlers exactly covered themselves in glory in that match. He was also consistently effective against Pakistan, and was easily our best bowler against India last summer. His pace is more or less where its always been (high 130's), and he's been in solid form for Canterbury in the plunket shield.

I'm more concerned that Martin's record against Australia is outrageously poor (more than 74 per wicket), and he won't get the kind of bounce and movement (particularly at Hamilton), that he'd need to be effective. Having said that, you can say the same thing about any of our pace bowlers.

 

[Days of Grace]

I just think he's over-the-hill.

I didn't think he was that effective against Pakistan, but he did get that key wicket of Yousuf in the 2nd innings of the first test.

I find he is really lacking in penetration and aggression. But, like you said, you could say that about all our bowlers.


Real pity about the retirements of Bond and O'Brien. They will be missed so, so much.

 

[Sir Alex]

Wow thats excellent news. Congrats Sinclair.

 

[pasag]

Would not be in the slightest bit upset if he tons up against us in both matches.