*Official* Australia in New Zealand

[Flem274*]

You think our national side looks bad, look at some of the domestic sides trundled out today..

We have Patton opening, Diamanti at six, Flynn opening and a Wellington bowling line up where young Tugaga is the second best bowler.

 

[Athlai]

The basin curse continues. (haven't won a Test since I moved here )

 

[Spark]

Highest score for Clarke.

 

[Zinzan]

Great batting this from Australia. Predictably NZ bowling has zero penetration, hopefully Aust can get to 600 & declare with an hour or so remaining. Picking NZ to be 39/3 at stumps

 

[Athlai]

Get that up ya!

NZ to scythe through Australia and take them out for less than 500. Heard it here first.

 

[Zinzan]

Wow, a wicket ! really thought there was a chance Aust would go wicketless right through the day up until the declaration. Clarke won't get a better chance to get a double century against a toothless attack than that, he may just be a tad disappointed in retrospect

 

[Spark]

Wow, a wicket ! really thought there was a chance Aust would go wicketless right through the day up until the declaration. Clarke won't get a better chance to get a double century against a toothless attack than that, he may just be a tad disappointed in retrospect

He certainly looked disappointed, it's a shame but I'm pretty sure he'll get it eventually. He's got a looooong way to go in his career.

---

Well done to North as well. Most would've preferred Smith, me included, but good to see him putting his hand up.

 

[age_master]

Typical North, a hundred or nothing.

 

[Johnners]

Gah, thought this was going to be Clarkes first double. Oh well, superb innings all the same

North has saved his bacon for another 2/3 series with this knock, will be interesting to see what he does in the (potentially) 3 innings remaining in this series.

 

[Zinzan]

Typical North, a hundred or nothing.

You're not suggesting that's a bad thing are ya ?

 

[Jono]

This is awesome from Australia, but jeez NZ have served up some ****.

 

[Spark]

I know Ponting has recently developed a real liking to aggressive declarations, but this one surprised me. Thought he would let Haddin loose for another 5 overs at least.

Mind you I like it. Wish more captains would follow his example, would really liven things up.

 

[Zinzan]

Damn early declaration that. What's the bet the wicket will suddenly look like a minefield when NZ bat & the likes of Johnson have the ball in his hand

 

[DaRick]

I like how he's always attributed that in part to how Bingle has affected his life and way of thinking.

I don't know whether that reflects on Bingle well. Given how irresponsible she appears to be, that means that Michael Clarke has had to adopt a more mature, less impetuous outlook on life to try and maintain their relationship.

I also like how he thanked her today after his knock. It takes a mature mind to block out the pain and still be able to pick the positive aspects from an experience such as that. That, if anything, is more pleasing for the future of his career than getting his hundred today.

Yes, I agree - what he said was classy and considerate. I don't feel that Bingle really deserves it, though.

 

[NUFAN]

One good thing about North is that he has been awesome away from home. This is great for Australia, because most other batsman perform better at home.

 

[Zinzan]

I know Ponting has recently developed a real liking to aggressive declarations, but this one surprised me. Thought he would let Haddin loose for another 5 overs at least.

Same here, can't see what the rush was all about unless Ponting knows something about the long-term weather forecast that we don't. In saying that, I can''t see NZ lasting more than 90 overs in either of their innings, in fact would be very surprised if Aust have to bat again in this match

 

[DaRick]

You're not suggesting that's a bad thing are ya ?

Well, it can be during a collapse.

Really bold declaration this, though maybe I shouldn't be all that surprised. Taylor aside, the NZ top order isn't that great and Johnson seems to like facing them.

Hope it doesn't backfire, though.

North badly needed this knock, but good on him for getting it.

 

[Johnners]

Suspect Scaly is having a kineption right about now.

 

[NUFAN]

Same here, can't see what the rush was all about unless Ponting knows something about the long-term weather forecast that we don't. In saying that, I can''t see NZ lasting more than 90 overs in either of their innings, in fact would be very surprised if Aust have to bat again in this match

Australia will definitely have to bat again. I doubt we would enforce the follow on unless NZ got all out for under 150.

 

[Zinzan]

This is awesome from Australia, but jeez NZ have served up some ****.

They're just not good enough to be fair on them. They bowled reasonably well for most of the day yesterday while there was a bit of swing & assistance around, but once the assistance was gone, they were never going to trouble classy batsman bowling 139 kms tops