*Official* Australia in New Zealand

[Zinzan]

^ I certainly still think Skippy Sinclair has a better set-up to succeed in Test cricket than Igram

 

[Zinzan]

Not sure why Arnel doesn't have a short-leg for Ponting, that twice now the balls squirted away on the leg-side

 

[slugger]

two tests isn't enough of a chance to prove you're test standard.

Apart from the luckiest century ever, what did McIntosh ever do to prove he's test standard in his first zillion chances?

Replacing Ingram with Sinclair is ironic. Is Sinclair going to become a test batsman this time?

you shouldnt knock what maturity and experience can bring. sure you could argue Sinclair has had his chances etc. but i think nz line up over all based on experience and age was putting far to much pressure on the experienced trio of Taylor, McCullum and Vettori and if you look at the past games those three were the only ones who seemed to show true fight. Sinclair has played the last two years in excellent domestic form like Vettori said if this can be transalated into the test areana all the better.

 

[TT Boy]

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

8 more run outs please.

 

[Burgey]

Can someone describe this run out to me please? Was it Katich's fault again?

 

[Scaly piscine]

New Zealand are pretty much just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic when they switch low quality batsmen in and out. You'd make far more of a difference getting rid of Martin and getting someone who's equally mediocre but who can at least not be a complete joke with the bat.

 

[Nishan]

Ponting drove to vettoris left at midoff and set off got caught short by direct hit.. completly Pontings fault this time

 

[Burgey]

Ponting drove to vettoris left at midoff and set off got caught short by direct hit.. completly Pontings fault this time

Cheers mate. Too old Punter! Lara or Sachin obviously would have made it..

 

[Nishan]

2 run outs in 2 can put anybody crazy.. but he handled it pretty well

 

[Bahnz]

Interesting, I didn't think he did look solid at all in the 32 balls he faced in that 1st innings & then looked totally woeful in the 2nd

Yeah, disagree with that. And trawling back through the cricinfo commentary, he seemed to play only one loose shot, and the rest of the time looked pretty untroubled. Anyway, better than expected first session, but Patel's looking pretty playable. Think he'd have a bit more luck at the other end, with the footmarks to bowl into, but Vettori's obviously staked his claim on those.

 

[pasag]

ffs, another runout.

 

[Sir Alex]

Ponting drops below Tendulkar n career avg.

 

[Johnners]

Less suicide singles please

 

[straw man]

Was really hoping Vettori would win the toss and bat first here. Playing Patel and then being sent in to field first is even more awful than otherwise.

Excited to see how Sinclair goes, even though I mentally wrote him off two years ago after his last chance against England. There's always that sliver of hope that this time he'll prove himself. Ingram well and truly shafted though.

 

[slugger]

icc should allow a team to select 12 players and the 11 to make the field can be selected after the toss.

 

[Athlai]

Reckon we should all whinge about the team after the match is over, pretty tiresome reading at the moment.

 

[_Ed_]

I got my hopes up a bit with two wickets in the first session. Soul-destroying first half hour after lunch, that.

 

[Burgey]

I got my hopes up a bit with two wickets in the first session. Soul-destroying first half hour after lunch, that.

That should make you feel better mate, Huss gone.

 

[archie mac]

Am I the only one who thinks Clarke should bat four in this team?