***Official*** New Zealand in Australia 2011

[Flem274*]

Four bowlers and eight batsmen (I'm in the "Vettori is a better bat than bowler" camp) is disappointing imo. Needless to say though, this is in the bag. Carn NZ, **** these ****s up.

 

[Woodster]

Four bowlers and eight batsmen (I'm in the "Vettori is a better bat than bowler" camp) is disappointing imo. Needless to say though, this is in the bag. Carn NZ, **** these ****s up.

Looks solid enough to me, very much in the camp of getting some good depth to the batting in Australia and look to build pressure that way. Don't think NZ have any bowlers banging down the door to warrant the gamble of a five-man attack, and it would be a gamble. Anyway, without going down that road again, weather looks a bit suspect for the opening day doesn't it ?

 

[Flem274*]

Weather is definitely dodgy.

Trent Boult is banging down the door to an extent tbh.

 

[Prince EWS]

It's not raining in Brisbane at the moment but it's cloudy and humid; thunderstorm weather they reckon. Courtesy of my spies.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Looks solid enough to me, very much in the camp of getting some good depth to the batting in Australia and look to build pressure that way. Don't think NZ have any bowlers banging down the door to warrant the gamble of a five-man attack, and it would be a gamble. Anyway, without going down that road again, weather looks a bit suspect for the opening day doesn't it ?

Err if your bowling is a bit weak you would be more inclined to pick 5 bowlers. Vettori is NZ's version of Watson or Kallis. He's a good 5th bowler. He's not really a 4th bowler and NZ actually do have a few fast medium bowler prospects for the first time in a while, far more promising than their cricketer of the year and probably more effective in the short-term too. If you have 4 good, very consistent bowlers then you can get away with 4 bowlers, but you'd still always prefer 5. If Ryder was less of a lard-arse and didn't get injured every 5 minutes he could definitely get through a few overs, but there's going to be a big question mark over the 5th+ bowling option on both sides. And lets face it a lot of the regular bowling options have a question mark over them, all of them are a bit crap/random or unknown.

If the pitch isn't overly bowler friendly and the batsmen don't give it away we should see some really damaging partnerships, on both sides. Stuff like 150 in 35 overs.

 

[BeeGee]

Brisbane weather radar

Weather.com.au - Brisbane Weather

Woolloongabba web cam

Traffic cameras (Department of Transport and Main Roads)

 

[straw man]

It's not raining in Brisbane at the moment but it's cloudy and humid; thunderstorm weather they reckon. Courtesy of my spies.

Your spies are the BOM website?

A few showers developing, thundery rain this afternoon. Mostly light N to NE winds early, with a fresh to strong S to SE wind change developing.

Hopeful play will start on time and we'll get a few hours in, even if it rains later.

 

[Prince EWS]

Your spies are the BOM website?

Haha nah I legitimately had a 2 minute chat with a mate from Brisbane.

Your way does seem quicker though...

 

[Woodster]

Err if your bowling is a bit weak you would be more inclined to pick 5 bowlers. Vettori is NZ's version of Watson or Kallis. He's a good 5th bowler. He's not really a 4th bowler and NZ actually do have a few fast medium bowler prospects for the first time in a while, far more promising than their cricketer of the year and probably more effective in the short-term too. If you have 4 good, very consistent bowlers then you can get away with 4 bowlers, but you'd still always prefer 5. If Ryder was less of a lard-arse and didn't get injured every 5 minutes he could definitely get through a few overs, but there's going to be a big question mark over the 5th+ bowling option on both sides. And lets face it a lot of the regular bowling options have a question mark over them, all of them are a bit crap/random or unknown.

If the pitch isn't overly bowler friendly and the batsmen don't give it away we should see some really damaging partnerships, on both sides. Stuff like 150 in 35 overs.

Err not if it is at the extent of weakening your batting line-up that could leave you pretty open to folding like a pack of cards. Look we have different views on this, my view is that NZ are right to stiffen the batting line-up even if it means they will only have four genuine bowling options. The batting for me is important to enable them to set the game up and try and get pressure on Australia that way.

 

[Top_Cat]

Also Nathan Lyon gets nod for Gabba Test | Herald Sun sounds like four quicks definitely isn't happening

Liked this;

Whereas it was green and grassy on Tuesday, it was more pale on Test eve, prompting Clarke to indicate former Adelaide Oval groundsman Lyon would play the first home game of his five-Test career.

Reckon Lyon pulled the expert card when convincing Clarke the pitch is going to turn enough for him to get picked?

 

[TumTum]

Was it you who said playing Pattinson and Siddle in the same attack was iffy? I know someone said they thought those two were fairly similar bowlers.
.

I said that as well.

 

[Furball]

I said that as well.

I think Pattinson and Siddle is a fantastic idea.

 

[stephen]

The weather is beautiful today in Brisbane. There is cloud cover but it's quite high. It's not too hot, there's little breeze. It should be an almost full day of cricket ahead. We may get late storms though.

 

[Meridio]

Getting a bit nervous about all the NZ positivity coming from the media, fans and players. Normally when that happens we put in a dreadful performance and all the hand wringing starts again.

NZ have no chance, we will be thrashed by this vastly superior Australian outfit. Our batting lineup is bereft of talent, and our bowlers are honest triers that fight hard and don't give anything away. We'll work hard, do the basics well and show good team spirit, but will be overwhelmed by the more talented Australians.

There, that feels better.

 

[Noble One]

I cannot wait for the start of the Australian Test summer. Headphones on at work ready to listen to what looks like a full days play.

My predicted bowling line-up to be Siddle, Pattinson, Cutting and Lyon.

 

[Howe_zat]

Pattinson, Starc to play, Cutting to be 12th man - seems confirmed:

Baggy green presentation time: Michael Slater to Warner, Andy Bichel to Pattinson, Richie Benaud to Starc. No @Cuttsy31 today. #ausvnz

 

[Blakey]

Getting a bit nervous about all the NZ positivity coming from the media, fans and players. Normally when that happens we put in a dreadful performance and all the hand wringing starts again.

NZ have no chance, we will be thrashed by this vastly superior Australian outfit. Our batting lineup is bereft of talent, and our bowlers are honest triers that fight hard and don't give anything away. We'll work hard, do the basics well and show good team spirit, but will be overwhelmed by the more talented Australians.

There, that feels better.

If an anti-jinx is quoted does it improve the anti-jinxness?

 

[Nate]

How is Starc playing before Copeland? Want to top myself. Rarghhhhhhhhhhh

 

[straw man]

Hope the pitch is not as green as the media has been making out and we bat first

 

[Zinzan]

The weather is beautiful today in Brisbane. There is cloud cover but it's quite high. It's not too hot, there's little breeze. It should be an almost full day of cricket ahead.

Fantastic news !