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

[Flem274*]

This partnership between Bennett and Martin, two rank bunnies, was awesome in terms of balls faced. Was so funny to listen to on the radio.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Well Phlegm was suggesting not, so...

Yeah, just saying that NZ have been in search of a decent opener since Richardson. There aren't any though. Just lots and lots and lots of middle order players.


It'll actually be pretty funny opening with players who were batting 6 and 7 not so long ago.

 

[Flem274*]

Should scout domestix for a bowler who can stonewall. That would be pretty cheeky if it worked.

I do it on ICC with Wagner sometimes. I'd never have the testicular fortitude to try it for real.

Actually, Yovich played as a batsman for ND last round iirc and opened. Scored a fifty too.

GET HIM IN THE TEST TEAM!!!1111

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Should scout domestix for a bowler who can stonewall. That would be pretty cheeky if it worked.

I do it on ICC with Wagner sometimes. I'd never have the testicular fortitude to try it for real.

Actually, Yovich played as a batsman for ND last round iirc and opened. Scored a fifty too.

GET HIM IN THE TEST TEAM!!!1111

Ummm Phlegm, Yovich is a batsman now.

 

[Flem274*]

Ummm Phlegm, Yovich is a batsman now.

Allrounder isn't he? I'm sure he's bowled this season. He played as a batsman because he's injured and ND suck at batting (I hear none of them can cover drive off the front foot. Taught by Kane).

EDIT: Hasn't bowled this season.

I was under the impression he was just injured though (from some random article I read), not that he had given away the bowling.

 

[Hurricane]

McCullum
Mcintosh
Brownlie
Taylor
Ryder
Williamson

My top six. I don't care that TMac may not have performed this year consistently - he averaged like 28 or something for us opening and should have been persisted with. We only went to Guptil because he had a higher upside.

Brownlie must bat at 3. Williamson must be hidden down the order for the next year or so.

Vettori would make a horrible opener for two reasons.
1) You must be experienced at opening to open. Opening is an art form to itself. There is way more pressure opening than there is at number 7. And I don't think the odd time opening in an ODI or List A counts.

2) Vettori is vulnerable to short of a length balls outside off stump - he will get a ton of these early on in an inning.

(Not sure why I am giving a serious answer)

On a final note - I have a bet with MorgieB that NZ would not lose 2-0 - Anything could happen in this game...

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Phlegm, he's crap!

 

[Flem274*]

McCullum
Mcintosh
Brownlie
Taylor
Ryder
Williamson

My top six. I don't care that TMac may not have performed this year consistently - he averaged like 28 or something for us opening and should have been persisted with. We only went to Guptil because he had a higher upside.

Brownlie must bat at 3. Williamson must be hidden down the order for the next year or so.

Vettori would make a horrible opener for two reasons.
1) You must be experienced at opening to open. Opening is an art form to itself. There is way more pressure opening than there is at number 7. And I don't think the odd time opening in an ODI or List A counts.

2) Vettori is vulnerable to short of a length balls outside off stump - he will get a ton of these early on in an inning.

(Not sure why I am giving a serious answer)

On a final note - I have a bet with MorgieB that NZ would not lose 2-0 - Anything could happen in this game...

Why must Brownlie bat at three? He's gunning it at six.

Picking McIntosh, hardly the best test batsman, when he's not scoring runs won't help him at all imo.

If you must be experienced at opening to open, then why are Justin Langer, Virender Sehwag and Shane Watson good at it? Our best opener since 2000 was a converted spinner.

Vettori got bounced a fair bit by Pakistan, and he still fought through in the end.

It's a massive punt, and I'm not sure I'd go through with it myself, but it's a nice fantasy. That's why I called it a loony theory.

 

[Flem274*]

Phlegm, he's crap!

Never really seen him bat, but if true, well he's from ND. It's understandable.

 

[Hurricane]

Why must Brownlie bat at three? He's gunning it at six.

Picking McIntosh, hardly the best test batsman, when he's not scoring runs won't help him at all imo.

If you must be experienced at opening to open, then why are Justin Langer, Virender Sehwag and Shane Watson good at it? Our best opener since 2000 was a converted spinner.

Vettori got bounced a fair bit by Pakistan, and he still fought through in the end.

It's a massive punt, and I'm not sure I'd go through with it myself, but it's a nice fantasy. That's why I called it a loony theory.

Brownlie has run out of partners a number of times at 6. And i don't see anyone making a good fist of number 3.

I am not going to comment on why Sehwag is good at opening as he defies all logic to me.

I have thought more about the Vettori proposal since my knee jerk reaction. If McCullum can go from number 7 in the order to opening then why not Vettori...

My gut just tells me he does not have the technique to survive. But who knows...
I remember being against McCullum batting at 3. I just wanted him to open and to throw his hands at the ball because I didn't trust his defensive technique. And to be fair it has been shown up a few times.

 

[Uppercut]

Gawan Kiwis, don't throw this one away.

 

[Flem274*]

Gawan Kiwis, don't throw this one away.

Not even thinking about winning atm tbh. Just hoping session by session. Don't want to get my hopes up, because we know what this lot are really good at.

Srsly, Siddle has a good crack at his first ever test hundred in the coming run chase.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Hmm how the hell did Siddle score 36... oh well. Here's hoping for a NZ win or an Australian win with the tailenders getting 100+ runs.

New Zealand's scoring rate is a plus for them. If the second new ball is going to be much more dangerous than the old ball then having enough runs to force Australia into facing a second new ball period could be the difference between winning and losing. Australia will have the 'advantage' of knowing how to pace their run chase. This where the strategy becomes really important, do NZ go after the old ball a bit more or do they play it on merit? Do they go after the weaker bowlers (Lyon would be included in this due to the pitch)?

Still can't believe Australia produced a pitch like this mind. It's tailor-made to give New Zealand the best possible chance of winning, along with the total lack of Copeland and NZ being forced into picking the right number of seam bowlers to maximise their chances.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Also, I've heard and read some criticism of Williamson's shot in the first innings. He got caught down the leg side off a half volley that pitched outside leg, there's not a batsman in the world who wouldn't have tried to do what he did and nudge it down to fine leg. "Undisciplined" is a term that shouldn't be attached to that.

 

[heathrf1974]

I believe the result of this test will be decided tmoz in the morning session. The ball moves around earlier in the day and if the Kiwis can hold on and gain a lead of over 280 they will have a very good chance of levelling the series.

 

[Nate]

Does anyone have a pic of the super slow mo of Hussey after Hughes dropped the catch off his bowling? He gave the filthiest look as if to say "gtfo of the team".

Haha, it was great.

 

[SteveNZ]

Still can't believe Australia produced a pitch like this mind. It's tailor-made to give New Zealand the best possible chance of winning, along with the total lack of Copeland and NZ being forced into picking the right number of seam bowlers to maximise their chances.

I can't believe this either. Apparently the curator was interview somewhere. Anyone see it?

 

[NasserFan207]

Can't help but now think Vettori getting injured was a blessing in disguise for NZ. They have the perfect bowling attack for this pitch now. Australia are slightly hampered by having to bowl Lyon/Hussey etc while Starc is pretty gash

 

[wallacenz]

It seemed that Pattinson ignored Hughes when he took the catch to dismiss Mccullum. Pattinson also had a war of words with Taylor which Pattinson appeared to instigate towards the end of the day.
Does Pattinson have a reputation at all in Aus in terms of attitude?

I feel sorry for Hughes, I get the feeling hes getting the cold shoulder from his team mates.

 

[Zinzan]

I can't believe this either. Apparently the curator was interview somewhere. Anyone see it?

Yup, he actually seemed fairly proud about the fact it was green. When asked about the variable bounce on day 2, he kind of joked about it pointed out that it promotes exciting Test cricket. He certainly wasn't apologetic about it.