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

[SteveNZ]

And now according to Slater, Hughes is 'on his way to a match-winning score' and 9 out of 10 stories are good and one is bad, but the one is focused on. Too bad nine out of 10 of his innings are rubbish.

Are they instructed to do this?

 

[stephen]

They have to be positive about the players. Any criticism has to be subtle.

 

[Burgey]

Two thoughts. 1) Get ****ed Mark Nicholas. I haven't watched all day but I turn on mid rain delay and he's saying 'let's get back on, it's all great news here - Hughes and Warner batting well'. Not great news, the clouds are lifting - my bum chums are going well. I change commentaries all the time for our NRL coverage and I demand to get this chump off my TV as well.

2) Tim Southee needs to wake up to himself. Just seen his five ball innings - idiot.

Couldn't agree more re Southee. He could have comfortably milked another 20 odd the way he hits them, but he committed Hari Kari.

 

[Briony]

You may just have discovered the hidden secret of swing bowling.

I actually said in the morning (and cloud) as distinct from any other time of the day. It's funny how people choose to be selective with their responses. Blind Freddie knows that the ball seems to swing more under murky skies, though scientifically they haven't proven why. In this test though, the ball seems to have done more in the morning which is why the kiwis will be pleased they get to make a fresh start.

 

[Bahnz]

Looks like some really good luck for New Zealand with the rain intervening when it did. Another hour of that rubbish and the match would've been dead. Still can't really see us winning this, but it at least gives the bowlers a bit of time to gather their thoughts and have another go of it in the morning.

 

[DingDong]

the whole match has become a bit of a joke with mr incompetent out there umpiring. it's a laugh that these guys are allowed to umpire international games.

 

[Briony]

Looking forward to these pics surfacing again during the India series as they are completely on topic!

I don't mind what Briony writes, most comments are pretty fair. Is Briony M or F?

The latter, which is why most are dismissive.

There appear to be some bitter kiwis here who expected their team to fare better with the ball during the afternoon session.

 

[Spikey]

who is mr incompetent

 

[Hurricane]

IF there is one thing to be learned from that MCG match is that we need a time machine to bring back Hadlee for tomorrow.

Some of his wicket taking deliveries were superb.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

who is mr incompetent

Nigel Llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllong


I assume.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

The latter, which is why most are dismissive.

Nah, it's because you are a bundle of sunshine.

 

[SteveNZ]

Looks like some really good luck for New Zealand with the rain intervening when it did. Another hour of that rubbish and the match would've been dead. Still can't really see us winning this, but it at least gives the bowlers a bit of time to gather their thoughts and have another go of it in the morning.

Agreed on the good luck. Might emerge as a day where it swings round corners tomorrow, and obviously the openers have to start again as well.

And unfortunately, also agreed I can't see us winning this.

As for Southee, I hope he got a rocket for that rubbish. Half his Test innings are run a ball or better 10-19s. It isn't good enough. It isn't good enough to say he's a bowler, any runs are secondary. He's a player capable of being a world-class bowler and a batsman of the ilk of a Broad, a Johnson etc. But he doesn't seem all that interested in either.

 

[Briony]

They have to be positive about the players. Any criticism has to be subtle.

Odd because the discerning viewer prefers realism.

There was an occasion when there was rain in the background just after a break and Benaud and co. were prattling on and on denying the visible precipitation. Eventually they had to give way to reality and tell the audience what it already knew.

 

[Noble One]

the whole match has become a bit of a joke with mr incompetent out there umpiring. it's a laugh that these guys are allowed to umpire international games.

I know your whole persona is to play the fool, but this is such a stupid comment. If you don't like the umpiring then use your DRS as it was designed.

 

[SteveNZ]

Odd because the discerning viewer prefers realism.

Yep. We're not idiots. The majority, I hope, can see through them trying to sugar coat everything Australian and pump their tyres at every opportunity. I know I feel the same way with rugby commentaries over here.

 

[Briony]

Agreed on the good luck. Might emerge as a day where it swings round corners tomorrow, and obviously the openers have to start again as well.

And unfortunately, also agreed I can't see us winning this.

As for Southee, I hope he got a rocket for that rubbish. Half his Test innings are run a ball or better 10-19s. It isn't good enough. It isn't good enough to say he's a bowler, any runs are secondary. He's a player capable of being a world-class bowler and a batsman of the ilk of a Broad, a Johnson etc. But he doesn't seem all that interested in either.

If NZ still had McCullum at #7, Vettori and someone whose name wasn't Martin at 11, maybe he could be given a licence to swing but with a longish tail he surely should be more circumspect.

 

[Hurricane]

I know your whole persona is to play the fool, but this is such a stupid comment. If you don't like the umpiring then use your DRS as it was designed.

Don't ding the dong.

 

[ganeshran]

Yep. We're not idiots. The majority, I hope, can see through them trying to sugar coat everything Australian and pump their tyres at every opportunity. I know I feel the same way with rugby commentaries over here.

But is commentary really something to worry/complain about? Favoritism doenst have any impact on the result of the game and at the end of the day, its just an opinion of an individual who is not necessarily bipartisan. We are free to disagree with it

 

[NUFAN]

The latter, which is why most are dismissive.

There appear to be some bitter kiwis here who expected their team to fare better with the ball during the afternoon session.

I would be disappointed too with 0/72 from 19 overs. Also, I don't think people on here would take you less seriously because your female.


If NZ get Warner early Aus could be in some trouble. I think that Bracewell's performance with the ball will go along way in deciding the match.

 

[Hurricane]

I am fine with Southee's inning, I think trying for three boundaries in a row might have been too much, and also going for a six over someones head at long on was a low percentage play. But I think he had to play with intent. Look at Young he played defensively and didn't make as many as Southee.