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

[Kylez]

I remember reading somewhere that Matthew Elliot and Steve Waugh had a bit of beef. I possibly could have read this on CW, can't remember though.

 

[Son Of Coco]

The best commentators/commentaries in the world do not have to resort to cheerleading. Nor does Ian Smith, who is over there and despite having to carry the can against the green and gold pompoms, does not come across biased at all.

Smithy must've changed a bit then. Remember him liking a bit of a whinge in the commentary box a few years ago. Haven't heard anything similar from him this tour though.

 

[Flem274*]

Smithy must've changed a bit then. Remember him liking a bit of a whinge in the commentary box a few years ago. Haven't heard anything similar from him this tour though.

Still has massive whinges, but restricts them to NZ home games for some reason.

 

[Spark]

A lot of Aussie fans are ****ing idiots though. (I should add, it's not just limited to Australia)

That has no reflection on their thoughts on Waugh...just a general observation.

Edit: I may be slightly annoyed after reading some of their comments in the Sunday Mail cricket section. I never learn.

Quite. You often wonder they're watching cricket or get their opinions on what their mate who saw the scorecard said.

 

[uvelocity]

Thought Starc pre-lunch today bowled his best spell so far at this level (the one where he clicked Brownlie).

Starc, compared to the other two, just doesn't look like he has it for mine. Bowling left arm over is a big advantage, but he just sort of lopes in, and doesn't get anywhere near the rise his nine foot frame should allow him. Sort of bowls around his arm, much like johnson. Compare his action to Pattinson, who gets his entire body behind the ball from the start of his delivery stride, much more attractive to me.

Don't see Starc being any chop except for limited overs. Have seen him change pace and cut it both ways, which could make him useful in middle and late overs. Test cricket no.

 

[Spark]

by the other two do you mean siddle/patto or pat/patto?

 

[uvelocity]

patty and patto. the two newbs.

Siddle doing the best I've seen him since Gabba first innings v poms.

oh, and while I'm on about actions. Have been meaning to say for a while that Cummins reminds me most of Carl Rackemann. Mainly for his angle, he sort of curls his upper body up into a ball, and pegs it down from wide and can either send it straight on or bring it back away from the right hander.

 

[Furball]

Siddle's been so weird this series. Has spent the last year bowling all kinds of dross, but IMO this series he's stood out in a way that a 20-odd Test veteran should in a green attack.

 

[Ruckus]

It's probably the McDermott factor. Also the lack of Johnson means there isn't a cushion of mediocrity he can hide behind if he bowls ****e.

 

[ganeshran]

Kiwis will win it tomorrow.

 

[social]

Starc, compared to the other two, just doesn't look like he has it for mine. Bowling left arm over is a big advantage, but he just sort of lopes in, and doesn't get anywhere near the rise his nine foot frame should allow him. Sort of bowls around his arm, much like johnson. Compare his action to Pattinson, who gets his entire body behind the ball from the start of his delivery stride, much more attractive to me.

Don't see Starc being any chop except for limited overs. Have seen him change pace and cut it both ways, which could make him useful in middle and late overs. Test cricket no.

He's 6'6", can bowl 145+, swings it into the right hander and, in your words, has a change of pace and cuts it both ways

Oh, did I mention he's 21 FFS!

Probably not good enough for test cricket atm but he has masses of potential IMO

BTW, his action is nothing like Johnson

 

[social]

Siddle's been so weird this series. Has spent the last year bowling all kinds of dross, but IMO this series he's stood out in a way that a 20-odd Test veteran should in a green attack.

Always had the potential but as Ruckus said, he's looked like a confused man when one partner bowls crap 4/5 (and that's generous!) and the other's "corridor of uncertainty" is 2 feet outside off stump

I think the technical side of his bowling has improved and he has been able to concentrate on his own game because there hasnt been rubbish served up at regular intervals from the other end

Mind you, playing the Kiwis on good bowling decks hasnt hurt either

 

[SteveNZ]

Are you actually suggesting Tony Grieg is bias towards Australia?? Wow. Are your ears painted on?

Yes, yes I am. And no, no they are not.

I recall at one stage on day one, when we were 60-4, him suggesting we were odds-on to be bowled out for under 100.

To be fair, it could be an anti-NZ slant on his behalf. He absolutely death-rode us in the WC semi this year against Sri Lanka. It was pathetic.

 

[Woodster]

Was disappointed NZ didn't pick up a couple of wickets before the close just to make day four that bit more interesting. Credit to Warner and Hughes, but the NZ attack did not show the consistency to build the pressure and to weigh on the obvious nerves that Hughes was understandably showing.

Warner wwas good and definitely the more comfortable of the two. He was positive without being wreckless, rode his luck on a couple of occasions, but you need that sometimes against the new ball and on decks like this. Played some crunching drives and timed the ball beautifully down the ground.

Hughes on the other hand looks like a man under extreme pressure, and to his credit battled hard through to the close and didn't gift his wicket away. NZ just couldn't stick in his area frequently enough to induce one of his awful looking wafts. But when he was presented with a half volley, everything worked well going into the shot and he put it away.

I can understand umpire Llong not giving the caught behind out, and I can understand why Taylor didn't review it, huge let-off for Hughes.

 

[hazsa19]

Yes, yes I am. And no, no they are not.

I recall at one stage on day one, when we were 60-4, him suggesting we were odds-on to be bowled out for under 100.

To be fair, it could be an anti-NZ slant on his behalf. He absolutely death-rode us in the WC semi this year against Sri Lanka. It was pathetic.

Greig (and Nicholas) is the worst thing about C9 commentary from an English perspective. Its embarrassing to think he's a former England captain with some of the cringy stuff he comes out with.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Grieg just doesn't work without Lawry to play off.

It's like Statler without Waldorf.

Has Bill been pensioned off, actually? Haven't heard him at all this series.

 

[robelinda]

I remember reading somewhere that Matthew Elliot and Steve Waugh had a bit of beef. I possibly could have read this on CW, can't remember though.

Yes it was a famous fall out, during the 1999 tour of WI. Elliott crumbled against Ambrose and whinged and was horrible in the dressing room etc, didn't take advice from the senior players, generally was a dick.

 

[stephen]

Grieg just doesn't work without Lawry to play off.

It's like Statler without Waldorf.

Has Bill been pensioned off, actually? Haven't heard him at all this series.

Bill will be back for the India series. They like to trot him out for the bigger series because he gets all excited when stuff happens.

 

[straw man]

Just want to see us bowl accurately this morning and take any catches that come our way. NZ paying around $7 for the win which seems about right.

 

[TumTum]

oh, and while I'm on about actions. Have been meaning to say for a while that Cummins reminds me most of Carl Rackemann. Mainly for his angle, he sort of curls his upper body up into a ball, and pegs it down from wide and can either send it straight on or bring it back away from the right hander.

Finally figured it out, his action looks like Kemar Roach but with a jump and more side-on.