***Official**** Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2014/2015

[Maximas]

Greentops aren't always like that, Hobart 2011 comes to mind, although on this occasion with the sun and wind beating down on it you'd imagine the green tinge would disappear quickly enough to make bowling first a distinct advantage, hope good pace and bounce is maintained throughout the test at least. Ultimately I think you'd want the pitch to have enough grass on it to make batting first a difficult choice despite a hot sunny day but not an impossible one

 

[Flem274*]

Nah, I just want a pitch with good pace and bounce and maybe a little sideways movement and definitely zero spin, but as long as it stays fair over five days I'm happy. Sri Lanka have two really awesome batsmen but we don't need green pitches to bowl well and all a green pitch will do is close the gap between the two attacks and increase the value of players like Sanga and Mathews who can bat well on them.

A pitch that is green on the first day then a road for the rest of the days like the Basin was would be awful.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Guys, don't be fooled by the pics of the pitch a few day out. They're gonna a mow that **** off and it'll look like any other pitch.

 

[Mike5181]

Yeah, there's no point even looking at the pitch two days out. It'll look completely different by now.

 

[Bahnz]

Maybe not. Mizzle in Canty yesterday so the pitch stayed under the covers. Decent chance this will be as green as the Basin Reserve tests last summer.

 

[Bahnz]

McCullum loses the toss, SRL bowling.

 

[Flem274*]

Haven't turned the telly on yet but the deck better not be green because I have no intention of watching Lakmal take 4fer and copping it from Max and Hendrix.

Very nervous about that prospect itbt. Luckily Eranga is a good bowler and will take the poles.

 

[Flametree]

Rutherford in the xi? Did not expect that...

 

[morgieb]

Is this gonna be a pitch where it stays green throughout, or will it dry out?

 

[straw man]

Cricket day! I'm going to Aus vs India today so will have to follow this on the phone. Not surprised that retained Wagner and Rutherford. Very interested to see how Rutherford goes (if I can catch some highlights).

 

[Bahnz]

Haven't turned the telly on yet but the deck better not be green because I have no intention of watching Lakmal take 4fer and copping it from Max and Hendrix.

Very nervous about that prospect itbt. Luckily Eranga is a good bowler and will take the poles.

Pitch is pretty green, though not as green as the Basin last year. Still a very good toss to win.

 

[Bahnz]

Watling batting above Neesham. Finally.

 

[Zinzan]

Haven't turned the telly on yet but the deck better not be green because I have no intention of watching Lakmal take 4fer and copping it from Max and Hendrix.

Very nervous about that prospect itbt. Luckily Eranga is a good bowler and will take the poles.

While it's still a little green & fresh looking, it's far from the green garden we saw on xmas eve as expected with the sun on it in the last 24-48 hours. I'd preferred us to have bowled too, but don't think it will be as crucial a toss to lose as Wellington vs. India last year.

 

[Flem274*]

Just so we're clear Lakmal fans, Rudds on a green top doesn't count as a wicket.

 

[Cabinet96]

Scrap that.

 

[hendrix]

Get through the first session etc

 

[Bahnz]

Brownlie isn't Playing.

Ken Rutherford commentating whilst his son is batting, is that a first for test cricket?

 

[Cabinet96]

Ouch.

 

[Flem274*]

Keep bowling there pls.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Wow, that could have been nasty first up. Glad he seems ok.