20th Match - New Zealand v Australia

[nevermind]

Well at the half way point I was absolutely shattered, happy for the Kiwi's but I was really hoping for a close game and massively disappointed in our batting.

Didn't Mitchell Starc change all that! He should be extremely proud of his performance and almost won the game on his own out of nowhere, incredible. I don't think he bowled a bad ball today and honestly IMO should have got MOTM. Thought Kane was awesome too though, that ending was perfect!

Both captains spoke great at the end there. This NZ team is extremely likable, really happy for them over the last 18 months or so (being half Kiwi I'm already half in the bandwagon ). Got a few relatives in NZ and taken some calls already, lets just say they aren't exactly unhappy.

 

[Hurricane]

you misspelled ****

seriously, all we had to do was hold on for a few overs, let vettori and boult bowl out and then rebuild.

this - Milne was bowling very inaccurately and could have been milked quite easily. Anderson although having a golden arm is not economical.

And yes Antihippy you have a point - rustyness was a factor.

 

[Gnske]

So what the hell happened, headed to work and missed NZ innings? Did Starc go into GOAT mode again or did NZ almost choke hard?

 

[watson]

Clarke's shot was needless. A leave may have been better at that stage. Which was my point about setting their sites lower and just settling for 230ish. You might not call a backfoot drive aggressive but it is an attacking shot.

Marsh's shot was abysmal and comfortably the worst shot of the day. Swinging across the line with zero footwork - what was he thinking?

With the benefit of hindsight leaving the cool head of Bailey out of the side was a strategic howler and he should be bought back for the next match I reckon.

 

[Bahnz]

So what the hell happened, headed to work and missed NZ innings? Did Starc go into GOAT mode again or did NZ almost choke hard?

Both, Starc was sensational bowling really quick and getting just enough late swing. However New Zealand's lower-middle order didn't exactly cover themselves in glory with a succession of increasingly panicked shots. All came together for one of the most thrilling finishes I've ever seen.

 

[Immenso]

Hurricane, you rated Anderson's innings? I was going to nominate it in the crap innings thread. Looked the worse on display at the start of his innings, which is saying something on a day full of ghastly batting.

Looked like a schoolboy out of his depth v that pace, but then I got distracted and when I returned my attention the commentators were suggesting the ozzies needed to try Maxwell or Watto v Anderson as he was playing the fast guys well, what the hell happened in those 5 minutes ?

But credit to him for getting through that.

 

[Spark]

Marsh's shot was abysmal and comfortably the worst shot of the day. Swinging across the line with zero footwork - what was he thinking?

With the benefit of hindsight leaving the cool head of Bailey out of the side was a strategic howler and he should be bought back for the next match I reckon.

...this is not what Marsh did

at all

 

[Hurricane]

Hurricane, you rated Anderson's innings? I was going to nominate it in the crap innings thread. Looked the worse on display at the start of his innings, which is saying something on a day full of ghastly batting.

Looked like a schoolboy out of his depth v that pace, but then I got distracted and when I returned my attention the commentators were suggesting the ozzies needed to try Maxwell or Watto v Anderson as he was playing the fast guys well, what the hell happened in those 5 minutes ?

But credit to him for getting through that.

His shot selection showed immaturity including some wild swipes early doors. But he battled and fought hard. Gutsy knock ruined by an irresponsible dismissal.

Don't forget that may have been his first time facing quality bowling in excess of 150kms. He does face milne in the nets but at this stage of his career milne is not quality.

He will be better for the experience and was definitely not at Colin DeGrandhomme levels of ineptness when he faced Steyn.

 

[Flem274*]

Marsh's shot was abysmal and comfortably the worst shot of the day. Swinging across the line with zero footwork - what was he thinking?

With the benefit of hindsight leaving the cool head of Bailey out of the side was a strategic howler and he should be bought back for the next match I reckon.

did you watch the game watto? how do you think marsh's shot compared to anderson's?

 

[Hurricane]

Another observation - Vettori simply must improve his batting. We can't have the tail starting at number 8. C'mon Dan pick it up aye...

 

[Antihippy]

I thought grant elliot's shot was worse. Played with the footwork of a 80 year old sehwag.

 

[Hurricane]

...this is not what Marsh did

at all

Watson is making me question my memory, I thought he did a wave of the bat at it and chopped it on.

 

[Hurricane]

I thought grant elliot's shot was worse. Played with the footwork of a 80 year old sehwag.

Complete **** inning

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Elliott's shot was the worst. Looked like he didn't even see the ball, Chris Martin-style.

 

[Immenso]

I thought Taylor's dismissal was the poorest of the day.

But Star's replay was so bad and original angle so distant I'm still not sure what actually Ross was trying to do.

 

[Bahnz]

I thought grant elliot's shot was worse. Played with the footwork of a 80 year old sehwag.

Yeah my big concern with Elliot from the start was how he would go against genuine pace. Based on today, he doesn't look too flash.

 

[Dan]

Yeah, kudos to Anderson for grinding it out as long as he did, imo. ****ing atrocious dismissal though.

 

[Bahnz]

Complete **** inning

Well, it did only last 1 ball, so by definition yeah.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Elliott missed the ball by so much it was embarassing

 

[Dan]

I don't think the dinner break helped Elliott at all tbh. Looked very nervy before facing up; I can't help but think if he'd faced that ball immediately after Taylor's dismissal (rather than 45 minutes later) he'd have done a far better job.