Final - New Zealand v Australia (29th March)

[OverratedSanity]

#MCGsobig

 

[Pratters]

Aussie batting a bit weak with Clarke, Watson, Finch and Maxwell. The Kiwis are a stronger team but this game is in MCG. Still, thinking New Zealand will win.

 

[viriya]

Anyone here looking for tickets for this? I have an SL friend who bought 3 right after the T20 win last year and now wants to get rid of them possibly. Probably was drunk to think SL were gonna make the final tbf.

 

[Gob]

Aussie batting a bit weak with Clarke, Watson, Finch and Maxwell. The Kiwis are a stronger team but this game is in MCG. Still, thinking New Zealand will win.

wut?

 

[Pratters]

Clarke hasn't been in any form since his return. Finch has looked ordinary so far most of the tournament. Maxwell can pinch hit, but not sure how much he can do it versus quality fast bowling of New Zealand. Maxwell's technique isn't the best. Watson has started too look better coming down the order but he doesn't fill you with confidence given the form over the the last few months before his eventual sacking just a few games back.

 

[Spark]

i could play exactly the same game with like most of nz's batting order too (hint: it's a stupid game). the maxwell comment is particularly silly.

the only person with serious form question marks coming in is clarke. frankly, he's barely had a proper hit all tournament.

 

[viriya]

Clarke hasn't been in any form since his return. Finch has looked ordinary so far most of the tournament. Maxwell can pinch hit, but not sure how much he can do it versus quality fast bowling of New Zealand. Maxwell's technique isn't the best. Watson has started too look better coming down the order but he doesn't fill you with confidence given the form over the the last few months before his eventual sacking just a few games back.

Maxwell is much more than just a pinch-hitter imo.. You don't average 35+ if you're just a pinch-hitter.

 

[viriya]

the only person with serious form question marks coming in is clarke. frankly, he's barely had a proper hit all tournament.

Clarke's last 2 dismissals suggest that he's a walking wicket to the short ball..

 

[Spark]

Clarke's last 2 dismissals suggest that he's a walking wicket to the short ball..

spoken like someone who hasn't watched clarke bat in the last five years.

he gets out to the short ball from time to time before he's set, and always has. once he is set, it's a really stupid idea to bowl short at him. i really don't think nz will go that route when they have bowlers like southee and boult to work on his actual weakness, which is the moving ball (and particularly getting bowled).

(and the last dismissal... seriously? you're using that as evidence? it was a long hop that for some reason he tried to hit for six)

 

[OverratedSanity]

Clarke's last 2 dismissals suggest that he's a walking wicket to the short ball..

Nah. Really nah.

 

[viriya]

spoken like someone who hasn't watched clarke bat in the last five years.

he gets out to the short ball from time to time before he's set, and always has. once he is set, it's a really stupid idea to bowl short at him. i really don't think nz will go that route when they have bowlers like southee and boult to work on his actual weakness, which is the moving ball (and particularly getting bowled).

(and the last dismissal... seriously? you're using that as evidence? it was a long hop that for some reason he tried to hit for six)

I know historically he's great vs the short ball.. the way he's been getting out lately suggests he's not comfortable with it early.

 

[Spark]

I know historically he's great vs the short ball.. the way he's been getting out lately suggests he's not comfortable with it early.

welcome to michael clarke, the year two thousand and any number greater than three.

i mean the last time everyone convinced themselves that clarke was a walking wicket vs the short ball, this happened. before that, this. and before that this.

 

[Pratters]

i could play exactly the same game with like most of nz's batting order too

Don't agree. New Zealand has Guptill who has scored 2 50s and a big century so far, McCullum who is giving them a good start every time.. Willamson is a quality player. Corey Anderson has been finishing it off really well. Grant Elliott coming to the party has been a big boost. The only one who looks out of knick is Taylor right now. The Kiwi batting fills me with more confidence.

 

[Spark]

Don't agree. New Zealand has Guptill who has scored 2 50s and a big century so far, McCullum who is giving them a good start every time.. Willamson is a quality player. Corey Anderson has been finishing it off really well. Grant Elliott coming to the party has been a big boost. The only one who looks out of knick is Taylor right now. The Kiwi batting fills me with more confidence.

focussing on positive aspects to reinforce strong priors in doing nothing except bring up positive aspects to reinforce strong priors shocker

 

[OverratedSanity]

I could literally just replace every NZ batsmans name in Pratters post with an Australian and it'll stay the same.

Ftr I do agree that NZ's top order is a tad better.

 

[Pratters]

Maxwell is much more than just a pinch-hitter imo.. You don't average 35+ if you're just a pinch-hitter.

Pinch-hitter doesn't necessarily mean a poor pinch hitter. A pinch-hitter is some one who comes in to score very quick runs. He is a pretty amazing pinch hitter when he gets going. However, the play on the word regarding his style of batting isn't the core point. It's that I don't trust his technique against the better bowlers of the Kiwis.

 

[Spark]

I could literally just replace every NZ batsmans name in Pratters post with an Australian and it'll stay the same.

Ftr I do agree that NZ's top order is a tad better.

exactly.

and of course nz's top order is definitely better, but that's not where our major trump card lies.

 

[viriya]

welcome to michael clarke, the year two thousand and any number greater than three.

i mean the last time everyone convinced themselves that clarke was a walking wicket vs the short ball, this happened. before that, this. and before that this.

Those are Test matches where he has time to play risk free cricket. Obviously I'm not saying he can't play out his early weakness, but as it is now you wouldn't put money on him coming up big.

 

[Spark]

Those are Test matches where he has time to play risk free cricket. Obviously I'm not saying he can't play out his early weakness, but as it is now you wouldn't put money on him coming up big.

and exactly how does that make any difference when he's supposedly a "walking wicket" and bound to get out like he did against riaz?

 

[Pratters]

focussing on positive aspects to reinforce strong priors in doing nothing except bring up positive aspects to reinforce strong priors shocker

Bah.

McCullum - Warner
Guptill > Finch
Williamson < Steve Smith
Taylor - Clarke
Elliott > Watson
Anderson > Maxwell
Ronchi < Haddin given Australian conditions.