Final - New Zealand v Australia (29th March)

[kiwiviktor81]

Cheering for the Black Caps tomorrow. Question to the Nz fans, how big this win will be for NZ cricket in terms of popularity among the common Newzealander if they actually do it? I understand cricket is the third most popular sport in the country?

It will be colossal. We've had decades of mediocrity and winning the CWC with an excellent team like this would be a revelation.

Cricket is easily the second most popular sport in the country, miles behind rugby union and miles ahead of league/netball/soccer/whatever's in third. Some people who think the world revolves around Auckland might tell you that league is second, but cricket is the national summer sport and the only other sport apart from union that's followed across the country.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Clarke is definitely better than Jayawardene for me.

 

[Pratters]

Would any one put him in the same level as Mahela?

 

[OverratedSanity]

I mean, I don't think Mahela has had tremendous ***.

 

[Antihippy]

Would any one put him in the same level as Mahela?

Other than longevity I would put him above.

 

[Arachnodouche]

What team of commentators would you like Star sports to select for the final?

I suspect they'll go with the following 9; (3 at a time)

Nicholas
Warne
Taylor/Slater
Gavaskar
Bhogle
Smith (Ian)
Ganguly/Hussian
Doull
Botham/Bishop

Less likely; Wasim, Lara, G Smith, Lee, Gilchrist, Pietersen,

I think Bhogle, M. Waugh and Graeme Smith make a good combination.

 

[jcas0167]

mate the hype here is insane.

speaking of which boys, this has been your one week window to get chix complimenting your black caps shirt.

so yeah, that's how big this is.

Yeah, I was walking down the street this morning wearing my Black Caps training top and a woman made a comment to me about the cricket. People at work who never talk about cricket are talking about it. The hype has really lifted to another level since the semi-final win.

The NZ Herald had a special edition today with an open letter from the CEO of the 2011 Rugby World Cup & former Black Cap Martin Snedden.

Rugby World Cup 2011 was an amazing time for New Zealand but this Cricket World Cup at least equals, maybe even beats, that wonderful occasion. In 2011 the overriding emotions surrounding the All Blacks were grim expectation and intense relief. This time around it's been nervous hope and unbridled joy that have surrounded you.

The excellent Mike Selvey also has a nice piece from a couple of weeks ago about the way the tournament has been embraced here.

 

[Jono]

I seem to recall winning that game. Which means that even if Aussie gets up tomorrow it will be something of a hollow victory.

pls be trolling

 

[dfrinku]

If Australia win it'll be 1-1 and the first match of the next Chappell-Hadlee series will be the biggest match in our rivalry.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Just got back from the TAB. Put $300 on Aussie @ $1.45. So either the BCs win the World Cup or the TAB has to pay me $135 in emotional compensation money. Win ****ing win.

 

[indiaholic]

Clarke is overrated as a test batsman, really. If a subcontinent player averaged 62 at home and 43 away from home, he would not be rated as highly. Case in point is Mahela Jayawardene. Now, obviously, Clarke is a very good test batsman. However, he isn't as good as he is made out to be. I wouldn't for instance, put him in the bracket of the greatest Australian bats like Greg Chappell, Border, Waugh, Ponting. He is just too good at home in tests, which gives a bit of a false impression about his over all career.

Weird post. Nobody thinks he is as good as Ponting etc. Think he is rated higher than Mahela because he looks so comfortable against spin. This combined with the 46+ average in England + the 62 average in Australia + excellent performances against Steyn etc. make him seem like a player who can handle bounce, swing and spin.

 

[indiaholic]

Just got back from the TAB. Put $300 on Aussie @ $1.45. So either the BCs win the World Cup or the TAB has to pay me $135 in emotional compensation money. Win ****ing win.

Hedging your happiness. Whattay ****.

 

[Athlai]

https://soundcloud.com/the-phoenix-foundation/big-mac-run-rate

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Hedging your happiness. Whattay ****.

I was so tense during the semifinal that I was almost sick. Had to balance it out somehow otherwise I'd lose 5 years off the end of my life.

 

[viriya]

Weird post. Nobody thinks he is as good as Ponting etc. Think he is rated higher than Mahela because he looks so comfortable against spin. This combined with the 46+ average in England + the 62 average in Australia + excellent performances against Steyn etc. make him seem like a player who can handle bounce, swing and spin.

I don't think it's that straightforward that Clarke > Mahela in Tests. Mahela was average overseas, but his career > Clarke's so far imo.

 

[Burgey]

How good is it watching the 03 WC Final on Fox and seeing Zaheer yap it up before Ponting comes in and it's one handed sixes? Sooooo good

 

[OverratedSanity]

How good is it watching the 03 WC Final on Fox and seeing Zaheer yap it up before Ponting comes in and it's one handed sixes? Sooooo good

That first over he bowled to Hayden and Gilchrist still gives me nightmares.Went for something like 15 iirc.

 

[Hurricane]

A Profile-Bio on the Blackcaps

1) Martin Guptill
Born Auckland
High School = Avondale College
Well Known Fact:
"Guptill was involved in a forklift accident and lost three toes."
Age 28

2) Brendon McCullum
Born Dunedin
High school = King's High School
Well Known Fact:
"Before concentrating on cricket, he was a preferred first five-eighth (fly half) over Daniel Carter as secondary school rugby representative."
Age 33

3) Kane Williamson
Born Tauranga
High School = Taurange Boy's College
Well Known Fact:
"During the New Zealand vs Pakistan 2014 ODI series he donated his entire match fee for all 5 ODI's to the victims of the 2014 Peshawar school massacre"
Age 24

4) Ross Taylor
Born Lower Hutt
High School = Palmerston North Boys High School; Wairarapa College, Masterton
Well Known Fact
"Confesses to liking KFC"
Age 31

5) Grant Elliot
Born Johannesburg
High School = St Stithians College
Well Known Fact
"He debuted with 67 at Gauteng in 1996–97, where on the advice of his captain, former New Zealand test skipper Ken Rutherford, who saw the quota system possibly blocking his path to higher honours, Elliott left his native Johannesburg for New Zealand in 2001"
Age 36

6) Corey Anderson
Born Christchurh
High School = Chirstchurch Boys High School
Well Known Fact
"Anderson was also jointly named player of the Gillette cup in 2006 when he shared this honor with current Blackcap Tim Southee." (for overseas folks the Gillette cup is our presitgious high school tournament.
Age 24

7) Luke Ronchi
Born Dannevirke in the Manawatu
High School = Unknown (an Australian Poster to tell us)
Well Known Fact
"He is really an Ocker (despite his tattoo) but we are happy to have him"
Age 33

8) Daniel Vettori
Born Auckland
High School = St Pauls (Hamilton)
Well Known Fact
"He is among a very small minority of international sports stars to wear prescription spectacles while playing sport, and only one of very few cricketers in the modern era to play Test cricket with spectacles, others including Zimbabwean Charles Coventry, Australian Chris Rogers, and West Indian Clive Lloyd."
Age 36

9) Matt Henry
I am putting him at 9 because he belongs ahead of Tim
Born Christchurch
High School = St Bede's College
Well Known fact
"A slippery fast bowler, Matt Henry almost didn't play for New Zealand, as he underwent a major back surgery in 2012."
Age 23

10) Tim Southee
Born Whangerei
High School = He was educated at Whangarei Boys' High School and King's College, Auckland.
Well Known Fact
"He is a ladies man"
Age 26

11) Trent Boult
Born Rotorua
High School = Otumoetai College (we used to have a sports exchange with them)
Well Known Fact
"Wikipedia lists him as a left–arm fast faster fastest opening bowler"
Age 25

 

[Days of Grace]

I think Bhogle, M. Waugh and Graeme Smith make a good combination.

I think it's crucial that Smith and Doull, if they're even allowed to commentate, assert themselves in the box, otherwise it's going to be chest-beating, banter, and condescension all the way.

 

[karan316]

A Profile-Bio on the Blackcaps

1) Martin Guptill
Born Auckland
High School = Avondale College
Well Known Fact:
"Guptill was involved in a forklift accident and lost three toes."
Age 28

2) Brendon McCullum
Born Dunedin
High school = King's High School
Well Known Fact:
"Before concentrating on cricket, he was a preferred first five-eighth (fly half) over Daniel Carter as secondary school rugby representative."
Age 33

3) Kane Williamson
Born Tauranga
High School = Taurange Boy's College
Well Known Fact:
"During the New Zealand vs Pakistan 2014 ODI series he donated his entire match fee for all 5 ODI's to the victims of the 2014 Peshawar school massacre"
Age 24

4) Ross Taylor
Born Lower Hutt
High School = Palmerston North Boys High School; Wairarapa College, Masterton
Well Known Fact
"Confesses to liking KFC"
Age 31

5) Grant Elliot
Born Johannesburg
High School = St Stithians College
Well Known Fact
"He debuted with 67 at Gauteng in 1996–97, where on the advice of his captain, former New Zealand test skipper Ken Rutherford, who saw the quota system possibly blocking his path to higher honours, Elliott left his native Johannesburg for New Zealand in 2001"
Age 36

6) Corey Anderson
Born Christchurh
High School = Chirstchurch Boys High School
Well Known Fact
"Anderson was also jointly named player of the Gillette cup in 2006 when he shared this honor with current Blackcap Tim Southee." (for overseas folks the Gillette cup is our presitgious high school tournament.
Age 24

7) Luke Ronchi
Born Dannevirke in the Manawatu
High School = Unknown (an Australian Poster to tell us)
Well Known Fact
"He is really an Ocker (despite his tattoo) but we are happy to have him"
Age 33

8) Daniel Vettori
Born Auckland
High School = St Pauls (Hamilton)
Well Known Fact
"He is among a very small minority of international sports stars to wear prescription spectacles while playing sport, and only one of very few cricketers in the modern era to play Test cricket with spectacles, others including Zimbabwean Charles Coventry, Australian Chris Rogers, and West Indian Clive Lloyd."
Age 36

9) Matt Henry
I am putting him at 9 because he belongs ahead of Tim
Born Christchurch
High School = St Bede's College
Well Known fact
"A slippery fast bowler, Matt Henry almost didn't play for New Zealand, as he underwent a major back surgery in 2012."
Age 23

10) Tim Southee
Born Whangerei
High School = He was educated at Whangarei Boys' High School and King's College, Auckland.
Well Known Fact
"He is a ladies man"
Age 26

11) Trent Boult
Born Rotorua
High School = Otumoetai College (we used to have a sports exchange with them)
Well Known Fact
"Wikipedia lists him as a left–arm fast faster fastest opening bowler"
Age 25

This is the most Dawood-like post I've seen since the time he was banned.