**Official** New Zealand in Australia 2015

[cnerd123]

Craig should play. Rule 1 after a thrashing is not to panic. The only changes that need to be made are those forced by injury.

 

[Julian87]

Thing with Craig is he has shown he's simply not good enough to be a member of a 4 man attack on a bouncy wicket. Can get away with it if you pick Anderson, but not without a 4th seamer.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah I'd sooner bat Craig at seven than only pick three seamers and him in Perth.

 

[adub]

If you were looking at Craig as a no.7 bat and playing four seamers then there are possibly worse ideas, but his lack of control is going to get punished on a true wicket. Every time he drops short it's just going to sit up and scream hit me, and every time he over pitches batsmen are going to drive him without fear. Bowling finger spin in Australia is a tough gig, but I don't think I've seen too many worse efforts than Craig in Brisbane. Perth is less forgiving.

 

[Days of Grace]

We weren't smashed at lords, we were on top for most of that test.

In the UAE we weren't smashed anywhere near as bad as this.

We sure were smashed. Have a look at the scorecard.

I don't know why, but New Zealanders seem to be the slowest cricketers in the world to adjust to new conditions/new formats/get up to speed after a layoff.

Should be playing almost constantly, but then they will get tired/injured. It's a no-win.

I think having a ODI series first-up would help. It's not a test match, but it's international cricket.

Finally, to take 20 wickets in Australia, unless it's a once in 20 years green-top, you need the following:

Pace bowlers who can bowl over 140km/h consistently
A quality leg-spinner/world class off-spinner
A seam/swing bowler at the absolute peak of his powers.

We have none of those.

 

[cnerd123]

Thing with Craig is he has shown he's simply not good enough to be a member of a 4 man attack on a bouncy wicket. Can get away with it if you pick Anderson, but not without a 4th seamer.

Yeah I'd sooner bat Craig at seven than only pick three seamers and him in Perth.

Honestly, while the strongest NZ XI may not feature Craig, dropping him sends the signal that NZ are panicking, because they have stuck through with him through other horror performances.

NZ have also built up this really strong team culture, and a large part of that is backing players and showing faith in them. Dropping a guy like Craig after one horror showing and debuting a new kid who isn't good enough is exactly the kind of the thing they should not be doing.

Fair enough if cricket was played on paper, but I can't help feeling that the effect of dropping Craig on the team mentality will do more harm than backing him to bounce back after that performance.

Maybe they might actually bat Craig at 7 and bring in a 4th quick. But they shouldn't drop Craig and/or debut Santa. That's the kind of panicked selection policy we saw sides like India and England use during their thrashings.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

nailed it

 

[Athlai]

Pace bowlers who can bowl over 140km/h consistently
A quality leg-spinner/world class off-spinner
A seam/swing bowler at the absolute peak of his powers.

We have none of those.

Pace bowlers who can bowl over 140km/h consistently - fit Trent
A quality leg-spinner/world class off-spinner - pffft, even ATG spinners get smashed around in Australia. We'll keep bringing spuds thanks.
A seam/swing bowler at the absolute peak of his powers.- fit Southee

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Pace bowlers who can bowl over 140km/h consistently
A quality leg-spinner/world class off-spinner
A seam/swing bowler at the absolute peak of his powers.

We have none of those.

well you're kinda describing an ATG bowling attack

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

NZ have also built up this really strong team culture, and a large part of that is backing players and showing faith in them.

Yeah I'd tend to agree with this. I'd argue that our improved results so far are at least in part because of the change in attitude. Elliott played a horrid comeback innings before the WC and people were calling for his head. I'd stick with Craig because he seems to fluke a bag of wickets once a series while looking garbage the rest of the time.

 

[Tangles]

MMarsh hit 140. If any of the Kiwis hit 140 it wasn't for long. That's a massive problem. Pace isn't everything but you need to challenge quality batsmen in some way. A flat pitch, no swing and under 140 is a recipe for disaster without at least accuracy and excellent fielding.

 

[aussie]

Given McCullum's comments yesterday night, it seems unlikely that there'll be any changes to the structure of the side. New Zealand will still go in with 3 quicks and a spinner, and that spinner will be Craig. The only changes will be injury forced. Henry a straight swap for Southee if required. And from the sounds of it McCullum wasn't yet quite decided on whether to pick Santner or Ronchi. McCullum says the decision will depend on how fit Southee is - though in my mind if Southee is in any discomfort he simply shouldn't play.

Hmm interesting, if NZ does go this way presuming includes Santner that would be a bad decision. Fit or unfit Southee, Perth is the one place surely they could risk playing 4 seamers and dropping Craig.

 

[aussie]

Honestly, while the strongest NZ XI may not feature Craig, dropping him sends the signal that NZ are panicking, because they have stuck through with him through other horror performances.

NZ have also built up this really strong team culture, and a large part of that is backing players and showing faith in them. Dropping a guy like Craig after one horror showing and debuting a new kid who isn't good enough is exactly the kind of the thing they should not be doing.

Fair enough if cricket was played on paper, but I can't help feeling that the effect of dropping Craig on the team mentality will do more harm than backing him to bounce back after that performance.

Maybe they might actually bat Craig at 7 and bring in a 4th quick. But they shouldn't drop Craig and/or debut Santa. That's the kind of panicked selection policy we saw sides like India and England use during their thrashings.

I won't call dropping Craig a panic selection, batting him @ # 7 would be.

If they played 6 bats, keeper, 4 seamers & dropped Craig,- it will be a similar erudite horses for courses selection after being thrashed in a first test just like how they brought Vettori out of retirement to play that one-off test vs PAK @ Sharjah last year & won.

 

[Midwinter]

From the CA website

"Peter Nevill 7/10

Immaculate wicketkeeping and didn't miss a chance. Looked snappy to Lyon's turn and bounce. Batted tidily in the nets! "

In the context of the game what more could he do ?

Underrated

 

[adub]

From the CA website

"Peter Nevill 7/10

Immaculate wicketkeeping and didn't miss a chance. Looked snappy to Lyon's turn and bounce. Batted tidily in the nets! "

In the context of the game what more could he do ?

Underrated

Should get a bonus point every game for quitting Victoria

(and a second bonus point for getting a proper haircut)

 

[Spark]

well you're kinda describing an ATG bowling attack

Which is generally what you need to actually win in Australia.

 

[Days of Grace]

well you're kinda describing an ATG bowling attack

Which is what you need if you want to win a series in Australia

Pace bowlers who can bowl over 140km/h consistently - fit Trent
A quality leg-spinner/world class off-spinner - pffft, even ATG spinners get smashed around in Australia. We'll keep bringing spuds thanks.
A seam/swing bowler at the absolute peak of his powers.- fit Southee

And they're not fit.

 

[Adders]

Their record at the WACA is even better. It's the one ground in world cricket where I wouldn't want to be going 1-0 down in a 3 Test series.

Nah, the Waca's not a fortress in the way the Gabba is. Aus have lost to SA twice and even India there in the last 10 years. ****s havent lost at the Gabba since the 80s.

 

[adub]

Kiwis have a fair record at the WACA. Bowl like they did in Brisbane though and the result won't be any prettier

 

[Tangles]

If I have my times right Perth looks better for me than Adelaide DN. Looks like 8:30pm start for Perth and 9:30pm for Adelaide. That's US CST if that helps anyone else.