**Official** New Zealand in Australia 2015

[Zinzan]

No doubt about the toss decision. I'm hanging my hopes on the Perth test of 2001/02.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I just want the customary Watling epic in the second test of a series and I'll be happy.

 

[Gnske]

Random thought here, I don't know whether to be extraordinarily happy or to feel ominous about the fact Kane and Smith will probably be playing until 2025 and maybe beyond.

 

[Zinzan]

Why ominous?

 

[Gob]

Random thought here, I don't know whether to be extraordinarily happy or to feel ominous about the fact Kane and Smith will probably be playing until 2025 and maybe beyond.

man i'll be 35 then probably married with kids.

Hey dad TPC and KW are the best

Well you didn't Sachin,Lara and Punter bat,kiddo

could defo see this convo taking place

 

[Gnske]

Why ominous?

Being old enough to say "I remember when Smith was a gimmicky legspinner and Kane could barely average 30"

I mean hell, by the time they finish Cook might have been the leading run scorer in Tests for some years, bowlers will be augmented with cybernetic implants in their knees, stumps will cease to exist and be replaced with holograms, the West Indies and Zimbabwe will have degenerated into worse than associate nations, umpires will be replaced with cyborg's with super vision, Ireland will be a test nation, and Shane Watson will be coaching Australia as is his destiny.

Then again I can't claim to have watched cricket as fanatically as I do for as long as some, I can't imagine how the older battlers here feel.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Coaching Manual technique may lose out of biff domestically but it's been even less rewarding at international level for Bracewell. His forays into bad-boy-made-good conscientious defense have always ended in dismissals like Brisbane - bowled, lbw or edge behind like a not-very-good but 'real' batsman.

I do like Bracewell but both his bowling and batting are stuck at 'not quite' level.

yeah I hate to defend the southee approach, but bracewell is a perfect example of why he does it

 

[hendrix]

I get why it was never going to happen, but damn a fit Milne with a decent amount of 4 day overs under his belt would be an exciting addition at Perth. Anyway, back to dreaming about 'next time around'.

If you're going to play 5 bowlers at the WACA, Milne would definitely be someone you'd want.

As it stands we're playing:
- one good bowler who's injured
- one good bowler who's coming off probably his worst first class game
- three bowlers who've flattered to deceive but probably aren't test standard.

And I thought bowling was our strength.

 

[hendrix]

With all that said, I have a feeling Southee is going to tear through the Aussies tomorrow. He definitely enjoys the extra bounce - takes him from sometimes pedestrian to always dangerous.

 

[Cabinet96]

Can see him playing while not being full fit, getting smashed and then heaps of casuals deciding he's ****, tbh.

 

[Bahnz]

Can see him playing while not being full fit, getting smashed and then heaps of casuals deciding he's ****, tbh.

Yeah, think it's really daft to even consider playing him. I know he's important, but if the coaching staff aren't certain whether he's fit 24 hours before the match starts, then he's not fit imo. I guess the scans they got on his back haven't revealed anything frightening, but all the same, you can't see him producing anything near his best given the circumstances.

 

[Immenso]

NZ deserve to get thrashed in Perth. Stupid muddled thinking by the selectors.

Santner on a holiday/12thman apprenticeship rather than a proper replacement for Anderson. Now Neesham replaced by an ODI bowler? Ye gods!

Meanwhile Dean Brownlie is doing what?

What is going on, I thought Hesson and co had brought some selecterial sanity the last few years, who's stole his brain?

Gonna get a deserved spanking.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

NZ deserve to get thrashed in Perth. Stupid muddled thinking by the selectors.

Santner on a holiday/12thman apprenticeship rather than a proper replacement for Anderson. Now Neesham replaced by an ODI bowler? Ye gods!

Meanwhile Dean Brownlie is doing what?

What is going on, I thought Hesson and co had brought some selecterial sanity the last few years, who's stole his brain?

Gonna get a deserved spanking.

so who are these magical players hesson is meant to have selected?

 

[Immenso]

so who are these magical players hesson is meant to have selected?

Gee that's a tough one. An adequate test batsman to bat at 6 to replace our 2 injured 6s.

Hmmmm Mitch McClenaghan is the obvious pick.

I can't quite remember if I'm forgetting someone ..... Dan Blacklie? Hasn't some batted 5 or 6 for NZ before with success in SA and Oz conditions?

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Isn't Brownlie opening now?

 

[Flem274*]

One day we're going to get a plunket troll in test cricket in the form of an ellis or colin de electricianee cheap 5fer and it will be beautiful. The aussies are getting far too smug and chatty so it's going to happen to them.

They're who should replace neesham

 

[Flem274*]

In all seriousness brownlie should have toured over rudds

 

[Immenso]

Isn't Brownlie opening now?

Yip. And McClenaghan bats 11. Actually fair enough when it's put like that. 6 is exactly in the middle of those 2 extremes - so one or the other is fair enough.

 

[Skyliner]

So because Brownlie is opening he can't transition to middle order? How come Baz flitted up and down the order and there were no qualms around that?
After Rosco's windy waft at the first short pitched ball that was bowled to him on the 2nd innings at the Gabba, and his leaden-footed performance in both innings, I think I'd rather have Ronchi in the line-up in his place.
Cricket teams are so political, the players are such sacred cows. I really think selections are far too timid, as if the current group are the anointed who must be retained. I'd have no problem with Brownlie replacing Guptill, who has gained selection on one-day rather than four and five day performances. I'd have no problem with Ronchi replacing Taylor. "Ohhhh, you can't do that - we might get bowled out for 60". At least try something ffs, Ronchi grew up on these kind of pitches, he had a fantastic debut test.
Btw, saying I wouldn't mind seeing Brownlie in for Guptill doesn't make me a Guptill hater, I just can't see why a bloke who is consistently mediocre has the right to a spot over another guy.
And I still don't know what the hell Rutherford is doing on this tour when he's done absolutely nothing of any merit for about 2 years.
Doug Bracewell did nothing in the last test to warrant another go in this one. Oh, but he's the incumbent, so he must get another chance. What a bull**** rule. It should be Southee / Boult / Henry / Wagner....Wagner couldn't be any worse than Bracewell was, and might be better.

 

[Gob]

So because Brownlie is opening he can't transition to middle order? How come Baz flitted up and down the order and there were no qualms around that?
After Rosco's windy waft at the first short pitched ball that was bowled to him on the 2nd innings at the Gabba, and his leaden-footed performance in both innings, I think I'd rather have Ronchi in the line-up in his place.
Cricket teams are so political, the players are such sacred cows. I really think selections are far too timid, as if the current group are the anointed who must be retained. I'd have no problem with Brownlie replacing Guptill, who has gained selection on one-day rather than four and five day performances. I'd have no problem with Ronchi replacing Taylor. "Ohhhh, you can't do that - we might get bowled out for 60". At least try something ffs, Ronchi grew up on these kind of pitches, he had a fantastic debut test.
Btw, saying I wouldn't mind seeing Brownlie in for Guptill doesn't make me a Guptill hater, I just can't see why a bloke who is consistently mediocre has the right to a spot over another guy.
And I still don't know what the hell Rutherford is doing on this tour when he's done absolutely nothing of any merit for about 2 years.
Doug Bracewell did nothing in the last test to warrant another go in this one. Oh, but he's the incumbent, so he must get another chance. What a bull**** rule. It should be Southee / Boult / Henry / Wagner....Wagner couldn't be any worse than Bracewell was, and might be better.