**Official** New Zealand in Australia 2015

[Kippax]

You keep trying to paint Santner as a completely nude nothing bowler, but I've seen otherwise tbh. Bairstow would agree with me.

 

[social]

calling it early. Day night test cricket is here to stay and the game will be ever thankful.

starting to believe the theory that they invested everything into the Pink ball and let the quality of the red slide.

It's not just a recent problem

Soft Kookaburras under fire

 

[straw man]

Yeah Santner definitely turned two or three that were on a good length; this one in particular surprised Burns:

12.6
Santner to Burns, 3 runs, goes back to cut but gets a thick edge past slip towards third man

Didn't flight and land another ball in as good a spot as that one unfortunately.

 

[straw man]

Anyway, with Santner the NZ side from number 6 down now shapes as three three-way battles the way I see it:
6: Neesham/Anderson/Santner - batting allrounder. Batting needs to develop in order to be a true test 6 in all cases.
7: Watling
8: Craig/Astle/Milne - Risky wicket-taker. Can Bat. Santner's spin makes Milne an option in place of Craig imo.
9: Bracewell/Henry/Wagner - ****ed if I know who is best of these three right now. (Bracewell would bat above Milne and maybe Astle)
10: Southee
11: Boult

 

[Riggins]

Pulsing early

 

[Kippax]

Yeah Santner definitely turned two or three that were on a good length; this one in particular surprised Burns:



Didn't flight and land another ball in as good a spot as that one unfortunately.

Yeah well he's legit got Joe Root out stumped this year too, right. Dubbing him "the Andy Ellis of spin" is harsh.

I assume it's the really dainty and dawdling, "I'm a snooty little scratch golfer and an engineering masters graduate and I want to get my new bowling action I've developed absolutely precise" aspect of Santner that makes people assume he's 100% nude.

 

[social]

I thought Santner had a pretty good first day in test cricket

He obviously has a few technical issues with his bowling (but nothing insurmountable IMO) and was decent with the bat

I've seen far worse debuts

 

[NZTailender]

He batted as well as he could've too. Even Chappelli was impressed.

 

[Hurricane]

He batted as well as he could've too. Even Chappelli was impressed.

His dismissal was high schoolish.

 

[NZTailender]

His dismissal was high schoolish.

His captains was backyardish

 

[Hurricane]

His captains was backyardish

Amen.

 

[Hurricane]

His captains was backyardish

More "expressing yourself" etc...

 

[Loose Cannon]

Nev on the radio and TV at the same time.

He's some sort of wizard!

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Haha, given Santa doesn't put a lot of revs on it at all and doesn't particularly possess an arm ball I've seen, pretty flawed to think that would cause any alarm. Play it as straight, and if not read it off the pitch.

just, no. Santa tends to undercut a bit and not come over the top of the ball when he's nervous, but he definitely puts good revs on it.

 

[Flem274*]

if you're an allrounder with dubious FC figures and you've impressed Ian Chappell then you've done very well. He despises anything that might smell slightly like a bits and pieces player.

12 months too early and would love to see him up the order for ND, but hey since corey and jimmy are both in doubt for Sri Lanka santa is going to get a bit of a crack i reckon. and we're going to india in the next year or so iirc.

 

[Hurricane]

if you're an allrounder with dubious FC figures and you've impressed Ian Chappell then you've done very well. He despises anything that might smell slightly like a bits and pieces player.

12 months too early and would love to see him up the order for ND, but hey since corey and jimmy are both in doubt for Sri Lanka santa is going to get a bit of a crack i reckon. and we're going to india in the next year or so iirc.

Putting on a glass is half full perspective about him you are right 100%
1) It looks like he will thrive against spin.
2) He is badly badly in need of some long 6-8 hour innings at the crease. He will only get that in the top four for ND.

 

[Hurricane]

Stress fracture of Metatarsal for Starc gone for rest of the test

If we can bowl like demons and restrict Australia to a 100 run lead, we could fight back in the 3rd innings based on this news. I don't think Hazelwood and Siddle keep us up at night.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I actually think Father Christmas will be very useful in that role for the next few years until Josh Finnie is ready.

 

[SteveNZ]

He batted as well as he could've too. Even Chappelli was impressed.

Precisely my issue with his selection. His high water mark was always going to be a decent 30. Ronchi, conceivably more. Anyway, I may have sold him short with the bowling but I do know he's not a Test bowler's backside. Good player, not ready, less than ideal selection.

I should raise my hand for a slice of humble pie, however, given I said the pink ball would be a nonsense. So far, so good. Really enjoyed last night's session. Obviously it becomes a completely different scenario on a dry pitch, or in different humidities. But there could really be a future.

 

[Zinzan]

Poor start Boult, 124 kms on leg-stump. Hopefully not a sign of things to come. At least make them work for runs if ur not taking wickets.