***Official*** Australia in New Zealand 2016

[Gob]

Man such a short turn around for tests. Think i would stick with MMarsh now instead of my earlier thoughts on having six specialist batsmen

Burns
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
MMarsh
Neville
Pattinson
Siddle
Hazlewood
Lyon

looks set. Having no warm ups means Bird or Sayers won't get the opportunity to make a case to be included ahead the incumbent Siddle and i'd prob stick with Siddle for his experience. What would NZ look like? Henry has to play i think

 

[Blain]

Mark Craig replaces injured Mitchell Santner in Black Caps test squad | Stuff.co.nz

Craig replacing Santner for the first test. He bowled well for Otago so hoping he can actually bowl OK this game..

 

[Burgey]

Seems like the captains agree the MMarsh dismissal was the correct one, however, it was a bit like Jono at birth - obviously handled pretty poorly.

 

[Dead Meat]

With Santner out the line-up is basically settled. Missed the second innings - heard Bracewell bowled well? Henry's form is undeniable. Any chance that Bracewell plays ahead of Southee due to lack of prep/overs?

Don't even what to think how the middle/lower order looks if Watling doesn't pull through..

 

[Howe_zat]

Is Taylor out for the series?

 

[Dead Meat]

First test at this stage. He had a short commentary stint and said he had just started hitting balls again - so its still wait and see for the second.

 

[Howe_zat]

Worrying for NZ. They're in an odd position, most sides have one or two middle order players under fire and someone pushing to get in, NZ have three quality test match batsmen and then... nope

 

[thierry henry]

TH must love the anthems. All the players standing side by side so he can get a good look at their heights.

Just caught up on this post. It's so true. I absolutely relish the anthems. Not much of a singer but love giving the pause button a good working over on MySky so I can compare heights.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah, predicting 1-1 in this series. NZ will badly miss Taylor and Southee's prep for this one hasn't been great. Santner's departure also theows the balance of the team.

 

[Moss]

Terrific win. Didn't watch much of the 2nd half, but considering I thought 246 would be easy for Australia it was quite the surprise. Seems like everyone bowled and fielded tigerishly to defend that middling score. Though I'm in the camp that feels the Aussies can be aggrieved about the Marsh referral.

Great to see Baz sign off on this note. Had mixed feelings about his innings, but won't harp on that. The way he used Sodhi as a weapon was a reminder of the confidence he's been willing to show in his players to get the best out of them.

On to the tests then..

 

[Moss]

Yeah, predicting 1-1 in this series. NZ will badly miss Taylor and Southee's prep for this one hasn't been great. Santner's departure also theows the balance of the team.

Yup, on current form Santner >> Anderson, and would have allowed NZ to play 4 seamers. Also predicting 1-1, but beginning to feel this is one injury too many.

 

[Blain]

Guptill
Latham
Williamson
Nicholls
McCullum
Anderson
Watling/Ronchi..
Craig
Henry
Southee
Boult

Bracewell and Wags to sit out IMO. Would have been really nice to play Anderson and Santner. Not sold on Nicholls, still pretty fresh but probably deserves a shot above anyone else.

 

[BeeGee]

Corey!!! God we've missed his bowling.

His bowling is very underrated. We just need him to regain his form with the bat now.

 

[Moss]

Man such a short turn around for tests. Think i would stick with MMarsh now instead of my earlier thoughts on having six specialist batsmen

Burns
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
MMarsh
Neville
Pattinson
Siddle
Hazlewood
Lyon

looks set. Having no warm ups means Bird or Sayers won't get the opportunity to make a case to be included ahead the incumbent Siddle and i'd prob stick with Siddle for his experience. What would NZ look like? Henry has to play i think

I think MMarsh has the wood on NZ and will be a key player this series. Seems to take wickets regularly against them and is in good batting touch too.

Henry's made a very strong case for himself. Third seamer is not the best use of him, but form probably trumps everything else at this stage. Wouldn't want to be deciding which pacers to leave out from the XI..Bracewell and Wagner both have something to offer as well.

 

[TheJammyTurtle]

I mustn't be the only one thinking Adam Milne is constantly slipping under the radar with his poor performances in ODIs?Played 33 of them now averaging over 40 yet is considered a lock ahead of guys like Henry and Bracewell who have done better?Im sure the only reason for it is his pace.I know he's had his injuries problem and this comment could well come back to bite me in a couple of years time but for now it's a joke

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

NZ Test squad plusses... Corey seeming to get his mojo back with the ball, if not yet the bat. Can help cover for the loss of Santner. Southee/Boult/Henry looking a scary combo.

Minuses... Mark Craig... lol... terrible. Surely pick Sodhi now, or never. Both will go for 4 an over, but only one can get wickets. Taylor quite a loss, Nicholls looks suspect outside off, but we'll see what the lad's made of.

Edit: Probably decided on the squad before the game, and after Sodhi bowled well didn't have the heart/balls to ring Craig back, err sorry mate, change of plan..

 

[straw man]

Mark Craig replaces injured Mitchell Santner in Black Caps test squad | Stuff.co.nz

Craig replacing Santner for the first test. He bowled well for Otago so hoping he can actually bowl OK this game..

ffs

Huge loss. IMO more likely than Anderson to score runs at 6, and throws out the best balance for the side (four seamers plus part-time spinner) in favour of a much inferior balance (three seamers plus Anderson plus a very leaky spinner).

It was hard enough trying to fit five seamers into four, it's going to be even worse selecting just 3.

 

[Immenso]

How can I go from being as comfortable as I've ever been with our depth, to OMG we could be all out for 42. In the space of about a month.

4. Nicholls
5. McCullum
6. Anderson
7. Ronchi
8. Craig

Wow, that is jelly soft - made worse with about 3 or 4 of them in horrid form with the bat.

Add Southee and Boult's mediocre form with the ball, and injury disrupted seasons.

Tests will be yuck.

 

[hendrix]

I mustn't be the only one thinking Adam Milne is constantly slipping under the radar with his poor performances in ODIs?Played 33 of them now averaging over 40 yet is considered a lock ahead of guys like Henry and Bracewell who have done better?Im sure the only reason for it is his pace.I know he's had his injuries problem and this comment could well come back to bite me in a couple of years time but for now it's a joke

Have you actually been watching the matches in question though? Because over the last year or so he's been genuinely good. Sure the SR and average haven't reflected that but he's been extremely economical while also building lots of pressure, coming in as a first or second change bowler.

I honestly doubt whether any other bowler in NZ would have performed better at the roles he's been given.

Sure, McCleneghan has taken wickets quite often but I do recall certain matches when Milne wasn't fit (either during or slightly before the WC) and McCleneghan took a pasting trying to perform the role that Milne had been doing so admirably.

The reality is that it's a very difficult job to bowl first or second change in ODIs these days.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah, our ideal bowling attack would be Boult, Southee, Henry, Wagner and Santner. Now we're in a position were we either have to gamble on 5 seamers or drop one of our best bowlers for a guy who's probably going to get walloped (I do note that Kippax reckons Craig was bowling with a lot more control and incisiveness this weekend, but whether that'll hold up when he comes on to bowl against Smith and Warner at 90/2 after lunch on day 1 remains to be seen). And as noted, a middle order of Nicholls, Anderson and Ronchi is as bad as it's been since 2012. We desperately need BJ back fit, and if he gets there, I'd bat Anderson at 7.