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

[Moss]

Brownlie had a good start to the FC season, one 50 and one 100 for NZ A against SL A, then injured during 20 over comp. Had a bad start to Ford Trophy 50 over matches but finished with 55, 107*,44 and 67. Two low scores on his return to FC cricket. So useful, but not enough to push him ahead of Nicholls. Similar story for Young, useful season but not knocking the door down.

Rutherford good runs in Ford Trophy batting at #4, 332 runs avge 47, and a good double of 70 + 36 in recent FC game vs Wgtn. But repeated test failures means chance of a recall is slim unless it's to fill a short term gap due to injury.

With hindsight, Brownlie's move to opener didn't help his NZ career. Latham was always going to have one spot, and Guptill's great LO form and moderate test form means he'll have the test spot for at least another season.

I guess ever since Brownlie put his hat into the ring for the opening slot Hesson and co. have been viewing him as a candidate for that slot only. Despite his mixed test record he seems to have more of a 'test match mentality' than most of his peers so thought that would keep him in consideration, but that is that I suppose.

What is the nature of Watling's injury? Was wondering if they'd consider doing a Leeds by playing him as a batsman and giving Ronchi the gloves.

 

[Bahnz]

I guess ever since Brownlie put his hat into the ring for the opening slot Hesson and co. have been viewing him as a candidate for that slot only. Despite his mixed test record he seems to have more of a 'test match mentality' than most of his peers so thought that would keep him in consideration, but that is that I suppose.

What is the nature of Watling's injury? Was wondering if they'd consider doing a Leeds by playing him as a batsman and giving Ronchi the gloves.

Yeah, not the worst idea, if push comes to shove. If he can make it then Watling>>>>Nicholls as a specialist bat.

 

[hendrix]

My one concern re: Milne is that while his use of the cross seam delivery and slower balls have really added to his arsenal and have indeed helped the side, I don't want him to ignore the reverse swing he should be going for from overs 35 onwards.

He's the only one fast enough for these deliveries to be effective. He has made use of it briefly in the past and he can still do it as his seam position is pretty good when he wants it to be, but he's been shelving it in favour of the slower balls and bouncers.

 

[NZTailender]

****, Brownlie has been pretty quiet this year. Not alot of FC cricket has been played the last 2 months though.

Last domestic opener to score a triple (last season tho).

 

[NZTailender]

Only just learned Luggage's sledge that set off Wade (which in turn was in response to some waaaahing). "So we're not playing caught and bowleds then?"

Luggage for PM.

 

[BeeGee]

Australian cricketers get up close and personal during national anthem | Stuff.co.nz

LOL

 

[hendrix]

woah.

Is that debutant hazing?

 

[Gnske]

Australian cricketers get up close and personal during national anthem | Stuff.co.nz

LOL

Nothing wrong with that, bit of arse groping is an Australian sportsman's favourite pastime.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I was going to say what's the big deal but then watched the video and I can't help but feel that Ussy was enjoying it a bit too much

 

[Bahnz]

"Bring me my brown trousers!"

 

[Binkley]

Apparently Dylan Cleaver thinks Mark Reason is mental:

...even if your hatred of the Black Caps and Brendon McCullum is such that you feel they somehow contravened some edict of sportsmanship by politely asking for a decision to be made (which is mental), then it doesn't alter this one fact - Marsh was out.

Probably a fair enough assumption to make really, given Reason's apparent pathological conviction that McCullum is the devil.

 

[straw man]

I was ignoring the post-match comments on the Henry-Marsh incident but unbelievably it's still going on a few days later.

John Hastings, Australian cricketer, accuses New Zealand of double standards

"They want to be the big spirit of cricket in the ICC, but when it comes down to it, with a big series on the line, you're obviously going to take that one aren't you?

The umpiring process wasn't good and no doubt changes will come out of it, but you really have to bend over backwards to say McCullum/NZ were culpable in any way. What were they supposed to do? Recall Marsh because he was ummm... out? Bizarre.

 

[Tangles]

Nothing wrong with that, bit of arse groping is an Australian sportsman's favourite pastime.

No more masculine or manly way to congratulate a team mate really.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

every time someone says "half an appeal" a puppy dies. There's no such thing ffs. It's either an appeal or not.

 

[TheJediBrah]

wouldn't want to face Hazlewood & Bird on that

 

[Prince EWS]

every time someone says "half an appeal" a puppy dies. There's no such thing ffs. It's either an appeal or not.

Nothing beats Mark Taylor's classic "half a thought about a shout."

 

[Gnske]

So I take it the Vegan will probably be operating as third seamer on Friday?

 

[Crazy Sam]

Don't most pitches in Aus/NZ look like that 2 days out from a test?

 

[Bahnz]

wouldn't want to face Hazlewood & Bird on that

Nah, in all seriousness that's already looking like another Basin seamy road. Whoever wins the toss is going to have a huge advantage because it's going to be a beautiful batting track from the morning of day 2 onwards.

 

[Bahnz]

Though having said, for the purposes of getting a result, it might be better if the pitch is a real green nightmare given that the forecast for early next week isn't looking too flash.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11587393

My NZ team for the game: Latham, Gup, KW, Nicholls (sigh), BMac, Watling, Corey, Henry, Wagner, Southee, Boult

Initially thought about going for Braces over Wags as there won't be much reverse on offer, but I reckon we'll need Wagners endurance once the surface flattens out.