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

[Hurricane]

Dear Gods of cricket,

Let the Australians suffer from some egregious piece of umpiring/use of technology tomorrow and may Corey J please ton up

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

It's still the only sport in the world that gives such a head start to a side based on a random event.

Really is something where I can't think of a better option though. You could do something like having the home team always bat first or whatever but that would be way too big an advantage when you have some level of control over the preparation of the wicket. Random chance is one of the better ways to limit the benefits of extreme pitch doctoring honestly.

 

[Jono]

Really is something where I can't think of a better option though. You could do something like having the home team always bat first or whatever but that would be way too big an advantage when you have some level of control over the preparation of the wicket. Random chance is one of the better ways to limit the benefits of extreme pitch doctoring honestly.

Have the visiting team choose whether they want to bat or bowl?

 

[Spikey]

video game face off like in a*mazing?

 

[Jono]

 

[Gob]

Have the visiting team choose whether they want to bat or bowl?

What's wrong with tossing a coin?

 

[Howe_zat]

In county cricket this year they're getting rid of the toss.

An ECB statement read: "The visiting captain will be offered the opportunity of bowling first.

"If he declines, the toss will take place as normal. But if he accepts, there will be no toss."

So we'll see how that works out I guess.

The reason they're doing it here though is to stop overly green pitches that let 78mph seamers fire teams out in two sessions. They want pitches to be closer to what Test matches are now..

 

[Spikey]

What's wrong with tossing a coin?

ideally something that can be important as the toss would be decided by an actual skill based mechanism

which is why a Rocket League match to decide who bats is the perfect way to solve it

 

[Kippax]

I Initially quite liked the idea of captains buying the right to bat or bowl first (with penalty runs) in a sealed-bid auction. Checking Cricinfo and seeing a team was -65/0 after two overs would probably be mocked too mercilessly in its initial trials for cricket people to give it time and let the concept settle in.

 

[Howe_zat]

I Initially quite liked the idea of captains buying the right to bat or bowl first (with penalty runs) in a sealed-bid auction. Checking Cricinfo and seeing a team was -65/0 after two overs would probably be mocked too mercilessly in its initial trials for cricket people to give it time and let the concept settle in.

I don't think a whole other preliminary round of tactical weirdness would win cricket any friends, no.

 

[Moss]

Toss schmoss, it is what it is. NZ didn't select their attack on form, didn't apply themselves in that first session, dropped Smith early on and couldn't sustain the pressure their bowlers built up to 10-15 overs. Well as Oz played, don't think NZ gave themselves a chance.

The one selection issue now between Wagner and Craig will depend on NZ's ability to read this pitch. If it is anywhere near the Hobart '11 end of the scale, I'd pick Craig as the extra batting will be invaluable and 3 seamers + Anderson ought to do the job between them. Closer to the Basin '16 end of the scale, I'd pick Wagner for the ability to run in all day and put the onus back on the batsmen.

 

[Days of Grace]

New Zealand should pick their XI based on losing the toss, which we all know will happen.

 

[Kippax]

.

Neil Wagner seen marking out run-up so NZ go in with no specialist spinner

 

[Kippax]

 

[Prince EWS]

If NZ are going with four specialist quicks I think I'd rather Craig than Anderson given Corey's current form. I disagree with Bahnz that Craig might just be a better Test batsman than Anderson but I do think he's more likely to make a meaningful contribution in this match than Anderson if there are already going to be four seamers in the side.

 

[Bahnz]

If NZ are going with four specialist quicks I think I'd rather Craig than Anderson given Corey's current form. I disagree with Bahnz that Craig might just be a better Test batsman than Anderson but I do think he's more likely to make a meaningful contribution in this match than Anderson if there are already going to be four seamers in the side.

Ftr, I did mean a better batsman right now. I do think that Corey undoubtedly has the higher ceiling.

Anyway, yeah that would probably be my preferred lineup to, but I can't see NZ playing 4 quicks plus Craig unless at least two of them is a 20+ averager. So unless NZ fly in pretty boy Milne at the last second I can't see it happening.

 

[Meridio]

I get the feeling with Craig though that he might get a nosebleed if he went up to number 6 - reckon he could be one of those guys that scores runs in the lower order but couldn't do it playing as an actual batsman.

 

[Bahnz]

Hesson'll be fuming that looks pretty standard for a day 1 pitch.

What approach do we reckon Guptill should take this morning. Bat like it's an ODI and hope that if he nicks out then Kane and Tom can carry us to lunch? Or do it properly and try to survive?

 

[Bahnz]

I get the feeling with Craig though that he might get a nosebleed if he went up to number 6 - reckon he could be one of those guys that scores runs in the lower order but couldn't do it playing as an actual batsman.

He'd bat at no.7, Watling at 6.

 

[Meridio]

He'd bat at no.7, Watling at 6.

Fair point, though with Watling's current form that wouldn't fill me with confidence either.