*Official* Australia tour of New Zealand Feb-Mar 2024

[Nintendo]

Marnus since the start of the recent West Indies series is definitely the biggest worry for me. I honestly thought his run of form was just luck regressing, then he got those twin 50's in the last test vs Pakistan and I hoped he'd figured his stuff out, but he's lost the plot in these past few tests. Has gotten out because he's not going either forward or back a few times to the pacers and just looks like he can't figure out whether to go hard or defend.

Even in the shield recently when he managed to grind out two starts vs SA he did the same thing. Struggled for a bit, started to get going then got out being indecisive. He looks completely cooked honestly. Think some time away from test cricket at fc level will do him a world of good after this series.

 

[RMBolton]

The record since Eden Park 2015 across all formats is very clear and a statistically significant difference from what you would expect in the context of both sides.

Also, we don't have the same opportunities India and England get. India took multiple 4 zip hidings in Aus 2 years apart to finally get it. If we go 4 zip in 2027, that's it for the next 50 years.

New Zealand has to make their games count. We do not have the luxury to fail time and again like the big 3 or even 'legacy acts' like the West Indies.

The curious thing is that NZ is playing roughly as many Tests in Australia as they have since the 70s. It's Australia that's playing fewer Tests in NZ & touring less often: from 11 Tests in 4 tours from 1991-2010 to 4 from 2 since.

This is probably their only tour this decade.

In honesty, adding that 4th Test in 2026-7 kinda pisses me off, because our lot are still playing about as many Tests in Australia as ever but the buggers show up here as little as possible, & yet fans here are supposed to be lucky to see the Australians in person, for the first time in 8 years? Yeah, nah.

If CA wanna snub NZ, just do it already. Never invite NZ, never come here again. That way, they can be honest as the snobs they've always been.

 

[honestbharani]

Wastethee

 

[Gob]

Marnus since the start of the recent West Indies series is definitely the biggest worry for me. I honestly thought his run of form was just luck regressing, then he got those twin 50's in the last test vs Pakistan and I hoped he'd figured his stuff out, but he's lost the plot in these past few tests. Has gotten out because he's not going either forward or back a few times to the pacers and just looks like he can't figure out whether to go hard or defend.

Even in the shield recently when he managed to grind out two starts vs SA he did the same thing. Struggled for a bit, started to get going then got out being indecisive. He looks completely cooked honestly. Think some time away from test cricket at fc level will do him a world of good after this series.

He is so tentative at the moment. Seems like he is trying to completely remove any risk from his game

He just needs to assert dominance by peeing on the 30 yard circle

 

[Fuller Pilch]

It seems as Marnus has improved as a fielder (and he is genuinely gun now), he's regressed as a batter.

 

[SteveNZ]

It's one day ffs ya crybabies like England and India don't **** the bed every now and then vs Australia.

Yeah it sucks that it seemingly happens everytime vs Australia but we also play two ****ing tests at a time.

Hahaha it's not one day mate. It's a lot in succession against the same side. Hobart 2011 was a lot of haircuts ago. We **** the bed so much, it's time to see a doctor.

We get three Tests in 2026-27, wonder how that'll go.

 

[straw man]

Southee v Australia 39 wickets at 42
Latham v Australia 430 runs at 25.3

I'm surprised they're not both worse than that tbh. Southee actually no worse than Boult (23 at 42).

Unfortunately Williamson's career vs Australia appears to have peaked in that 2015 tour too.

To be your typical highly optimistic and positive NZ CW poster, there are other NZ players that have shown the mentality to compete with Australia. E.g. Mitchell, Phillips, Wagner, Blundell. Henry this match.

Not to overplay the mental fragility aspect either - plenty of it is match-ups/styles that don't work vs Australia (e.g. 130k swing bowling) or just lack of skill (sorry Will Young). But I do feel like Latham and Southee are chief among the wilters, and unfortunately they're both our captaincy options atm too under a coach who doesn't think we should expect to win.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Could've been even worse for NZ at 29/5. Nip out a few early on Sat and you might only be chasing 325. Gotta hope, this Aus side isn't known to respond well to fightbacks in the second half of a Test. Glenn Phillips to hit the winning boundary late on Day 4.

 

[Gob]

Shame we didn't get to watch scott kuggeleijn running between the wickets a bit more. I'm very interested to see how responds when his batting partner yells 'no'

 

[Bahnz]

Weather looks pretty drab and forecast is now for showers this afternoon and not much cricket on days 4 and 5.

 

[Bahnz]

Shame we didn't get to watch scott kuggeleijn running between the wickets a bit more. I'm very interested to see how responds when his batting partner yells 'no'

Nah I was pretty happy with the chorus of cheers he received for his 2 ball duck.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Taking the family today. The three-year-old’s first Test match experience. Could be mayhem. She’s going dressed as a triceratops because why not.

 

[NZTailender]

Triceratops existed 66 to 68 million years ago, meaning your daughter may be the ideal age for a black caps call up soon

 

[straw man]

probs a day to follow on mute unless you enjoy endless declaration chat

 

[Dick Rockett]

Triceratops existed 66 to 68 million years ago, meaning your daughter may be the ideal age for a black caps call up soon

Actually, Heef's oldest daughter has really improved lately. Would be delighted to see her take the fourth seamer's spot in the 2nd test - would improve the side and be a resounding victory for women.

 

[Flem274*]

Fly slip to the nightwatchman on the morning after should get used imo. They're out there to biff next morning.

 

[quincywagstaff]

Weather looks pretty drab and forecast is now for showers this afternoon and not much cricket on days 4 and 5.

Strange that Australia didn't enforce the follow-on, with Day 5 forecast looking especially dire

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Strange that Australia didn't enforce the follow-on, with Day forecast looking especially dire

The follow-on seems to be about as popular as leprosy with Australian teams of recent years, consistently elected not to enforce it, even when (coughadelaide2017cough) they really should

 

[King Kane]

That drop off Lyon last night is already looking costly.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Interesting that I’ve not seen the SP prowling on the boundary at all yet. Plenty of sensible reasons for that, I guess, but can’t be ideal to have to hide one of your players from crowd interaction!