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

[Moss]

Anderson now top scorer.

Which isn't saying much, but probably an important little innings from him seeing there's been quite a bit of competition for the number 6 spot in the last 2 years.

 

[straw man]

Quite a good Southee pitch imo - has nice bounce that Hazelwood and Siddle have done a good job of extracting. Will prefer bowling to right-handers as always of course.

 

[Bahnz]

I feel like Craig has never scored any valuable runs for NZ.

I don't think I saw his Leeds innings though.

Depends on what you mean by valuable. In terms of runs that were really needed for a win, then yeah, I can't think of any innings were he's really contributed like that. But the guts he showed in keeping out the WI bowlers for 2 sessions in 2014 in a lost cause showed me that he's got some mettle.

 

[Moss]

I feel like Craig has never scored any valuable runs for NZ.

I don't think I saw his Leeds innings though.

Did play usefully in the Windies and the UAE from memory.

 

[Zinzan]

Athers odds-on favourite now..

NZ 1st innings score sweep (closed)

Athers 141
James 162
straw man 173
Bahnz 183
Zinzan 189
weldone 199
91jmay 255
Compton 267
Hendrix 350
Burgey 468 (Gambhiring)

 

[Bahnz]

Craig's batting in this game certainly contributed significantly to us saving the test.

2nd Test: New Zealand v Pakistan at Dubai (DSC), Nov 17-21, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Black_Warrior]

Flatter to deceive

 

[Zinzan]

This is when I hate the prospect of Craig's bowling more than ever. Small first innings to defend and you can almost sense his mandatory 1 -2 long-hop/wide freebies an over in his first 3-4 overs. Hopefully he's not required today.

 

[Bahnz]

Yeah, would've loved having Henry on this deck.

 

[straw man]

Yeah, would've loved having Henry on this deck.

Yup, a little seam movement, decent bounce, excellent Henry conditions. Not too bad for Bracewell either tbf.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Unplayable green top

can never tell if you're serious or not

 

[cnerd123]

can never tell if you're serious or not

Good

 

[Stace]

Yeah, would've loved having Henry on this deck.

So Henry for Craig with KW bowling a couple of overs if needed?

 

[Zinzan]

Signs it's just starting to play a bit better in the last 20 minutes or so or just the fact the ball's now 35 overs old?

 

[Bahnz]

Haha, about time one of those went our way.

 

[Redbacks]

It's his lucky day

 

[Spikey]

do they use the wind bails or something

 

[straw man]

it's lucky we had snicko there to tell us that the ball hit the stumps

 

[Bahnz]

Signs it's just starting to play a bit better in the last 20 minutes or so or just the fact the ball's now 35 overs old?

Cricinfo commentary reckons the pitch is definitely quickening up a bit.

 

[Zinzan]

Yup, a little seam movement, decent bounce, excellent Henry conditions. Not too bad for Bracewell either tbf.

Agree, handy Bracewell conditions provided he doesn't get excited & just hit the good line and length he usually does.