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

[weldone]

good absorbing test cricket since Guptill's dismissal

 

[Zinzan]

Guptill's not a very good Test opener. He's going to suck away from home, and he's going to suck at home too against quality opposition in favourable bowling conditions. When he comes up against Pattinson and Hazlewood on the first morning of a Test with the wicket doing a bit, I'm absolutely expecting him to fail. Honestly, 18 was a better return than I think you could regularly hope for.

However, that's not actually a compelling reason to drop him because the same is true of all the other candidates for his spot as well, and at least this incarnation of Guptill has shown signs to suggest he might score runs against weaker attacks in more favourable conditions. I think that's the best that can be expected out of the current crop of non-Latham openers. I like Papps and Brownlie but honestly, cycling through all the blokes in domestic cricket would achieve nothing other than giving up the sort of runs Guptill scored against Sri Lanka in a futile pursuit. If someone starts scoring absolutely massive runs in domestic and/or A-level cricket, or if a promising young opener comes along then sure, drop Guptill. Not a lot of point in doing so at the moment though IMO.

Perhaps one of the rare cases to consider of horses and courses approach based on the opposition you play as opposed to conditions per se.

 

[SteveNZ]

Is there a story about Warner and Heineken light? Or is it the fans just taking the piss for no reason.

Someone who saw how much limelight the 'Warner loves Nickleback' sign got and tried to get their own slice. I like the premise behind it, given Heineken is weasel piss and Light must be even worse, but I'm also a big fan of originality. Especially when he doesn't drink.

 

[Meridio]

He's decent for all those things you mention

Here is scoring 82 in a warm up agains the mighty Sri Lankan attack

That's a lot of driving on the up with little footwork.

 

[dermo]

yessssssss

 

[ImpatientLime]

lol what a meme wicket

 

[nevermind]

Ripper

 

[weldone]

What a catch!

 

[wellAlbidarned]

that ball was there to go

 

[SteveNZ]

Scott Styris said Latham had been 'outstanding' over the last 12 months...would be nice to get some impartiality.

 

[Compton]

Great catch.

 

[Hurricane]

Latham Gone.

 

[BeeGee]

Good catch.

 

[Compton]

Australia have bowled beautifully today.

 

[Meridio]

That's frustrating. Was actually there to hit, genuine half volley, but it looked like he was late on it if anything.

Actually that's also a stunning catch, didn't quite realise it live with my 'tv' quality.

 

[CM Punk]

So we're not scoring runs and we're not conserving wickets...

14 overs and 2 down with 23 on the board...

Time to admit our batsmen just aren't that good.

 

[Jord]

And there in lies the problem with not pushing the game forward.

 

[vandem]

And there in lies the problem with not pushing the game forward.

Um. 5 day game ...

 

[Hurricane]

Put that Latham dismissal down to field settings. He couldn't score any runs and took Smith's bait by trying to drive into the empty gap at cover.

 

[Meridio]

Good "reactional" catch. That's a perfectly cromulent word.