*Official* Australia in New Zealand

[DingDong]

is there a chance it might rain the whole day tomorrow?

 

[Hurricane]

It must be frustrating for Australia - we only have three batsman in our side and two of them came through for us in this inning in a big way.

Big props to Mcintosh his inning is seeming even more important if we can scrape out of this due to the weather.

The forecast for tomorrow is sunshine though! How is this possible. Where is the rain when it is needed.

Early rain clearing to fine. Strong gusty northerlies.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Ended up going down to the Basin for the afternoon sessions. Good to see NZ showing some spine.

Just a shame we didn't get a decent total in the first dig. 220-240ish would have even done the job with this 2nd innings effort.

McCullum played very well, despite looking shaky against Hauritz. I felt more at ease with Tuffey facing Hauritz near the end there.

Those Aussie supporters at the top of the embankment are legendary. Sat next to them on days 2 and 3 but decided for the opposite side of the ground today. The rest of the crowd was in stitches when a big gust of wind came through and had them sprawling about (10 times more hilarious than the photo James posted).

 

[Hurricane]

Forgot to post yesterday that when I was at the basin. I watched Southee and Tuffey taking batting practice together. Each guy was facing six balls and then switching out. No sign of Arnel and Martin taking any practice though. At least when I was watching. Do they practice batting much or is everyone like what is the point.

BTW not to create any alarms. But when Vettori steps down as captain is he going to keep playing? Didn't he say he was just captaining until the world cup.

 

[Hurricane]

Hmmm..so for all our gnashing of teeth over our batting and bowling, who would we have in the side if everyone were fit? I still think a lot of these guys, barring injured players, are the best we have.

Williamson would make this side if we picked on merit only, which is heartening. Is 18 FC matches enough?

I think this winter is very important for the A side. We need to get the right guys in there and rather than looking for "individual success" as Turner put it, I personally think getting them winning (and they win a lot of games tbf) is just as important.

Another question: should we do what Australia did in the late 80s/early 90s and pick young quality that was succeeding domestically and stick with them through thick and thin (Steve Waugh for example).?

Re: Athlai: Woodcock, given enough of a chance, probably could do a job down at number six. We have better number six candidates though.

They were thinking of dropping Steve Waugh at one stage and then he came good. So I am not sure if Australia had our "talent" whether they would have stuck with them for a couple of years. So we would be setting a precedent if we did stick with a bunch of NZ young guys through thick and thin.
If I was in charge I would probably go for this theory. That would mean Daniel Flynn and Guptil would be picked in every game no matter what. I list Daniel Flynn as he is young and was in the team last year so he would not have been dropped.
The only people who could break into the squad would be someone who was just making a pile of runs in domestic cricket and was also a fresh face. As opposed to someone who had already had 2 or 3 turns at it.

If we are going to lose anyway lets have a strategy.

To implement this strategy you would need selectors who had spines made of steel who couldn't be sacked no matter how bad the team was doing.

 

[Flem274*]

They were thinking of dropping Steve Waugh at one stage and then he came good. So I am not sure if Australia had our "talent" whether they would have stuck with them for a couple of years. So we would be setting a precedent if we did stick with a bunch of NZ young guys through thick and thin.
If I was in charge I would probably go for this theory. That would mean Daniel Flynn and Guptil would be picked in every game no matter what. I list Daniel Flynn as he is young and was in the team last year so he would not have been dropped.
The only people who could break into the squad would be someone who was just making a pile of runs in domestic cricket and was also a fresh face. As opposed to someone who had already had 2 or 3 turns at it.

If we are going to lose anyway lets have a strategy.

To implement this strategy you would need selectors who had spines made of steel who couldn't be sacked no matter how bad the team was doing.

Thats a good point.

Selectors have to justify their places as well. As a result, sometimes they go looking for young talent so they can claim they found the next Martin Crowe or Richard Hadlee
or they bow to the public and pick a one game wonder OR one of the men on the merry go round (Sinclair the current example).

I wouldn't pick Daniel Flynn though if I were magically an undroppable selector. I said "young quality succeeding domestically." Flynn was a one season wonder.

Back in 2008, if we'd used the youth and success strategy, I assume Hay and Southee would be in. Hay has gone missing of course and would probably have been exposed (though there were whispers around that some brainbox tried to "help" his bat grip, right before his slide to no where). Southee has been picked on and off with limited success and has been fiddled with technically I hear.

Williamson is another name that falls into the idea.

But its not a foolproof strategy and needs good coaches as well as brave selectors. Best its not used then, or we're doomed.

 

[Craig]

Wow, what a fight back, I fully expected this Test to be over by the time I got home from work. Now if McCullum can get those six runs, it would be a well deserved century. It's a massive if, but if we can somehow eek out another 100-150 runs, then at least you would have given your bowlers half a chance.

 

[Hurricane]

Thats a good point.

Selectors have to justify their places as well. As a result, sometimes they go looking for young talent so they can claim they found the next Martin Crowe or Richard Hadlee
or they bow to the public and pick a one game wonder OR one of the men on the merry go round (Sinclair the current example).

I wouldn't pick Daniel Flynn though if I were magically an undroppable selector. I said "young quality succeeding domestically." Flynn was a one season wonder.

Back in 2008, if we'd used the youth and success strategy, I assume Hay and Southee would be in. Hay has gone missing of course and would probably have been exposed (though there were whispers around that some brainbox tried to "help" his bat grip, right before his slide to no where). Southee has been picked on and off with limited success and has been fiddled with technically I hear.

Williamson is another name that falls into the idea.

But its not a foolproof strategy and needs good coaches as well as brave selectors. Best its not used then, or we're doomed.

It also needs super smart selectors who will pick the right young players to invest the confidence in. If for example you don't beleive in Flynn as a fan. Imagine your chagrin if he was selected for four years in a row and averaged 25.
As fans we would need to be supportive of this strategy or it would be bad for the gate revenues and fan base.

 

[Flem274*]

It also needs super smart selectors who will pick the right young players to invest the confidence in. If for example you don't beleive in Flynn as a fan. Imagine your chagrin if he was selected for four years in a row and averaged 25.
As fans we would need to be supportive of this strategy or it would be bad for the gate revenues and fan base.

Thats why the more I thought about it, the closer I came to answering my own question with a big fat no.

 

[Redbacks]

If NZ had made 100 more in the first dig I think Australia would have batted again as it would be likely NZ would have gotten a 150+ run lead had they batted well in the follow on.

 

[S.P. Fleming]

pleased with the fight from dan and mccullum.

just a note to say that McCullums test average is now above 35 - a good mark for a wk/batsman IMO.

I still believe we need a session of bad light/rain to have a real shot at salvaging a draw. Otherwise McCullum and Tuffey/Southee really need to bat close to two sessions.

 

[_Ed_]

just a note to say that McCullums test average is now above 35 - a good mark for a wk/batsman IMO.

Definitely. Still just the one century against a team that isn't Bangladesh or Zimbabwe, though, and that was on that road at Napier against India. Hope he makes it two tomorrow.

 

[Spark]

Haha, loved Hazzas delivery that drifted dangerously close to the wide-line, hit the patch and turned a ****ing mile back into McCullum. He's bowled superbly today and imo Ponting should bring on one of Clarke, Katich or North at the other end to try and get some drift and turn happening from both ends. The wind doesn't seem to agree with the seamers as much as it has done with Hauritz.

Also, this is probably the best Test innings I've ever seen McCullum play (mind you I haven't seen every single one of his innings, but I've seen a few and this is superb)

He is turning into a damn fine offie. Good on him.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

The sun is shining here in Wellington. So no help from the weather today.

 

[Bahnz]

Not much from the batsmen either. C'mon Tuffers!

 

[DingDong]

damn..

 

[Kylez]

Pretty dissapointing bowling performance from Johnson this test.

 

[Bahnz]

Tim Southee should feel very embarassed about being both outlasted and outscored by Martin.

 

[Smudge]

Stupid shot by Southee after waiting so long to bat. Signs of his immaturity shining through.

 

[Top_Cat]

Johnson robs Rhino of a debut Michelle. Gutted.

Puzzled by Hughes' play, tbh.