*Official* Match 8 - Australia v New Zealand

[Spark]

Definitely should, but the Test batting order is such a massive can of worms...

 

[Mike5181]

Franklin is such a soft ****.

 

[Spark]

Shot.

 

[Furball]

Definitely should, but the Test batting order is such a massive can of worms...

If anything, Ponting moving down the order solves one of your problems, particularly with the emergence of Khawaja.

Since when did Clarke become a Ponting clone whilst pulling?

 

[pup11]

Nah they wouldn't. People see moving Ponting down the order as a sign of weakness or something.

When players get older, their reflexes and eye suffer - it's a fact. I reckon if you move him down the order, against a ball that isn't doing as much, he'd be better.

Likes of Kallis, Tendulkar, Jayawardene have only gotten better with age, so there is nothing in particular to suggest that Ponting' slump has anything to do with his age.

Its often an understated fact but he is leading a side in transition and that can also have a lot of impact on his batting.

 

[_Ed_]

And that takes us to 29 wides. Good effort, lads.

 

[Howe_zat]

Remember when Franklin was a bowler?

 

[_Ed_]

Remember when Franklin was a bowler?

Never a particularly good one in ODIs.

 

[Furball]

Likes of Kallis, Tendulkar, Jayawardene have only gotten better with age, so there is nothing in particular to suggest that Ponting' slump has anything to do with his age.

Its often an understated fact but he is leading a side in transition and that can also have a lot of impact on his batting.

Kallis had a shocking 2008 with the bat, Tendulkar had an extended form slump as well.

Ponting's been in **** form for almost 2 years now, at some point Australia need to stop pining for the Ponting of 5 years ago and move on. That's not to say Ponting definitely doesn't have a part to play in the Test side, but not as captain, and not as number 3.

 

[irfan]

God Bennett is so dire. Such a naff action prior to release point and he sprays it everywhere. Would hate to see him bowl his slower ball half-trackers on a bouncy decks - they'd fly into orbit everytime..... at 80km/h

 

[Nate]

Likes of Kallis, Tendulkar, Jayawardene have only gotten better with age, so there is nothing in particular to suggest that Ponting' slump has anything to do with his age.

Its often an understated fact but he is leading a side in transition and that can also have a lot of impact on his batting.

How much more compact are their techniques though? Ponting has always relied on his eye, picking up length early, and his quick hands. Do any of Tendulkar, Kallis or Jayawardene bat at three in Tests anyway?

If you look at his technique carefullly, you'll notice limitations that have nothing to do with his mental focus.

 

[Meridio]

It just wouldn't be a farcical NZ performance without someone breaking down. Come one Bennett, you can do it!

 

[Spark]

Yeah the #3 is an easy problem to fix (Khawaja in for Ponting). #4 is not. We haven't had good performances there in years.

 

[slugger]

Remember when Franklin was a bowler?

remember when NZ could win...

 

[Furball]

Yeah the #3 is an easy problem to fix (Khawaja in for Ponting). #4 is not. We haven't had good performances there in years.

Ah yeah, my bad, forgot how dire Clarke's been at 4.

 

[Spark]

Ah yeah, my bad, forgot how dire Clarke's been at 4.

That's one of the most confounding and frustrating things for mine. There shouldn't be any reason why he can't do just as well at #4 as he had been at #5 for year after year beforehand, but...

 

[Burgey]

All done. 25 games in a row. What a record that is.

 

[TumTum]

Good confidence booster for the rest of this WC.

 

[Spark]

Massive gap between games. Saturday week...

 

[vcs]

This is the best i've seen Australia play since the Champions Trophy, positive signs.

Wouldn't read too much into it, everybody and his dog lays into NZ these days. Good professional display from Australia though, and the bowlers made the most of some slight assistance in the morning, making it a pretty one-sided affair.