***Official*** New Zealand in Australia 2011

[BeeGee]

11:00 AM 10:00 am AEST: Australia won the toss and elected to field. Play will start at 10:30 am AEST.

Yay!

 

[Howsie]

I reckon all 12 will play since this is our only tour match. I doubt it'll be an official first class match.

Nah, it's an officail first class match. That's why we've had all that talk about playing Boult in this game, it wouldn't matter if New Zealand could play all 12.

 

[Crazy Sam]

I don't think having a bowler at 7 is a big deal in a game like this. If the Aus A batsmen want to make the Aus side then they need to make the runs and not leave it to the tail anyway.

 

[BeeGee]

So it looks like Dan is 12th man.

 

[SteveNZ]

Yep, makes sense.

McCullum with a boundary off the 1st ball of the game and the first ball of the next over as well. Definite omen.

 

[Athlai]

Nah, it's an officail first class match. That's why we've had all that talk about playing Boult in this game, it wouldn't matter if New Zealand could play all 12.

I suppose Vettori doesn't really need the game time as much as the others.

Sorta hope Martin injures himself tbh...

 

[_Ed_]

Haha, love the commentary.

Pattinson to McCullum, FOUR, short, pulled to the square leg boundary! BOOM!

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Yep, makes sense.

McCullum with a boundary off the 1st ball of the game and the first ball of the next over as well. Definite omen.

Has it started already?

 

[Sylvester]

Same old Hilfy it seems, quite a few balls played on the back foot and just being smashed for back to back boundaries.

 

[Athlai]

Baz doesn't rate Hilfenhaus apparently.

 

[adub]

Hilfenhaus already having the selectors salivating at the prospect of a return of the Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus attack.

 

[straw man]

BMac on 20 and Guppy not off the mark.

Tbh McCullum opening is my biggest concern in our top 6. Sorely hope he can find some form/ ride his luck and give us some decent starts int the tests.

 

[BeeGee]

BMac on 20 and Guppy not off the mark.

Tbh McCullum opening is my biggest concern in our top 6. Sorely hope he can find some form/ ride his luck and give us some decent starts int the tests.

He's my biggest concern also.

I see Guptill is doing his "I'm an opener who doesn't know how to push a single" routine. He seriously needs to learn how to rotate the strike.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Over 6.6: Hilfenhaus to Guptill, no run, drives on the up back to the bowler. NZ 0/25.
Over 6.5: Hilfenhaus to Guptill, no run, drives to mid off, only gets the bottom of the bat on it.
Over 6.4: Hilfenhaus to Guptill, no run, drives powerfully from the front foot to mid off.
Over 6.3: Hilfenhaus to Guptill, no run, gets forward, blocks

Three drives, no runs. Pick the gaps, Gupps.

 

[Athlai]

He's my biggest concern also.

I see Guptill is doing his "I'm an opener who doesn't know how to push a single" routine. He seriously needs to learn how to rotate the strike.

He does alright when he is set but yeah at the start of his innings he just can't rotate the strike at all. It's 4 or nothing for some reason.

 

[Athlai]

Guppy off the mark with a convincing well timed edge between gully and third slip.

Follows it up with an actual shot.

 

[BeeGee]

A lot of 4's so far. Poor bowling?

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Nah, more to do with McCullum and Guptill being the batsman.

 

[straw man]

He's my biggest concern also.

I see Guptill is doing his "I'm an opener who doesn't know how to push a single" routine. He seriously needs to learn how to rotate the strike.

Yeah Guptill is the second biggest concern! Agree about the lack of singles.

Still, I think there's an element of randomness with Guptill where he can potentially score runs against anyone by playing his normal game and not having his miscues go to hand. Whereas if McCullum faces high quality bowling is just good enough to edge to slip.

 

[Sylvester]

Been a disappointing display by the bowlers thus far.