**Official** New Zealand in Australia 2015

[AndyZaltzHair]

You do realise the second half of my post was as sarcastic as the first half, right?

Ah got you

 

[Spikey]

really impressed by the fight of the kiwis after we declared. typically they just quit instead

 

[Hurricane]

he batted like ross taylor in his first 12 balls.

12 balls and he's away.

This was a new level of scratchiness. Remember he went something like 40 innings without a duck to start his career. This was possibly the worst I have ever seen from him.

 

[straw man]

CWNeesham looked understandably nervous out there and it was an ugly dismissal playing too late and too square on that ball down leg (though a touch unfortunate that it deflected onto his stumps). I do think he's always likely to struggle a little with pace as he unfurls those long limbs, but he's had success before counterattacking and I hope he continues in that vein when next he bats. Not reckless of course but his game is not set up to defend for long periods, and it's certainly better to play his strokes than to be tentative.

 

[Top_Cat]

Beaten by pace at 141? That's just not good enough for test cricket. If MJ actually cranked it to 150+ he'd be in massive trouble.

147Km/h by the the C9 cam. Even then, 140+ is quick if the yorker is well-pitched. Hell, McG used to waste guys with yorkers 10k's slower.

 

[jcas0167]

This was a new level of scratchiness. Remember he went something like 40 innings without a duck to start his career. This was possibly the worst I have ever seen from him.

Taylor impersonation.

[video]https://fbcdn-video-c-a.akamaihd.net/hvideo-ak-xat1/v/t42.1790-2/12113778_1061537197204599_1714349363_n.mp4?efg=eyJ ybHIiOjMzOCwicmxhIjo1MTIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoic2Qif Q%3D%3D&rl=338&vabr=188&oh=41f5c8f976c12f39e9572221d33b7b71&oe=563C8F6B&__gda__=1446809739_d90ed2891f34c8afd111be1894d63ed f[/video]

Hopefully, it's just a lack of time in the middle (or even practice as Blocky seemed to suggest last year) and not part of an irreversible decline.

The comment earlier about Neesham & his long limbs, reminded me of Crowe's observation about Fleming struggling to move his feet quickly enough of fast surfaces. With Anderson out I'm struggling to think of any other all-rounders who would fare any better. Munro? Santner? Munro coming out and smashing a century at the Gabba would priceless.

 

[dermo]

think the usually plucky kiwis were just a bit over awed by the size of the ground in the end

 

[Spikey]

think the usually plucky kiwis were just a bit over awed by the size of the ground in the end

just like they were at the MCG. And Blacktown.

 

[Athlai]

 

[Flem274*]

cheer up, remember this? 1st Test: New Zealand v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Nov 9-13, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

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

and then this sad but special test: 3rd Test: New Zealand v Pakistan at Sharjah, Nov 26-30, 2014 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Black_Warrior]

True but Australia is just a different beast at home. Far more ruthless and brutal than Pakistan ever were in the UAE.

 

[thundaboult]

Would probably just prefer Bond back as bowling coach to remind everyone (but especially Bracewell and Henry) to pitch the damn thing up.

Milne fit enough to play test cricket is still in the fantasy category right now.

That's another thing and thank you for pointing that out....Bond really needs to come back as bowling coach. Well if NZ are to have any chance on surfaces like these in the future, its gonna have to become a reality real soon or else crap like what we are seeing will get repeated.

 

[thundaboult]

Can't just ask for a Shane Bond like bowler every generation. They are so rare.

Australia does. South Africa does. Why can't NZ? Yeah yeah much lower in population and resources but come on, a country that literally runs something as physical, intense and athletic as rugby can't come up with a few athletes that can be genuine fast bowlers for their cricket team? Well as a spectator that's how I see it. I'd love to get the perspective of someone who lives in NZ to really see whats going on over there. Nz just keeps churning out dozens and dozens of these swing 130k bowlers but there's really no x-factor in there.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Australia does. South Africa does. Why can't NZ? Yeah yeah much lower in population and resources but come on, a country that literally runs something as physical, intense and athletic as rugby can't come up with a few athletes that can be genuine fast bowlers for their cricket team? Well as a spectator that's how I see it. I'd love to get the perspective of someone who lives in NZ to really see whats going on over there. Nz just keeps churning out dozens and dozens of these swing 130k bowlers but there's really no x-factor in there.

Australia produces them because they are suited by Australian pitches. Just like india produces spinners, England produces swing bowlers etc.

A lot of NZ conditions suit the 125-135k accurate seam bowler rather than out-and-out express so those guys are going to be more successful.

 

[Johnners]

Super Mitchell Johnson

The game is going to at least sunday no matter what, severe storms and rain are highly likely for Brisbane tomorrow, rain again Sunday.

 

[Gob]

Super Mitchell Johnson

The game is going to at least sunday no matter what, severe storms and rain are highly likely for Brisbane tomorrow, rain again Sunday.

been saying the same for the past 2 days

 

[weldone]

Hope McCullum adapts to become a defensive captain for the last 3 days. NZ need to play to draw this.

 

[Spark]

Was really good captaincy to get McCullum. Invite the drive by having literally no ring fielders in front of square on the offside.

 

[Compton]

Was really good captaincy to get McCullum. Invite the drive by having literally no ring fielders in front of square on the offside.

Thought this myself. Smith was giving a destructive batsman the chance to bash his bowlers for quick runs and he took the bait.

Saying that, he'd be getting slated on another day where McCullum hits a 20 ball 50, fine margins and that

 

[Tangles]

147Km/h by the the C9 cam. Even then, 140+ is quick if the yorker is well-pitched. Hell, McG used to waste guys with yorkers 10k's slower.

Fair enough. Closer to 150 than I thought. I must have misread the 7 for a 1. I still think it was an ugly dismissal. I just think that pure pace seemed a more legitimate excuse for the Poms where I seem to remember it being 150 plus and more hostile.