**Official** New Zealand in Australia Thread

[Tim]

NZ are suffering from the fact that it took NZ cricket too long to figure out that at around about now we'd be struggling for quality quick's.

Only in the last year or so has there been an effort made to search for 15 or 16 year olds with the potential to bowl truly quick..and I think the players first accepted into the Academy are only just starting to filter into the domestic competition.

The possibility is that we will have 4 bowlers in the next couple of years that can bowl up near 150 km's or over (providing they develop well enough of course!) but until then..we're going to be stuck with medium fast bowlers & a huge reliance on Captaincy & field settings.

 

[Tim]

It's worth a punt IMO. India turned up last year with the same kind of bowling attack & they still remained competitive.
And don't try & tell me that India survived because of a better batting lineup! there is an element of that, but we also know that they struggle overseas.

 

[Dydl]

I saw New Zealand in the nets, I was there until 2:00 or so. They looked like another 4 hours in the nets to make up for the early loss. I have to say, they certaintly need a good nets session!

 

[Mr Casson]

NZ are suffering from the fact that it took NZ cricket too long to figure out that at around about now we'd be struggling for quality quick's.

Sic him, Neil.

 

[meatspx]

How can I bet on the match in NZ?
Tab.co.nz don't have the cricket it seems.

 

[age_master]

It's worth a punt IMO. India turned up last year with the same kind of bowling attack & they still remained competitive..

the only reason that india were competitive was because Anil kumble bowled well teh whole series and the batsmen made runs, NZ dont have a bowler anywhere near kumble's level and they dont have batsmen like the indians either

 

[vic_orthdox]

i'd say that vettori isn't far behind kumble on australian pitches, with the bounce he manages to extract. also new zealands batsman have been the best at combatting mcgrath in recent times, and even if fleming isn't captaining, his plans will still be put into place. put it this away, at the $10 odds i'm seeing around the place, new zealand aren't bad value

 

[anzac]

Who should bat at 6 then?

I honestly can't come up with a name I'm fully happy with. Obviously Bracewell's hand was forced in this NSW match, with Marshall at 3 and Franklin at 7 not in anyone's plans.

I'm pleased to eat my words about Sinclair (so far anyway), but Marshall's slow bowlers/surfaces trend is a major concern IMO. I doubt a 6-4 split would even help us prolong the game if Warne can turn Marshall and Oram into virtual tailenders.

I still think they'll go with a 5-5 split as the bowling was unable to make any progress v NSW in their 2nd innings...............and having done so we will then turn up to a 'Gabba pitch that will seam & swing & we will be a seamer too many & a batsman short IMO..............

#3 is too high too soon for Marshall in Tests IMO - he'd be better of at #6 (if we went 6-4), however based upon the NSW game I'd say the predictable outcome would be for McMillan to get the nod (again IF we picked 6), and again we'd find that the pace & seam would not suit his 'flat track bully' batting....................

so IMO we're basically screwed which ever way they decide to go - because they'll play it conservative (because of injuries / illness, & they'll be unsure about changing too much with so many question marks - again.............), and get it wrong because they'll be looking at the NSW performances, rather than looking ahead to the 'Gabba pitch & conditions.........

 

[anzac]

Marshall has looked less assured at the crease, the longer he has played at Interntaional leve. Perhaps he's showing his true talent, or is just out of form. I'm not ribbing the guy though, I'd still pick him in the side and hope he performs.

Aslong as McMillan doesn't play then I am happy! A middle of Order of Styris, Astle & McMillan is UNACCEPTABLE.

The addition of Fleming, McCullum & Vettori will bolster the batting line-up. Astle also scored a century in his last game in Australia.

Any thoughts of playing an extra bowler has obviously been abandoned

yep Marshall struggles when he has to make the pace, & Macca struggles when he can't make the pace....................so I hope to christ that Fulton is a nice even in between................

what makes you think they won't go with 5-5?????????

 

[anzac]

Styris & Oram have got to stand up with the bat also. If Oram wants to become a recognised all-rounder this is the time to do it...he just can't keep going on playing 1 good innings in a series & then getting out softly the rest of the time. The same goes for Styris...he's had a good start to his test career, but it all means nothing unless he performs in the most important matches.

Butler looks as though he was bowling quite well on a flattish track, which raises my hopes that he might perform well in this series...I think we've got to go with Oram, Butler & either Martin or Franklin.

from what I have seen I'd say that Oram is most comfortable facing seam bowling on slow pitches - doesn't look comfortable when the pace is on, nor when he is facing spin on turning pitches..............

in other words he is like a good 95+% of NZL domestic batsmen on a forced fed domestic diet of slow & low pitches & med - f/med bowling - another reason why he's NOT an intnl #6 / allrounder IMO.........

 

[anzac]

i'd say that vettori isn't far behind kumble on australian pitches, with the bounce he manages to extract. also new zealands batsman have been the best at combatting mcgrath in recent times, and even if fleming isn't captaining, his plans will still be put into place. put it this away, at the $10 odds i'm seeing around the place, new zealand aren't bad value

if Fleming isn't on the pitch we are dead & buried..............his experience & leadership on the field & his batting class V Vettori's 3 ODI matches v BAN, and the likely inclusion of Macca into the batting.............

 

[Linda]

Im impressed with how humble and realistic you Kiwi's are! I cant imagine Aussies ever being like that!

 

[anzac]

Im impressed with how humble and realistic you Kiwi's are! I cant imagine Aussies ever being like that!

ironically it is probably as a result of a BIIG dose of humble pie / realism 20 years ago that AUS cricket is in the position it is in today..............

now if only our powers that be can recognise the lessons be dealt out by this AUS team in each series.........and if this means that we have to have the stuffing kicked out of us then so be it...............

IMO too many of us are still clinging to the memory from 01/02, and that AUS has only really kicked the crap out of us in the occaisional ODI & not Tests (unlike what they have repeatedly done to most other sides).......so perhaps a sharp wakeup call / lesson in humility is needed.............

for me 2 signs of our delusional thinking = a consistant 5-5 split selection policy, and the gall to undertake a tour in AUS with only 1 recognised opening batsman................

 

[marc71178]

It's worth a punt IMO. India turned up last year with the same kind of bowling attack & they still remained competitive.

India also had the benefit of playing a much weaker attack.

 

[Craig]

I'm pretty sure they'll lose by an innings and some in both tests.

So why don't we cancel the two Test series and go home then?

 

[Eclipse]

Im impressed with how humble and realistic you Kiwi's are! I cant imagine Aussies ever being like that!

thats because we will always be good

 

[meatspx]

Who are the commentators for Nine's coverage?

Any NZers?

 

[Mr Casson]

Who are the commentators for Nine's coverage?

Any NZers?

They usually have one token foreign commentator.

 

[meatspx]

Yes, but whom?

Hopefully it's Ian Smith, and he gives the Aussies alot of ****! That's if we are competitive, if we are loosing badly, then Bill Lawry should get payback from what happened in 2000/2001.

 

[Mister Wright]

Yes, but whom?

Hopefully it's Ian Smith, and he gives the Aussies alot of ****! That's if we are competitive, if we are loosing badly, then Bill Lawry should get payback from what happened in 2000/2001.

From what I've heard we'll get Mark Nicholas again and probably Michael Holding. I haven't heard any suggestions of a New Zealand commentator, and can't remember who the Pakistan one is, might be Akram, but he might be on the radio.