**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[KiWiNiNjA]

Taylor should be able to negate him I think but in all likelihood will sky him.

Yip, I can see Taylor skying one.
If he gets past the first 5 overs after lunch then I will be relieved.

We always seem to lose wickets at the start of every session.

 

[Athlai]

Yip, I can see Taylor skying one.
If he gets past the first 5 overs after lunch then I will be relieved.

We always seem to lose wickets at the start of every session.

How + Vettori are the only batsman I think who are reliable after a session break. Taylor bats himself back in usually which is always a worry. Hope he tons up though, he is such a gun really proud of his 40* today.

 

[Polo23]

Yip, I can see Taylor skying one.
If he gets past the first 5 overs after lunch then I will be relieved.

We always seem to lose wickets at the start of every session.

Yeah, the first hour after lunch I think will decide the game. We really need to push on. Vettori should be nailing it into the batsman that this is their chance to beat Australia and each individual needs to stand up and take it on their shoulders to win the game.

 

[Athlai]

Have to disagree with you there Polo, Australia's next innings could potentially be massive and our final innings will be on a flattened track with no serious spinners to threaten us. The game is a nail biter, anything can happen. Test cricket at its finest.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Courtesy of cricinfo:

Leigh Clements from NZ: "NZ need to stick with a top order. Matthew Bell should still be there and he is the type of batsman who can bat time and still turn the score over. His innings for Wellington the other day against Canterbury was superb."

 

[James]

Of course it's unlikely he will do that sort of damage, but from what i've seen he's worked on his technique and is now getting into line. You saw what Stuart Clark did yesterday when he applied himself, there is no reason a better batsman like Southee couldnt do the same thing. Hopefully we won't be relying on Southee though, Taylor, Flynn, Elliott and Vettori SHOULD be able to get the job done.

Fair point, and as you say he certainly isn't a bunny so can hopefully stick around and hold up an end while one of Taylor, Flynn, Elliott, Vettori go about trying to hit it around a bit.

Reckon Oram if he wasn't attacking would be troubled by the swing and caught early on. Franklin could definitely bat for a while even in these conditions. Can't wait till he's back in the team, I did have high hopes he'd make this tour but I guess I should be thankful he's finally back in FC cricket.

Tend to think Oram would enjoy the pace of the ball coming onto the bat though with Aussie's all seam attack. I reckon he'd do alright on this sort of pitch. Oram does average 62 against Australia remember - http://www.cricketweb.net/statsspider/player/graph/229003-Test-4.php

Yip, I can see Taylor skying one.
If he gets past the first 5 overs after lunch then I will be relieved.

We always seem to lose wickets at the start of every session.

Yep, really hoping we can see through those first 5 overs.

 

[Athlai]

Bell (n)

I'd prefer Redmond TBH.

Though I'd also prefer Papps/Cumming/Guptill to them too.

 

[Athlai]

Tend to think Oram would enjoy the pace of the ball coming onto the bat though with Aussie's all seam attack. I reckon he'd do alright on this sort of pitch. Oram does average 62 against Australia remember - http://www.cricketweb.net/statsspider/player/graph/229003-Test-4.php

Only if he played his natural game, he could play his strokes I think but if he tried to block Australia out he'd be found out quick on this pitch. Knowing how he steps up against Australia he'd smite the hell out of them.

 

[_Ed_]

Bell (n)

I'd prefer Redmond TBH.

Though I'd also prefer Papps/Cumming/Guptill to them too.

Probably agree, although (being an Aucklander) I'd put McIntosh in the mix too.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Probably agree, although (being an Aucklander) I'd put McIntosh in the mix too.

Being a NZer, I wouldn't.

 

[Athlai]

Probably agree, although (being an Aucklander) I'd put McIntosh in the mix too.

I'd throw him in the Bell, Redmond category myself.

 

[Polo23]

Have to disagree with you there Polo, Australia's next innings could potentially be massive and our final innings will be on a flattened track with no serious spinners to threaten us. The game is a nail biter, anything can happen. Test cricket at its finest.

If we don't get a decent (70+ runs) first innings lead we can kiss the game goodbye. The hour after lunch will pretty much be crucial to whether we get a first innings lead or not.

 

[Athlai]

If we don't get a decent (70+ runs) first innings lead we can kiss the game goodbye. The hour after lunch will pretty much be crucial to whether we get a first innings lead or not.

I think we could see ourselves chasing a decent total in this game, but let's not hope for miracles and instead play some good cricket.

 

[Polo23]

Any team could chase any given total on any given day. But thinking realistically, we need a decent first innings lead.

 

[Craig]

McCullum at 5, why?

 

[Athlai]

As a Kiwi fan I'm just happy all round anyway, whether we win or lose we've played some good Test cricket.

 

[Polo23]

McCullum at 5, why?

He's been batting at 5 for a while. The only plausible reason is that Bracewell is an idiot.

 

[Athlai]

McCullum at 5, why?

Yeah Flynn being 8 for 30 and McCullum to come on later against a more tired Australian attack may have worked better.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Bingaaaaah!

 

[Nate]

Leeeeee