**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[thierry henry]

Stopped liking him about the same time he called Richardson a "geriatric ****head" and told him to "die choking on your own **** that you speak."

whoa, wtf

 

[Athlai]

whoa, wtf

You missed Richardson-gate?

 

[thierry henry]

You missed Richardson-gate?

tbh yes

Probably ignored it as all off-field stuff tends to go right over my head/doesn't interest me at all

Details/link?

 

[Athlai]

Aftermath

I'm a bit harsh in terms of team ethics and stuff and I really don't want people dragging a team down regardless of how talented they are on the field. See Pakistan for examples.

 

[thierry henry]

Aftermath

I'm a bit harsh in terms of team ethics and stuff and I really don't want people dragging a team down regardless of how talented they are on the field. See Pakistan for examples.

oh, "meh-gate" more like it

Pretty weak jibe though, 33 year old Styris calling 37 year old Richardson geriatric

 

[mikeW]

Siddle to take 5 for in game 4 tbh

 

[JBH001]

5 for 75 hopefully. And after NZ are 225/3 at the 40 over mark.

 

[aussie]

Apologies to all Kiwi fans, after i mentioned the other day McDonald was a better player than Elliot.

Haddin hundred certainly cancels the idea, that given his lack of footwork at times. He wouldn't cut it as a opener as well.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Is Trent Boult any chance of playing in this series?

Not unless we win tomorrow.

He may be a chance if we go into fridays game 3-1 up

 

[Hoggy31]

Apologies to all Kiwi fans, after i mentioned the other day McDonald was a better player than Elliot.

Haddin hundred certainly cancels the idea, that given his lack of footwork at times. He wouldn't cut it as a opener as well.

And the other ones..

 

[howardj]

If you think Haddin and Clarke is a serious long term option for Australia then you're deluded.

Much more legs in them than Puddle (mini swamp) and Warner, tbh.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Much more legs in them than Puddle (mini swamp) and Warner, tbh.

Agree re: Warner. Never advocated him in the first place so not sure why youre using him as an example.

 

[Julian87]

I am pretty sure you advocated James Hopes though.

 

[Julian87]

Agree with this - and when Watson is fit again, he comes in as a straight swap for Hopes and it looks even better. Only thing is Haddin might need to be at five if Clarke goes back to 4, once Marsh is fit and Dussey goes out.

Come to that, I'm not sure why you'd drop White before you'd drop Dussey.

So ideally:
Marsh
Hopes (til Watson is back)
Ponting
Clarke
Haddin
M. Hussey
White/D.Hussey/Ferguson
Johnson
Bracken
Siddle/Hilfy (til Lee is fit)
Tait

Symonds is the other factor - assuming he ever makes it back/is fit to play. Not a bad team, esp. once Lee and Watson come back in.

So we drop Haddin from opening, after winning us a game scoring a very good and much needed near run a ball century and replace him with a bits and pieces bowling all rounder who can't average above 30 at any level of 50 over cricket.

Good idea.

 

[Julian87]

And I can't find it written anywhere. But was Jesse Ryder sent home with injury? That's what someone has just told me.

 

[Prince EWS]

And I can't find it written anywhere. But was Jesse Ryder sent home with injury? That's what someone has just told me.

Yeah he's out. Link

 

[Raghav]

strong rumour that Styris may be back in black tomorrow.

Mixed feelings about this, Styris' time is over in the black caps as far as I'm concerned. Don't know who you'd drop for him?
* Guptil - would be harsh
* Broom - Unthinkable
*Fulton - Most likely candidate, but looked good last night

Jeetan Patel may be..

I dont rule out this option either! It strengthens our batting a lit bit more

 

[Raghav]

Epic knock by Elliott, gutsy and ballsy at the same time. What a legend. NZ's replacement for Chris Harris? Suspect he's a better bat, though.

His batting & bowling reminds me of Chris Cairns. Cairns has had great matches in australia, just like these played by Elliot

 

[Prince EWS]

Jeetan Patel may be..

I dont rule out this option either! It strengthens our batting a lit bit more

I was strongly against having Mills at 7 when it was announced, but after seeing it in action I actually think it's working pretty well. New Zealand's batting ends up a long way below standard when this tactic is used but the batting's going to be substandard to some degree anyway; it's allowed them to work to a real plan of keeping the pressure on the with the ball without any respite, and contrary to popular belief, New Zealand do indeed have the attack to do this. It gives them a genuine strength to play to.

Obviously this will change when/if Oram comes back or even maybe Franklin when he's fully fit, but I really do think five specialist bowlers is the way to go for now.

 

[straw man]

Jeetan Patel may be..

I dont rule out this option either! It strengthens our batting a lit bit more

Actually think that's not a bad option. Adelaide will probably be flat like Sydney, where Vettori only saw fit to bowl Patel for 3 overs. It doesn't make sense to have Patel in the team for that.

Unfortunately looking at the rest of our squad, it would only make sense to replace Patel with Diamanti at present - so flying in someone like Styris (or better, Franklin if he could bowl 5 overs) might be a damn good idea.