**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[Burgey]

1:45pm local time, so 2:15pm AEDT or 1:15pm AEST

Cheers. Got time for a sandwich then before it starts.

 

[Top_Cat]

Is it a sellout?

Doubt it very much. The weather is rubbish. Be very (happily) surprised since I'm not going.

 

[duffer]

Ah k. Just thought attendance might get a bump because this is a fundraising game.

 

[Days of Grace]

Is it raining?

I am almost hoping for two rained out matches in a row here.

You can't help but think that the series hinges on McCullum's fitness for the final two matches. Hopkins batting at no.6 followed by Mills is my worst nightmare.

 

[Top_Cat]

Ah k. Just thought attendance might get a bump because this is a fundraising game.

Yeah, I guess that's possible.

No sign of rain. Wouldn't have thought there'd be too much. It'll be a good day to bat.

EDIT: Just reading Ian O'Brien's blog, Elliott uses his own bats. Literally;

http://blogs.cricinfo.com/iainobrien/archives/2009/02/theres_a_buzz_about_elliott.php#more

 

[Bahnz]

McCullum is fit. Vettori won the toss and will bow. Fulton is out for Cumming. No clue on what the batting order is yet.

 

[JBH001]

Me too. It's clouded over and cold today - perfect for Kiwis.

Speaking of which, its clouded over today, but its muggy as. 100% humidity last night.

I hear we won the toss and opted to bat. Any word on McCullum?

Edit/ Seems like my information was wrong. We revert to the game plan and opt to bowl. Probably a good call if conditions are conducive to bowling.

 

[inbox24]

Cam White the next Garry Sobers is playing this game.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Cumming in for Jeets, not Fulton.
McCullum to open and keep.

 

[HMas]

McCullum is fit. Vettori won the toss and will bow. Fulton is out for Cumming. No clue on what the batting order is yet.

NZ are batting...liar

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

From Cricinfo:

New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bat first. McCullum will open the batting and keep wicket, Cumming comes into the NZ side for Patel while the Australian team is unchanged.

Aussies unchanged.

Go Aussies, will watch on delay!

 

[Prince EWS]

McCullum is fit. Vettori won the toss and will bow. Fulton is out for Cumming. No clue on what the batting order is yet.

Is Fulton injured? Really silly tactical change if he isn't'; he's looked better with each game he's played since he came back into the team IMO.

 

[Top_Cat]

McCullum is fit. Vettori won the toss and will bow. Fulton is out for Cumming. No clue on what the batting order is yet.

Mistake in my view. It's cloudy but not low cloud and is cold. There'll be little movement. Aus to score 250+.

EDIT: Darn it, that's what i get for not checking.

 

[Flem274*]

The good part about cheerleader in chief (Nicholas) saying we saw the reality of both teams ability the other night, that means Elliott>Australia and is the greatest ODI batsman of all time.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Is Fulton injured? Really silly tactical change if he isn't'; he's looked better with each game he's played since he came back into the team IMO.

Bahnz has dodgy sources.

 

[Athlai]

Good team though where will cumming bat? Fulton 3, Taylor 4, Elliott 5, Broom 6 Cumming 7??

Maybe Boult would've been better.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bahnz has dodgy sources.

He must've employed howardj's spies.

 

[Flem274*]

Batting first.

Reckon the stupid big run chases will turn around with us setting them now? Its a CH FFS, its not the CH without those stupidly huge chases.

 

[Days of Grace]

Order will probably be floating. Lose an early wicket and stick Cumming, the sacrificial lamb, in there, thus protecting Taylor, our most prized asset.

 

[inbox24]

Good coverage from Chanel No.9, you could say, a very good smelling coverage almost.