*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka Thread

[Tim]

What was the reason that NZ gave for batting first..because they won the toss.

I would have thought with the pitch being under covers & overcast conditions that bowling would have been the best thing to do...oh well.

 

[Tim]

But Marc I don't think you can straight away say that there's no team that can beat Australia because NZ have slumped to 13-3.

The pitch could be at its best to bat on now, so anything could happen in the last 3 days if rain stays away.

 

[Tim]

6.5 Vaas to Sinclair, OUT: oop[s the wrong ball to try and pad away,
caught in front, no stroke offered and ball nipping back in

-------------------------------------------

Well how many times has Sinclair done that?..Im afraid thats more of a technical issue rather than good bowling.
Just hopeless batting, I can't believe NZ are able to hold a 3rd placing on the test rankings with guys like Sinclair & Horne in the team.

 

[Rik]

Fleming back to earth with a bump...

After batting through the 1st Test undefeated in both innings Fleming manages 0 off 6 balls this time.

SP Fleming lbw b Nissanka 0

You can almost hear the thump from here...

 

[Tim]

Yeah i'd say..Styris seems to be continuing his rapid rise in test cricket though.

 

[Tim]

Styris & Richardson have made a good recovery from 11/3 to 71/3 with 15 overs left in the day.

I just read something at nzcricket.co.nz that said that the NZ team reckon Styris is the most naturally talented player in the team....I thought Styris has always been a handy player but maybe there's more to him than people realise.

 

[Tim]

Just as I say it, Styris is out to an iffy decision for bat & pad. Well at least he's saved NZ from what could have been 50 or 60 all out.

 

[marc71178]

But Marc I don't think you can straight away say that there's no team that can beat Australia because NZ have slumped to 13-3.

Any team that even entertains thoughts of staying with Australia must be able to overpower every other side.

Look at SA, they're top of the ICC Championship and beating all comers, yet lost 5 out of 6 against Australia.

 

[Eclipse]

When Zew Zealand did tour Australia they were only really compeditive in the WACA test all the others would have been won by Australia if rain did not intervine.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Any team that even entertains thoughts of staying with Australia must be able to overpower every other side.

Look at SA, they're top of the ICC Championship and beating all comers, yet lost 5 out of 6 against Australia.

Marc, it's ridiculous to think withsuch a notion that a team will not have a bad day. Every team has bad days....even the mighty Australia.

 

[aussie_beater]

I think Australia needs to play a 5 test series with India in India....not the 3 test ones that they play normally. That would be one hell of a series in terms of competitiveness and a result cannot be predicted one way or the other.

What the result of a 5 test series in Australia played by any nation at the moment will be, is pretty much known.I don't think there is much by way of facts that can be used to predict anything different. A 3 test series in Australia on the other hand by either NZ or SA can spring a surprise but not in a 5 test series.

 

[marc71178]

Marc, it's ridiculous to think withsuch a notion that a team will not have a bad day. Every team has bad days....even the mighty Australia.

NZ have not performed to any great extent in SL that would suggest they could live with Australia.

 

[Tim]

So your basing on a 2 match test series in Sri Lanka that NZ could not hold their own with Australia because the 1st test was pretty much a batsmans paradise and because the 2nd test has only had 35 overs.

Thats just ridiculous Marc, you're off the planet.

 

[marc71178]

Ask yourself this.

Would Australia have struggled in SL? Almost certainly not, so how can you reckon NZ would go the distance over 5 Tests with them?

Look at NZ's recent record, and it's not actually that good.

12 months ago this week they were absolutely hammered by Pakistan, and they've won just 3 of their last 10 series, against India on stupid wickets, and against the Windies and Bangladesh.

What there suggests that they can do battle with one of the greatest sides there's ever been?

 

[Kiwi]

* Do NZ rise for AUS. Yes.
* Do AUS seem to struggle against the NZ attack. YES.

If NZ had their best team avaliable and played anywhere other than NZ then I think NZ would have a good chance...

I would think they would go down 2-1 in a test series with the current team.
Put Ryder and McIntosh in. Bring Cairns and Astle back.. U have a good team. One that could compete with the best. NZ do not play well at home though..

In recent times NZ have had alot of injuries... They were weak then but it has helped in the long run.

Would Australia have struggled in SL? Almost certainly not

How can u say that.......... And i wouldn't say that NZ struggled in the first test. I would say that they did yesterday but opps I forgot Australia is perfect and they don't have bad days.

 

[Top_Cat]

Do AUS seem to struggle against the NZ attack. YES.

Big negatory on that one. The reasons Australia have ben beaten by New Zealand in recent times have more to do with their batting than anything else. If you're talking about the last few one-dayers, then fine but in recent Tests and in one-dayers before that, NZ have only pushed Australia because of their batting.

Would Australia have struggled in SL? Almost certainly not, so how can you reckon NZ would go the distance over 5 Tests with them?

IN fairness, Australia did lose their last Test series in SL. Mind you, that was a few years ago...........

I agree with you about NZ being the only capable team, to an extent. India are also a big threat to the Aussies.....at home, but in Australia, NZ is the only team that seems to overcome the "minority" complex.

Bear in mind that NZ struggled in 2/3 Tests last time they were in Australia (only saved by rain) and in the two series previous, they weren't even competitive. In fact, NZ have only come close to winning Tests in Australia when the rain has intervened. There have been two times where they've come close; in Brisbane last time and in Hobart the time before (where Mark Taylor declared in a rain-affected last two days to set-up a win). Other than that, they've struggled.

 

[Tim]

NZ would have definately lost the Hobart test, however the Brisbane test was still in the balance. NZ did fight well to go past the follow on & that match still could have either way although Australia had their noses in front of that match.

So Marc you're basically saying NZ would lose to Australia on the basis of their performance to a totally different country with different pitches, different bowling & batting lineup. We're talking about NZ v Aus not Aus v S.L or NZ v S.L.
What you haven't seen in recent times is that Australia have struggled in the sub-continent apart from their series with Pakistan last year. But anyway..this isn't about the sub-continent & I can't believe you're trying to draw parallels with a series involving NZ & Aus.

I know very well that NZ would struggle to win a 5 match series let alone a 3 match series against Australia, but the fact that you've judged whether NZ can beat Australia on the basis of their short series against Sri Lanka is quite funny actually.

 

[Eclipse]

NZ would have definately lost the Hobart test, however the Brisbane test was still in the balance. NZ did fight well to go past the follow on & that match still could have either way although Australia had their noses in front of that match.

So Marc you're basically saying NZ would lose to Australia on the basis of their performance to a totally different country with different pitches, different bowling & batting lineup. We're talking about NZ v Aus not Aus v S.L or NZ v S.L.
What you haven't seen in recent times is that Australia have struggled in the sub-continent apart from their series with Pakistan last year. But anyway..this isn't about the sub-continent & I can't believe you're trying to draw parallels with a series involving NZ & Aus.

I know very well that NZ would struggle to win a 5 match series let alone a 3 match series against Australia, but the fact that you've judged whether NZ can beat Australia on the basis of their short series against Sri Lanka is quite funny actually.

Tim New Zealand were only ever in the GABA Test match because the rain prevented the Australians from setting New Zealand a bigger Totral and having more time to deffend it.

Remember Australia decleard in there second innings at somthing like 3-100 quick time just to make a match of it. If the rain had not eaten up so much time Austrlaia would have batted on for another 150 runs & had an extra 3 sessions to bowl New Zealand out.

Thats the truth mate.

 

[Eclipse]

* Do NZ rise for AUS. Yes.
* Do AUS seem to struggle against the NZ attack. YES.

If NZ had their best team avaliable and played anywhere other than NZ then I think NZ would have a good chance...

I would think they would go down 2-1 in a test series with the current team.
Put Ryder and McIntosh in. Bring Cairns and Astle back.. U have a good team. One that could compete with the best. NZ do not play well at home though..

In recent times NZ have had alot of injuries... They were weak then but it has helped in the long run.


How can u say that.......... And i wouldn't say that NZ struggled in the first test. I would say that they did yesterday but opps I forgot Australia is perfect and they don't have bad days.

When was the last time our batsman struggeled against New Zealand in a test match though?? In the VB sereies None of our batsman were in good form and got out looking for quick runs but test cricket is different and I am sure New Zealand would have a tough time containing our batsman there is no evidence to suggest other wise.

 

[anzac]

A 5 test series in Australia with Aus v a team with the resources of either Eng or SA, but with the fight / belief of NZ - now that would be worth seeing!

IMO NZs new confidence has been as a result of that Perth Test & the following VB series results over AUS - rather than the results coming from already existing confidence.

Either way it puts NZ in good stead to try to cement their test ranking.