**Official** New Zealand v Australia

[tooextracool]

anybody else rekon Hodge should be in the team ahead of Katich?

not a chance in hell.

 

[tooextracool]

Thommo is, frankly, a bit of an idiot. And I don't think he'll be making too many friends in the Australian camp blasting Andrew Symonds and Lehmann,

because andrew symonds and lehmann are anything other than rubbish bowlers?
i'll give you that brad hogg deserves more respect than that, but symonds and lehmann, they wouldnt trouble any quality batter anywhere.

 

[tooextracool]

He has both maintained a good economy rate AND got wickets in ODIs of late, which is a sign of quality bowling where just one or the other in limited overs games might not be.

in all of 1 series. in the series at home against NZ and in the vb series he was fairly expensive, and his ER was 5.18 and 4.59 respectively.

 

[Jono]

Very happy to see Kaspa remain in the test team.

 

[tooextracool]

as would most sane people

 

[Slow Love™]

It's been quite bizarre to watch how certain people were that Lee had ALREADY been picked. IMO, the selectors did the logical thing, even if I wouldn't mind seeing Lee back in the test team at some stage. Kaspa deserves his place, and I think it's bad policy to throw out team members who are in good form.

I would make an exception for when a turning track necessitates picking two spinners.

 

[Gangster]

as would most sane people

I bet some sane New Zealanders would rather see Lee, as well as Lee's sponsors...

 

[Scallywag]

Ponting wins the toss and puts the black caps in.

Good move.

 

[Burpey]

NZ surivive first hour ... good start, but can they go on with it

 

[Hoggy31]

Fleming out for 18, LBW bowled Warne. NZ 1/56.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Nice work by the New Zealand side, all in all. Cumming looks to have a really solid technique and perhaps be a fair replacement for Richardson. McGrath and Gillespie failed to get very much out of what looked to be a pretty good seaming wicket early on, and frankly I bet Fleming especially was pretty happy that he didn't have to face Lee. Still, good bowling by Kasprowicz before lunch, and Warne was excellent.

 

[Blaze]

Very happy with Cumming's start. Good solid start for NZ

 

[marc71178]

33 overs in a session?

What on Earth is going on!!!

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

33 overs in a session?

What on Earth is going on!!!

I know eh? Australia seemed pretty confident in getting a wicket and wanted to get through the overs to keep the pressure on the batsmen who were well and truly on the defensive. Just goes to show that the over rate can be well above the required level if the bowling side actually want it to be. Warne only bowled 6 overs in it too, so most of the session was just quicks.

 

[Scallywag]

I know eh? Australia seemed pretty confident in getting a wicket and wanted to get through the overs to keep the pressure on the batsmen who were well and truly on the defensive. Just goes to show that the over rate can be well above the required level if the bowling side actually want it to be. Warne only bowled 6 overs in it too, so most of the session was just quicks.

Run rate is below 2, not much fielding going on.

 

[Son Of Coco]

It's been quite bizarre to watch how certain people were that Lee had ALREADY been picked. IMO, the selectors did the logical thing, even if I wouldn't mind seeing Lee back in the test team at some stage. Kaspa deserves his place, and I think it's bad policy to throw out team members who are in good form.

I would make an exception for when a turning track necessitates picking two spinners.

I agree that Kasper should be in there having bowled so well.

I was looking more at your signature though, it seems Richard got a little fired up there. Did he explain what's so false about that particular type of person?

 

[twctopcat]

Fair play to nz if they keep this sort of battling up.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Slater just had a huge dig at the Australian selectors for not including Lee. I must say I'm inclined to agree, I said before the series that I thought Lee deserved a shot and if New Zealand go on to pile on a significant score here after being sent in I think he will get it in the second test.

 

[Top_Cat]

And if they get bowled out cheaply, will you accept that Kasper's selection was vindicated?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

And if they get bowled out cheaply, will you accept that Kasper's selection was vindicated?

Sure, in fact I think his selection is understandable anyway. The question is not really whether or not Kasper is a great bowler, it's whether or not the Australian bowling attack could be slightly better with Lee because his pace offers variety and penetration on those rare occasions when someone gets on top of McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz, and I think the answer might be yes.

At the moment, someone is on top of them, and Lee would be handy.