**Official** New Zealand v Australia

[FaaipDeOiad]

Kasprowicz has plenty of experience of playing county cricket in England however, that'll certainly help his cause, but I can't help feeling that the practice matches leading up to the Ashes will be a big factor in which bowler misses out.

Agreed. The tour matches and the ODI series, and county cricket if Lee plays beforehand. One of the obstacles for Lee this tour was that there has been no tour matches, just an ODI series.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

To follow up on the Australian bowling stats, since the New Zealanders are done with batting for the series...

H. Marshall - 269 @ 44.83
Vettori - 198 @ 66.00
Astle - 196 @ 39.20
Vincent - 160 @ 26.66
Cumming - 133 @ 26.60
Fleming - 103 @ 17.33
McCullum - 81 @ 16.20
Franklin - 57 @ 14.25
McMillan - 38 @ 12.66
J. Marshall - 32 @ 16.00
Wiseman - 31 @ 15.50
O'Brien - 10 @ 3.33
Martin - 5 @ 1.66

Pretty clear that Hamish Marshall and Astle were the only consistently good New Zealand batsman in the series, and Vettori outplayed all the rest of the actual batsmen from number 8 by a fair margin. Cumming, Fleming and Vincent had one good innings each, while McCullm and McMillan were simply shocking. James Marshall of course only got one test, so it's too little to judge him on. Hopefully he will get another go against Sri Lanka.

 

[Somerset]

Brilliant fielding from Vettori, direct hit and Hayden goes! Is there still hope of an unlikely victory?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

What a great bit of work from Vettori. That's three inspirational pieces of fielding resulting directly in a run-out in this test so far.

 

[Blaze]

To follow up on the Australian bowling stats, since the New Zealanders are done with batting for the series...

H. Marshall - 269 @ 44.83
Vettori - 198 @ 66.00
Astle - 196 @ 39.20
Vincent - 160 @ 26.66
Cumming - 133 @ 26.60
Fleming - 103 @ 17.33
McCullum - 81 @ 16.20
Franklin - 57 @ 14.25
McMillan - 38 @ 12.66
J. Marshall - 32 @ 16.00
Wiseman - 31 @ 15.50
O'Brien - 10 @ 3.33
Martin - 5 @ 1.66

Pretty clear that Hamish Marshall and Astle were the only consistently good New Zealand batsman in the series, and Vettori outplayed all the rest of the actual batsmen from number 8 by a fair margin. Cumming, Fleming and Vincent had one good innings each, while McCullm and McMillan were simply shocking. James Marshall of course only got one test, so it's too little to judge him on. Hopefully he will get another go against Sri Lanka.

I think that it is good for Cumming to come out of the series with a respectable average. As Michael Slater said it isn't going to get any harder from here for him

 

[Right arm fast]

no lol

the bowlers havent been bowling well enough

 

[Blaze]

NZ on track to record a milestone in this test - taking Aus to the 5th day

 

[Somerset]

To follow up on the Australian bowling stats, since the New Zealanders are done with batting for the series...

H. Marshall - 269 @ 44.83
Vettori - 198 @ 66.00
Astle - 196 @ 39.20
Vincent - 160 @ 26.66
Cumming - 133 @ 26.60
Fleming - 103 @ 17.33
McCullum - 81 @ 16.20
Franklin - 57 @ 14.25
McMillan - 38 @ 12.66
J. Marshall - 32 @ 16.00
Wiseman - 31 @ 15.50
O'Brien - 10 @ 3.33
Martin - 5 @ 1.66

Pretty clear that Hamish Marshall and Astle were the only consistently good New Zealand batsman in the series, and Vettori outplayed all the rest of the actual batsmen from number 8 by a fair margin. Cumming, Fleming and Vincent had one good innings each, while McCullm and McMillan were simply shocking. James Marshall of course only got one test, so it's too little to judge him on. Hopefully he will get another go against Sri Lanka.

Interesting statistics, fantastic averages for Vettori and Hamish Marshall, while Astle's had the potential to be higher too. Stephen Fleming's average was very disappointing, the captain needed to be scoring at least 20-30 runs higher. As you say, McMillan and McCullum were unacceptable, while the likes of Vincent and Cumming, returning or coming back into the side, could've made a bigger difference if they were higher.

 

[Somerset]

NZ on track to record a milestone in this test - taking Aus to the 5th day

Fleming wasting more time here, Ian Smith notes that four balls have taken eight minutes for this over so far. Would be a great achievement if we can last the day, a real possiblity with the light here.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I think that it is good for Cumming to come out of the series with a respectable average. As Michael Slater said it isn't going to get any harder from here for him

Yep. This is true of Hamish Marshall as well. If he can have two or three good knocks in a series against Australia he will find things much easier in the future. He did okay against Warne considering the discussion of his weaknesses against spin before the series as well

 

[chaminda_00]

Fleming wasting more time here, Ian Smith notes that four balls have taken eight minutes for this over so far. Would be a great achievement if we can last the day, a real possiblity with the light here.

In hind sight that not the greatest achievement, Sri Lanka did that to Australia, but we lost 3 nil. It would more of an achivement to get into the Australia tail before they get the runs, if they get the runs.

 

[The Maestro]

lol at Hayden -->


I remember when Nathan did something similair but it was the bowler who run him out.......it was in really important game to!

think it was the world cup? vs Sri Lanka?

anyway.....this track has nothing in it that will turn NZ's attack into penetrative vs THIS Australian line up.

Looks like we will just have to run them all out ....np

 

[psxpro]

Good fightback. I'm especially pleased with vettori's batting. he is turning into a true allrounder.
Imagine though, how good would it have been if we had oram coming in after vincent

 

[mavric41]

nah mavric i'm just kidding around , dont really have any intentions, got my girl here in manchester. Having clean fun mate

Me too mate, me too

 

[mavric41]

NZ on track to record a milestone in this test - taking Aus to the 5th day

Not at this run rate.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Close call on Ponting there. I think it was probably out, but I can see why the umpire thought it hit him outside the line. It was very close one way or the other.

 

[chaminda_00]

Is it just me or can't the Aussie smack Astle around the park like they seem to be doing with all the other Kiwi bowlers.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Is it just me or can't the Aussie smack Astle around the park like they seem to be doing with all the other Kiwi bowlers.

He bowls a very tight line. I actually think he's been a bit underused in this series. He and Vettori are the only bowlers who looked dangerous every time they had the ball.

 

[Right arm fast]

whos your pick for man of the series?

 

[Somerset]

Close call on Ponting there. I think it was probably out, but I can see why the umpire thought it hit him outside the line. It was very close one way or the other.

Really close, IMO should've been given and would've hit...hard luck for Astle.