**Official** New Zealand v Australia

[anzac]

congrads AUS on another total display of remorseless cricket & not taking the foot off the throat when you have got them down...............as a result the NZL squad will be totally demoralised for the upcoming Test series - let alone any injuries or loss of form..........

totally outplayed and out classed...............

 

[anzac]

so far as the NZL performance went................

didn't understand why Cumming wasn't used to open the innings................
but nice to see a 50+ partnership from the openers..........
once again the batting failed to come off and the senior players got starts but failed to push on................
Macca has contributed as much as anyone with the bat, but yet again didn't finish the job - further disappointment to hear that he says he hasn't changed anything, but the public have changed their opinion of him..............sorry Macca if that's what you think then I'll wait for your next self destruction & don't think that'll save you for the SRL series if you fail v AUS...........
Hamilton looked good for a couple of overs but as soon as he dropped his pace & length he got the treatment & lost his confidence - I'd give him another go at Napier as none of the other Kiwi bowlers seem to have learned anything this series.......
Wilson was again disappointing - but again I'd probably retain him - he showed the right stuff v the invitational team so far as line & length goes.............
Mills started poorly IMO but was then made to look reasonable as the others weere taken to the cleaners - considering his experience in comparisson to Wilson & Hamilton he should look better.........

 

[anzac]

one of the factors in NZL's poor bowling display must be the lack of experience in the attack - especially from the start.......

however that doesn't excuse the poor lines & lengths taken - too often they were too short back of a length without any pace, or they were too full & straight pitching in line with off stump & moving towards leg - easy meat at this level..........

other factors IMO could be the lack of enough 'decent' tracks at domestic level on which they have to learn the benefit of line & length as local pitches offer too much assistance.......and when they step up to anything like a reasonable intnl pitch they can't get away with poor practices.........

good points made by the commentary team regarding match fitness by bowling, and a lack of appreciation of the value of a dot ball..........

similar comments in regard to the batting by not pplaying enough scoring strokes to keep the scoreboard & strike turning over........

 

[anzac]

IMO this series will need a major miracle to avoid a Test & ODI whitewash...........

I don't see the selectors making any more changes to the Test squad & will try to rely on the likes of Styris, Oram, Tuffey, Astle & Vettori all coming back to form from injury etc.....

the SRL series could see some further changes depending on how some fringe players perform in the Championship over the interim..............

there may even be some temptation to look hard at recalling Bond for SRL if he gets thru' his 1st class return ok................but I hope sanity prevails & not desperation.............

 

[Scallywag]

Good on him. I totally agree. All this PC "Brett Lee would never do that. He's too nice a bloke" made me laugh.

NZ will never be a force if Brett Lee is too much for them to handle, I'm sure England would say dish up all the full tosses you like and we will smack them over the fence where they belong, its a free hit.

I cant see how Bracewell can continue as coach when all he does is complain about the other team and bring in all these negative thoughts to the team, a leader who looks and acts scared. Time to bring in someone with a backbone.

 

[Fiery]

Brett Lee's full-toss to McCallum was nowhere near his head. McCallum is a short guy but it was marginally above waist high at best. Still a nasty ball to have to face but when you're busting a gut to bowl as fast as you possibly can, sacrifices have to be made and in Lee's case, I think he's lost a bit of control. I would bet that if he pulled in his effort just a little, we'd forget he even bowled any beamers.

I have seen enough of Brett Lee to know that he is prone to letting certain batsmen get under his skin and he just has a rush of blood to the head at times. It's an ugly side to his character that he needs to sort out before he really does hurt someone or before a batsman says that's enough and things get ugly on the pitch.

 

[social]

I have seen enough of Brett Lee to know that he is prone to letting certain batsmen get under his skin and he just has a rush of blood to the head at times. It's an ugly side to his character that he needs to sort out before he really does hurt someone or before a batsman says that enough and things get ugly on the pitch.

Brett Lee is finally performing exactly how Australia wants him to.

Allan Border is a commentator for fox sports on the series and it is obvious that the selectors are absolutely delighted with him.

 

[Scallywag]

I have seen enough of Brett Lee to know that he is prone to letting certain batsmen get under his skin and he just has a rush of blood to the head at times. It's an ugly side to his character that he needs to sort out before he really does hurt someone or before a batsman says that's enough and things get ugly on the pitch.

Why it wins games for Australia and if a batsman is worth his salt he will counter Lee with his bat, but if international cricket is too tough for the batsman then I guess he will lose his rag and be completely demoralised by Lee.

 

[marc71178]

Peter Roebuck has called for Lee to be sent home after the beamer. Interesting article (despite a lack of accuracy - who is Matthew Papps, Mr Roebuck?).

Roebuck should be sent home for not knowing what he's talking about!

 

[marc71178]

It's the opinion of a well-respected neutral cricket writer

Since when was Roebuck well respected?

 

[marc71178]

makes it harder to understand why he needs to bring the game into disrepute by trying to maim people with full tosses.

How do you maim people with a ball at waist height?

 

[marc71178]

But I think If NZ could find a full strength team NZ would be up there with Australia..... And I can't wait till when All the Aussies retire from this current team and Watson is left there as a strike bowler cause this depth for youth? Doesn't exist.

It's ironic that you're talking about Australia's lack of depth whilst saying that if NZ had a full squad they'd have been competitive!

 

[marc71178]

Do you have another Mcgrath? Another Warne?

Of course they'll miss those 2, but even when they go there's still going to be Gillespie, who by that time will be just about the best bowler in the world.

 

[marc71178]

Its the NZ team selected on who is available and thats the best team NZ could muster so its full strength, if Oram,Styris and Bond could have improved the team then they would have been selected.

Come on, you have to accept that these players are injured.

 

[marc71178]

What's seldom acknowledged is that NZ only have the population of Sydney to choose from. Given that, it's not a bad team that they manage to put out.

By that definition why aren't India 10 times as good as any other side?

 

[Fiery]

Since when was Roebuck well respected?

Just because you don't respect him doesn't mean he's not a well respected writer.
Cricinfo: "Roebuck is the man widely credited with rebuilding the Somerset side after the debacle of the departures of Botham, Richards and Garner. He also captained an England XI in the Netherlands and is one of the most respected writers on the game."

 

[Fiery]

One day he''ll sort out his accuracy. Just because the others may not have been pinpoint accurate at the head doesn't mean the intent wasn't there. I'm surprised you've put in a position to comment from the other side of the world when you probably haven't seen any of his beamers.

 

[marc71178]

Styris, Harris, Bond and Oram are not available.

To be fair, is Harris really a guaranteed pick?

 

[marc71178]

we need to win one of these games to keep our 2nd ranking... so we get the other side of the draw from aussie for the world cup

Isn't it all play all after the Groups?

 

[marc71178]

Maybe this will kick the Lee supporters in the teeth. Lee 0-24 (6), Kasprowicz 1-17 (6)

To be fair 0-24 off 6 is hardly shocking!