***Official*** Top End Series

[Great Birtannia]

Aus A 7/236 (50 overs) v. NZ A

Hodge, 123, and Hopes, 61, put on 175 for the 6th wicket to save Australia's backside. No one else reached double figures.

 

[Nate]

We`re gonna need a miracle. MR Gillespie was on fire, dismantled our top order. Hodge with 123 off 140 our saviour, helped well by Hopes who made 61 off 115. Next highest scorer was Cosgrove with 11. Ouch.

Kiwis smashing us in reply, over 100 without loss and all our pacemen getting smacked.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Good to see Rod Tucker, former Tasmanian all-rounder, umpiring.

 

[Great Birtannia]

You know with the likes of Jaques, Cosgrove, Haddin and Watson failing I assumed the pitch must have been a bit of a minefield.

Especially Jaques and Cosgrove who have been on fire in England, you can sort of expect the guys that haven't played since the Aussie summer to be a little rusty.

With respect it is fairly ordinary getting whalloped by New Zealand when 4 or 5 of the guys are competing for Ashes spots.

 

[Arjun]

What are your comments on James Hopes? And how much of a batsman is Haddin? I saw him play in a few matches, but he didn't open the batting or come anywhere above seven.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

What are your comments on James Hopes? And how much of a batsman is Haddin? I saw him play in a few matches, but he didn't open the batting or come anywhere above seven.

Haddin is a very capable batsman. In the last couple of domestic seasons he's consistently averaged in the 40+ range. Hopes is a decent batsman and a hard bowler to get away on a slow wicket, but he's never going to be a world beater, and can get belted around when conditions don't suit.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Looks like this game is over anyway. New Zealand need 40 off 94 with 9 in hand, with Watson just taking the first wicket then.

Obviously it was the early collapse that cost us the game, as from 5/51 after 11 overs in Australia's innings the runs have come fairly easily for both sides.

edit: another for Watson.

 

[Haddin]

Not good. Australia A batting was crap. Listening to the radio just don't have any words to describe this as poor.

 

[Nate]

No positives bowling-wise from the Australian point-of-view, except maybe Cullen`s restrictiveness. Maybe they can bring back Dorey and he can take a few.

 

[Nate]

Make that game over. Thrashed. Well played How!

 

[Sw1fty]

It looked as though How is in fine form, that will make Braces happy with the Champions Trophy coming up.

 

[Smudge]

Good gracious - sounds like a thrashing. Onya NZ A, or whatever you're called.

 

[mikeW]

Hodgey proving why he should be playing in the Ashes.

 

[NZTailender]

Once again I have to ask, how far away is Gillespie from a national call up? He seems far far better than Mills & Martin and probably better than Franklin. Has a great (NZ standards) bowling record in FC...I hope we see him in the national side soon...

 

[Matt52]

Well done to our boys..... must say I am a little bit surprised. I looked at the team sheets before the game and hoped our fellas would last 30 overs.........just put up some sort of a fight.

Turned out the other way around..How is a good player but not a great one...He is a bit different from most NZ opening batsmen though in that he can actually play a shot or two.

I heard Jesse Ryder was injured, Any news on that?????. He was one of the players I was hoping would do well in this tournament. Also a bit of a shame Ross Taylor got out cheaply. He is our best prospect at this tournament.

Also watch out for Richard Sherlock in the other team. He bowls pretty quick and might ruffle a few feathers.

 

[Natman20]

The New Zealand A Black XI seemed to play really well. I don't think How would be a consistent performer in the New Zealand squad but it is still early days and he could prove to be a great player over a bit of time and with more experience IMO. I would rate MArk Gillespie higher than Martin and Mason but not higher than Mills in ODIs as Mills has become more consistent as of late. I hope that Sinclair can play well for New Zealand A White XI so that he could get a call-up which has probably been delayed for too long.

 

[Tim]

The funny thing is that there are 2 NZ A sides up there, so this side wasn't even a full strength NZ A side, yet it appears they never looked like losing to Australia.

They pretty much let Australia off the hook though at 5/50, they'll be a bit disappointed with that but it was great to see NZ come out to bat for once and actually dominate.

Mark Gillespie is highly regarded as a quick down at NZ headquarters, he can bowl low to mid 140's, but his fielding can be pretty poor at times and his attitude is a bit questionable.
If he has a good series up there, then I don't see why he can't push for a place in the NZ team though.

I'll be watching out for how Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder and Richard Sherlock go in this series. And i'd like to think that two of our better prospects Jamie How & Peter Fulton maintain healthy averages through the series as well.

 

[Tim]

NZ's preparation for the World Cup is fairly ideal if you ask me. We've got our 2nd tier of players getting good match practice and experience against Aus A, Ind A and Pak A. Then there is the Champions Trophy, We've then got 5 ODI's against Sri Lanka who seem to be hitting their straps as of late (despite how woeful England have been) then the VB Series with Aus & Eng, then 3 more ODI's against Aus just before the World Cup.

It's good that we're going to be playing fairly regular and hard ODI cricket. If we want to seriously think about winning the World Cup, then by the time we get to the final 3 matches against Australia, we need to be winning the Chappell/Hadlee trophy.

 

[Sw1fty]

NZ's preparation for the World Cup is fairly ideal if you ask me. We've got our 2nd tier of players getting good match practice and experience against Aus A, Ind A and Pak A. Then there is the Champions Trophy, We've then got 5 ODI's against Sri Lanka who seem to be hitting their straps as of late (despite how woeful England have been) then the VB Series with Aus & Eng, then 3 more ODI's against Aus just before the World Cup.

It's good that we're going to be playing fairly regular and hard ODI cricket. If we want to seriously think about winning the World Cup, then by the time we get to the final 3 matches against Australia, we need to be winning the Chappell/Hadlee trophy.

I agree, with all this strong ODI cricket coming up before the world cup then in my opinion there is no excuse for NZ not to make the world cup final.

 

[James]

NZ's preparation for the World Cup is fairly ideal if you ask me. We've got our 2nd tier of players getting good match practice and experience against Aus A, Ind A and Pak A. Then there is the Champions Trophy, We've then got 5 ODI's against Sri Lanka who seem to be hitting their straps as of late (despite how woeful England have been) then the VB Series with Aus & Eng, then 3 more ODI's against Aus just before the World Cup.

It's good that we're going to be playing fairly regular and hard ODI cricket. If we want to seriously think about winning the World Cup, then by the time we get to the final 3 matches against Australia, we need to be winning the Chappell/Hadlee trophy.

I agree as well, but it all comes down to whether Bond is fit or not. If he isn't fit we won't stand a chance, but if he is you never know. I'd predict Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand to be the semi finalists and a Pakistan/West Indies final.

India A have started the tour well. 313-3 after 50 overs against Pakistan A.