***Official*** Top End Series

[James]

Te Ahu Davis? Is that Heath Davis?

 

[Tim]

oh my gosh James!!!? have you not been following domestic cricket for the last 2 years!?
Te ahu Davis plays for Northern. He was in the NZ U19 team a few years ago and he bowls mid 140 k's.

 

[James]

Goodness me, I've never heard that name before!

Would be nice to see him open the bowling with Sherlock then wouldn't it.

 

[adharcric]

India A have won their match against Pakistan A by over 130 runs. Fringe opener Gautam Gambhir scored 142 at more than a run a ball, reminding the selectors that he's still ready. He hit 14 boundaries and two sixes, but more importantly, he scored more runs between the wickets than over the ropes, which is a welcome sign. He was unlucky to be dropped from the Test and ODI side, being just right for both forms of the game, unlike the two openers playing for the respective Indian frontline sides. He's one to watch and the more he plays, the more chances he'll get to force his way back into the Indian Test and ODI team. Another good score by Uthappa gave them a good start.

Chawla got 3 wickets in his ten overs, so he's getting better. It's also good to see RP Singh and Paul getting wickets (two each), and hopefully they'll finish the series with a healthy average and a victory for India A. Both are prospects for the national side, and given the inexperience of someone like Munaf and especially VR Singh even at FC level, these two should make the side sooner than later. Sodhi, however, seems a waste of space in the team. He hardly ever batted and he only lasted six overs, going for 37 runs without picking up a wicket. Maybe he's still using the system in India to his advantage, but he's not an India prospect, even though he's a multi-skilled player. Not so much Vicky Singh, but again, that both actually made the XI shows the selectors blew a fantastic chance to try out better and younger all-rounders in the Indian scene.

The presence of Uthappa, Dhawan and most importantly Jaffer will make Gambhir's road to a national recall quite difficult, but he's definitely good enough. RP Singh took two wickets but he wasn't economical at all so I'm not impressed. Sodhi is absolutely what you say he is: a waste of space. He's not even the best all-rounder from his zone; that would be Joginder Sharma. So far, so good. This team's doing well.

 

[marc71178]

Yes, this is the 'black' team Tim.

What's concerning is that McMillan has obviously gone through with his threat as he doesn't appear to be on this tour. English counties were after him from the reports around that time. Could the unbelievable happen and we see him appear in English colours in a few years. He has dual citizenship I believe so does that mean he could turn out for England right now?

He'd have to serve a 4 year qualification period first.

 

[marc71178]

I didn't know that McMillan had dual citizenship, but I suppose he'd be backing himself to get into that English ODI side right now! lol.

Can he bowl then? That's what we desperately miss at the moment.

 

[marc71178]

McMillan is one of those players that is so frustrating. He has the talent but just can't apply himself.

Is he destined to be a bit like a Hick or Ramprakash possibly?

 

[Matt52]

Yeah. McMillan will probably be one of those Hick type players. It hurts more for us Kiwi fans cause we dont have great depth of talent like most other countries. McMillan dominated everything when he was growing up in New Zealand age groups and domestic stuff and was touted as a great hope for new Zealand cricket.......it just hasnt turned out that way.

Mind you.....I guess we cant complain too much..... we have had our fair share of ........how can I put this......talent challenged batsmen over the years that seem to have played above themselves in internationals....Mark Richardson for example.

 

[Arjun]

The presence of Uthappa, Dhawan and most importantly Jaffer will make Gambhir's road to a national recall quite difficult, but he's definitely good enough. RP Singh took two wickets but he wasn't economical at all so I'm not impressed. Sodhi is absolutely what you say he is: a waste of space. He's not even the best all-rounder from his zone; that would be Joginder Sharma. So far, so good. This team's doing well.

Uthappa and Dhawan are not yet ready for the national team, so they have some catching-up to do and some A-team cricket to play. Jaffer's done well on his own so far, but Gambhir was dropped way too soon. Besides, the team has got good starts with Gambhir opening, not so much with Jaffer. Moreover, Jaffer's utility in ODI's is questionable and they may have to go back to playing Dravid at the top, while Gambhir is just right for Tests and ODI's. How useful he'll be for India will be proven in this series, hopefully (for him too) ending in a win for India A.

As for RP Singh, he may have new-ball issues like Balaji and Nehra. Economy is not much of an issue wickets are falling and the other bowler is keeping his own under check. Sodhi, on the other hand, is neither taking wickets nor keeping the run-flow down, and that Venugopal Rao, no bowler by any means, has to get himself on so often, shows that they're still a bowler (or two) short.

 

[Arjun]

Can someone explain How one of NZ's opening batsman prospects is batting at ten?

 

[Matt52]

I think they are just giving everyone a go. They have chopped and changed the teams a bit.

Papps played for one team one day then the other team the next day.. Besides this was only a Northern territory X1. It was just a bit of a practice game. Maybe he was a bit tired and the game didnt matter that much so why not have a rest.....

The guys that did open... Ryder and Stewart are both genuine openers in the one day game so nothing was lost.

 

[Arjun]

I'd like to know what they mean by White XI and Black XI, since there's only one New Zealand A on the schedule.

 

[Matt52]

There is definately two different teams. (White and Black) The Black team beat Aus A a couple of days ago and the NT XI today and has the better batsmen with the weaker bowling.

The White XI beat the NT XI yesterday( not by much) . It probably has the better bowling but poorer batting.

I guess they just couldnt be bothered putting the different names on the schedule.

So I suppose its neither of the two teams is actually NZ A. You would have to amalgamte the best of the two sides to get a real "NZ A" side.

 

[Natman20]

New Zealand ABCs

 

[mikeW]

AUS A 4/165

Hodge, BJ 53 65b, 2x4, 0x6, SR: 81.54
Watson, SR 24 38b, 2x4, 0x6, SR: 63.16

 

[adharcric]

Spinners bowl 'em out for 213, Gambhir leading the chase.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Australia A really fell apart. Last 6 wickets fell for 31, and cost any chance of a good score. Obviously that's to be expected when you have a very long tail as we did (Dorey at 8!), so it's not all that bad.

India A need another hundred now, with 6 wickets left. Chase started well but Cullen has come on and taken two wickets, in Ghambir and then Sharma (who also got hit quite badly by Tait, apparently). Should be an interesting chase from here.

One might imagine there's a fair amount of turn given the number of wickets that have fallen to spinners so far.

 

[andyc]

India A five down now, Watson gets Venugopal Rao for 55.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Good spell from Watson here. 1/12 from 4 overs at a difficult time.

India now need 57 off 78 with 5 in hand. They should get there easily, but a few quick wickets could change things.

 

[Haddin]

Getting tight now. 6/181.