*Official* Warm-up Matches Discussion

[Days of Grace]

Meh, hard to judge the bowlers on one performance just after stepping off the jet.

But you could argue based on the figures that Vettori and Styris will be our go-to guys in the middle overs.

Oram did well in slowing down the good start Ireland got, as well.

 

[alvarez]

Mishra for Patel IMO. Otherwise we've been undone by the same ol' lack of true batting depth issues that hurt associates.

Definitely agree with this. Mishra is a much more reliable batsman and also has the experience in these conditions. Rakep hasn't really proven himself at international level yet.

Waters and Obuya were probably a little too slow and that put a lot of pressure on the middle order. At least they didn't embarrass themselves though.

 

[Zinzan]

More disappointing was Nathan McCullum, who continues to look eminently hittable at the international level, despite all his hitting ability down th order.

Haha, You're a joker. Since when is a bowling economy of 4.58 (in this day & age) anything other than very good? Especially considering 10 of his 19 games were against India & Bang in the subcontinent last year. His economy in those games was 4.51 against India & 4.20 against Bang, when both teams white-washed us. Making little mention of his 3.87 vs Aust & 4.57 vs SL.

The only time he's been close to being collared was against Pakistan where he went for 5.6 on some NZ roads. Whether you think he looks 'eminently hittable' or not, the facts plainly suggest the contrary.

 

[NUFAN]

NZ 11 is pretty much a certainty barring injury I think. Southee in as the only change from the warm up match with Bennett joining Williamson, How and Woodcock on the sidelines.

 

[Howsie]

Someone please define Oram's role when you have Vettori, McCullum and Styris bowling 30 overs between them during the middle overs and you're forcing Mills down to ten in the batting order.

 

[Daemon]

Someone please define Oram's role when you have Vettori, McCullum and Styris bowling 30 overs between them during the middle overs and you're forcing Mills down to ten in the batting order.

He can be a much better bowler than Styris and McCullum, and as destructive a bat as McCullum.

 

[_Ed_]

Just a note for NZers - tonight's India v Australia match is live on Sky Sport 2 at 9:40.

 

[_Ed_]

Wow, the Australians' kit is bright.

 

[Mike5181]

Wow, the Australians' kit is bright.

Who's your pick? It should be a good game and Ricky Ponting is back as well.

 

[_Ed_]

It's sometimes hard to pick warm-up games - one side might take it much more seriously as a contest than the other. Although I guess with a rivalry like this both sides will be pretty strongly into it.

 

[Daemon]

First ball of his campaign is a full toss smashed by Sehwag

 

[Mike5181]

Bollinger hmm

 

[Spark]

Ponting misses a run out attempt.

Clearly off his game.

EDIT: And is that seriously our strip? Wow. It's... quite bright.

 

[Spark]

I've forgotten just how miniscule Indian grounds can be

 

[Bun]

Why are these matches not given ODI status? It's a joke when random Asia XI vs Africa XI matches, which hardly got attendance or public thought, and have nil recall get ODI status, but these matches, particularly like ind aus which are followed by people all over the world, are not given.

 

[Bun]

I've forgotten just how miniscule Indian grounds can be

Bangalore is not a tiny ground. Don't let the fast outfield fool you.

 

[Spark]

The whole "15 players a side" thing may have something to do with it...

Bangalore is not a tiny ground. Don't let the fast outfield fool you.

It's not the fast outfield, it's the lack of space between the fielding circle and the rope.

 

[Gilly Fan]

Ponting misses a run out attempt.

Clearly off his game.

EDIT: And is that seriously our strip? Wow. It's... quite bright.

It's the best kit we've had in years. I'd buy it.

So much better than the rubbish "baggy green" kit that we've dished up at home over the past few years.

 

[Burgey]

This bloody kit is tres ordinaire. Why can't the countries just wear their home kits with the tourney sponsors on them?

Anyone finding the graphics really busy at the bottom of the screen? Reckon we'll be used to it soon enough.

 

[Spark]

I'm not sure you can get paler shades of yellow than that.