1st Test: New Zealand v Australia at Wellington March 19-23 2010

[JJ]

Bollinger pick of the Bowlers for Aus but Harris and Johnson have complemented him well. Kiwis just don't have the mindset for test cricket IMO, also team selections are questionable.

couldn't agree more...

mindset suggest there is some thinking involved, I am not sure about that...

plus, the players with good first class records are not selected... Sinclair - we've moved on, his footwork isn't good (well, McIntosh, Watling and Ingram aren't exactly stellar with their feet)... Papps - no good against the short ball (sorry, is one of the NZ top order good against the short ball), Williamson - too young and inexperienced (well, he's potentially better than all of them, and has already achieved 10 times what Guptill has in first class cricket)... etc etc etc

I don't expect us to beat you lot - but McIntosh is the only one who's shown the balls, and being bowled for 150 was a disgrace...

 

[Iafeta]

Agree a lot with what you are saying there. It was a credible effort from McIntosh, the rest of them... dire. I mean, Guptill chipping it to cover is not on. He has IMO a very good technique, but has a basic flaw chipping it into the covers. It's possibly a trait of NZ cricket that unlike countries like Australia and India that have a massive player pool and refined first class systems that our batsmen have to learn how to bat in an experienced, professional manner in the test team.

I also agree on your comment on Michael Papps. Unlike a lot of openers going around he seems to consistently pick up big runs. For a bloke to be discarded on the back of one, and might I add one brutal, bouncer is a joke. In fairness, I think Watling looks ok, but he needs to work on his footwork and balance on the ball slanting back in. It was a solid opening partnership that Taylor, Ingram and Guptill failed to capitalise on.

IMO, Taylor has the ability but needs to take ownership of this batting order. He's been around long enough now. It's all in the top two inches for me. Ryder when he comes back... he's one of the best timers of a cricket ball going around. Guptill, I really rate this bloke, he looks solid but he's got to work out these soft dismissals.

I still though really wonder how we can pick up 20 test wickets in a game against solid opposition, and if we can't do that all our bats can really do is hope for a draw.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Stick with McIntosh and Watling, get rid of Ingram and when Ryder and Williamson are in the side we will be slightly better. We won't be anywhere near the the top 4 sides in the world but I think we will at least have a side that can beat the Windies, Pakistan,Bangladesh easily enough.

And put Skippy in for the next test.

 

[beads6]

IMO Kiwi's need to blood there youngers players when they are in form. Kane Williamson looks a talent why not play him. Also Vettori has a great eye but he is no number 6 batsmen.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Yep Vettori is better of batting at 7 or 8.

Watling
McIntosh
Ryder
Taylor
Guptill
Williamson
McCullum
Vettori

should be the batting line up for our next test series.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I just remembered McCullums going to give up the gloves so he is going to have move up the order possibly to 3 or 5.

 

[beads6]

I just remembered McCullums going to give up the gloves so he is going to have move up the order possibly to 3 or 5.

He isn't a good enough Batsmen to be in the side as a 3 or 5. He needs to keep the gloves on, he would have a much better average if his top order made more runs consistently:crazy:

 

[myanonymoususername]

Sorry, I disagree - the main problem is always our batting - seriously, that is not a 150 pitch against any bowling attack - our batting lineup is feeble, and aside from a stubborn effort from McIntosh we'd have been beaten already...

Watling and McIntosh are honest but only have ordinary first class records. Ingram has an ordinary record too, despite a few good years. Guptill is talented but has an abysmal first class record, and some rather obvious technical flaws... Taylor is no doubt talented, but I suspect the sh*t my dog just did on the lawn has a higher IQ... Ryder is a big loss etc etc...


End of the day, we are a rubbish test team, but i'd start by looking at the batting lineup that can never put together an innings of substance - even against Bangladesh they were rescued by the lower order

NZ's batting is very very fragile, almost a case of 3 out all out.

 

[aussies1st]

I would say get Williamson in there, I don't know who you guys have next in Test but if they are crap opposition then Williamson might not get a proper examination of his technique for a few years.

 

[JJ]

IMO, Taylor has the ability but needs to take ownership of this batting order. He's been around long enough now. It's all in the top two inches for me. Ryder when he comes back... he's one of the best timers of a cricket ball going around. Guptill, I really rate this bloke, he looks solid but he's got to work out these soft dismissals.

I still though really wonder how we can pick up 20 test wickets in a game against solid opposition, and if we can't do that all our bats can really do is hope for a draw.

Agree - Taylor and Guptil have potential (Williamson more, I think) - but Taylor's repeated stupid dismissals wouldn't be tolerated in an Australian or RSA lineup... and making him v/c was amazing

I wonder about 20 wickets too... but since I have been watching it's really been only when we've had Hadlee or Bond in the team that this has been likley anyway - even back in the 80's take Hadlee out and the likes of Chatfield, Cairns, Snedden, Bracewell, Boock and Troup are not better than we have at the moment. I'd settle for draws against Australia, and frankly it should have been straighforward in this test - Ponting's aggressive declaration showed how little respect he has for our batting (and rightly so) - we can't draw or win tests if we're continually bowled out for under 200 (or saved by # 7 and 8) and our best bat is Vetorri, who is to be admired... but....

On Vetorri - he's symptomatic of the issues with the bowling - he's lauded as some modern day champion, where in reality he's a left-arm version of Ewen Chatfield - steady line and length bowler who relies on pressure to get wickets... and good lineups handle pressure a little better than Bangladesh and NZ

 

[Rovelli]

A lot is wrong with the team at the moment. Vettori is the only player who would come into the Australian team (in favour of Hauritz). McCullum and Taylor are capable on their day, and that's the problem.

Just wish Ryder could sort his off-field problems out, because he's going to be a permanent fixture in our line-up. This Williamson kid looks the goods, though it is debatable where he is up to playing the Australians now.

Bowling-wise, we don't have a line-up that can take 20 wickets against most teams, let alone Australia.

 

[JJ]

A lot is wrong with the team at the moment. Vettori is the only player who would come into the Australian team (in favour of Hauritz). McCullum and Taylor are capable on their day, and that's the problem.

Just wish Ryder could sort his off-field problems out, because he's going to be a permanent fixture in our line-up. This Williamson kid looks the goods, though it is debatable where he is up to playing the Australians now.

Bowling-wise, we don't have a line-up that can take 20 wickets against most teams, let alone Australia.

Vetorri is a better T20 and ODI option than Hauritz, but the more I see the more I'd have Hauritz over Vetorri in tests

McCullum > Haddin in T20 and ODI, but in tests Haddin's much the better option...

Bond of course would make whatever side he's available for, but beyond that none of our players are in the same league in tests

 

[Rovelli]

Good session for NZ. Now 5/266 at lunch, with Vettori 60*, McCullum 39*. Rain closing in, seemingly delaying the inevitable.

 

[JJ]

Go the rain!!!

 

[MKEB...]

I tell ya, the weather here looks like it is gonna p1ss down very shortly.
I am only a couple hundy yeards from the basin...it looks nasty.

 

[Red Bear]

Vettori must just about be a batting all rounder by now

 

[Fast Eddie]

In tests there is no doubt he is a better batsman than bowler.

 

[Meth]

Bit of an odd situation here. McCallum was given not out after a pretty good looking LBW shout. Referral taken, but they were unable to use the virtual technology on account of the wind.

Plenty of talk going on

 

[Rovelli]

NZ avoid an innings defeat.

Tuffey, Southee, Arnel and the great Chris Martin to come.

 

[Rovelli]

In tests there is no doubt he is a better batsman than bowler.

x2

The wickets he has got have come from playing for 13 years now. The average is not that great, and because of the injury he had a while back, he doesn't spin the ball a lot anymore.

I would also argue that his bowling record has been skewed by the fact that he owns Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.