1st Test: New Zealand v Australia at Wellington on Feb 12-16, 2016

[JJ]

pretty sure Anderson will play

Latham
Guptill
Williamson
Nicholls
McCullum
Anderson
Watling
Bracewell
Craig/Henry/Wagner (maybe Craig at the Basin)
Southee
Boult

Given concerns over Boult and Southee, perhaps the extra quick

 

[Meth]

Anderson isn't in the first Test squad, is he?

 

[JJ]

double post

 

[JJ]

Yep, think the original plan was Santner at 8 - assume Watling's fit, haven't seen any announcement

BLACKCAPS Test Squad v Australia

Brendon McCullum (c)
Corey Anderson
Doug Bracewell
Trent Boult
Martin Guptill
Matt Henry
Tom Latham
Henry Nicholls
Mitchell Santner
Tim Southee
Neil Wagner
BJ Watling / Luke Ronchi (wk)
Kane Williamson

 

[Iafeta]

Mark Craig? Oh no. Can you maybe get Mark Haslam, Matt Hart or Greg Loveridge in instead? Mark Craig is the Roydon Hayes of spin bowling. When he bowls, instead of calling out fore to protect the bat pads who are about to be demolished they shout out PIE.

 

[JohnDoe]

Play the four paceman. And have Williamson and if need be Guptill as the spin options. Anything is better than the pie chucker.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Australia has had a look at the pitch for the test match. Warner was serious that that is not the outfield to be dug up for a drop in pitch to be laid.

Gotta say, looks pretty flat.

 

[Iafeta]

5 hundy plus on that in the first dig I reckon. As you say it will be as flat as a tack.

 

[ANTiLAG]

5 hundy plus on that in the first dig I reckon. As you say it will be as flat as a tack.

Shhh. Don't tell 'em that.

 

[Twatface Magee]

Lyon planning on bowling some slow half-trackers?

 

[ANTiLAG]

Lyon planning on bowling some slow half-trackers?

"I'm serious you guys, I reckon the groundsman is fair dinkum, this will be the pitch. Would the outfield be this hard underneath. Here -feel."

 

[Pete Cash]

I dont want to be thst guy but pitches often look like that days out from a test. They get cut down in preperation for the game. Id be pretty shocked if that wasnt cut down at least a bit by friday. The scg often looks green as that two days out before a test

 

[ANTiLAG]

This 'll be looking near as green on Friday.

But as Iafaeta and myself have alluded too, underneath when it is flat, the pitches at the Basin Reserve can be a total road. Even with green grass cover.

If the sun's out, it can play like Adelaide 1925-2014.

 

[Pete Cash]

Well thats the mcgs issue...even if its very green its too dry underneath the pitch. So the pitch doesnt have a lot of juice in it.

 

[JJ]

said all along the Basin is a likely draw wicket - but green does funny things to Aussies

 

[Hutty1986]

said all along the Basin is a likely draw wicket - but green does funny things to Aussies

To be fair, the green affects us all.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

NZ by an innings and 58 runs. Within 2 days.

;-)

 

[ANTiLAG]

NZ by an innings and 58 runs. Within 2 days.

;-)

NZs only in form and current player is arguably Guptill. And he has just crapped himself in tests v Australia. Though Latham has got some runs this summer. And KW has shone in tests this season. Bmac went mental in his last test innings. Mental. No Taylor, half fit out of form Watling.

Strange prediction.

Hopefully you're right.

 

[chigurh]

None of our guys have played a test in NZ, no red ball warm up games... NZ should win easy

 

[ANTiLAG]

None of our guys have played a test in NZ, no red ball warm up games... NZ should win easy

You've had a full summer, the odis and a sheffield shield game for the Don Voges and Neville.

Preparation is barely an issue.

Hopefully there is a Boult swing ambush, though.