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

[ANTiLAG]

Think the starving/boring of Williamson had some success in the ODIs purely because of the pressure to move the score along. He likes to get moving in tests too, but not the same pressure, he'll do what he does, the worry is atm that Kiwis expect 100 every time he bats.

Smith similar, I've expressed my thoughts on his technique, but at the end of the day in tests he doesn't have to be so aggressive - the thing with the Aussies is they feel they need to be - that could be the problem as it was in England.

Agree on Khawaja - at the end of the day he's generally been poor in test cricket, until confronted with some roads this summer - he's confident and in good nick, but if Boult can find last summers form I think he'd destroy him tbh (but that Boult has only made sporadic appearances, did do a job on Warner in Adelaide from memory)

KW will see the plan a mile off (Siddle let that cat out of the bag a long time ago), and be in the nets as we speak planning how to get the ball either on the onside, or along the ground through point. 'Boring KW out' doesn't sound as scary as boring out Corey or Brendon. Or a negative minded Guptil for that matter (he really needs to hit them down the ground the moment they slightly overpitch).

Sure would be funny if Pattinson was rested as a result of that green pitch meaning Siddle and Bird would be as if not more effective. Be great if they're not bowling until the end of day 1 on a flat road. A bizarre but possible Lunch day 1 meeting - guys, it is okay to take your time mopping up the tail, think of your team mates who have to open the innings facing Bird and Hazelwood. Starve em of runs, but no rush.

 

[JJ]

Not sure about Warner - at the end of the day what he did in the home summer was brilliant, at least on the flat decks. In the English conditions he batted well, but a bunch of quick 50's followed by a soft dismissal are annoying rather than devastating in tests

 

[mozza91]

Not sure about Warner - at the end of the day what he did in the home summer was brilliant, at least on the flat decks. In the English conditions he batted well, but a bunch of quick 50's followed by a soft dismissal are annoying rather than devastating in tests

This is what I'm expecting from him in NZ. He'll handle Boult and Southee comfortably and then get caught in the deep off Craig playing a stupid and totally unnecessary shot.

 

[ANTiLAG]

This is what I'm expecting from him in NZ. He'll handle Boult and Southee comfortably and then get caught in the deep off Craig playing a stupid and totally unnecessary shot.

Craig gets Warner? To a poor shot, caught in the deep, after doing the hard work and looking set for a huge score?

Sky Sport commentary team immediately...

I can hear Rigor now. "That was just dumb by Davey dumb dumb. That is the stupidest thing..."

 

[Pete Cash]

On fridays im normally flatout in the mornings. Wont be surprised if by the time i can get a peak we are bowled out or something crazy.

 

[ANTiLAG]

On fridays im normally flatout in the mornings. Wont be surprised if by the time i can get a peak we are bowled out or something crazy.

CA pays your players plenty.

Maybe its time they said to em, 'guys T20 in India and the Carribean, is fun and well paid, but how about you go freeze your bums off in England for a fair salary and learn to play a moving ball. We are your first priority and we pay you more. Well not you Watto, but you're retired from tests.' The players need a NOC don't they? Mitch Marsh will get a massive CA deal this year. Next Ashes, shouldn't he be in England playing County Cricket before the Ashes?

If I was a young shield player on the fringes, I would totally go County Cricket and try to get the selector's attention.

 

[Pete Cash]

England doesnt allow it anymore or they probably would. Fringe players dont qualify and most counties wony waste the overseas player spot on a bloke who will be playing as much national cricket as an australian test cricketer

 

[ANTiLAG]

England doesnt allow it anymore or they probably would. Fringe players dont qualify and most counties wony waste the overseas player spot on a bloke who will be playing as much national cricket as an australian test cricketer

Yeah they do.

Taylor, KW, McLeakin, Henry, Ryder, Bmac, Munro, Patel and yadda yadda from NZ have all got county deals. Yorkshire is estactic just to have KW for 6 weeks.

There are 18 counties, and a lot of tour clashes, easy to find work. There is not 12 West Indian fast bowlers, 6 West Indian batsman and 20 apartheid South African cricketers vying for citizenship in the quota now (Safrica are Kolpak or summing similar). Less Indians are playing County with their never ending home summer. Plenty of Pakistanians and Kiwis there now. They'd be room for more Aussies. Just dont drink drive eh Jimmy?

I guess you could play more shield games in NZ on greenies, but that seems counter intuitive.

 

[Pete Cash]

You guys play a lot less cricket than we do. This year for example we tour through almost the entire english summer where you guys have two fairly quick tours at the back end of it, next year the CT is being hosted in england, the year after that we are touring in june and july and nz is not touring during the english summer at all

 

[ANTiLAG]

You guys play a lot less cricket than we do. This year for example we tour through almost the entire english summer where you guys have two fairly quick tours at the back end of it, next year the CT is being hosted in england, the year after that we are touring in june and july and nz is not touring during the english summer at all

Typically what you say is very true. But for the first time since a Safrica, India, Pakistan tour in the Reid era, NZ plays more cricket than Australia next summer. Look at NZ schedule from Zimbabwe tour later this year. First time ever busier than Straya that I know of, tour India, Zimbabwe, South Africa home and away, tour of Straya in pyjamas, and have Pakistan tour NZ and Bangladesh, and Aus' is still hectic but not many overseas tests as usual.

I did the math in an earlier thread. Fortunately like you guys we have 7 frontline seamers in rotation now.

 

[Pete Cash]

Yes that may be the case but we are touring more over the english summer over the next few years. This year we are apparently in sri lanka for like a month and a half of it

 

[ANTiLAG]

Yes that may be the case but we are touring more over the english summer over the next few years. This year we are apparently in sri lanka for like a month and a half of it

But not during the IPL, though.

County cricket is head on with the IPL. Opens around April 10.

I am not talking a full season, but a month, 6 or 7 weeks, that is plenty. More if not in the ODI team. And there is plenty of vacancies in county cricket during the IPL.

Lol - India is playing 18 tests next year. Kohli will have quite some run tally but the time he retires.

 

[JJ]

sounds like the first three days are sold out - that's pretty much unheard of in NZ

 

[ANTiLAG]

sounds like the first three days are sold out - that's pretty much unheard of in NZ

Nah - England sold out down there a couple of years ago for the first two days.

The roundabout only holds 6,000 or 7,000 people. It was 8,000 capacity in 2013 when England toured. The 1985/86 reunion is a draw card too.

Surprised Sunday is selling now - press must have worried latecomers to get a ticket now.

 

[JJ]

right-o - "rare" rather than "pretty much unheard of" if that keeps you happy

 

[ANTiLAG]

right-o - "rare" rather than "pretty much unheard of" if that keeps you happy

Heh. England, unlike our closer neighbor, tour more regularly, though. They're fairly regular with tours here.

I don't know how much of it is tourist, and how much of it locals, though.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

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.

:lol: I was mates with Haslam as a kid, he's a couple of years older than me and our parents went to the same church. They moved away to Auxkland when I was maybe 11-12 though, and he eventually became a mediocre international cricketer, haha.

 

[Iafeta]

Great achievement for McCullum. Just saw a video of him belting Australia to all parts - I think its about 2004/05 at Christchurch. NZ is chasing 332, he's batting down the order, he comes in with NZ needing 72 off 44, next ball Scotty 'mad Dingo' Styris gets out for 101. Which brings Vettori to the crease, 2 wickets left. Baz gets 50 not out off 25 balls, and NZ win with an over to spare. Great batting, also a great reminder as to why Mick Lewis is everyone's favourite knock about larikin Australian cricketer.

 

[Iafeta]

:lol: I was mates with Haslam as a kid, he's a couple of years older than me and our parents went to the same church. They moved away to Auxkland when I was maybe 11-12 though, and he eventually became a mediocre international cricketer, haha.

Bury England's favourite son, eh? Allan Border once talked up Mark Haslam. It was the 93/94 tour of NZ, which included Border's first innings of 88 at Christchurch where he swept Dipak Patel for 4 to become the highest test run scorer at the time. Border played in a game against a NZ Chairman's XI or something of that nature. Haslam got 4 for about 115, and Border talked him up. I think AB was taking the mickey.

 

[Ibleedblue]

Good to see Jackson Bird get another crack at test cricket. Did well back when he did play, been killing it for Tassie and I think the conditions in New Zealand will suit him well.