2nd Test: Australia v New Zealand at Perth on Nov 13-17, 2015

[BunniesMan]

Tough to criticise the bowlers too much when they're basically running in on astroturf...actually I reckon even astro has more life. It's a shockingly dead wicket and it's baking hot so there's f**k all swing

CA needs to start telling the AFL to go f**k itself and get rid of drop in wickets, too.

The WACA isn't a drop in.

The problem isn't drop in pitches. The problem is CA give secret orders to put the focus on making tests last 5 days. There is literally millions of dollars lost when a test is 3 days instead of 5.

That is why Perth and Sydney are as dead as Adelaide and Melbourne.

 

[El Diablo]

The WACA isn't a drop in.

The problem isn't drop in pitches. The problem is CA give secret orders to put the focus on making tests last 5 days. There is literally millions of dollars lost when a test is 3 days instead of 5.

That is why Perth and Sydney are as dead as Adelaide and Melbourne.

:lol:

they tell you their secrets eh

f**king idiot

 

[Bazal]

The WACA isn't a drop in.

The problem isn't drop in pitches. The problem is CA give secret orders to put the focus on making tests last 5 days. There is literally millions of dollars lost when a test is 3 days instead of 5.

That is why Perth and Sydney are as dead as Adelaide and Melbourne.

I never said the WACA was a drop in.....

Drop in pitches do not have as much life as naturally grown wickets. This is known. The AFL should either suck it up or stop playing on cricket grounds tbh.

 

[undertaker]

McCullum bowled by Marsh

If Australia break this partnership, they will be into the tail

 

[tomdl]

Did Starc really just send down a 160.4km/h thunderbolt? Or was that an error on the speedgun?

That'd have to be close to the fastest ever ball bowled in Australia. Shaun Tait also hit 160+ a few years ago.

I am a little skeptical tbh

 

[undertaker]

Watling out

Australia have to got to rip through the tail here conceding a minimal amount runs if there's any chance of winning the test.

 

[Gina Minehart]

How close was that to a no ball?

 

[Red Bear]

Regarding the wicket - I think this one is pretty damn flat. Maybe puts some of the kiwi bowling in perspective, as ours have't shown much more.

Test cricket isn't just supposed to test the batsmen, however. It should test the bowlers as well. This partly fits the pattern of Australia overseas in recent years, where our bowlers who have good pace are capable of those ripping delivers but have not shown the discipline required when there isn't a heap in the pitch. So whilst I don't like a real featherbed, creating complete minefields isn't the answer either.

Also, it's the third day of the test match. There's a lot to go. Have a look at the recent series in the UAE, it was slow, brooding cricket but each test went the distance, the first was another 10 overs away from producing a result whilst the second two did produce results on pretty flt pitches - largely because Pakistan bowled with good discipline whilst Englands quicks similarly kept them in it.

Anyway, wicket for Aus opens up a pretty decent sized tail.

 

[Pete Cash]

Starc deserves some luck hes been our best bowler by heaps

 

[hineyrulz]

Shit ball but he's deserved that wicket.

 

[Hutty1986]

Lol, more shit fielding. Wow.

 

[Pete Cash]

Fielding very shoddy today

 

[undertaker]

What! Not another ball change...

Seriously, Kookaburra should just close down. Bring on the Duke!

 

[undertaker]

Regarding the wicket - I think this one is pretty damn flat. Maybe puts some of the kiwi bowling in perspective, as ours have't shown much more.

Test cricket isn't just supposed to test the batsmen, however. It should test the bowlers as well. This partly fits the pattern of Australia overseas in recent years, where our bowlers who have good pace are capable of those ripping delivers but have not shown the discipline required when there isn't a heap in the pitch. So whilst I don't like a real featherbed, creating complete minefields isn't the answer either.

Also, it's the third day of the test match. There's a lot to go. Have a look at the recent series in the UAE, it was slow, brooding cricket but each test went the distance, the first was another 10 overs away from producing a result whilst the second two did produce results on pretty flt pitches - largely because Pakistan bowled with good discipline whilst Englands quicks similarly kept them in it.

Anyway, wicket for Aus opens up a pretty decent sized tail.

The longer this NZ innings goes for, they are the only team that can win this test now. Australia really need to take these final 4 wickets very soon for any chance of a win.

Unless Australia really goes the tonk when they bat like they did in the 3rd innings at the Brisbane, they simply won't get enough time to scoring enough runs and then take 10 wickets. They could easily go the tonk up in Brisbane because they had a 200+ run lead and could afford to take those risks, even if they lost early wickets. They are very well aware of the '3rd innings curse' that we have succumbed to over the years (e.g. Bridgetown 1999, Adelaide 2003, Mohali 2010, Bangalore 2010, Cape Town 2011 etc.) where we have lost a test off the back of a crappy batting performance in the 3rd innings.

But with a narrower run margin after the 1st innings in this test, they will be very reluctant to take the same risk, especially if they lose early wickets. Also, they will be more conservative in setting NZ their run target (i.e. not give NZ too many overs relative to the target they need to get) as they are well aware NZ have batsmen like Williamson and McCullum who are capable of scoring quick runs. If Australia end up in a similar situation like in Brisbane in 2001 where they cheekily declared giving NZ enough overs to chase down the target and they nearly did (falling 10 runs short), which forced McGrath to bowl wider deliveries to save the match, I don't have confidence in Starc/Johnson/Hazlewood/Marsh to have what it takes and repeat that in a similar pressure situation.

 

[TheParraboy]

game on peeps


my predictions

Match - Draw
Highest run scorer: McCullum
Highest wicket taker: Lyon
Most catches (other than keeper) Smith
LBWS's in the whole match - 2

 

[Hutty1986]

We are in some trouble now. Huge pressure on the batting line-up, with Khawaja busted as well. After looking like specials to wrap up the series, two shit days have turned this entire series around. So disappointing.

 

[Rabbits20]

After Smith reviews the appeal on Craig he then was shaking his head angrily as if it should have been out.

No way Craig hit that. On snicko there was the tiniest tiniest wave (from his shirt I reckon) but nothing conclusive.

Bad sportsmanship from Smith there. No need to enquire with the umpire when the right decision was made.

 

[undertaker]

Btw, for those who are interested in another match, the All-Stars game is now on GEM.

 

[Rabbits20]

The NZ cricket team are better sports than us.

When Taylor walked off not 1 of our players shook his hand or said well played mate.

When one of our players bats a whole day the whole Kiwis team will say well played mate/shake hands.

When Australia have to bowl for long periods they don't handle it well!!!!'


NZ play in the spirit of the game whereas we don't!

 

[Red Bear]

Best Starc has bowled for Australia today IMO. Not his best day results wise, but he actually kept at the batsmen for a much greater time, was at the batsmen all day, didn't just rely on the yorker. Busted a gut. Promising.