2nd Test: Australia v NZ at MCG, Dec 26-30 2019

[TheParraboy]

Australia's day.

NZ wishing they were our 7th state.

You will eat those words when they belt us in the prestigious Chappell Hadlee series during the start of the NRL season....

 

[edabomb]

Seriously this Australian bowling attack is special and relentless.... four quicks of that calibre is historically rare and Lyon is very good.

Smith is peerless, Labuschagne could be anything and Wade aside the rest are very good at home

Paine is a great leader imo, his contribution to what is happening shouldn’t be overlooked

On our side we need less geniused selections, an opener and a spinner... might be that when Taylor retires Williamson should drop to 4 captaining and effectively opening is too much

Williamson's recent struggles on the biggest stages has Crowe pushing back over him for our best bat I reckon. Crowe has the edge under pressure IMO, and I'm pretty sure if you remove the minnows from the stats then they'd be pretty even and conditions were tougher in the 80s.

 

[Front-Rower]

The channel 7 commentary team, particularly Ponting, were highly critical of the kiwi pace attack and their lack of speed. Granted not everyone can bowl 140+ though Boult at his very best can.

Watching the SA vs Eng test, Philander has bowled 7 overs, has 2/1 and the speed gun has consistently been somewhere between 125-132kmh. Whilst raw pace is great, it isn’t everything. When I was growing up my coach always used to say the faster they bowl the faster the ball goes to the boundary.

I wonder if Ponting and co would be ripping into Philander the same way they ripped into the kiwis?

 

[blaza88z]

The biggest thing about NZ's attack that stands out to me is that their most potent weapon so far has been Wagner with his short stuff, not exactly something a batsman would be worried about after being sent in on a pitch that is doing a bit.

 

[JJ]

The channel 7 commentary team, particularly Ponting, were highly critical of the kiwi pace attack and their lack of speed. Granted not everyone can bowl 140+ though Boult at his very best can.

Watching the SA vs Eng test, Philander has bowled 7 overs, has 2/1 and the speed gun has consistently been somewhere between 125-132kmh. Whilst raw pace is great, it isn’t everything. When I was growing up my coach always used to say the faster they bowl the faster the ball goes to the boundary.

I wonder if Ponting and co would be ripping into Philander the same way they ripped into the kiwis?

It is more important in Australia than elsewhere though

I’m pretty happy with our pace attack, as you say Boult is quicker when 100%, his injury was at a terrible time for us

Spinner and opener are obvious issues, and there should be hard questions asked about them.

Raval horrible atm, no back up bat, Santner simply isn’t a test bowler and at best Astle is the 2nd or 3rd best spinner in the country. Outside the core which is strong atm we struggle for depth and appalling selections when touring the hardest place to tour don’t help

 

[JJ]

Williamson's recent struggles on the biggest stages has Crowe pushing back over him for our best bat I reckon. Crowe has the edge under pressure IMO, and I'm pretty sure if you remove the minnows from the stats then they'd be pretty even and conditions were tougher in the 80s.

I’m not even sure why it’s a discussion tbh they’re both great players, so were Donnelly and Turner... Crowe was as good to watch as anyone I’ve seen though

 

[Front-Rower]

It is more important in Australia than elsewhere though

I’m pretty happy with our pace attack, as you say Boult is quicker when 100%, his injury was at a terrible time for us

Spinner and opener are obvious issues, and there should be hard questions asked about them.

Raval horrible atm, no back up bat, Santner simply isn’t a test bowler and at best Astle is the 2nd or 3rd best spinner in the country. Outside the core which is strong atm we struggle for depth and appalling selections when touring the hardest place to tour don’t help

Matt Henry should have been in the side, somewhere. From what I've seen of him he has a bit of an attitude when he bowls. Southee isn't intimidating with his body language at all, and to stick it to us, attitude can go a long way.

Raval would be lucky to make a state second XI side in Australia.

 

[Mr Spock!]

The channel 7 commentary team, particularly Ponting, were highly critical of the kiwi pace attack and their lack of speed. Granted not everyone can bowl 140+ though Boult at his very best can.

Watching the SA vs Eng test, Philander has bowled 7 overs, has 2/1 and the speed gun has consistently been somewhere between 125-132kmh. Whilst raw pace is great, it isn’t everything. When I was growing up my coach always used to say the faster they bowl the faster the ball goes to the boundary.

I wonder if Ponting and co would be ripping into Philander the same way they ripped into the kiwis?

Nah Philander just wouldn't play.

 

[Twizzle]

Gotta say that's the best I've seen Head bat, not only because he made a ton but because of the way he batted.

When he got into the 70s and 80s he really started coming forward and playing some very good front foot drives which is what his game is lacking for mine as he is predominantly a back foot square of the wicket batsman..

Need to see more of this from him and maybe he matures into a hood all round batsman. He's still only 25.

 

[JJ]

Bottom line here is Australia batted phenomenally... now we need to

 

[Twizzle]

Taylor seems to always do well against us, hope he puts in a big shift.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Geez Dirk Nannes is cancer for the ears.

 

[Twizzle]

really love Patto's bowling, he pitches it up more than Cummins and he really attacks the stumps and gives you less balls to leave than most others

 

[Bazal]

Geez, Latham...there's struggling through, and then there's wasting an end.

 

[Bazal]

Haha, Labs with the over the top pass to Burns, who scores!

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Nice set that.

 

[Twizzle]

Taylor seems to always do well against us, hope he puts in a big shift.

shut up dickhead, as soon as you give a bloke a wrap..............

 

[Twizzle]

Paddy on a hatty

 

[Bazal]

I thought that looked like it was just missing leg. Probs be umpires call

Or maybe not, straightened more than I thought on hungover first look

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Pat-trick ball coming.