2nd Test: New Zealand v Australia at Christchurch on Feb 20-24, 2016

[The Charlatan]

Oh he does, the pitch takes a veritable battering.

None of the matters if he doesn't have big levers.

 

[TheParraboy]

Siddle is out officially, according to ABC news

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-australia-2015-16/content/story/973435.html

Siddle's absence in Christchurch will likely mean a recall for James Pattinson, who played all three Tests against West Indies before shin soreness prevented him from playing later in January. Pattinson was ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington as the selectors were unsure whether his fitness would stand up to five days of cricket.

However, captain Steven Smith said after the Wellington Test that Pattinson had been bowling well in the nets and appeared to be on track to be available for the second Test, which starts on Saturday. The only other bowling option in Australia's squad is the uncapped swing bowler Chadd Sayers, whose style is similar to that of Jackson Bird, who played in Wellington

 

[The Charlatan]

I'm devastated.

 

[Pete Cash]

Sids was good in the first innings in fairness.

 

[hineyrulz]

Pattinson bowling well in the nets, look out NZ!!

 

[jargan83]

Obviously bowling at 120km puts the body under great stress :sarcasm:

 

[The Charlatan]

Sids was good in the first innings in fairness.

One innings shouldn't justify continued selection.

I wish we would just pull a Nevill on this merkin. Bring in a bowler who will usurp him and shut the door on him until the next trip to England.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Two days out.

Looks spicier than Wellington if less green. Is this a different grass than the Basin? Canterbury is oft subject to a very dry nor-wester wind which often leads the region to drought with soil evaporation. Canterbury (Hagley Oval has a short international history) is renown for pitches that are fast with good bounce compared to an average NZ pitch - not to mention all the grass on this pitch. So it could go brown quickly, but the groundsman reckons there is more to it than the grass colour and he can have brown pitches do a bit.

Hesson wanted more than 1 session of life in the pitch. Groundsman said he was independent and not here to cater to NZ.

I think this one could be less of a road after the first session, even if less green, because I think that the grass is possibly a different type - but I also think Australia's attack with Patto and Lyon to go with Hazelwood will be well in the game regardless what the Canterbury climate does to the pitch over the next 7 days.

Of course, if the covers stay off, he mows it and it goes brown and the grass is fine, it could be an early road like Wellington. I think everyone is far less certain about this pitch that NZ'ers were about Welly.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/76976471/exblack-caps-captain-stephen-fleming-weighs-into-hagley-pitch-debate

 

[aussies1st]

Siddle being out works nicely, either Bird gets another go or we get a look at Sayers assuming Patto is fit.

 

[TheParraboy]

This is the only 2nt test at Hagley Oval

The first one in Dec 2014 NZ v SL. SL won the toss and fielded and got spanked by 8 wickets

Win toss bat first perhaps?

 

[jargan83]

Pattinson in for Veggieman

Australia XI: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.

Source - Cricket Australia app

 

[The Charlatan]

Good to see they're persisting with Bird after one match.

 

[ANTiLAG]

NZ selectors are in a bit of disarray at the moment.

Henry has been confirmed to play. Wagner and Craig are fighting it out for the other spot.

Guptill
Latham
Williamson
Nicholls
McCullum
Anderson
Watling
Wagner/Craig
Henry
Southee
Boult

If Wagner plays, this has to be one of the weakest test batting line ups in world cricket currently playing. Even Watling, a typical strength for this side has not bought a run all year. Nicholls, BMac and Anderson is a terribly weak middle order, and the tail starts at 8 if Wagner plays.

Playing 4 quicks plus Anderson makes zero sense. Even overs short of the 90 could be filled in by KW, even Guptil could troll one or two overs.

NZ desperately needs runs from its top 6. Guptill and McCullum are already passengers, and Nicholls is a novice who has not scored a single run in test cricket with a straight drive to mid on or mid off. Playing Craig as a bowler against Australia doesn't make much either as they have obliterated him in his 4 tests against them.

So, NZ will be praying for a miracle of Boult finding form, Henry skittling the Aussies, and somehow, even if lusty hitting from Anderson and Southee, just somehow this batting line up can put up a score big enough for a decent first innings lead.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/77069841/black-caps-eye-fourseam-attack-against-australia-on-green-hagley-oval

I cannot believe how weak that batting line up is looking. But playing Craig to strengthen the batting, just seems equally dumb as the Aussies love to plunder his bowling. If he plays, I'd bat him at 6 or 7 and drop Anderson down the order. Craig has got too many not outs against Australia to not deserve a promotion up the order -if he plays - it is a reflection of his batting usefulness as displayed against Australia this summer. Because in 4 tests, he has done nothing with the ball to give Australian batsmen chills.

 

[JJ]

These threads are almost like the old Waldorff and Stadler skits from the muppets, the start was Aussies going on about the worst team ever, Marshes being hopeless etc, now Anti lag doing same...

Both teams have shit bats at #6, Aust have a decent spinner who can't bat, we have a shit one who can bat...

Nothing's changed really, except we miss Taylor terribly, if only for his presence

 

[ANTiLAG]

These threads are almost like the old Waldorff and Stadler skits from the muppets, the start was Aussies going on about the worst team ever, Marshes being hopeless etc, now Anti lag doing same...

Both teams have shit bats at #6, Aust have a decent spinner who can't bat, we have a shit one who can bat...

Nothing's changed really, except we miss Taylor terribly, if only for his presence

Do you really have the same hopes for BMac success that you did at the start of the summer? The likelihood of a 2014 big score, what odds do you give that against Australia now?

Watling, he is overdue, to say the least.

Craig's bowling - what hopes do you give it?

Santner not batting at 8 - but possibly Wagner, seem a bit weaker to you?

Nicholls, I will celebrate his second straight drive in the V for 4. I'm just not entirely convinced that I will celebrate that this match. Are you?

I hold out hope for Guptill, but you have already said as much that you do not.

Anderson, as you say, is a prayer to nothing, except Marsh can bowl a heck of lot better in tests.

And, last but not least, I like Waldorff and Stadler. And they available for commentary?

 

[JJ]

I'm not sure there's any great difference between Craig and Santner tbh - both can contribute from 8, and bowl a steaming pile of shit

Santner has more upside longer term, but people seem to be viewing him through rose coloured glasses atm

 

[lockyno1]

Pattinson bowling well in the nets, look out NZ!!

Also supplied a mean Gatorade! So he's ready for the test match!

 

[ANTiLAG]

I'm not sure there's any great difference between Craig and Santner tbh - both can contribute from 8, and bowl a steaming pile of shit

Santner has more upside longer term, but people seem to be viewing him through rose coloured glasses atm

There has been a big difference in their respective economy rates with the ball.

Santner has no proven ability on day 5 to spin a win.

If you're saying that they're the same in batting ability, you have a point but Santner has more expectation that his batting will develop past its current level. He is seen as a top 6 batsman by selectors.

Are you saying swap Craig for Anderson and 4 seamers?

 

[hineyrulz]

Smiffy has won the toss the again and NZ will bat.

 

[lockyno1]

Has McCullum won a toss this year lol