Cricket 2013

[Troy]

Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (vice-capt, wk), Peter Siddle, Ben Cutting, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson.

The selectors announced that Warner will be opening with Hughes. I actually like that the first three players are all young, new players, give them the responsibility to get us off to a good start. Not happy with Copeland being over looked, he should be the first pace bowler picked. I don't know why Starc got the spot ahead of Copeland other than Starc being a left armer. Ridiculous that Haddin not only gets his spot but is vice captain for the test!

My line-up from that squad would be;

Warner
Hughes
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Cutting
Siddle
Lyon
Pattinson

12th man - Starc

Even with four frontline players out I still think that we should win this series and it is a great opportunity for these young players.

 

[Troy]

Starc got the debut ahead of Cutting even though it was Cutting's home ground so he would have more experience there.

Australia started fantastically having New Zealand 96/5 but some pathetic fielding let New Zealand creep out to 174/5. Clarke dropped a sitter when Brownlie was on 3 and Khawaja and Warner also dropped a chance or two. Bowlers looked threatening when they pitched it up and Lyon got a huge amount of spin but was rarely used after lunch even when he was causing trouble for Vettori and Brownlie. Disappointing that Australia couldn't finish them off but hopefully tomorrow morning we can go through them fast. Hopefully the weather is clear for tomorrow so we don't lose any more time.

 

[Troy]

Clarke is playing a captain's knock here with 118* taking Australia's score past New Zealand's. He has had a fair bit of luck, he was bowled off a no ball and was dropped twice but you take advantage of that luck since it doesn't always go your way. Unfortunately Ponting couldn't get his century and finished with 78 in what was a good knock. Currently Australia are 312/5 and lead by 17 runs.

Lyon bowled beautifully again yesterday to finish off NZ for 295 and Lyon finished with 4/69 and he was unlucky to not get another one as Starc dropped what should have been an easy catch. Fielding from bot sides has been really poor this test, both have dropped four or five chances and a few of them were regulation catches.

 

[Andrew]

McCullum to wicket-keep?!

 

[Troy]

That looked painful. Right beneath the nose and it started gushing with blood right away. NZ are lucky that they have a top quality keeper in McCullum as back up. Clarke 139* and Haddin 47* both look comfortable out there and hopefully they can pick up the pace and gives us a good lead by the end of the night. Currently the lead is 50 runs but we need it to be at least 150.

 

[Troy]

Clarke gets out the first over after lunch. Short ball from Martin and Clarke played it up and was caught out at deep sqaure leg.

Big appeal from Vettori just then for an LBW against Siddle. Given not out but NZ have reviewed it. It pitched outside legstump so it remains not out.

 

[Troy]

A couple of balls later and Siddle is out. Struggled this entire over and this time he lunched forward to defend but it catches the edge and Taylor takes the catch at first slip.

Hopefully Pattinson, Starc and Lyon can hang around with Haddin and at least get 50 more runs. I know that Starc can bat a bit so they should be able to bat out the over and let Haddin go crazy at the other end.

 

[Troy]

Lyon, Cummins and now Pattinson takes a five-for on debut. He ripped through New Zealand this morning and at one stage he had 4 wickets for just one run, he finished with a five for and six wickets for the game. Lyon picked up three wickets and so took seven for the game which is a record for an off spinner at the GABBA. New Zealand only scored 150 and so Australia had to chase 19 but Hughes still found a way to get out before the end. He gets out the same way as always and with Watson and Marsh still to return to the team Hughes needs some big scores at Hobart.

Dan Christian has been brought in for the second test after Ben Cutting was ruled out with an injury. Slightly surprised he was brought in as cover for Cutting, Christian is basically the Watson back up, he is a strong batsmen and an allright bowler but I don't think he is a frontline bowler.

For the next test they should bring in Cummins if fit and Starc should lose his spot. Starc wasn't that threatening and his two wickets were from wide balls outside off. He batted quite well and overall he reminded me a lot of Johnson and I don't know if that is a good thing.

The positive is that we have found three of the four parts for the bowling line-up for the next few years. Cummins, Pattinson and Lyon have all proved themselves so far and if Harris is fit he would be the other bowler. If Harris isn't fit then Siddle/Starc/Johnson will probably fight it out for the spot.

 

[Vivido]

My god its hard been a Black Caps supporter.

At least Dean Brownlie looked good, I had my doubts about his selection but he was all we had bar Verttori.

Was really looking forward to watching a decent day of NZ batting today, but once again we dissapoint.

Ah well at least we won the Rugby World Cup.

 

[Troy]

Vettori is a champion and he always performs, I feel bad for him that he rarely gets the support around him. Brownlie did look good once he was settled and he actually took his time to get in.

 

[Andrew]

Brownie's a really great performer, as an Aussie I really hope the Second Test is a hell lot more closer and high runs are made.

 

[Troy]

Be interesting to see what the line-up will be and if Christian ends up playing. At the moment I am not sure he will play as I think the selectors will give Hughes one more chance as they won't want to change the batting line up for one test.

From the sounds of it NZ won't be changing their line-up either.

 

[ants]

The side won't change. For Hughes, Warner, Starc and Pattinson it will simply be a try out for the first test against India on Boxing Day. With Harris, Cummins and Watson all potentially back in the mix for then, it makes good reading for us with lots of players vying for positions.

On a side note, New Zealand were woeful. Two debutant quicks, no all-rounder, a spinner that has played 6 tests and they were bowled out twice inside 4 days. Weak as water. And it starts at the top with Ross Taylor. One of the worst performances Ive seen from a captain in recent times, he needed to consolidate, twice, and he played two millionaire cover drives only to be dismissed. Disgusts me. You mention Brownlie, if Clarke had held that catch off him on the first day, I don't think we would even be discussing him. It gave him confidence that he was still at the wicket, and yeah he looked reasonable after a life. He can thank Clarke for his career. Vettori was great, just a back to the wall innings by a great cricketer.

 

[ants]

I dont no if we've got any Indians on this forum, but if we did Im sure theyd be jumping out of there skins for days.

Virender Sehwag just made 219 in the best one day innings I have ever seen. Now, people might jump on here and say he was playing on a 20 cent piece and they were bowling rubbish, but to those people I say, Sehwag made them bowl rubbish by the shots he played to there good balls. He made them change it up. 200 in a test match is considered a massive feat, and to do it in 43 overs in a One day international, where the adrenaline is pumping and the panting and puffing is starting after about the tenth over is a massive feat, and to Virender Sehwag, I salute!

 

[Vivido]

Who would ever think 150 would be a defendable score?

Oh and the Black Caps did have and all-rounder in their line up, Dan Vettori is the best all-rounder in the world.