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New Zealand vs Australia | 1st Test | Wellington | Feb 12-16, 2016 | Match Thread

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Cloudy and overcast today.

Expected to brighten up just before Tea. That forecast is good news for the embattled Kiwis.

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Asian (and English) readers might be surprised by the foreground: quite a lot of female spectators today.
 
Any idea why Captain Baby was so hesitant to walk off after Craig caught him clean? [MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION]

Was he hoping for the replay to pick up something? :))
 
Aman said:
Any idea why Captain Baby was so hesitant to walk off after Craig caught him clean? [MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION]

Was he hoping for the replay to pick up something? :))
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Temporary shock at the fact Craig took a wicket
 
It really is a timeless experience at the Basin Reserve.

Half an hour til the start, people lazing on the grassy banks, "Let it Be" on the PA.

It could be 1970. And that's good, not bad!
 
Mark Craig is turning it square on one of the old pitches!
 
Need to get 2-3 wickets quickly.

Marsh and Neville coming in next wouldn't give the Aussies too much confidence.
 
Aman said:
Need to get 2-3 wickets quickly.

Marsh and Neville coming in next wouldn't give the Aussies too much confidence.
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It's a belter to bat on now. Hard and brown.

The cloud might mean more swing, but the ball is old.

Then again, Australia have picked four number elevens, which is unusual for them.
 
Boult's gotta come around the wicket and probe the 5th stump line to Voges. Over the wicket is a pointless line with the ball not swinging.
 
Typical NZ wicket.

Flat from day 2 onwards, expecting Aus to score at least 450 from this position.
 
ChachaCricket said:
Nah, one breakthrough before 200-250 and you guys can wrap em for 300-350.
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The ball is doing nothing, expect these two to accelerate once they settle.

This is the very reason why it was idiotic to prepare a green top, our wickets tend to flatten out by day 2.

We always lose the toss so the only team who was going to be batting when it's best for bowling was us.
 
Surely the most surprising part of this whole debacle is the reaction from Steve Smith. I would have thought that as soon as he saw the replay on the balcony tv he would have been so concerned that the umpiring system had followed poor processes that he would immediately have stood up on his pulpit, extended his arm out from the balcony and recalled Adam Voges to the pavilion. I'm certain Mitch Marsh sitting behind Smith would have been furious with the umpiring too, saying "that's ****'n bull****. Hey skip I really feel that the decision-making process was inadequate and undermines the competitive nature of this cricket match, not to mention the Spirit of Cricket. Do the right thing skip." ...or words to that effect.

I am at a loss as to why the above did not happen.
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[MENTION=136108]Donal Cozzie[/MENTION] :)))
 
The pitch has flattened out but the ball is skidding through, timing the ball isn't as easy it looks, you've gotta get in first.
 
Aman said:
The ball is doing nothing, expect these two to accelerate once they settle.

This is the very reason why it was idiotic to prepare a green top, our wickets tend to flatten out by day 2.

We always lose the toss so the only team who was going to be batting when it's best for bowling was us.
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Kiwis own fault for asking for a wicket which was always going to tough batting 1st if they lost the toss which they did. such pitches help no one
 
Amjid Javed said:
Kiwis own fault for asking for a wicket which was always going to tough batting 1st if they lost the toss which they did. such pitches help no one
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Issue is if we don't have grass on it, there is zero chance of a result.

We should have prepared a slow track, on that we beat Aus more often than not.
 
Khawaja looks like a completely different batsmen since his return to the side, hes improved alot technically which is good to see.
 
ChachaCricket said:
Released all the pressure.
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We were never going to get a edge with the ball doing nothing. If you're interested in seeing wickets, I'd wait for the second new ball. We'll be getting hit around till the second new ball.
 
Aman said:
Issue is if we don't have grass on it, there is zero chance of a result.

We should have prepared a slow track, on that we beat Aus more often than not.
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Oh really, when did that happen. When did NZ beat Aus on a slow track?.
 
NZ doesn't have good spin bowlers to take advantage of slow tracks. NZ's best bet was to leave a lot of grass on the pitch (like they did) and hope to bowl first (that didn't happen). Boult look completely a different bowler since his injury. No rhythm no movement.
 
To be a successful batsmen these days, you only need patience to see off the good balls outside off and the ability to cash on the bad deliveries. Most batsmen today cannot score runs on a good wicket (our batsmen included), that's why we've seen so many teams crumble whenever a bowler friendly track has been produced. Teams have lost their top 5 wickets for less than 100 runs something like 17/18 times in the last 18 months...
 
Aman said:
Yeah, we've seen how you gone on slow tracks in the SC as well. Swept in India and swept in the UAE.
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Time to wake up Aman, you don't have the slow bowlers that India and Pakistan have, NZ bowling is no the same.
 
Anfield said:
NZ doesn't have good spin bowlers to take advantage of slow tracks. NZ's best bet was to leave a lot of grass on the pitch (like they did) and hope to bowl first (that didn't happen). Boult look completely a different bowler since his injury. No rhythm no movement.
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Grass is useless when you lose the toss.

Our green tops are only good for a day, have a look through the last few matches at the Basin.
 
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Gilly said:
Time to wake up Aman, you don't have the slow bowlers that India and Pakistan have, NZ bowling is no the same.
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Not about our spinners, but rather your lack of ability on these tracks.
 
Aman said:
We were never going to get a edge with the ball doing nothing. If you're interested in seeing wickets, I'd wait for the second new ball. We'll be getting hit around till the second new ball.
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Nah, Voges was at 18(66), wanted to see what would he do with a few more tight overs.
 
Aman said:
Not about our spinners, but rather your lack of ability on these tracks.
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But if you look at things, Australia generally don't do poorly against bad spinners.

It's just that we're completely unable to cope with the big spinners of the ball in those conditions
 
Convict said:
But if you look at things, Australia generally don't do poorly against bad spinners.

It's just that we're completely unable to cope with the big spinners of the ball in those conditions
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Meh.

An attack of Ish + Craig/Santner would be enough against your lot tbh.

Ish is capable of bowling jaffas and would be a threat against Aus on a track that turns.
 
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Aman said:
Meh.

An attack of Ish + Craig/Santner would be enough against your lot tbh.

Ish is capable of bowling jaffas and would be a threat against Aus on a track that turns.
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Ahh the coulda been champions, don't you just love them.
 
Games are not fixed if decisions are made that differ to your opinion. If you think a game is fixed call the police. Stop spouting unsubstantiated rubbish here.
 
Aman said:
Grass is useless when you lose the toss.

Our green tops are only good for a day, have a look through the last few matches at the Basin.
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That's what I am saying your best bet was to exploit the conditions of day 1 pitch which you couldn't because you lost the toss. Aus is all over you like they were in Australia.
 
Anfield said:
That's what I am saying your best bet was to exploit the conditions of day 1 pitch which you couldn't because you lost the toss. Aus is all over you like they were in Australia.
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Well, it's not the case at all.

If you watched Aus play in NZ on the slower tracks at Eden Park and Hamilton (where Aus were rolled for 150 and lost by 50 runs chasing 240), you'd realize green was certainly not the best way to go.

Considering 1) We don't win tosses 2) Aus have a good attack capable of taking advantage of a pitch that seams 3) Our wickets flatten up by day 2, going green was certainly not the best chance of winning this game.

This isn't the first time I've suggested it either, right after the Hamilton game I had said we'd be shooting ourselves in the foot going green and that we should prepare a slow wicket.
 
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Why do teams need so much help from the pitch to beat Australia? How about you guys start whining about that.. England beat Australia 3-2 at home but got destroyed 5-0 away. NZ lost away and will probably lose at home too. If Australia's weakness against spin is worthy of so much criticism then what does it say about NZ who lost the test series away to Australia and will probably lose at home too? Maybe NZ shouldn't complain about their own home pitches, and just admit Australia are a better team. This forum is gonna be a fun place with all the whining when Australia become the no.1 test team along with being the world cup winners.
 
Gilly said:
Ahh the coulda been champions, don't you just love them.
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Australia should just stop playing cricket. According to this forum they are worse than Bangladesh, it's a mystery how they are the current world champions and about to become no.1 in both tests and odis.
 
Well done Uzzie.

Possibly the most improved player in the world
 
vandokkum said:
Why do teams need so much help from the pitch to beat Australia? How about you guys start whining about that.. England beat Australia 3-2 at home but got destroyed 5-0 away. NZ lost away and will probably lose at home too. If Australia's weakness against spin is worthy of so much criticism then what does it say about NZ who lost the test series away to Australia and will probably lose at home too? Maybe NZ shouldn't complain about their own home pitches, and just admit Australia are a better team. This forum is gonna be a fun place with all the whining when Australia become the no.1 test team along with being the world cup winners.
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Think you're misinterpreting my posts.

It's a criticism of our management for preparing a green wicket when it wasn't the best wicket to prepare.

Don't care about Aus being deserving/undeserving world number 1's as there is no real clear number 1 team atm.
 
[MENTION=132828]vandokkum[/MENTION] we've fluffed our first innings twice now on a green top at the Basin, it took a McCullum triple and KW double to save Tests against India and SL. But here we are preparing a green top against a side who is able to exploit the conditions much better. Management hasn't learnt at all, this is why it's so frustrating.
 
It is kind of funny to prepare a wicket your own batsmen can't bat on.

Like the Poms have Cook and Root and a few others who can bat on the wickets they prepare for Australia.

Kiwis never seemed to consider that Hazlewood benefits just as much from a good wicket as Southee and Boult
 
Convict said:
It is kind of funny to prepare a wicket your own batsmen can't bat on.

Like the Poms have Cook and Root and a few others who can bat on the wickets they prepare for Australia.

Kiwis never seemed to consider that Hazlewood benefits just as much from a good wicket as Southee and Boult
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Exactly, someone who gets it.

It was suicidal when you consider we can't win a toss.
 
Aman said:
[MENTION=132828]vandokkum[/MENTION] we've fluffed our first innings twice now on a green top at the Basin, it took a McCullum triple and KW double to save Tests against India and SL. But here we are preparing a green top against a side who is able to exploit the conditions much better. Management hasn't learnt at all, this is why it's so frustrating.
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It's bad news for NZ fans maybe, as a neutral, Well done to NZ management for being brave and producing result pitches, bucking the trend of home doctored pitches where home teams get their wish.
 
Convict said:
It is kind of funny to prepare a wicket your own batsmen can't bat on.

Like the Poms have Cook and Root and a few others who can bat on the wickets they prepare for Australia.

Kiwis never seemed to consider that Hazlewood benefits just as much from a good wicket as Southee and Boult
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Australia seem to gift flat pitches/ turners of Sydney/ Adelaide which is a gift for teams like India who get smashed when there's just enough pace/ bounce .
 
vandokkum said:
Australia seem to gift flat pitches/ turners of Sydney/ Adelaide which is a gift for teams like India who get smashed when there's just enough pace/ bounce .
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Yeah but we don't prepare those wickets to get an advantage.

i get the feeling the Kiwis prepared that wicket on purpose
 
Convict said:
Yeah but we don't prepare those wickets to get an advantage.

i get the feeling the Kiwis prepared that wicket on purpose
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Yeah and it's nearly backfired on us twice, third time not so lucky.

I don't think it was specifically for the Aussies, as it's the same pitch we had for SL and India.
 
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I'm with India on "Umpire's Call" defending incorrect decisions to protect the umpire.

If 1% of the ball hits the stumps, the bails come off. So this decision simply upheld an error.

In an era of inflated scores, there should only be a red or green light for "hitting wickets". Umpires call is a travesty.
 
What kind of an off-spinner is this guy, seriously? Guptill the Test opener and Mark Craig are major issues in this line-up. He literally bowls more boundary balls than a leggie.

Fond memories of us giving him a 7-fer. :facepalm:
 
Junaids said:
I'm with India on "Umpire's Call" defending incorrect decisions to protect the umpire.

If 1% of the ball hits the stumps, the bails come off. So this decision simply upheld an error.

In an era of inflated scores, there should only be a red or green light for "hitting wickets". Umpires call is a travesty.
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The ball tracker is based on mathematical modelling and the umpires call simply covers the margin of error.
 
Lunch and Australia by 55runs with 7 wickets in hand.

Good batting by Australia and if they continue to play disciplined cricket should take a sizable first innings lead.
 
The pitch is an absolute belter now. I took this at lunch...

..image.jpg
It shows that the green is long gone!
 
Aman said:
Looking more and more like an innings defeat.
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No offence, but that's what New Zealand deserve.

The batting was a typical McCullum-inspired excess testosterone suicide fest. Craig is incapable of bowling a line and length and the four "quicks" are 132K medium pacers.

A Test attack needs extra dimensions. If Anderson is the fourth quick then you can afford to pick Adam Milne to bowl a single four over 150K burst every session.

It's awful. Anderson and Craig only had to bowl 9 tight overs from lunch to the second new ball, but they are just incapable.
 
Aussies hacks really got lucky with the toss, even though hobbits other than kw are no better.
 
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Aman said:
Adam Milne can't hold up for 5 days of cricket.
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than with this loli pop attack you will get similar beating even from pak when we tour hobbits land, if voges can handle your bowling than yk and misbah are no worse, but i don't think you have anyone bar kw who can really score big vs amir , asif, wahab, yasir and hafeez.
 
Junaids said:
No offence, but that's what New Zealand deserve.

The batting was a typical McCullum-inspired excess testosterone suicide fest. Craig is incapable of bowling a line and length and the four "quicks" are 132K medium pacers.

A Test attack needs extra dimensions. If Anderson is the fourth quick then you can afford to pick Adam Milne to bowl a single four over 150K burst every session.

It's awful. Anderson and Craig only had to bowl 9 tight overs from lunch to the second new ball, but they are just incapable.
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Wasn't it you that was building this team up to be better than Australia and even the best in the world. Are you now admitting you got it wrong, have you changed your mind or do you have more excuses up your sleeve.
 
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]
how about this contest,
butt, azhar, harris, yk (c), babar (vc) , shafiq, sarfraz, amir, yasir, wahab, asif
vs
latham, wiliamson, nicholas, tylor, andeson, neesham, watling, santner, southee, boult, wagner.
Which team will have best chance to beat other? [MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION] what's your take on this?
 
Gilly said:
Wasn't it you that was building this team up to be better than Australia and even the best in the world. Are you now admitting you got it wrong, have you changed your mind or do you have more excuses up your sleeve.
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It's McCullum's captaincy that's stopping them.
 
Great review

Pitching outside leg
Was missing the stumps
And an edge
 
Stunning catch. That no ball from yesterday proving to be quite big. Marsh once again proving to be a dud in Tests.
 
Gilly said:
Wasn't it you that was building this team up to be better than Australia and even the best in the world. Are you now admitting you got it wrong, have you changed your mind or do you have more excuses up your sleeve.
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What I wrote - and maintain - before it was trendy to say so was that the Top Six countries are roughly equal, with retirements meaning that Australia and South Africa were declining while NZ were improving.

Since losing the Ashes, Australia has replaced Rogers with Burns, Clarke with Khawaja, Starc with Siddle and Johnson with Bird.

I don't think that constitutes an upgrade, do you?
 
Junaids said:
What I wrote - and maintain - before it was trendy to say so was that the Top Six countries are roughly equal, with retirements meaning that Australia and South Africa were declining while NZ were improving.

Since losing the Ashes, Australia has replaced Rogers with Burns, Clarke with Khawaja, Starc with Siddle and Johnson with Bird.

I don't think that constitutes an upgrade, do you?
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What about the "New Zealand are a far, far better team than Australia" thread?
 
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