Australia Tour of NZ

Some quality opening batting from the kiwi lads. Should they keep this up and the rest of the batting order follow suit I say we will get a pretty good game today

What postage stamp are they [playing at ? Let me guess Eden Park ?

Your Name wrote:What postage stamp are they [playing at ? Let me guess Eden Park ?

Yep Eden Park. Gets an exemption for its small size based on historical presence. Can make for an entertaining match but it can annoy those who prefer clever shotmaking and working of the angles. I'm just glad we get a test match at the Basin Reserve. Best ground in NZ for watching a test match in my opinion. Always a good wicket and if the weather plays nicely there is nothing better than cruising out on the bank

I'm all for the history of the game, but Eden Park and the Bullring are just too small in this day and age. It actual takes away from the history of the game because you have teams scoring 400+ and getting beaten. All of a sudden the fastest 50, the fastest 100, highest score, highest run chase, most runs conceded by a bowler records will all be at 1 or 2 grounds.

Have gone home for lunch and turned it on. The 30m circle is deadset most of the way to the boundary. At the most it'd be another 20m, probably less. I know it's the same for both teams, but it certainly advantages the less skilful teams who may otherwise be caught 20m in from the boundary.

Oh and Shaun Marsh is shit.

What kid would want to be a bowler these days. If you are going to play on grounds like this because they have historical significance, then leave something in it for the bowlers so the batsman cant just wildly swing at anything knowing an edge is 6

There is a fine line between making it a skillful, stroke playing match vs entertainment for the fans but I agree that Eden Park is a joke of an international ground. Players are good enough to hit the ball for 6 70-80+ metres these days yet Eden Park has the shortest boundary at something like 56m or something like that. You could throw the ball over the boundary it's that fucking short

Edit. Oh and Dip, Shaun Marsh is indeed shit

It's a shame he got out early today but I'm really looking forward to seeing Williamson vs Smith these next few games. Along with Kohli they are the best batsmen in the world going around so looking forward to that

You only have to look at this Australian summer, on the flat ODI tracks we prepare 300 is now an average score and anything over 330 becomes a difficult chase

Remember even just a few years ago when scores of 270 were considered to be a very good innings and would be difficult to chase down. Now you get in sight of that by 40 overs

Lack of depth in NZ team showing up. 4/210 off 30 now 6/238 off 40

When your picking blokes in your national side that can't get a run in their own, you know you've got problems.

Your Name wrote:Lack of depth in NZ team showing up. 4/210 off 30 now 6/238 off 40

When your picking blokes in your national side that can't get a run in their own, you know you've got problems.

Not a depth problem. That middle order of Nicholls, Elliott and Anderson are world class. Anderson has just come back from an injury and you can say he is a bit underdone. Santner has had a great summer and has certainly deserved his place in the side. Ronchi on the other hand is just so out of form it isn't funny. A major lack of wicketkeeping options in NZ at the moment is the only reason he is there. With Milne and Henry next to come in they have hitters. The problem is that wickets have been taken and the big/reliable scorers all got out early in the piece. Yes they got runs but there is a lack of momentum in the middle overs (25-40) once they all went. They are caught in that limbo between trying to get runs but not losing wickets and the Aussie bowlers are putting it on the money each time.

307 is about 50-60 short of where they were after 30 overs.

Stunning display from Shaun Marsh. That's how you thank the capt and selectors for their faith and cement your position in the side.

Your Name wrote:307 is about 50-60 short of where they were after 30 overs.

Can't argue with that. Definitely a good 50 runs shy of where they could have been

Way it's going it looks like it'll be 200 over par!

Your Name wrote:When your picking blokes in your national side that can't get a run in their own, you know you've got problems.

Want to rethink that statement

I went out to dinner after work, got home and it was over. WTF happened ???

Turns out you were picking guys in a national side that can't get a run on their own

In all honesty it was just a massive collapse. Some pretty decent bowling from the kiwi quicks, some poor decisions from your guys and momentum just piled on. 6 down for something around 40 and it was game over