Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test at the MCG December 26-30

[Marklar_33]

It is.

The NZCB have prioritized short format cricket over long format cricket over the last decade.

You think they want a 2 Test Series vs India next month? Then you must also believe Australia wants to play 3 ODIs in India straight after the Sydney Test

Raw numbers, NZ have played 3 fewer home Tests than Aus in the past 4 summers, but have hosted 1 more series. Ireland are cancelling every Test they schedule. By choice? Nup

Can’t wait for the annual Big 3+1 Quad Series, though

 

[Marklar_33]

They don’t though. It’s not true.

Yes, more often than not, that happens.

But in 18 series at home since 2008-09 they’ve lost 5 and drawn 1. Now all 5 of the teams to win here were good, but only the first two SA sides that won were very good/great.

In the same period India has played 21, lost 1 and drawn 1.
In fact in that period India has only lost 4 tests in total.


In theory it should have been more likely for NZ to compete in this series than for anyone to compete in India.

South Africa and Australia are too interchangeable for the stats to be reliable. Yes, it does disprove my point but there’s a huge reason why they are a consistent outlier

 

[PhatBoy]

South Africa and Australia are too interchangeable for the stats to be reliable. Yes, it does disprove my point but there’s a huge reason why they are a consistent outlier

Perhaps, but NZ specialise in swing bowling and being able to bat in swinging conditions to some extent and they couldn’t manage to put up a fight with the bat in the pink ball test, and Melbourne’s pitch is the most New Zealand like of all and they’ve not put up a fight there either. Melbourne is also far removed from SA conditions and they won a Boxing Day Test. India over that period have won a test on Perth and Melbourne too

 

[Ekomaira]

New Zealand really are the St Kilda of cricketing nations.

Ay ease up on the Saints stuff

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Ay ease up on the Saints stuff

Blame Plugger lol

 

[eddiesmith]

New Zealand really are the St Kilda of cricketing nations.

Bit harsh, St Kilda have actually won something. Fremantle might be more apt or University

 

[The Casey Cat]

Saf have won last three series here

True but those SAF sides were miles better than the current NZ one. Australia possibly a fair bit better now too.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

True but those SAF sides were miles better than the current NZ one. Australia possibly a fair bit better now too.

We probably won’t rest our whole bowling attack for the deciding test too...

What a howler that was!

 

[philreich]

South Africa have had our measure here of late.

But they no longer have Amla, de Villiers and Steyn, plus Philander is retiring from Tests after this series. If the Proteas were to come out here now, I know who I'd be backing.

 

[philreich]

Plug is like the Nz cricket side, they too don't like Mondays....

I'm led to believe that the Kiwis will be known as the Possums after this series, as they're regularly being killed on the road.

 

[barrackers]

Totally agree we need a series over there, I much prefer Away series purely because its more of a game, These Australian cricket summers where we just beat the s**t out of visiting teams are getting boring.

At least last Summer India came to play and becuase we were missing Warner and Smith it was much better viewing even though we lost the series.

Plus an Indian handpicked test schedule. No Brisbane test, no Adelaide day/night test.

Australia haven’t lost at the Gabba since 1988 and haven’t lost a pink ball test in Australia.

 

[Marklar_33]

Bit harsh, St Kilda have actually won something. Fremantle might be more apt or University

Look at England talking about ‘actually winning’

 

[HBF]

Plus an Indian handpicked test schedule. No Brisbane test, no Adelaide day/night test.

Australia haven’t lost at the Gabba since 1988 and haven’t lost a pink ball test in Australia.

Thats a real shame. Seeing Bumrah with a pink ball under lights would be pretty special.

 

[CrowBloke]

That's under the assumption we bowl out NZ in less than a day which despite their 1st innings performance I very much doubt.

NZ's three Innings in Australia so far have been 166 (55.2 overs) / 171 (65.3 overs)/ 148 (54.5 overs); all within 66 overs, less than a day's batting.
The wicket is up-and-down and a bit two-paced, and the Kiwis are mostly getting out bowled, caught behind the wicket (slips/keeper), and lbw, while driving or defending against tight-line, hot-pace bowling. That bowling has given them few loose balls, very few to cut. With 114 from 234 balls, Travis Head 'schooled' them inadvertantly in his presser, saying that he had to put away his driving, defend hard, and rely on runs NOT coming from shots within the arc from mid-on to mid-off. Luckily for Oz, the Kiwis weren't listening.

If Australia batted for another hour to get quick runs, say a lead of 500+ (feasible), then NZ might have to face 70 overs today.
What have NZ shown you that makes you think they'd last beyond today?

 

[Crankitup]

NZ's three Innings in Australia so far have been 166 (55.2 overs) / 171 (65.3 overs)/ 148 (54.5 overs); all within 66 overs, less than a day's batting.
The wicket is up-and-down and a bit two-paced, and the Kiwis are mostly getting out bowled, caught behind the wicket (slips/keeper), and lbw, while driving or defending against tight-line, hot-pace bowling. That bowling has given them few loose balls, very few to cut. With 114 from 234 balls, Travis Head 'schooled' them inadvertantly in his presser, saying that he had to put away his driving, defend hard, and rely on runs NOT coming from shots within the arc from mid-on to mid-off. Luckily for Oz, the Kiwis weren't listening.

If Australia batted for another hour to get quick runs, say a lead of 500+ (feasible), then NZ might have to face 70 overs today.
What have NZ shown you that makes you think they'd last beyond today?

They had no lead up games and played the first test within 3 days of landing in the country. The first 1 & 1/2 tests I see as their warm up. They've certainly showed more fight in the field in Australia's second innings thus far. I can see them lasting more than a day in their second innings quite easily actually. I guess we'll soon find out won't we?

 

[troybe]

Peter Siddle just announced his retirement from international cricket. #putyourbananasout


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Barlos Crathwaite]

Congratulations on a great career sids. Lots of guts and determination

 

[Greenstar5]

Well done Sids. Fantastic career. 67 tests 221 wickets. Throw in a few ODIs and T20Is. Congrats.

 

[PhatBoy]

But they no longer have Amla, de Villiers and Steyn, plus Philander is retiring from Tests after this series. If the Proteas were to come out here now, I know who I'd be backing.

I think they would probably lose too - their batting is very flimsy - but remember Australia still won 2 series there when SA were clearlythe stronger team, and I reckon a lot of that was because mentally the place held no fear for Australia. I think that would count for something if they came here

 

[k31th]

what's everybody's guess for when this game will finish? I reckon session 3 today.

 

[Barlos Crathwaite]

I think they would probably lose too - their batting is very flimsy - but remember Australia still won 2 series there when SA were clearlythe stronger team, and I reckon a lot of that was because mentally the place held no fear for Australia. I think that would count for something if they came here

It's clear that your average fan wants to see hard competitive cricket. The odd smashing is great but when it becomes the status quo viewers tune off. That's why I'd love to see substitutes allowed in cricket. Bring a squad of fifty over, if a pitch doesn't suit a bloke, off he goes, get someone else in there straight away. So on and so forth until we get the right players in place for the pitch and conditions etc. Much more competitive in theory. There you go I've just saved cricket. You're welcome

 

[HBF]

Fantastic career Sids. Well done

 

[k31th]

Session 3 tomorrow when NZ chases down 500 runs to win.

good to see we've got the supreme optimist in yourself and the supreme pessimist (at least from a Williamson perspective) in Vegeta haha

 

[k31th]

that's good play from Wade.. play the bouncers you can play in front of square and make them move their fielders there and leave the ones that have you a little uncontrolled behind square

 

[Barlos Crathwaite]

Watching our fast bowlers is like watching inevitably personified. Hopefully CA can give Cummins a 7 year contract and he can forget about the limited overs nonsense. We won't lose a series