Aus vs NZ

[waiopehu oldboy]

Not trying to flog the proverbial here but I found this fascinating:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/948361.html

And this even moreso:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-australia-2015-16/content/story/948373.html

BTW Mr Llong has been appointed for the upcoming NZ v SL series & I have no problem whatsoever with that, he's usually one of the best umpires going which only makes his Adelaide brainfart both more surprising & frustrating (& no, I'm not suggesting it was anything other than a good old-fashioned clusterfuck).

 

[Quick Hands]

Not trying to flog the proverbial here but I found this fascinating:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/948361.html

And this even moreso:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-australia-2015-16/content/story/948373.html

BTW Mr Llong has been appointed for the upcoming NZ v SL series & I have no problem whatsoever with that, he's usually one of the best umpires going which only makes his Adelaide brainfart both more surprising & frustrating (& no, I'm not suggesting it was anything other than a good old-fashioned clusterfuck).

Llong is actually a very good umpire, just hopless in the 3rd umpire role. Those articles sum up what I've said in previous posts.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

BMac to retire after the return series in February:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricke...ounce-february-retirement-from-the-black-caps

Assuming he plays both Tests he'll finish on 101 & as with (for now) our second-highest runs aggregate.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

There'll be plenty of applause from this side of the ditch I'm sure, he's been a fine player, captain and ambassador for the game.

 

[light]

This is going to be a great series. Calling it right now that NZ will bounce back from losing the ODI games and claim a test series win over Aus.

The absence of Starc is crucial as he is one of the worlds best exponents of swing. Southee and co. should have a lot of success against Australia's top order in conditions that will definitely suit bowlers.

 

[Quick Hands]

This is going to be a great series. Calling it right now that NZ will bounce back from losing the ODI games and claim a test series win over Aus.

The absence of Starc is crucial as he is one of the worlds best exponents of swing. Southee and co. should have a lot of success against Australia's top order in conditions that will definitely suit bowlers.

It will certainly be closer than the series here. NZ seriously underdone for the Gabba test and the pitch in Perth wrecked that test. Adelaide was the test of the summer so far.

 

[light]

Lynn is surely the next in line for test honours. I'd love to see him replace Voges at 5 once Adam decides to move on.

 

[Quick Hands]

^^Or is moved on

 

[Brumby Runner]

Lynn is also excellent in the field. Will be a good thing if and when he makes it into the Aus side.

On another matter, as a long term critic of Khawaja, and one who thought he would never make the grade at test level, I am now predicting he will in the not too distant future feature in the top two or three batsmen in world cricket. He has developed into the most elegant left handed stroke maker since David Gower and he has shots all round the ground. A bit sluggish in the field but his batting is now really top notch.

 

[Quick Hands]

The inherent problem with picking ageing debutants and keeping older players a series too long is that younger players like Khawaja and Lynn are either denied any opportunity at all or denied the chance to establish themselves.

 

[Brumby Runner]

True QH, but who (perhaps other than your good self) would advocate dropping Voges in the form he has shown against the WIs? Very few batsmen would have an average of around 550 after two series against any test opponent.

 

[light]

More importantly, very few batsman have had an average of 85 after 12 tests.

At this rate he's going to retire with a phenomenal average.

 

[Quick Hands]

True QH, but who (perhaps other than your good self) would advocate dropping Voges in the form he has shown against the WIs? Very few batsmen would have an average of around 550 after two series against any test opponent.

I wouldn't advocate droppng him now - although lets put in perspective that two of his series have been against a substandard West Indian outfit, two of the tests against the Kiwis were on flat batting tracks and in the Adelaide test where the ball was seaming and swinging he failed (much as he did in England in similar conditions). His average is inflated by the fact that he comes in late in the order and Australia have been declaring at 3 or 4 down most of the summer, so he's almost always not out.

EDIT: His stats show that of 13 tests he's only had to bat 18 times (i.e. only 5 2nd innings) and has been not out on 6 occasions (one innings in 3)

I don't think he should have been selected in the first place and he probably should have been dropped in England, but he's there now and scoring runs (notwithstanding the above caveats)

 

[Brumby Runner]

I accept the conditions that he has batted in, but those are the same for every other player in the Aus side. Hard to argue that he hasn't at least held his own against the performances of his team mates.

But, if the conditions in NZ find him out, then he might not last beyond that tour. Many young batsmen starting to flourish and put up their hands for selection.

 

[Quick Hands]

I agree to the extent that he can only play in the prevailing conditions and has no control over the standard of the opposition. The average is misleading because of the way that cricket doesn't count a "not out" innings as being an innings, but counts the runs.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Which is fair enough though, surely? I don't think Voges could have done a lot more really, other than more runs in the Ashes of course. He was far from Robinson Crusoe there though. Plenty of other blokes didn't stand up when the hour was darkest either, including our half fit captain who ignored all advice to the contrary and played one series too many.

 

[Quick Hands]

^^^Absolutely.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZ have chased down Pakistan's 168/7 without loss (Guptill 87*, Williamson 72*, both with a 150.0 Super Rugby) which is apparently a record T20I partnership. ODI's to follow then the main event, NZ v Straya & hopefully some payback/ karma........