1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

[lemmon]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

Khawaja V Southee will be a huge battle throughout the series. Khawaja has that nasty habit of getting too front on, being squared up and feeding the slips. If Southee has the ball swinging Khawaja may be in some trouble.

I am looking to see how the Aussies play Mark Craig. He's the most innocuous spinner in world cricket at the moment, hopefully Warner's eyes arent rolling too far out the back of his head already

[Axe Man]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

It's a good point regarding leadership in the middle order. I'd like to see a split between his figures batting at 3 as opposed to 4.

I also think a captain should bat at 3 when possible. I can't explain why but teams look more complete when the (c) is next to #3 on tge order.

Smith's test figures are:
No. 3: 13 Innings 791 runs @ 71.90
No. 4: 7 Innings 560 runs @ 80.00
No. 5: 22 Innings 1198 runs @ 66.55

Plus some innings lower down mostly early in his career. No great difference between 3, 4 and 5 - all very impressive.

[lemmon]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

Smith's test figures are:
No. 3: 13 Innings 791 runs @ 71.90
No. 4: 7 Innings 560 runs @ 80.00
No. 5: 22 Innings 1198 runs @ 66.55

Plus some innings lower down mostly early in his career. No great difference between 3, 4 and 5 - all very impressive.

I'm trying to dig up the Sheffield Shield stats I saw the other day but his average for New South Wales at number 3 is ridiculous, up near 75 across the last 3 years. I think Klinger and Ferguson were in second and third with averages at about 50. And Khawaja at about 45. Khawaja does average 70 at the GABBA though

[Bornadog]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

Australia Batting

[Twodogs]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

Smith's test figures are:
No. 3: 13 Innings 791 runs @ 71.90
No. 4: 7 Innings 560 runs @ 80.00
No. 5: 22 Innings 1198 runs @ 66.55

Plus some innings lower down mostly early in his career. No great difference between 3, 4 and 5 - all very impressive.

Crikey! Those are some impressive averages. The kid can play just a bit

[Greystache]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

Crikey! Those are some impressive averages. The kid can play just a bit

Make him Captain!

[lemmon]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

This will be interesting. Craig is worse than Hauritz was. Joe Burns might go at him here, I remember him depositing Ashwin over long on a few times.

No idea why they're calling him young either. The guy is 28

[KT31]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

Great start to the Aussies, none for 100 at lunch
Warner (54no) and Burns (43no) have partnered up very well and each taking up the slack at different periods of play.
Not a wrap for McCullum's captaincy, he has tried just about every trick in the book and hasn't let his players settle or bowlers get into a rhythm by making major changes to the field placements every second ball.

[Sedat]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

No idea why they're calling him young either. The guy is 28

All NZ spinners in their test history (Vettori excepted) are the ekers of the cricket world.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

All NZ spinners in their test history (Vettori excepted) are the ekers of the cricket world.

If Shane Warne was the Sheikh of Tweak, then John Bracewell was the Sheikh of Eke (although England's John Emburey and Phil Edmonds were fair Ekers also)

[Sedat]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

If Shane Warne was the Sheikh of Tweak, then John Bracewell was the Sheikh of Eke (although England's John Emburey and Phil Edmonds were fair Ekers also)

They'd probably fare no worse than the 3 English tweakers playing in the current test in Sharjah against the Pakis.

[Greystache]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

All NZ spinners in their test history (Vettori excepted) are the ekers of the cricket world.

In fairness so are most of their batsmen, bowlers, and wicket keepers too!

[LostDoggy]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

They'd probably fair no worse than the 3 English tweakers playing in the current test in Sharjah against the Pakis.

Fair. In fact, offies are the Ekers of the cricket world in general, as well as limited overs players who are okay at most things - sometimes.

[Webby]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

Finger spinning in Australia is a dead end profession, to be fair. It's a far more effective art form in other countries. Australia's best group of spinners are all wrist-spinners. O'Rielly, Warne, Grimmett, Benaud, even Macgill and Bevan!!

The hardness and bounce compliments over-wrist spin, yet the lack of bite blunts finger spin. All of Murali, Swann, Harbijan, Gibbs etc had far less flattering figures in Aus than outside of Aus.

And, BTW, Clarrie Grimmet (bee's dick Behind Warne & O'Rielly) is actually in the Pharlap, Russell Crowe club..

[Sedat]

Re: 1st Test Match, Vs New Zealand - 5 Nov 2015

In fairness so are most of their batsmen, bowlers, and wicket keepers too!

And captains - Lee Germon, Jeff Crowe, Ken Rutherford, etc..

This is probably their best ever all-round team, even with yet another no-name limited ability spinner.