2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

[Sedat]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

Good win by the Aussies but in truth NZ are simply not up to the level of Australia across the 11 and also in terms of squad depth for 5-day cricket - different story in limited overs cricket where you can hide your weaknesses much more effectively. Very important tosses to win in both tests, but if you rely on the toss to win matches you deserve what you get.

So ever since Michael Clarke was pushed out of the test side after being a non-contributor for 12 months and his team being embarrassed by a very poor England side, Australia has climbed back to #1 in the test rankings in less than 9 months. No wonder he is crawling back into the media spotlight in search of relevance - perhaps he can crawl back from whence he came, as Steve Smith and his team are doing quite alright thank you very much.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

Good win by the Aussies but in truth NZ are simply not up to the level of Australia across the 11 and also in terms of squad depth for 5-day cricket - different story in limited overs cricket where you can hide your weaknesses much more effectively. Very important tosses to win in both tests, but if you rely on the toss to win matches you deserve what you get.

So ever since Michael Clarke was pushed out of the test side after being a non-contributor for 12 months and his team being embarrassed by a very poor England side, Australia has climbed back to #1 in the test rankings in less than 9 months. No wonder he is crawling back into the media spotlight in search of relevance - perhaps he can crawl back from whence he came, as Steve Smith and his team are doing quite alright thank you very much.

I quite liked Clarke but his sense of entitlement is out of proportion with his achievements.

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

Wonderful performance from the Aussies .
I thought the batting was the surprise for me, and although ex Kiwi legends ( hello Hadlee) talked up a good series, it was one sided.
Looks a happy team as well .

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

If cricket was a private corporation they'd be on golfing junkets all around the world .

[Greystache]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

If cricket was a private corporation they'd be on golfing junkets all around the world .

I take it this is in reference to my earlier post? And I take it this is based on your extensive experience in the corporate sector?

[Ozza]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

Good win by the Aussies but in truth NZ are simply not up to the level of Australia across the 11 and also in terms of squad depth for 5-day cricket - different story in limited overs cricket where you can hide your weaknesses much more effectively. Very important tosses to win in both tests, but if you rely on the toss to win matches you deserve what you get.

So ever since Michael Clarke was pushed out of the test side after being a non-contributor for 12 months and his team being embarrassed by a very poor England side, Australia has climbed back to #1 in the test rankings in less than 9 months. No wonder he is crawling back into the media spotlight in search of relevance - perhaps he can crawl back from whence he came, as Steve Smith and his team are doing quite alright thank you very much.

Pretty strong attack on a bloke who carried the side for a few seasons, to take a pot shot at his injury plagued last season of cricket.

The 'resurgence' of the Australian team has a fair bit to do with the fact we finally have a reliable number 3 in Khawaja who is in the form of his life and Voges at 5 who is scoring like Don Bradman - either side of Smith. We've also been playing against NZ and the West Indies....so perhaps lets wait until we've played some stronger sides to declare Australian test cricket is back to its best.

[Sedat]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

Pretty strong attack on a bloke who carried the side for a few seasons, to take a pot shot at his injury plagued last season of cricket.

The 'resurgence' of the Australian team has a fair bit to do with the fact we finally have a reliable number 3 in Khawaja who is in the form of his life and Voges at 5 who is scoring like Don Bradman - either side of Smith. We've also been playing against NZ and the West Indies....so perhaps lets wait until we've played some stronger sides to declare Australian test cricket is back to its best.

I admire Clarke for a couple of his pivotal innings in Sth Africa - they were absolutely top shelf, courageous knocks (the 151 he scored in the disastrous 47 all-out match was just about the best innings I've seen from an Australian batsmen whose name isn't Allan Border). Aside from that he filled his boots on rubbish (especially at home and against pie-chucking attacks) for a couple of years and completely cashed in when he was in form - either side of that he was scratchy and unreliable. I stand by my comment on his recent media work - it reeks of someone craving attention. When he was in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race, he was asked about his thoughts on the current test team's prospects against the Windies in the Boxing Day test - his response "I couldn't care less" was tacky and classless. Ditto his attacks on a cheap target like John Buchanan as well as the likes of Hayden and Symonds in his 'explosive' book. So pardon my cynicism for his comeback announcement being anything more than a cry for relevance. He is a close mate of Warne's, whose addiction to fame/profile is as legendary as his bowling ability.

Just on your last paragraph, England's team last year was very poor - Lyth opening (say no more), Buttler not making a run as keeper, Balance not much chop at #3, Bell up and down in form (and since dropped), Cook down on form - Root was their only batsman who commanded any respect. Make no mistake, it was a horrendous test series loss by a team that was so clearly much better than the opposition on paper. Actually the quality of cricket from both teams was as bad as I've seen from two teams in many years, hence the blow-out results in all 5 matches.

I agree with you about this current team still having a long way to go - I would go so far as to say it is the worst #1 test team in history, such is the poor quality of test cricket teams at the moment. Australia does have a very reliable first 5 batsmen compared to other test nations.

[Ozza]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

I admire Clarke for a couple of his pivotal innings in Sth Africa - they were absolutely top shelf, courageous knocks (the 151 he scored in the disastrous 47 all-out match was just about the best innings I've seen from an Australian batsmen whose name isn't Allan Border). Aside from that he filled his boots on rubbish (especially at home and against pie-chucking attacks) for a couple of years and completely cashed in when he was in form - either side of that he was scratchy and unreliable. I stand by my comment on his recent media work - it reeks of someone craving attention. When he was in the Sydney-Hobart yacht race, he was asked about his thoughts on the current test team's prospects against the Windies in the Boxing Day test - his response "I couldn't care less" was tacky and classless. Ditto his attacks on a cheap target like John Buchanan as well as the likes of Hayden and Symonds in his 'explosive' book. So pardon my cynicism for his comeback announcement being anything more than a cry for relevance. He is a close mate of Warne's, whose addiction to fame/profile is as legendary as his bowling ability.

Just on your last paragraph, England's team last year was very poor - Lyth opening (say no more), Buttler not making a run as keeper, Balance not much chop at #3, Bell up and down in form (and since dropped), Cook down on form - Root was their only batsman who commanded any respect. Make no mistake, it was a horrendous test series loss by a team that was so clearly much better than the opposition on paper. Actually the quality of cricket from both teams was as bad as I've seen from two teams in many years, hence the blow-out results in all 5 matches.

I agree with you about this current team still having a long way to go - I would go so far as to say it is the worst #1 test team in history, such is the poor quality of test cricket teams at the moment. Australia does have a very reliable first 5 batsmen compared to other test nations.

I won't comment on your views on him personally or in the media. That's up to personal opinion and I know what a fun sport it has been for many to love to hate Clarke over the journey.

But in terms of his batting record - I don't think it is at all fair to put his career down to making a good knock in South Africa and aside from that filling his boots against rubbish. 3 centuries in India, 3 centuries in England, and 2 in South Africa. He averaged 68 against South Africa - who have been a good team consistently (unlike India and England who have belted us at their home, and we have belted here). 27 hundreds in total averaging nearly 50 over 115 tests, you don't just get lucky.

[jeemak]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

How many of our batting greats in the last 15-20 years haven't benefited from playing against ordinary test cricket attacks?

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2nd Test, NZ v Aust, Christchurch

I take it this is in reference to my earlier post? And I take it this is based on your extensive experience in the corporate sector?

Yep. Whatever you say