Pura Cup final thread NSW v Vic

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The protagonists starting 10am Sydney Cricket Ground Saturday 15th March 2008

Provisional squads of 13. My likely starting players in bold.

NSW : Phil Jaques, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich (capt), Michael Clarke, Dominic Thornely, Brad Haddin (wk), Grant Lambert, Beau Casson, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Mark Cameron

Vic : Nick Jewell, Rob Quiney, Lloyd Mash, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Andrew McDonald, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Shane Harwood, Peter Siddle, Clint McKay, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes

NSW with 7 Australian test capped players and one who will definitely start in Australia's next test (Brad Haddin the keeper due to Adam Gilchrists retirement), on their home ground will start short priced favorites.

But there is danger firstly because they have the expectation to win and the pressure that go's with that on their shoulders, secondly they will be going out to bat against the fastest attack in Australia who will play at least 3 quicks who comfortably bowl around 145-150 kph and thirdly because Bryce McGain has been the premier spinner in the domestic competition this year.

Key personal battles of note to look forward to

Stuart MacGill v Bryce McGain This is the heavyweight battle of the leg spinners for extremely high stakes both about the same age MacGill playing second fiddle to Warne for many years in the Australian team against McGain who spent his entire career playing in the shadow of Warne in the Victorian team.

Michael Clarke v David Hussey Test, ODI and 20/20 Australian incumbent batsmen against a guy tipped to force his way into least the Australian ODI side in the not to distant future. Michael Clarke to those outside Australia may look safe but his spot in the national batting order is probably the most hotly contested place because of the quality of the players like Hussey and the next two I will list competing for it.

Simon Katich v Brad Hodge Two ex test players who have plundered lots of runs in Australian domestic cricket in recent seasons. Both are still skirting on the edges of the Australian national side, Katich perhaps more the test format, Hodge more the ODI side. Katich is 136 runs from the all time Australian domestic season scoring record of 1464 runs held by Michael Bevan since the 2004/2005 season.

Stuart Clark v Peter Siddle Current test bowler gets his chance to play head to head against a guy coming up in his rear view mirror as quick as a Ferrari with Michael Schumacher driving it. The big question mark about Clark in the Australian test side is his age, at 23 Siddle has no such problem. Already described by former West Australian batsman and current Victorian coach Greg Shipperd as being the best bowler outside the Australian test side, Siddle gets his opportunity to put forward his claim in a high profile match against test quality batsmen being played for high stakes.

Then just for a little more spice we had this lovely exchange after the teams met in December.

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It was confirmed yesterday that the two had an ugly off-the-field confrontation after Harwood believed the NSW cordon knowingly claimed his wicket when Katich caught him for 17 off Nathan Bracken's bowling despite there being considerable doubt that the ball had carried.
A witness said the blow-up threatened to turn violent when Harwood challenged Katich after the day's play, with players from both teams required to drag the duo away from each other.
"It was full-on," said a source, who refused to be named.

"There was lots of shouting and swearing in the players' race … chests were puffed out, they were in each other's face yelling. The language would've made a nun blush. Katich certainly took exception to basically being called a 'f---ing cheat' and to having his integrity questioned by Harwood."
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From Spiteful Victoria-NSW final tipped as Harwood calls Katich a cheat - Cricket

Let the combat begin

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Day one NSW 8/266

An optomistic assessment for NSW following by cric-info journalist Peter English somehow.

Considering ABC commentator Kerry O'Keefe rates 380 runs being par, and also rated Peter Siddle (4/57) as being a test class bowler ?

Cricinfo - New South Wales suffer from Siddle shocks

[Aurelius]

That was the first time I've ever seen Siddle.

But it wasn't a good day for the Blues- losing eight wickets on the first day, and being beaten by the Western Force 27-17 to boot!

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Originally Posted by Aurelius

That was the first time I've ever seen Siddle.

He was brilliant, White captained brilliantly.

But I never realised Nick Jewell who took the big catch at mid wicket of Simon Katich off Bryce McGain. Was the son of Tony Jewell (Richmond 1980 premiership coach and a 1960's premiership player) until Drew Morphett spilt his guts.

Jewell took a gem.

It's all happening, NSW look like they are under the pump at this stage.

Bring on Day 2.

[south beds mikey]

All is not lost for NSW as due to my having relatives from Melbourne I will be cheering for Victoria. Will the mikey jinx strike again I wonder?

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Originally Posted by south beds mikey

All is not lost for NSW as due to my having relatives from Melbourne I will be cheering for Victoria. Will the mikey jinx strike again I wonder?

It struck hard

Just prior to lunch day 3

Victoria All Out 216 (Brett Lee 4/72 Stuart MacGill 2/36 Brad Hodge 84) MacGill and Lee started bowling in tandem late in day 2 and totally routed the Vics who had seemed to be cruising at 4/184 prior to Hodges departure.

NSW 1/128 (Phillip Hughes 78 not out) Hughes and NSW are well in control at the moment.

[south beds mikey]

Oh dear!! NSW 450 odd in front

It seems I am the obvious problem here so there's nothing else for it; I shall have to turn alliegances to australia, surrey and nsw and see if thet does the trick

Or maybe I should start supoorting queensland. After all as Al Murray says australia is all the Queen's land!!!

[draexem]

Looking at the pitch, MacGill is going to run through the Vics in the second innings.

Thank God for Philip Hughes. NSW has had an abundance of young talent coming up in the last 2 to 3 years, with Henriques, Cooper, Keen, Khawaja and Hughes all under 19 superstars. It's about time one of them started cashing in. Cooper and Henriques have been huge disappointments so far.

[gibbs_fan]

I have a question. What will happen if the match is drawn. Do the 2 teams share the cup (imagine Katich and Harwood holding the trophy together). I am assuming that NSW finished higher on the log and thus will lift the trophy if they draw the final. I assuming this because I cannot understand why a team with the Aussie bowling attack would need to put over 600 on the board to feel safe. Surely 400 would have been enough. NSW may just have left themselves with too little time.

[Andy Mellon]

You're quite right, Gibbs_fan. NSW finished top of the table, and so Victoria have to defeat them to lift the trophy. Big first innings scores are quite common in the Pura Cup final from the team that only needs to draw. I believe Victoria scored 750-800 runs in their first innings a couple of years back, knowing that a draw for them was sufficient to win the trophy.