1st Test: New Zealand vs Australia at Christchurch

[Paoli]

That is true too..........It shouldn't be that way..The only country where 6-11 make more than 1-5 consistently are Zimbabwe--And Australia are no Zimbabwe!!!

[John]

Gilchrist- duty of a genius. What more can you say. I know the bowling is not the strongest but he does it like clockwork. He never fails. With Gilchrist at seven you have the perfect insurance policy.

[Chuck Palumbo]

This is typical Australia. With them at 201/6 responding to 433, you would have expected it to be a match saving mission from then on...but not this Aussie team, Katich and Gilchrist then go on and produce a 200+ partnership and Australia then finish within 1 run of the NZ total.

The next morning, they grab three quick wickets and now they are in a position to win the match.

Thats why they are still the best...teams maybe able to outplay them for 2 or 3 days, but for 5 days it will take a herculean effort.

[acker]

Warnies back obviously, must smell the Ashes coming up.
Congratulations Kiwi's on 3 days of competitive cricket.
Shame about day 4
Dont bother taking the day off work tommorow.
Mathew Hayden .... watch out for the axe, you might be joining Boof Lehman very soon.


Bowling O M R W
McGrath 14 7 19 1
Gillespie 12 2 38 3
Kasprowicz 10 3 33 1 (1nb)
Warne 14 3 39 5

[acker]

Its all over in a blink of an eye.

What a terrible day for New Zealand cricket.

[Seamer]

Not surprised all the Kiwi members of this forum have gone AWOL.

[Zainub]

Going through this thread there seems to be very little mention given to Simon Katich. Let's not forget he too scored a 100 in addition to Gilchrist and it was their "partnership" in combination that brought Aus back in the game.

Two people got out to Warnie in the second inning from balls that pitched out side leg, Marshall was bowled around his legs and McMillam basically got him self out - you don't play Warnie like that, and NZ as a whole forgot how to use their bats - 7 LBWs is the joint world record for most lbws in an innings.

Craig McMillan needs to be dropped in my opinion, he's not looked convincing at all. NZ should prbably think of bringing in the other Marshall twin in the side, I read somewhere he's scored a few runs in the NZ domestic competetion off late.

And Why NZ stick with Chris Martin (who can't bat, doesn't know how to field, and has forgotten how to bowl) is also beyond me. I saw the highlights of Australia's chase and I think I liked what I saw in Ian O'Brian (sorry for wrong spelling) he sort of troubled Ponting, who looked a bit scratchy. Credit also to Vettori, he has a big job being NZ's only proven class bowler and he does that job very well, unfortunately no support for him what so ever.

And if NZ can't find any better a seamers then they'd be better off playing 2 spinners and play Paul Wiseman, at least he'd be more of a realistic wicket taking option. Does any one know what's the wicket going to be like at the Basin Reserve?

[Chuck Palumbo]

The problem NZ have at the moment is they just have too many injuries. Its tough enough to cope with the Aussies with a full squad, but when you have 3 or 4 of your key players out, your going to struggle, particularly a team like NZ who are not a very big country and therefore don't have the pool of players that some other nations have.

The absences of Styris and Oram and retirement of Cairns have particularly hit the balance of the NZ team. With them three, they are basically missing 2 players in one and the likes of Vincent, O'Brien and Martin don't look up to filling that void.

Compare this to the Aussies who have everyone fit and firing. It does look bleak for NZ as far as this series goes, I hope I'm not right but it seems like it will be another Australian whitewash.

[Junior_Flem]

I just have two questions:


Why do NZ always seem to collapse on Day 4? 76 in Brisbane in November. 131 in this game. Not good enough............

Why is Fleming opening? He's not an opener, he's out of form, and he's going cheaply. How is that helping his side?
I understand he didn't want two new rookies doing it against Australia but Cumming looks the goods. Put Flem at No 4 - his natural position - and find another opener. It might also give him a chance to find some form.

Credit to Gillie and Katich. Without those two, Australia would have been looking down the barrel in this Test match.

[acker]

Originally Posted by Junior_Flem

Credit to Gillie and Katich. Without those two, Australia would have been looking down the barrel in this Test match.

How about credit to McGrath and Warne 14 of the 20 NZ wickets between them also "Flem jr".
And Australian cricket wants to thank them for the 800 + test wickets they have collected over the past 12 years as well.