Zimbabwe v New Zealand 1st Test

[greg]

5-1.Another 2 day test looks on here.

[greg]

37-2 Tea.Ferreira 15* off 75balls.Rachael would love him

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Poor stuff from Zimbabwe. Yet again.

I think I need to use this quote again!! Zimbabwe now 76 - 4. After NZ wasted the period after tea by using Nathan Astle rather than a more penetrative bowler, as soon as Franklin and Bond were brought on, the wickets start to fall again. Ferreira was showing some Boycott-esque application by grinding 16 runs off 90 balls. Dion Ebrahim failed again with 8. Masakadza seems to be putting a decent innings together though, 38 not out at the moment and according to the cricinfo commentary, hasn't given a chance yet.

Now. Is Dion Ebrahim one of the worst test batsman of all time?

[greg]

80-5 now.Carlisle with a duck this time.

[Andy Mellon]

Totally abject. Zimbabwe all out for 59 and 99 in reply to New Zealand's 452 - 9. New Zealand completed a record victory over Zimbabwe. It was the largest margin of victory for New Zealand in tests, by an innings and 294 runs, the previous one being by an innings and 185 runs against Pakistan at Wellington in 2001.

Something has to be done about these mismatches. Martin take 5 - 37 in the match, Vettori 6 - 29, Bond 3 - 21 and Franklin 5 - 30. That is ridiculous.

A few records were set today. Zimbabwe became only the second team to be bowled out twice in a day. Mpofu the first player to be stumped twice for a duck in a day. Brendon Taylor set the record for the shortest six month ban from cricket by being welcomed back into the Zimbabwean team only a month after his ban started. And this was the Zimbabwean team with Heath Streak, Stuart Carlisle and Craig Wishart. The rebels without a hope!

[barn owl]

New Zealand have defeated the helpless Zimbabweans within two days of the first test match of the series.

Daniel Vettori was named man of the match for his cracking first innings century that brought New Zealand from a modest total into a very good one, he also bowled brilliantly to finish with six wickets for the match .

McCullum along with the captain Steven Fleming both also contributed healthy scores to assist Vettori in ammasing the total of 452 declared on the first day.

Zimbabwe showed no fight in either innings being embarrised in all facets of the game by the dominating Kiwis.

There scores of 59 and 99 on the second day emphasised that they have a long way to go in order to be competitive again at this level.

New Zealand can only get better in worrying signs for the Zimbabweans with Oram expected to be included in the next test match. Throw in Tuffey and then a world class team is formed.

Look forward to continued domination of the Zimbabweans, whats the best thing is New Zealand actually get Test points for beating the Zimbos!!
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[greg]

Originally Posted by barn owl

Look forward to continued domination of the Zimbabweans, whats the best thing is New Zealand actually get Test points for beating the Zimbos!!

Yes but everybody beats Zimbabwe so that leaves you in the same position as before.

As for Oram and Tuffey turning you into a World-Class side.Well your having a laugh,no disrepect but England and Australia hammered you over the last year and the return of Shane Bond isn't going to make that much difference against the big boys.

[Zainub]

I'd refuse to make that big a prediction. Shane Bond has in the past had a wonderful time against Australia. And was generally known to be a very potent bowler when he was fit and firing at his best. Obviously 2 years is a long time to stay away from the game, and he'll have his work cut out when he faces better batsmen then Zimbabwe to bowl at, but you still have to give him a chance.

[greg]

Shane Bond is a fantastic bowler i am not denying that but 1 player will not be able to turn round the gulf in class between the 2 sides.New Zealand didn't score enough runs and while Bond's wickets would help he would have to put in superhuman performances to turn the games the other way.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by barn owl

New Zealand can only get better in worrying signs for the Zimbabweans with Oram expected to be included in the next test match. Throw in Tuffey and then a world class team is formed.

I don't think Tuffey is good enough I'm afraid.

New Zealand have several problems:

(1) The opening partnership now Mark Richardson has retired and Matt Sinclair is being ignored. Several players have been tried, but no one is stuck with - Papps, Cumming, Vincent or James Marshall. I don't think any of these players are test class. NZ need to find a new opener, and bring in Sinclair
(2) The Seam Attack. Yes, it looks better with Shane Bond and yes, James Franklin should be a good bowling all-rounder. But once again, a better player - Ian Butler - is being ignored for someone who only takes wickets on swingers (Chris Martin) and someone who isn't good enough for test cricket (Tuffey/Mills)
(3) NZ cannot settle on a middle order. Thankfully, this seems to be due to having a few options. Astle and Styris appear fixtures and should be there, but then we have Oram, McMillan and Hamish Marshall fighting over one spot.

For the record, given the players selected for this tour, my team would be:

Cumming, Vincent, Fleming, Hamish Marshall, Styris, Astle, Oram, McCullum (wk), Vettori, Franklin, Bond

There should be more than enough bowling there: Franklin and Bond to open, Oram and Styris as first change, Astle as a part-timer and Vettori to perform spin duties. Obviously, a very solid batting line up... Franklin at 10?!? Where does the tail start?

Anyway, in the 2nd test, New Zealand could pick a few of their better female players and truly embarrass Zimbabwe. Probably they shouldn't bother wasting the 1st team's time with such a mis-match