Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread. (Part 2)

Thought it might be, but still some good stuff

Just read Martin Crowe's piece on cricinfo and it's got me all emo. As a commentator and a pundit I have to admit that Crowe has irritated me in the past but there's no denying that he's an all time great, and the way is life is ending is fudgeing horrible. I hope if/when we win this thing Baz and the boys dedicate it to Martin.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/856297.html

My precarious life ahead may not afford me the luxury of many more games to watch and enjoy. So this is likely to be it. The last, maybe, and I can happily live with that. To see the two sons I never had, Ross Taylor and Marty Guptill, run out in black, in sync with their close comrades, drawing on all their resolve and resilience, will be mesmerically satisfying. I will hold back tears all day long. I will gasp for air on occasions. I will feel like a nervous parent.

That one paragraph is probably the best piece of sports journalism I've ever read. 

I cried reading that... then I put $25 on at the TAB for Rosco to top score in a win - paying $26.

Somehow this has over 300 RTs. That's fudgeed. 

The MCG is so big that when @ShaneWarne is commentating, spectators in the southern stands are outside his @Tinder limit. #MCGsobig

— Dale Warburton (@Dale_Warburton) March 26, 2015

But it is a bloody good tweet Dale. Very funny.

Michael Clarke announces retirement from ODI after tomorrows game. Getting in first in case they get dicked.

walked or pushed?

#humblebrag

you're right, that does sound heartless. 

Growing up I kept Martin Crowe's batting Stats.and followed his career with near obsession. Saw his 100 vs Australia in person @ 1992 CWC...A true gentleman ..Please win this CWC for "Hogan"....God bless him !!

But more than that, this is a guy who has poured his heart and soul into cricket in NZ, who has mentored some of this team and been in and around the camp all summer, whose last game of cricket he'll be able to attend is his country's first World Cup final, 23 years after the side he captained fell at the semi stage. I'd guess it's almost impossible for anyone else to even begin to grasp how much this means to him.

I always recall hearing Martin Crowe being interviewed by radio sport before the Ausi game. It brought tears to my eyes as he had literally just got up and you could actually hear how unwell he was. 

He is literally on his death bed and the fact he is dragging himself to this game speaks volumes for the man. If this is his finest cricket moment and if he does consider that Martin and Ross are like sons to him then let him say so.

Give yourself an uppercut Vader.

Well the day of the big game (in my mind anyway potenially New Zealands greatest sporting day - if we win). 

Having watched for decades and seen plenty of disasters I am nervous, cautious and definitely not expecting victory.

By god, wouldn't it be great if we did it however!! 

Go you good things!!

Yeah, hoping for the best. Prepared for the worst. Do we want to bat first or second?

Bat first me thinks

Have to bat first surely. 

This is so big. Been supporting this team for almost 20 years now, seen some highs and also some ridiculous lows. I think January 2013 and the 45 all out against SA was the turning point. From then, we held England in a test series at home and ever since have been on a rise. The last 12-18 months have felt like an amazing journey, with this World Cup being the peak. Regardless of the result today, cricket has changed in this country, and i hope our remarkable turnaround across all formats continues when we tour England in a few months time. 

I wouldn't mind losing this toss and the ausis bat first. It will mean a lot less nerves for me and I think will also allow the team to settle into the game as well. Bout and Southee then to knock the top off and have them 30 for three, struggling to 200.

Then a bit of wham bam thank you mam from macca

I would rather the Aussies bat first,I reckon our guys can chase down whatever score they set. That and our bowlers get into them early then they will be really nervous.

Good Luck Blackcaps !! Smash those Aussies !!

Batting first. Here we go!!! CMON BLACK CAPS. THE NATION IS BEHIND YOU

Great National Anthem rendition (tears in my eyes)...

Come on you Aussies!
Come on you 'Nix!

...I can dream of both winning..

It's all going wrong.

oooppss...

Mac threw his wicket away. Poor batting.

My secret fears already partially justified. Steeling myself for what could be a very bad sporting day!

need guppy to bat 50 overs....

It wasn't very good was it?

The ball is hooping around.

time for K W  to shine...

nice shot Guppy

It has taken Williamson about 12 balls to get bat on ball

Every Starc ball feels like a disaster waiting to happen. 9.80, that is some bowling average.

one of these guys has to bat through...

As a nation, this has been built up way too much...we're in choke city now.

That's better Kane.

You've got to be kidding.