Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.

This.

Is this match being played behind closed doors?

Attack.

First opening partnership of 100+ on home soil in 9 years, and we're still all out for less than 300. 

It's day four on the driest deck prepared at basin in five years. Tomorrow may be interesting. A win in favour of NZ is still on the cards.

I believe you are incorrect.   

Firstly, who would you pick ahead of him? He makes child's play of the domestic comp. Secondly, he's only played a few test matches as a batsman, can we give him a bit of time like we do for most 'new comers'?

If you class Franky as incompetent then we only have a hand full that are.

Matty Sinclair makes child's play of the domestic comp. Our domestic comp is as weak as a feather.

You're dead right. So does Hopkins, Cumming, Ingram. Franky has been the best number 5/6 in the comp.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/4552498/Allan-Donald-signed-for-Black-Caps

new bowling coach.

Yeah heard about that this morning. A few x players not happy the 'local boy' wasn't picked up instead.

Who's the 'local boy'? Bond? If so, he isn't ready for that.

MacIntosh who only plays 4 day cricket, he can't get any macthes in the one day team or the 20/20 team. He's hardly set the world on fire in his 17 test matches averaging 27.5....at first class he's not been that awesome either 105 matches averaging 35. theprof2011-01-19 10:33:06

Fantastic day today. And a fantastic day of cricket poised. I have birthday plans otherwise there would be nothing stopping me heading down.

Going to be very interesting day.

The Paki's will look for the draw to win the series, so its gonna be up to our bowlers to win it.

Holy Crap! I've been defending the umpires because most of the incorrect decisions have been really tough close decisions, but...
... That is almost the most horrible decision I have seen in test cricket. It has taken a big deflection, and couldn't have hit anything but bat.

This is just awesome. I'm stoked about the likelihood of a result here. Exactly what we wanted. Great day for it to boot. C'mon boys!

Pakistan to win it by tea.  Get down the TAB now.

How do you explain the ball changing directions? It wasn't swing, was no where near the pad, and hotspot camera never showed the actual edge (so it may have swung in and hit the back edge).

TAB had an option of either side to win at $1.80 so i'm on that one.

It was definitely out. Batsman's reaction said out, sounded out, looked out, was out. Shouldn't have even needed to look at hotspot.

Amazing how different this test could have been if the DRS was in play.

Wow, first look that LBW looked out aswell. Wait for Hawkeye I guess. Edit: Maybe hit him outside the line, or close enough to give him doubt?aitkenmike2011-01-19 12:08:40

Yep, Hawkeye says close to being outside the line.

Trivia: Which NZ cricketer has a tramp stamp?

mccullum

This is the key partnership in now, if we can get one of these two in the next fifty runs we should do it but if these two are there at tea we are in big trouble.

yip, could get really exciting here!

What are peoples thoughts re WC squad?

should be easy, just show them a brown paper bag

There will be some debate on here re Oram later on. No way he should be going.

YUSSS!!!!! We needed that. Younis Khan aswell.

edit:Lol, so excited I posted that in the wrong thread! aitkenmike2011-01-19 15:45:14

YUSSS!!!!! We needed that. Younis Khan aswell.

Wow, going in to the World Cup with only McCullum's bad back away from not having a keeper. Surprised at Williamson being picked aswell.

WHAT!? Jamie How is the backup keeper? "He has done some work on it in the past week"aitkenmike2011-01-19 15:49:27

So my 11 looks like the top 11 with the extra four being Woodcock, How, Williamson and Bennet.

Bit disappointed to see us going back to Oram, think his ship sailed a long time ago and Elliott has looked a better bet.

How is a real punt as has not looked like making it at this level. As for covering keeping that just seems bizarre.

Other than those seems as good as we've got.

As for the test, come on you black caps and please do not let Guptil near the bowling crease, what is wrong with Williamson does Vettori not rate him?

Spoiler! Haha here I was thinking I was safe as long as I avoided the cricket thread