Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.

With us at 132/2 we should have still been batting now!!!!!

Nope not buying it. We let them off the hook yet again. No chance of winning this test now.

Thats got nothing to do with the bowlers though. Agreed that we don't have a chance of winning, but the fact that the batting left us 150-200 runs of a competitive total doesn't mean that it wasn't a fantastic performance by the bowling unit.

Given the way this test series has gone it must be about time for the Black Caps fightback

7/3 FFS

and still 22 overs to go today!

Nicol out, Brownlie in. Franklin in, Arnel out( he has a better Test and First Class batting average than Nicol, and a better Test bowling average than Arnel).

This means McCullum opens, Franklin at 6, Vetorri and van Wyk at 7/8 whichever way round you want it, and we suddenly have a middle order instead of being almost all out at 6 down, and you can't tell me Franklin can't do Arnel's role of bowling 9 overs in a day as a 4th seamer (and do a better job of it than Ellis too.)aitkenmike2012-03-16 16:33:55

I think Test cricket should accomodate Ireland and one of the other associate teams (Netherlands or Kenya most likely) and split into 2 divisions of 6 for an ongoing test championship that cycles around every 2 years. Home and away legs would mean 5 test series for every nation every year and all games would have meaning. The bottom team in the top division at the end of 2 years would then drop down and the top team in the bottom division would go up, maybe with the next teams either side playing off home and away for promotion/relegation. The best team in the top division gets a trophy (the WG Grace Cup?) and maybe the bottom team in the bottom division plays off with the leading associate for the chance to play tests for the next 2 years.

Of course, this probably isn't financially viable but I think it would makes the matches more competitive and exciting in the long run. (Not that this particular test hasn't been competitive or exciting)

Why, because we're sh*t?

Would you take van Wyk over Watling? Its a tough call to make. Another good thing about Franklin would be the fact he is left-handed which is a point of difference. I'd like to see Ryder back in the team one day too because there's no doubt he's one of our most talented batsmen. We have a lot of potential pace bowling options coming through what with Gillespie looking good, Boult unlucky to be dropped IMHO, Wagner eligible soon, and the potential of Southeee finding some form and rhythm again. its really just about balancing that top order. I agree that Baz back to opening is the obvious way to start.

Partly, but mostly because there is always talk of a test championship being developed and I think that having it as a two-tiered system gives every team something to play for.

Yep, I would take van Wyk. I think his batting is good enough anyway (he actually averages 40 in First Class cricket as opposed to Watling who averages 35) and even if it was the other way round, I think having the better keeper is hugely important. One half chance that can be created by an experienced keeper could be crucial.

I admit its hard to drop Watling on the back of scoring a century, but it was against Zimbabwe, and I think van Wyk has taken his chance.aitkenmike2012-03-16 16:55:38

Van Wyk is 32 so he's only got a few years in him. Tell Watling to keep at first class level and have him as the next-keeper-in-waiting. Could still be a useful option as a batsman if needed too although I don't think he should open again, he seems more suited to the middle order.

Except for when he is forced to bat with a huge tail :). If Brownlie isn't fit I'd chuck Flynn in for Nicol, and let him play his shots, the BlackCaps haven't let him in the past, made him be too defensive, but he is in great knick. *knocks on wood for Auckland game*

Sachin finally hit his hundredth 100, against the mighty Bangis.

9 down with a lead of less than 100, Chris Martin striding in.

Absolutely woeful batting effort in this test.

This^

Our bowlers take 10 wickets but won't have the chance to take another 10 without a miracle because our batsmen failed to post enough again.

Yeah, our bowling has done well so far in the series. If someone told me we'd have South Africa all out for 250 or less in the first innings of the first two tests, I'd have taken it in an instant.

Sadly, the combination of some poor batting and an absolutely ridiculous batting order means we've given the bowlers next to no support.el grapadura2012-03-17 14:04:33

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-south-africa-2012/content/current/story/557712.html No wonder players don't have confience in DRS, I certainly don't.

Daniel Flynn in for the 3rd test, has been scoring a truckload of runs at no.5, so that's why the NZ selectors have decided he will be opener. Poor guy

Why have they decided McCullum should stop opening all of a sudden? He was averaging over 40 there IIRC. 

"I'd rather you not have told me really," he said. "It's there. Umpires make the right decisions and umpires make a bad decision, I guess it's the same as the DRS."

So why bother having it?

Played t20 yesterday. We were set 177 (i got tonked for 22 off 2) we were heading for a spanking when i went in at 80-7 with 8 overs to go. To cut the story short i got us home hitting 58 off 32 inc 7 sixes. Love the summer game.

Good effort! Small ground?

It was backyard cricket

Yeah wasn't the biggest ground but still had to middle it. Lost two balls ha

Actually the mizone moment of the match had to be when their deep square leg took a catch in the fourth over (so ball still new) and he celebrated by throwing the ball in the air with a big under arm and the ball went up and about fifteen meters behind him into a pond. Absolute muppet.

 Brilliant!

Flynn recalled to replace Nicol.

Yet another ton for Flynny, ties the all-time record of centuries for ND. If only he was batting at 5 for NZ......

Wright today said two things of interest - 1) Four seamers is done, they will play six batsmen. If Bracewell was producing more at 8 they could go back to playing four quicks. 2) Order not decided. Flynn opening is one of the options and one of the reasons they like it is the left/right combo may upset Philander rhythm.

Flynn openig is suicide! he'll get hammered with short balls get out for very little and be sacked by the time the rain comes in to ruiin the test,

The weather is looking f**kin ratsh*t, not only for the test but for our prep. This 'summer' has been diabolical.

Problem is they've scheduled the test matches AFTER summer (technically).

March is usually pretty decent though, even if it technically is autumn. I blame global warming/climate change/man-bear-pig

Yeah but every year we have test matches in March. Usually the weather is better than this. The English are here next summer and the test matches are being played last again.

And yeah as BZ said we usually get our best weather in feb/march.

That is true. Autumn is our summer.

I'm just trying to convince myself that there is no game this weekend.