Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.

Win win I'd have thought. Sky tv AND better ticket sales (and subsequent long term local interest in the team).

Seems like such short sighted thinking to me.

Batting first after winning the toss. Since it's gonna rain shouldn't we have just bowled so we couldn't get rolled twice? I know it's negative, but a draw is better than a loss right?

Wow.

I think that's the most annoying thing about our batting - We have some gun bowlers. If we could consistently put up 300+ we'd be huge contenders against most teams.

The ball was hooping around when we were taking wickets. Now it's not. Just saying don't get too carried away. 

I don't think the fact that we won't take wickets while the ball isn't moving takes away from the job that Southee and Boult did.  The only reason this partnership is hurting us is the utter failure of our batsmen having won the toss and batted.

Agree Mike, and what's makes those constant failings even more frustrating is the talent of the guys that keep putting in the frustrating performances. Given that I wasn't alive/don't remember the mid 80s I don't think it's a big call to suggest the McCulllum, Guptill, Williamson, Taylor top four with Ryder at 5 (when he's fit) is the most talented group of batsmen we have had in that time. 

Twice McCullum hits a 6,then gets out within 2 balls (trying to hit another in the second instance). 

He always does it and its infuriating. Forget about trying to win a good IPL contract for once and try to win the test match. 

I would normally agree, but allow me an NBA reference here - he's like Russell Westbrook or Rajon Rondo. Brings so much to the table, has a few faults that you just have to live with because more times than not it works. 1st innings was perfect case in point - great batting to make 60, bad decision, but he was still the teams top scorer so hard to criticise too much.

But that is what is so frustrating about it. Has all the talent in the world,but throws his wicket away. He isn't the only one guilty of this. 

We're gonna throw this away again.

I know our batting is bad in general, but our 3rd innings batting has just been so appallingly dreadful for about the last 6 or 7 years.  Pretty much since the Richardson/Fleming/Astle/McMillian days.  It just speaks volumes about how we approach test cricket.

We are cricket good. 

Ah, the traditional 2nd innings batting collapse. It's as Kiwi as DB Draught, hokey pokey icecream and the buzzy bee.

Best ever NZ 2nd innings batting collapse.  Check out Rod Latham's dismissal for the LOLS.  Absolutely no idea!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/7976183/Tough-review-of-Black-Caps-needed 

1) Having 2 captains in different formats is ludicrous when both are playing in both formats.  It can only undermine one, the other, or both (Exception when wanting to groom a younger player for test captaincy and let him develop in less important games like limited overs).

2) If NZC has 'little faith' in the Aussies in the setup, WHY THE HELL DID THEY GET RID OF WRIGHT!?!?!?!?!

3) Would be crazy to drop Franklin for a batsman as we need a 4th seamer (In subcontinent conditions) for the long periods in the middle of an innings to keep the main bowlers fresher for when they are useful.  Until Ryder comes back in and can fill that role Franklin is necessary.

Anyone watching the SA v Aus test right now? Would love to hear the commentators right about now...

Talking about Australia's consistent failings at the top of the order in the last couple of seasons while doing everything they can to talk about bowling of SA as little as possible.

How hard is it to get one partnership, that's all you need as Aussie have shown so far.

 Looks like the yarpies will get dicked.

 If you take away test v Zimbabwe in jan, black caps have only scored just over 1000 runs more as a team this year than Michael Clarke

 Minus the Zimbabwe test, the entire black caps have only scored 421 more runs that Clarke and hussey combined this year.

Yep....we're shite.

Graeme Smith. What a player!!

I liked what Dion Nash said today. 

As opposed to the bullshit Millmow writes. 

When you're struggling to score runs you really need some decisions to go your way, and that LBW was just terrible.  McCullum got a huge piece of that, and all of a sudden we are 2 for stuff all, and our top batsman is in against a very new ball. :(

Also, as we are struggling to score runs, we replace a guy with a first class average of 35 with a guy with a first class average of 23.  His bowling average and strike rate are also worse than Franklins.  I am confused.

Edit: Having said that, I am excited to have a leg-spinner in the side.  I hope we use him well.

The argument for Astle: We need to see whether he's up to it, perfect track for spin ,he actually can bat, and obviously you're well aware of the fake bowling average that is Franklin's :-). Hasn't been a real wicket-taker for a good couple of years now.

I probably would have brought in a batsman to replace Franklin if we were going to replace him however.

Excellent partnership from Taylor and Williamson, hope they kick on tomorrow.

Although years of bitter experience tell me we'll get rolled for 300.

Awesome stuff from South Africa - so many times Aussie get jammy wins in the last few overs, not today....

That commentary towards the end made me feel ill. It's usually hard to listen to but that was actually ridiculous. 

They (slater in particular) were making out like Siddle was some sort of hero, I think he actually said "he's a national hero" like he's won the game but he'd only taken the 8th wicket at that stage. I can't find the words to describe how bad it was. Siddle gobbies galore in the com-box. 

It was very 12th man-esque.

yeah it was pretty awful for a non aussie. Siddle looked exhausted but I'm sure he was no more tired than Faf who'd been batting since 4:30 the day before.