Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.

This Philander is really like watching a 85-90 Richard Hadlee, minus the beautiful action of course.  

It's very impressive.  At a decent enough pace, the away swing, seam, with the constant threat of the in-nipper...

Lethal.

In the end it was a reasonable bowling performance, though we will never know how South Africa would have gone with some actual pressure on the scorecard.

I just want to see some fight. If we batted for 100 overs and only scored 110 I wouldn't mind. At least we would have fought.

Absolutely Saffer commentator.  How long was that review?!?

Not out.

PS: 5 minutes for that review!!!  Close one.  But really...

Six minutes to be confirm what we could all see for ourselves. Idiotic.

 

29/2.

Two dollies dropped!!!  A 50 partnership!!!  Brownlie almost batting to his average.

Is the pressure of a 3 day test too much for the saffers?

When i went to bed with SA 6 down i was convinced the test would be over when i woke up. The fact it hasn't, and we've actually put some runs on the board, is pleasing.

It may sound tragic, but if we avoid an innings defeat i'll be slightly happy.

Expect us to be all out for less than 250 tonight, so don't think your wish will be coming true Buffy.

Dean Brownlie has got to be the luckiest BlackCap in a long time, in every good knock he has he gets given several lives. However, can't complain too much if it will stop us being doubly humilaited.

Maiden test century for Deano. Great knock and some good fight from the lads in the second dig.

Good job Brownlie, fantastic way to bring up a maiden test century with a glorious lofted off drive.  Would have been easy to throw it away mentally after being given a 2nd (3rd, 4th) chance yesterday, but knuckled down and ground it out.  This is so much better whether we win or lose - both his and Watlings determination.  Stuff 'aggression', i'll take Watlings gritty 27* from 100 balls, than a quickfire aggressive 40 off 50 anyday.  Hope they, and the team to come can keep up the fight and maybe take the match into the fourth day.  It is a lot to ask, but if we can do it, I would consider it an acceptable fightback from what was a potential 2 day loss.  Who knows, Bonds 'bowl them out for 350, score 500, defend 200' is still on the cards! :P

Imagine that! Greatest test comeback in history. 

One Century does not a summer make...

You jinxed him! It is a shame he lost concentration just before lunch.

Was also starting to have visions of one of the gr8 cricketing comebacks ever.  

Fatal.

Very much lambs to the slaughter. In saying that I don't think we should drop any of this side for the next test. Give them the chance to learn from it and make improvements. At the end of the day we don't have a lot better/fit/available players to replace them with.

Edit. I would maybe drop Martin for Wagner because Martin is on his way out, and although Wagner is a yarpie I don't think they would have seen much of him. He might bring a bit of fire in as well. Would mean 3 left armers is all. In that case I would probably look to Brownlie and Williamson for some relief bowling rather than Franky so much. EIther way only drop one if any.

Anyone else think its a complete joke that Nathan McCullum is over there? 

Not really, he's still one of our best one-day players. Although I do fear you have stats to back up your statement..... The whole vice captaincy thing was ridiculous though

The one dayers don't start for another two weeks though. I don't need stats to know he should not be there for the tests.

What's the bet he replaces Franklin in the next test and Wagner plays instead of Patel?

Ah, gotcha. Corey Anderson is back with ND despite being in the odi team so no I don't get it. Thankfully there is no chance of him replacing Jimmy, although someone should. If Guptill doesn't make runs either in the next test than I'd drop him, unfortunately the question is for who, Fulton is not the answer.

I like guptill though, he seems to be the only one who gives a sh*t about his test game. 

You know things are bad for NZ Cricket when an Aussie scores all your runs in the 2nd Innings!

 

Say what.Might be better if he didnt give a shit his recent record is rubbish

His test record has never been too flash (even his Plunket Shield isn't great), obviously he is a no-brainer play in the shorter forms. 

Thinking more about why Nathan McCullum is over there, he could be like BJ was for the last year and a half, the sub fielder.... Always hell on their domestic team. 

Nathan McCullum is back playing for Otago today. Thank fuck for that. 

 had the thought that Guppy should drop down the order and Watling should open- but it's a bit of a tough ask when he's keeping as well...

Hussey's send off - is this a PGA tournament finish or are Aussies south sea yanks?

Test cricket without Hussey will not be the same. Absolute legend. 

This.

One of the few Aussie players that i liked.

My thoughts too buffy. Takes a great man to be a tollerable Australian. 

Probably up there with Steve Price and Dura in those regards.

And Danny Green IMO.

Speaking of aussies. Warne losing his shit in the BBL tonight. Confontation with Marlon Samuels "fuck you marlon" while his mic was still on. They turned it off before he said anything else but then a few balls later warn fields the ball then throws it at Samuels and Samuels throws the bat at him (misses) and then umpires and players jump in to try calm them down. Was just Warne trying to throw the Renegades off because they are gonna win. Bit embarrassing. 

 Loveable scamp...

But great viewing. A lot of kids would have heard him drop the f bomb. 

[Edit: nm, ignore]

In the post match interview Warne blames his teams batting (he's #11 so excludes him) for the loss yet the bowlers only took one wicket. Would hate to play for a captain like that. Showing his true colours. 

Warnie's only there to warm up for the Ashes.