Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread.

Well then.

What a fucking day!

That's it. Surely this is the first sign of an imminent alien invasion or a zombie apocalypse.

gijibidisdaersdfidsfi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's how fucking unbelievably stupidly excited I am by that days test cricket. What a magical fucking performance.

We could lose the first two sessions tomorrow morning and still be slightly ahead or at parity in the test. If we win the first two sessions, hell even the first then we are well well ahead. We've given a very good looking middle order a platform to launch from. Both McCullum and Taylor will be able to come in and play their natural game.

So fucking chuffed!

I try not to get too emotional watching sport, but watching Rudds bat today was unbelievable.

It'd be fair to say, I love all things Otago, so today was pretty special

I was there on his first class debut at the same ground when he had his middle stump removed by Trent Boult first ball of the innings. To be there again today on test debut, 4 years later, batting so well. Eyes got a little watery. 

Really hope we kick on this morning, but I've seen us stuff these positions up so many times before.

We don't even need to be *that* great this morning to stay on top in the match. Just need to keep it steady and bat out the day, and the runs will come.

 Bastard Fulton.  All I wanted was to knock of their number without loss for smugness value.

Agreed, GRRR Fulton, but Rutherford becomes the 9th Kiwi to get a Century on test debut. And we get to 167 with only 1 wicket down.

Very well done Rudders. Beating all his dad's stats really fast.

Rudders Jnr has the same runs than England. Only 140 more runs to beat most of his dad's batting records.

Rudders Jnr has more catches versing Rudders Snr's runs on debut.

Posting this from University Oval.

Last night I bumped into Monty Panesar. Asked for a photo with a child with me - told us he would be back "in 2 minutes". He pops into a curry house and its obvious he is getting takeaways. Coud have gone in to ask for the photo but elected to respect his space and waited 20-30 minutes. He comes out (with no takeaways) and tells us he will be "back in 2, no 4, minutes". Walks past another child waiting with a bat and tells him the same. Never comes back. Time wasted - almost an hour, number of children he lied to - 2. 

This morning at the cricket he is near boundary rope and I chant for a wave. 

"Monty, give us a wave! Monty Monty give us a wave!".

No wave forthcoming so I chant "or just snob us like you snobbed those children last night". 

Security pounces on me and takes me outside. Warn me that "the players have asked that no-one rubbishes them". Says if I do it again I will be kicked out. Politely explained that I was not offensive, racist, nor did I breach any other regulation of entry. Told again that players said we must not "rubbish them" and calling him out on lying to children was not allowed. 

 What are they going to do when the Barmy Army start geting into someone?

Let off a flare.  That'll teach em.

Rudders gone first ball with the new ball. Not a great shot. Great innings tho.

They have been restrained. Is there a general restraining order? Imagine A-League if you weren't allowed to "rubbish the players"?

What happened to "Shane Warnes a Wanker!!" <== This was normal cricket calls from the crowd, if we can't get into a player I guess we need to head along to the Basin singing..."Monty's a Blanker"

Wickets tumbling fast now, 326/6.

Here we go...

Southee at no.8...you've got to be kidding...

Dunedin weather...

Naysayers coming to the fore...

Hope that potential rain fucks off.

Already drizzling. Has been light misty drizzle for an hour. Light quite poor. England wouldn't bat I this. Clouds have no gaps. 

Ahmad sort your shit weather out!

Dunedin is so shit.

Wanna stop a drought...host a cricket test with NZ in a commanding position...

Weather forecast is cloudy but no rain over the weekend. If NZ deserve to win the test then they should be able to bowl England out in 5 sessions so ball is now in their court.

I didn't even call him anything. When he didn't wave I said "or just snob us like you snobbed those children last night".

God forbid anyone has fun at the cricket these days. The atmosphere last time I remember England (or Australia around that time too)  playing a test at the basin used to be amazing. It's gone downhill so much since then with strict security kicking people out for doing nothing but have fun that I suspect it'll be nothing like I remember it used to be. 

But on that note, does a bunch of us fever want to get together and have some banter with the Barmy army at the game (before getting kicked out for having fun)? I'm keen if anyone else is. I'll be there every day of the game. 

Hoping we kick on and get a quick 100 this morning, before declaring.

 293 lead, not bad.

 Not sure we'll get any wickets though.  They'll be 400 without loss.

Yip, I've lost all hope.  Series 2-zip, England.

In the past five days I've witnessed the two highest individual innings in NZ one-day cricket history. Strange game.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2013/content/current/story/624494.html 

LOL

If we played Australia tomorrow, home and away. How would we go?

I think we'd get closer each day