Now 6 wickets down.... playing with my new DL toy...

after 35 overs, 6 wickets down... target for Australia is 178/6

Currently....Australia 164/6 (33.4 ov)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

A wicket!!!

But I dont see the NZ rain dance working.. so NZ still need 3 more wickets

Australia 179/7 (38.1 ov)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Zampa on Debut... dont want to load tension on the young kid..... but the Chapell-Hadlee trophy could well depend on his wicket

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Funny old game.. at this stage whichever side LOSES.. they deserve to lose for batting so poorly.. Gnomesayin?

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

WICKET!!!!

And it's Wade.. so young (nervous) Zampa remains .. and on strike next over.

Australia 184/8 (40.0 ov)

Australia ....63 needed off 59 balls

NZ need 2 wickets

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

ANOTHER WICKET!!!

NZ need 1 wicket to win!!

Australia need 63 off 55 balls

TWO batsmen yet to score... sitting on 0

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Amazing!

Thanks for your commentary & explaining it all!

And it IS raining... light

Australia would need 235 if they ended play now

current score
Australia 190/9 (42.4 ov)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

NZ WIN!!!


New Zealand 246 (45.3 ov)
Australia 191 (43.4 ov)
New Zealand won by 55 runs



NZ win the 3 match series 2 - 1

NZ retain the Chapell-Hadlee Trophy

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

As I allude to above... NEITHER team deserved to win.. based on pathetic batting performance..

That is ...either DESERVED TO LOSE

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

1st Test (2 Test series) - Day 1


Trans-Tasman Trophy, 2015/16 - Tests - Day 1 February 12 Fri (5 days)
New Zealand v Australia at Wellington, 1st Test


espn Live Scorecard
http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand ... 14237.html

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Steve Smith won the toss... elected to bowl.
As is often the case.. there is a chance the wicket may be a little hard to bat on early on.. "green wicket" ...a new hard ball.. Smith hoping for early wickets.. McCullum says he would have bowled as well.

McCullum's 100th (consecutive) test match. A WORLD record

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

"Putting the opposition in to bat" gives up the possible advantage of having the opposition bat their second innings last.. on a 5 day old pitch that may well have deteriorated, and so... in putting opposition in first Smith (or McCullum) are banking on the advantage of any "greenness" in the wicket initially (early wickets) outweighing the advantage of not batting last.
After the first couple of hours one would expect the wicket to become a batter's dream .. for a few days... then deteriorate (a little) by the 5th day.

IF NZ are only 1 or 2 wickets down by lunch time.. that can be regarded as a good session for them.. regardless of runs scored.

If Australia can take 3+ wickets before lunch... it's a session to them.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Traditionally Opening Test batsmen often tended to overdo batting defensively.. especially NZ opening batsmen.. and most annoyingly.. Rigor Richardson.

As I have outlined... preserving your wicket is VERY important.. and runs scored less so... but taking that to the extreme is bad too. A team does eventually have to score runs.. and preserving your wicket, and getting used to conditions is not much use to the team score if you then just get out and the next batsman has to then also "play himself in"

Ideally NZ should aim to not lose any wickets before lunch... but Guptil (and Latham) need to actually get used to conditions and play an innings, and not simply defend/ leave balls.
I guess I'd like to see NZ score 100+ by lunch time? Not much of an ask

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I hope NZ do well especially Nicholls on debut at No.4

Then selectors will be less inclined to change a winning line-up... and they WONT be tempted to consider bringing back Taylor for the 2nd test

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

NZ are starting really well....

I should add a note of caution.. that test cricket needs to be a battle between bat and ball.... if a side can bat for ever.. neither side can bowl the other out (twice).. then neither side can win... results in a draw

Latham out...

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Guptill out.... That's the 2 you are allowed before lunch NZ

Both dismissals were "soft" IMO... lack of concentration by Latham (and Guptill to a lesser degree) rather than especially good bowling.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Just watching, listening (low volume), reading and learning, Rumpole.

Day 1 not my favorite in Test, but there's a long way to go.

Thanks for your expertise, so interesting. I noticed one of the commentators said a few of the same things, AFTER you did. LOL

Oh crap, not liking these wickets.

As I kinda hinted... a Test match with no wickets can make for a VERY long boring 5 days ending in a draw

So SOME wickets is good... but... enough is enough.. already!! Oi Vey!!!


Williamson out..... Oh dear!!

Aside
My new "financial adviser" turns out to be an Aussie... he is was heading to Wellington to attend all 5 days of this test when I saw him.
I had the upper hand jibing him about his side being rubbish (lost ODI series)
I NEED NZ to win this test .. before I speak to him again

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

McCullum out..... FUCK!!! (as we say in the Antipodes)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light