Today... Taylor does not worry me... he can bash and score a few.. or just block and use up time.

If HE goes out.. no big deal... but that would need to be the LAST wicket today... Gnomesayin?

Williamson and McCullum can then bat like demons and WIN the game?

UPDATE
Tea is 3:30 to 3:50

Last session scheduled to end 6:30 (light permitting)

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

They came back after tea.... but RAIN means no play.

I think NZ's best chance at this stage is for RAIN to prevent much more play.. today and tomorrow.

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

Rain is persisting. More play today unlikely, if so...

At Stumps (Close of play) - day 4

Australia
1st innings: 556/4d (4 wickets dec; 130.2 overs) (4.26 runs per over)
2nd innings: 264/4d (4 wickets dec; 42 overs) (6.28 runs per over)

New Zealand
1st innings: 317 (all out; 82.2 overs) (3.85 runs per over)
2nd innings: (TARGET 504) 142/3 (53 overs, 2.67 runs per over)


New Zealand require another 362 runs with 7 wickets remaining

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

5.35pm (Brisbane time)
Officially Stumps

Play to resume tomorrow a half hour early (9:30 AM local)

12:30 PM NZ time, 5:30 PM Texas time

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

So... assume no more rain..there could be the possibility of around 97 overs tomorrow.

That is nearly the same number of overs as an entire ODI game (2x 50 overs).. both innings.
ODI teams EASILY score around 200 runs in an innings... 300+ is not unusual these days

That is 400 - 600 for an entire ODI.... (but of course twice as many wickets available to 2 teams)

NOT an impossible task for NZ to score 362 runs (in 97 overs) to WIN this game (req RR 3.72)... just sayin

The BAD news is......
It is NOT quite that simple. The state of the pitch on the 5th day of a Test Match is NOT the same as a freshly prepared ODI pitch. There are NOT the same field placement restrictions as there are for an ODI. Australia COULD have an over rate that does not allow that many overs to be bowled. Rain could disrupt play again. NZ are already 3 wickets down, (they dont have the potential 20 wickets of two ODI innings). It would need to be a historic innings by NZ.. to score more runs than has ever been achieved in a 4th innings of a test match.

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

Day 5

The "experts" are expecting Australia to bowl NZ out cheaply... especially predicting Nathan Lyon will bowl his spin into the foot marks caused by follow through of the TWO left hand fast bowlers.

It all sounds plausible, but..... it would be NICE if say McCullum hit boundaries off Lyon and destroyed his attack. We'll see

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

Interesting!

I have dreaded every time Lyon comes in to pitch.
At worst, I am hoping for a twisted ankle or muscle pull in his shoulder. Anything minor, of course.
I like your thoughts, also. (much more likely than mine)

Best thing is if McCullum hits Lyon for six a few times... knock the gangly bald shit out of the attack

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

NZ all out....

NZ (10 wickets; 88.3 overs) 295 (3.33 runs per over)

Australia WIN

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

2nd Test

Fri Nov 13 - Tue Nov 17 10:30 local (02:30 GMT | 15:30 NZDT)
2nd Test - Australia v New Zealand Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth LIVE


13,14,15,16,17 November 2015 (5-day match)

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

Aust win toss... decide to bat

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

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

As I have stated.. the only way to win a Test Match is to bowl the opposition out TWICE (take 20 wickets)

NZ do not look like they have a bowling attack that could ever bowl Australia out once (given the pitch conditions etc)

So in that context the NZ bowling attack is hopeless.

It remains to be seen if their batting line-up can salvage a draw.. I suspect not. All they need to do is survive ( not go out) but that simple task seems to be beyond them.. as it has most often been historically


That is not to say I blame the Batsmen for poor performance of the team (except Taylor). NZ has always been able to put out some sort of a batting line up, and as others have commentated, their recent form and attacking style has been good to see. However... at the risk of repeating myself.. it is all to no avail if they dont have much of a bowling attack... They Can't win test matches... at least not in typical Australian venues and pitch conditions.

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

"Better morning for NZ."

Trivia pop-up:
9
Maidens bowled in 28 overs in the morning session of the second day.
In 90 overs on day one, there was only one maiden.

Australia have declared...

Australia 559/9 (9 wickets; 133 overs) (4.20 runs per over)

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

Stumps -2nd Test - Day 2

Australia
559/9d (133 overs) (4.20 runs per over)

New Zealand
140/2 (42 overs) (3.33 runs per over)

New Zealand trail by 419 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

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

Stumps -2nd Test - Day 3

Australia
559/9d (133 overs) (4.20 runs per over)

New Zealand
510/6 (129 overs) (3.95 runs per over)


New Zealand trail by 49 runs with 4 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

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

My predictions(s)......

NZ have already matched Australia's 1st inning performance ( close enough)

It is possible that they could bat on in this 1st innings and set Australia a target... perhaps not easy to reach on a deteriorating wicket?

More likely NZ will be all out soon with little (if any) lead. Australia will then bat rest of today and half of tomorrow.. and set NZ a target. (say 250 - 300)

I dont imagine the target will give NZ more than a VERY slim chance of a win, and so they may opt to try and SAVE the game... not go out, not lose all 10 wickets which Australia will require for a win.

The game most likely will end in a DRAW, but cricket is "a funny old game"

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

NZ held on to better Australia's 1st innings score by 65 runs.

Australia have to face just one over before lunch

Australia
559/9d (133 overs) (4.20 runs per over)
2nd inning in progress

New Zealand
624 (153.5 ov) (4.05 runs per over)

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

Your prediction so far is spot on, Rumpole.

Instead of a draw, I am hoping for a miracle NZ win.

Here's to some fast wickets in the next couple of hours.