Nah... I have developed ad filters.. I simply dont see them.

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

I see the required number of overs today is 63.

IMO it should be more like 64 - 65... but at least they are making up for SOME of the slow over rate today.
I cant see them doing that by 5:30.. so its overtime... AGAIN!

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

NZ batsmen doing as I feared... getting starts but NOT going on to get a big score (100+)

McCullum coming out to bat.

I hope his final innings for NZ at this ground restores some sort of respectability to NZ innings.

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

Cricket is a funny old game... McCullum and Nicholls could bat the rest of today and half of tomorrow.... I fear beyond that NZ are running out of options.

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

Stumps 1st Test - Day 3

Oh crap... McCullum out in last over of the day.... so it's Stumps.


New Zealand 183 & 178/4 (62.3 ov)
Australia 562
New Zealand trail by 201 runs with 6 wickets remaining

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

I'm done, Rumpole.

Those maidens, dots and last over had me like ....

Skimming a bit on twitter and there are so many pulling for McCullum.

Tomorrow will still be exciting.

Day 4 (1st Test)

Yeah.. exciting... Australia could wrap up the test

NZ disappoints again

Any side can have a bit of a batting failure.. now and then.. but this test.. McCullum's 100th, his farewell series...on home soil... perfect batting conditions... less than great Aussie bowling attack.. the age old trans-Tasman rivalry... I can not accept such a poor showing. SOMEBODY in NZ side should be capable of batting most of an innings and scoring a few runs

But...

Cricket is a funny old game.
NZ are only 4 wickets down. They have two recognized batsmen at the crease.. those two alone COULD bat proper test innings.. both score centuries.. bat all day today.. then NZ could bat a short time tomorrow ... put Australia in after lunch with a target of 250 ...NZ could win.. certainly hold out for a draw.
These two putting on a good (great) partnership.. even now after 4 wickets and a 1st innings "failure" by the team.. is what TEST CRICKET should be about. NZ can go a long way to redeeming themselves. The spirit of Test cricket is for somebody ( 2 somebodys) to step up even when there has been "failures"
But......
I fear the rest of NZ will be bowled out before tea today and Australia will bat again to make up a few runs for an Aussie win.

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

Anderson out for a duck.

He faced 21 balls... but just using up time and balls faced is NOT what is required... batting a long innings is PART of the equation only...

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

The ONLY positive for NZ I can see possible is that Nicholls bats on... maybe scores a century... cements the No.4 place for himself.

Taylor is abandoned for ever....

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

Shit... Nicholls out....
An OK innings at 69... but NZ need BETTER than "OK innings"

HM Nicholls b Bird 59 (134b 7x4 0x6) SR: 44.02



NZ on track to be beaten by and innings

New Zealand 183 & 218/7 (82.4 ov)
Australia 562
New Zealand trail by 161 runs with 3 wickets remaining

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

Lunch (1st Test, Day 4)





New Zealand 183 & 241/7 (90.0 ov)
Australia 562
New Zealand trail by 138 runs with 3 wickets remaining



Starting the day at 62.3 overs they should be up to 92/93 by lunch!!

Again over rate is slow.... they are 3 overs behind

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

A wicket just after lunch... NZ 8 down now

I cant see this game lasting much longer.

My BIGGEST concern is.... will we get to see "Dilmah Tea party" if we dont get as far as a tea break?

I wanna see "Balls2"

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

THAT"S it... NZ all out... failed to make Aust 1st innings total in 2 innings...lost by an innings (and 52 runs)

Australia win


New Zealand 183 & 327 (104.3 ov)
Australia 562
Match over


2 Match Series

Australia 1 - NZ 0

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

I hope NZ can do a bit better next test

IMO for years NZ has had nothing more than an "OK" bowling attack (at best)... but they do have batsmen who should be able to do a LOT better than they have shown lately. You cant expect every batsman to do well every innings... but NZ just lost 20 wickets in this game.. NOBODY kicked on to make a large score.. a century.

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

2nd Test (2 Test series) - Day 1

Trans-Tasman Trophy, 2015/16 - Tests - February 20 Sat (5 days)
Match scheduled to begin at 10:30 local time (21:30 GMT -1d)

Texas time FRIDAY 3:30PM



espn Live Scorecard
http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand ... 14239.html

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

Australia won the toss and elected to field

That is same as last time Australia put NZ in... in the hope of early wickets.

NZ need to buck up their ideas.. a lot

They have simply got to bat out today and part of tomorrow. A player or 2 need to score centuries.

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

Apparently... it is normal for side winning toss in NZ to "put the other side in" to bat. It was noted that every 1st class cricket game being played in NZ today.. side winning toss put other side in.

The explanation is.....
NZ pitches are "too good". They do not deteriorate markedly after 5 days.. as pitches many places do... giving great conditions (for spinners) to bowl out the side batting last. So.. the advantage of batting first and so other side having to bat last in worse pitch conditions.. does NOT come into play in NZ. There is no advantage in batting first and so sides put the other team in 1st. The advantage (if any) is in bowling on the pitch at the start when it is freshest (green) with some moisture (usually only for 1st few hours)

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

Thanks for that explanation .. makes perfect sense. Plus I didn't know the pitches are THAT good in NZ.

Dang starting NZ batsmen today.

I've got all day to see McCullum up, so hope they (Williamson/Nicholls) score at least a half century/century if not more.

I think they are playing at McCullum's home town today.
-------------------
eta: Good grief, what is wrong with Williamson .... 1/33?

Cricket is a funny old game.. "good" might be "bad" as far as pitches go.... it is part of the game to have the wicket deteriorate... after 5 days.

This pitch today looks to be favouring bowlers.. as it should a bit on first morning of day one... but commentators seem to think it is TOO good for bowlers.. too green... too much moisture in it. I dont see that as a biggie... part of test cricket. Pitch will dry out and be GREAT to bat on... opening batsmen are supposed to weather this.. so that top batsmen (#3 and #4) can cash in. Williamson and McCullum have a clear job.. survive and play a long innings.. score centuries.


ETA
I believe McCullum hails from Dunedin... further South.. almost bottom of South Island... Today its Christchurch... half way down the South Island.
Wikepedia
Born 27 September 1981 (age 34)
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

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

As usual... McCullum is taking the game by the Balls

It doesn't always work... but its his last test I would NOT expect him to play any different...

It is NOT just runs for McCullum.. it is also knocking the bowlers off their game generally.... The captain has to move fielders far and wide.. opening up less risky shots as well.

It's kinda what I have been saying all along... playing old style defensive cricket by openers.. is kinda self defeating.. they survive and dont play risky shots... but what is the point of that if they then go out anyway.

Alternatively...
IF openers want to play that way.. see off the early wicket conditions and the new ball... then they have to do it much BETTER... actually SURVIVE the first session... not get no runs AND be 3 wickets down by lunch!!!

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