The Cricket Thread

[i_amtrunks]

Ponting needed that rest, his captaincy was better for it last night. Scorecard.

Luckily for both teams the game was played in Sydney, where it was a nice 32 degrees, had the game been played 20km or more inland, they would have had another 10 or more degrees to deal with. Vettori won teh toss and put the Aussies in, happy to chase down the Aussies again.

Warner was dropped and Haddin promoted with Clarke. After a slow start, the two had their eyes in, and while they wasted the bowling powerplay, they fired after it, before useless Clarke fell for 64. Ponting, and the promoted D Hussey and White all failed to make an impact, but hung around enough for Haddin to make 109, his maiden century.
White fell trying to score in the batting powerplay, and that brought Mr Cricket and Ferguson together. M.Hussey has refound his form, and he and Ferguson put on a very entertaining 62 before Ferguson fell for 28. Hussey made 51, falling in the final over. Australia 8/301 after umpire Bucknor deducted runs in a bogus claim of running on the wicket.

new Zealand were sloppy int eh field, and there spinners could not contain the Aussie Batsmen. To add injury to insult, McCullum was injured after taking a Mills quick ball to the shoulder when standing up to the stumps.

Australia started well, New Zealand falling to 2/16 after 5 overs, before rallying. Fulton (40) and Elliot (115) staving off what looked to be an inevitable defeat. McCullum's shoulder injury kept him off the pitch until he came in at number nine, where he blasted 36, batting one handed, until he lost his bat and wicket to Hilfenhaus.

Australia get a 32 run win, with every bowler bar the expensive useless Clarke getting a wicket.

They didnt dominate like they should have, with Bracken and Hilfenhaus getting pummelled in their late spells, but Australia had done enough for victory.

Keeping Haddin as opener until someone forces Australia to rethink may not be a bad idea, he isn't a stable steady hand down the order, his type of play suits an opener. Since Clarke wont be dropped he will move down the order for Marsh when he returns pushing out either White or Ferguson. Siddle comes into the 13 man squad at the cost of Harris, he will most likely replace Hilfenhaus. Thank whatever deity you want that Tait is out injured.

Doubt we will win the series, but if McCullum is out we might have a chance.

[STL]

Not happy about dropping Warner though. Think its pretty pathetic. We're not in a winning mode anymore, only thru giving players the chance to develop are we goinna build a team. It takes time but the selectors seem to think we can get a Duminy in a few innings. Not many great cricketers were stars from the get-go it must be remembreed

[i_amtrunks]

Not happy about dropping Warner though. Think its pretty pathetic. We're not in a winning mode anymore, only thru giving players the chance to develop are we goinna build a team. It takes time but the selectors seem to think we can get a Duminy in a few innings. Not many great cricketers were stars from the get-go it must be remembreed

Personally I'd like to see Warner open with Haddin or North, but I don't think the time in State Cricket will do him much harm, and he will be the better for it this time next year. Marsh has had a go, and not done too well, perhaps he should be ept for 2020 only, since that is where he excelled.

[blackie]

Not happy about dropping Warner though. Think its pretty pathetic. We're not in a winning mode anymore, only thru giving players the chance to develop are we goinna build a team. It takes time but the selectors seem to think we can get a Duminy in a few innings. Not many great cricketers were stars from the get-go it must be remembreed

he needs to learn to play cricket properly
the way i see him, he doesnt play the ball on its merrits, he just gets to a point and says to himself "no matter where this ball is its going"
not a good mindset, he needs to pick his shots better, and develop himself as a cricketer more

[i_amtrunks]

Rain is going to ruin a great 2020 match (reduced ODI game) tonight.

Clarke missed the match as his back can't take the strain of lugging his huge head around. Not that he was needed Haddin carried his bat through the innings, with little support until Ferguson belted a half century.

New Zealand batting really well now too, McCullum was clean bowled by Hilfenhaus, but from there, the Kiwis have put the foot down.

[i_amtrunks]

Cricket Catch of the Season

If not the century. May not have been overly flashy, but certainly intelligent.

Haddin is a better captain then Clarke is.

[jacksplatt11]

It was smart, but definitely not the best, all he did was stand there, catch it, throw it up, step over the line (didn't have a great deal of momentum), then trip over and catch it again

I've seen much much better

Just what I think though...

[i_amtrunks]

It was smart, but definitely not the best, all he did was stand there, catch it, throw it up, step over the line (didn't have a great deal of momentum), then trip over and catch it again

I've seen much much better

Just what I think though...

I agree with you, it wasn't flashy, or lucky or insanely fluky-talented-whatthehell,howdidhedothat??!!!!

But from the contrlol used in a highly stressful situation, and the fact that he kept his head, and executed it perfectly is what makes me think it is the best catch of the summer. I've seen a couple of people try it in grade cricket (before they put the fence up), and plenty try it in backyard/schoolyard cricket but never pull it off.

I'd still prefer to watch Duminy and Hussey's catches from the summer on replay over and over again.

[optimus1]

I agree with you, it wasn't flashy, or lucky or insanely fluky-talented-whatthehell,howdidhedothat??!!!!

But from the contrlol used in a highly stressful situation, and the fact that he kept his head, and executed it perfectly is what makes me think it is the best catch of the summer. I've seen a couple of people try it in grade cricket (before they put the fence up), and plenty try it in backyard/schoolyard cricket but never pull it off.

I'd still prefer to watch Duminy and Hussey's catches from the summer on replay over and over again.

I agree with u there Trunks! Voges' catch was good, but not the best of the summer. My personal fav is Duminy's.

But Voges catch does seem to emulate Australia's luck against NZ in the final matches

[STL]

Loss to Qld really sucks. We've been the most dominant team for the last 4 seasons now and we've got very little silverware in the cabinet. I hope the Vics don't choke on the Sheffield Shield. That's the most important one to have.