Australia vs New Zealand 1st Test

[fab]

Weird and wonderful series theories
Peter English

November 17, 2004

The build-up to the first Test has produced an unusual mix of theories laced with fact and fantasy. John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, is a zany thinker who has stumbled on the debatable discovery that Australia are vulnerable the longer a Test lasts. On the fifth day, he reckons, they win 33% of matches.

At first listen the idea may sound plausible. Australia's record in fourth-innings chases was exposed again two weeks ago at Mumbai, when it joined the SCG, The Oval and Headingley as venues of chaotic collapses. But this team scores so quickly and bowls so aggressively that since 2001 the final day has been redundant 20 times.

"What's our record like on the third and fourth day?" Ricky Ponting asked to challenge Bracewell's research. "That's a strange one. If we're in a position to win a Test on the fifth day I'm backing our side." Australia have lost five of 27 matches on the final day since 2001, so Bracewell's claim might be as light-hearted as the giggle Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath gave Ponting when they publicly targeted Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle.

With a bowling attack based around medium pace and Daniel Vettori, New Zealand's best method of attack will be defence. Ponting expects his opposite number to try dragging out the matches in a similar way to the 2001-02 contest, which was drawn 0-0. "I've thought about that a lot before the series and we talked about it in our team meeting," he said. "They'll try slowing the scoring rate, but sides have done that to us over the past 10 years and we've coped."
cricinfo


hmmm seems like the kiwi plan isn't working after the 18th over NZ are 42/2 (Flemming out on a duck and Richardson on *cough* 19).

[Ameer]

Australia is gonna crush em.

[bourny3]

NZ 2-67 at lunch on the first day. Richardson 19, Fleming 0. Styris 22* and Sinclair 20*

[Ehsan]

New Zealand 138/5 after 56 overs.

haha...even we did better than that against australia when we toured them last time. Kiwis are losers

[cricketfan]

NZ are 185/6 after 74.5 overs. They will need to score at least 300 to hope for a draw in this match.

[fab]

84.6 Gillespie to Oram, FOUR, back to a shortish ball, inside edge,
lucky not to play it on, runs away to the fine leg boundary, more
arse than class that one
84.5 Gillespie to Oram, FOUR, pitched full outside off, driven away
through extra cover
84.4 Gillespie to Oram, FOUR, loose ball, short otuside off, slashed
away with a big swing through backward point
84.3 Gillespie to Vettori, one run, short of a length ball, pushed to
mid off for a quick single
84.2 Gillespie to Oram, one run, back to a shortish ball, worked around
behind square
84.1 Gillespie to Oram, no run, pitched up, played away to point

wtf is gillespie doing. the kiwis have recovered remarkably - 240/7. so much for annihilating them *sigh*

[cricketfan]

Nz are 250/7 at close on the first day.Oram is on 63* and Vettori on 13*. I think it is a reasonably decent performance by NZ despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

[fab]

Can't believe the Australians couldn't bowl them out!

[Ameer]

Good come back by NZ...

[fab]

317/9 - VERY good result. This is why they can make the comments they do.

Their 7th batsmen JDP Oram 125 not out

Edited on, November 19, 2004, 2:04 AM GMT, by fab.

[fab]

I'm guessing NZ will make high 300s. What an excellent performance by their tail enders.

[Ameer]

NZ made 353... Very good result for them. Australia is just starting their innings 5/0. I am normally for Australia against everybody except Pak but now I am for NZ because they performed a good come back

[cricketfan]

Aus 128/4(37.3 overs) replying to NZ total of 353. It has been a superb recovery by NZ in this match.

[FaltuRidwanBhai]

well at the end of the days play australia is 197/4. mazhkhane kichuta biporjoyer por kintu sheta besh shundor kore katiye uthte shokkhom hoyeche australia martyn ebong clarke ar shahajje. martyn kintu itimoddhe ordhoshoto run kore felechen. dannabad.

[mzia]

Good cricket by NZ so far. No one is dominating…

[Ameer]

My prediction is a draw... unless NZ gets bundled out in their next innings.

[mzia]

Originally posted by Ameer
My prediction is a draw... unless NZ gets bundled out in their next innings.

14 wickets in first two days, so every possibility there would be result. Stat wise NZ is lesser but 353 is not bad score and vital thing is 4th innings belongs to Aus, so Aus would not be free from fear…

[Ehsan]

Congrats to Clarke!

He has reached his 2nd century and

becomes just the sixth Test player to score centuries in both his home and away debuts

Australia are 320/5 (86.0 ov) at Lunch Day 3

[Tintin]

454/7 Clarke 141 Gilchrist 126

Now, a four day defeat for NZ is a possibility

[James90]

Gillespie and McGrath...fantastic!!!
I just love watching both these guys bat!
50 partnership

[James90]

Gillespie and McGrath...fantastic!!!
I just love watching both these guys bat!
50 partnership

[mzia]

Fantastic performance has shown by Clarke and Gilchrist. And what is showing by McGrath and Gillespie? 90 run so far in 10th wicket! What a performance?

[acker]

Crushed , mutilated , and destroyed

New Zealand All out 76 2nd innings

[acker]

Originally posted by mzia

14 wickets in first two days, so every possibility there would be result. Stat wise NZ is lesser but 353 is not bad score and vital thing is 4th innings belongs to Aus, so Aus would not be free from fear…

Hindsight is a wonderful thing , who would have thought the above quotes related to the same match that we witnessed the pathetic capitulation of the Kiwi's over the past 24 hours.

[Ameer]

I said it would either be draw or NZ would be bundled out and lose badly... I was right. So what are you are saying?