NZ in Australia 2011

I disagree on the WI mystery, Gayle, Barath, Sarwan, Darren Bravo, Chanderpaul, and Samuels are good top 6 players, they don't need Yuvraj, even if Gayle and Sarwan are out of favor, I think Simmons and Kirk Edwards have potential to be better.

Barring few players in the other teams that you guys are mentioning others would not even get a look in if they were in India Test Squad.

Regarding Umer Akmal , I really find it strange that he could not make spot his own even in Pakistan batting lineup.In future he sure will do, he is a good talent to miss out.

Originally posted by Mikey Fact that Raina and Yuvraj are criticised show good the other batsmen are. Everyone is comparing them to Sachin and co. Fact is, Raina is not test standard, while Yuvraj is borderline. I think India has much more depth outside those two, but for some reason they stick to them. India DEFINITELY has better batsmen, Pujara, Badrinath, Virat Kohli, etc.

Probably because they are looking for Test spot between Laxman and Dhoni, which ideally should be an aggressive player who can score quickly when the platform is set.

Sam, Yuvraj will walk into the West Indies team, Samuels cannot tie Yuvraj's shoes.  Sarwan is only a good test player in the West Indies anyway.  He won't replace Gayle as they play different roles.   Can't replace Shiv though, that's the bad man!!

A tremendous advert yet again for test cricket and yet again Australia come up short in a tight finish.  Warner played beautifully but couldn't find another who wanted to stick around and so the series ends in yet another frustrating 1-1 draw.  Credit to the NZ seamers , to get Clarke and Hussey for blobs was unexpected and my prediction about Ponting was way off the mark.  
           Duncan Fletcher will have taken it all in and India can go over there and give it a real go. Watson and Marsh will return , so Hughes could well be a casualty.  Warner's ton might just be the catalyst that sees Watson dropped down the order with Marsh opening with Warner.

          Well done New Zealand , after a shocking 1st day you showed commendable spirit and certainly proved me wrong!

The quality of the Test matches we have witnessed in the last month or so has just been unbelievable. 47 all out Test, chased over 300 with 2 wickets left, match drawn with scores level and 1 wicket left and now a win by 7 runs. Hopefully, this will show people that Test cricket is well and alive and will inspire more people to attend the matches.

Hats off to NZL. I never saw that coming and it was some wonderful bowling by Bracewell in particular. I didn't expect Warner to play that well either so he's certainly made a very strong case for himself to play against India. Marsh, Warner, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Watson, Haddin, Siddle, Pattinson, Harris and Lyon w/ Khawaja as back-up batsman should be the side selected I should think. They will want Watson to bowl a lot against India so I guess they will move him down to preserve him and with Warner playing that well, it makes their decision easier. I don't know if Marsh wants to open or play at 3 though. On the basis of today's play, India may fancy their chances but I still think India's bowling is far too weak and will get exploited.

It's really heart breaking at the moment being an Aussie fan, after the first test against SA and now this. Really tough to deal with, because in both matches we were in winning positions and lost because of RUBBISH batting against normal medium pace bowler with a touch of seam and swing movement. It's not good enough. We learnt some lessons from Ashes 2010, but all those lessons were learnt by the bowlers and I also think the selectors, who have done a much better job of late.

Some heads will be chopped. Marsh and Watson will both come in, and Hughes and Khawaja will make way for them. Ponting, Haddin and Hussey are next to go when there are adequate replacements.

I've a feeling that the selection meeting for the Indian series might just be an allnighter !

Watson will be a very welcome inclusion, and his consistency is SORELY missed.

Matthew Wade has been in top form for Victoria, he's a fine batsman, albeit somewhat unorthodox, but more than good enough for no. 7. His keeping is adequate, no real demons in the wicket or a Shane Warne to contend with.

Marsh's consistency also will be more than useful for this ailing batting line up and I am looking forward to his comeback.

This is the side I'd go for:

1. Warner
2. Watson
3. Marsh
4. Ponting (this might be his last series)
5. Clarke*
6. Hussey (2 failed series in a row after a fantastic SL series... on his last chance)
7. Wade (although Haddin will probably get picked)
8. Harris
9. Cummins
10. Pattinson
11. Lyon

12th Man: Siddle

Originally posted by BackwardPoint The quality of the Test matches we have witnessed in the last month or so has just been unbelievable. 47 all out Test, chased over 300 with 2 wickets left, match drawn with scores level and 1 wicket left and now a win by 7 runs. Hopefully, this will show people that Test cricket is well and alive and will inspire more people to attend the matches.

MOM performance is always tilted in favour of the batsman/winning side.  Saw ponting make a 59 once, Harvey made 39 and took 3 wickets.  Ponting still got the award.  There are many other occassions like this.  

Fair coments Daz , Australia were rubbish 1st time around , but both sides bowled well using the conditions nicely.  I've a feeling that if the New Zealanders showed the same application against the rest of the world's cricketing nations as they do against their arch rivals I think their record would be so much better.  Again though I have to say a two test series is a farce and everyone's left up in the air. Australia want to set the record straight and New Zealand would be desparate to actually win a series in Australia.
             And remember , that performance without Vettori!