Comments on: First Test: Aus vs. NZ — Roy, rain and rendition

By: Leigh Josey

Leigh Josey — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:41:25 +0000

Let’s hope so Mattyboi!

It seems it’s always Western Australians who seem to have to save Australia.

North, Marsh, Ronchi, Voges and Pomersbach need to come into this Australian team.

Disclosure: The author of this blog is a proud ex-pat Sandgroper

By: mattyboi

mattyboi — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:05:58 +0000

Don’t worry, Katich will save us!

Firstdog – you might be the one eating Schadenfreude after this one.

By: greenthumb

greenthumb — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:56:10 +0000

Hayden out first ball of 2nd innings. A great ball from Martin that got the egde.

Given the next highest score in the match is 40, Clarke’s 98 was very good, but my highlight so far is Vetorri’s captaincy. Sending the Aussies in at the Gabba has turned ugly a number of times for touring teams, so it was good to see him have the courage to bowl first, and then to get rewarded for it.

More generally it is good to see batsman struggling for their runs after the domination of bat over ball in the series in India.

By: Leigh Josey

Leigh Josey — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:29:35 +0000

Yep — all over — NZ will be dissappointed — 58 behind. Aussies have the upper hand now. Southee will have to rip through the Aussie top order again for the Kiwis to have a chance.

What’s your highlight so far Greenthumb?

By: greenthumb

greenthumb — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:28:37 +0000

New Zealand all out for 156. The Kiwis may have already had their high point of this series.

By: greenthumb

greenthumb — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:53:43 +0000

Lee dismissed Taylor LBW in the first over after lunch. New Zealand are 5 down now, and it’s hard to see them getting a significant lead, if any at all, on the first innings.

By: Leigh Josey

Leigh Josey — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:48:39 +0000

According to Glenn Dyer in today’s Crikey email, 458,000 people watched the first day of the First Test yesterday on television. They are very good numbers. Cricket Australia and Channel Nine will be happy.

(oh and Brett Lee just got a wicket).

By: Leigh Josey

Leigh Josey — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:56:10 +0000

DAY 2: Play's about to get underway. The weather is beautiful and the pitch is still quite green with a few small cracks. The Aussies will have a fantastic opportunity to the swing the ball around early -- bowl good lines -- and use Johnson, Lee, Clark and Watson to intimidate the Kiwis. But will it work? The Kiwis won yesterday convincingly -- they have a chance to put the sword to Australia today. Its backs to the wall stuff and Australia are being challenged on their home turf like it was the 1980s again. What a fantastic and intriguing day ahead. Sillly point: The Guardian's Andy Bull describes Australia's day as "calamitous" and Fairfax's Peter Roebuck lauded Daniel Vettori's daring. UPDATE: Clark gets a wicket first ball of the day -- amazing!

By: Leigh Josey

Leigh Josey — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:31:25 +0000

Good point Dave. I think that might change however if they get up in this series. Should be an interesting day.

By: daveliberts

daveliberts — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:25:09 +0000

Enjoy, Firstdog. Is it just me or do Aussies not mind seeing the Kiwis do okay at cricket, whereas we can’t abide seeing the Poms do well? Seeing the Kiwis beat the English or the South Africans seems to be as much fun for Australians as for New Zealanders.