Australia tour of New Zealand - Feb 2016

[Durhamfootman]

Banning the 'crowding' offenders from participating in the world cup ought to concentrate minds in the future

cricket needs to learn from the problems that football has through resolutely shaking in fear of upsetting players

It'll come to cricket, mark my words, unless somebody in authority stamps on the players

[Arthur Crabtree]

Game on for the last time. JUst some tidying up for the Aussies to do and they can go home for a long soak in the tub and get to know the missus again. And NZ can pretend it's all about the party.

[Aidan11]

Australia used to struggle to chase low totals.

This should not be a problem.

[Aidan11]

In fact it won't be a problem.

[GarlicJam]

Australia used to struggle to chase low totals.

I have long thought that this is a case of 'give a dog a bad name' and a stat I read yesterday backs this up: in Aus test history, when chasing 200 or less (a total of 120 times), Aus has been successful in 108 of those.

A 10% failure/90% success rate ain't too bad.

[Duncan1987]

Is Wagner aware he's allowed to bowl to the other half of the pitch?

[GarlicJam]

Another stat I just heard tells the tale of this (?)series (questioning if two tests constitute a series), in that in the overs 20-80, NZ bowlers have taken only 2 wickets these two tests, Aus 22.

A skewed stat in that the Kiwi bowlers really have had only 2 goes at the 20-80 over old ball, and Aus bowlers have had 4 opportunities. But still telling.



Wagner is fighting on very well, through his pain.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pretty horrible watching Wagner playing with his broken hand. Bowling with the broken hand.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Australia used to struggle to chase low totals.

I have long thought that this is a case of 'give a dog a bad name' and a stat I read yesterday backs this up: in Aus test history, when chasing 200 or less (a total of 120 times), Aus has been successful in 108 of those.

A 10% failure/90% success rate ain't too bad.

Some famous examples of them not making it.

[GarlicJam]

That's right. Arthur. They stick in the mind and help create the legend. People want to believe, people from both sides of the fence.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, people forget when they stroll to the easy target.

On the subject retirement, I was thinking of the last Test of another much loved Kiwi, Andrew Caddick, and his last Test when he took a 7-fer against Australia. I remembered it as he took the wickets nipping the Aussies out chasing a low score. Because that's what always happened. But Australia got 220, and England won by a lot.

[GarlicJam]

I was thinking that it was time to bring on Southee - even if he has been pretty ineffective, he is their main bowler.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies have tended to have triumphant final Tests at the SCG. Warne, McGrath, Waugh, anyway.

KP must have had the worst last Test ever. Among more obvious reasons, KP had the best end of career England average going into Sydney since Barrington, but slipped behind Boycott afterwards.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Poor over from Tim. The Aussies happy to watch it go by, from a distance.

[Toby F]

Poor over from Tim. The Aussies happy to watch it go by, from a distance.

It is good to see an Australian opener who knows how to play the leave. An underrated shot in these days of 20/20.