Australia tour of New Zealand - Feb 2016

[Toby F]

Died by sword like his captain asked, not sure it is great cricket though. And now a new batman needs to hit out straight away if they are going to finish in two overs.

[Alviro Patterson]

Well, England lost their remaining 7 wickets for 14 runs in their last international so a Australia defeat is not entirely out of the question.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Lunch! Poor Joe Burns just lost his wicket so his captain could be out the ground half an hour earlier.

Great session for the Aussies nonetheless, and well done to Burns for seeing them to a win. Nearly.

[GarlicJam]

Well, England lost their remaining 7 wickets for 14 runs in their last international so a Australia defeat is not entirely out of the question.

Don't you go comparing your lot with ours.

[Arthur Crabtree]

No dramas.

Well done you Aussies.

Farewell Brendon.

[Toby F]

A deserved series win, #1, well it will be interesting to watch SA with their bowling lineup back. India don't have much away from home coming up, so they could do OK as well.

Goodbye the McCullum, perhaps not a true great test batsman, but a true great leader who has gotten the best out of his team. I assume it will be Williamson taking over? Hopefully he can keep them on the path to the light side.

[bigfluffylemon]

Well, England lost their remaining 7 wickets for 14 runs in their last international so a Australia defeat is not entirely out of the question.

Don't you go comparing your lot with ours.

*Cough* 60 all out *Cough*

Joking aside, Australia deserve the number 1 rating, but they still need to prove they can win overseas.

I see Voges got yet another not out.

[shankycricket]

No. 1 Test side in the world

Have won 3 of their last 5 away series btw. Not bad in this era. Need a win in Asia, I agree which they should be able to get against the current SL side in August. Apart from the away series in India next year, every other series for the next 2 and a half years (until Oct 2018-tour of Pakistan in the UAE) looks winnable.

[shankycricket]

By the way, Steven Smith's away average in Test cricket is 54. Thats 5 runs higher than everyone's darling "technically sound" Kane Williamson's OVERALL average and 10 runs higher than Williamson's away average. Guess who is labelled the home track bully?

[Gingerfinch]

Smith averages over 60 in test cricket. I never though I'd be typing that.

[The Professor]

Next big challenge for this young term is India. Biggest challenge so far.

[sussexpob]

By the way, Steven Smith's away average in Test cricket is 54. Thats 5 runs higher than everyone's darling "technically sound" Kane Williamson's OVERALL average and 10 runs higher than Williamson's away average. Guess who is labelled the home track bully?

Probably something to do with the fact he looks rubbish when the ball moves slightly in the air.

[Gingerfinch]

Smith always looks like he could get out as soon as the ball nips about, but he has scored a bucket full of runs in the last two years. Fair play to him, and to shanky who, being a adoptive Aussie has always backed his corner

[Arthur Crabtree]

NZ little rating spike seems to be over :(

Now sixth.

Regarding the Aussie ranking, while trying to get to sleep last night I compiled a World XI based on recent form, and got:

Vijay/Warner/Khawaja/Smith/Voges/Sarfraz/Ashwin/Broad/Rabada/Yasir/Hazlewood.

Which is half the side. And Lyon is probably peaking as well.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Smith has been charged for the contretemps with the umpire on day four.