Australia tour of New Zealand - Feb 2016

[Arthur Crabtree]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!

Australia win the toss and bowl.

Maybe Smith (and Co) has been conned by the greenness of the pitch.

I have heard that it is expected to be quite firm underneath and will play a lot less green than what it looks.

Brendon says that 300 will be a great score.

You've still got to bowl well, but Siddle should be reliable given some help from the pitch.

[backfootpunch]

The Aussie coach said Pattinson wasn't fully fit.

NZ have only beaten Australia once at Basin Reserve.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63530.html

NZ have only beaten the aussies once in the last 26 test matches, im assuming that was the bracewell test match

[Arthur Crabtree]

Brendon got 300 himself on this pitch. They're expecting it to get easier to bat on as the match progresses.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Allan Border in the box for the Aussies. That's good.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The Aussie coach said Pattinson wasn't fully fit.

NZ have only beaten Australia once at Basin Reserve.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63530.html

NZ have only beaten the aussies once in the last 26 test matches, im assuming that was the bracewell test match

Yup.

Last game before the recent series.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/518948.html

I think I read none of this Aussie team has played a Test in NZ before.

[Arthur Crabtree]

have to say with no ross taylor NZs batting line up looks much weaker

i would be thinking get williamson out early and you have a great chance of knocking them over for less than 200

on this pitch i think i would have played matt henry instead of criag who is a bit of a pie chucker

Sounds like Wagner was going to play until Santner got injured.

[backfootpunch]

from memory i thought bird was a swing bowler but judging by his length and the scrambled seam i clearly miss-remembered

[GarlicJam]

It's a test match, Guppy. Calm down.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bird hasn't played since Durham in 2013.

Thought Kiwis might have got away with that with no hot spot...

Hmm.

[backfootpunch]

Bird hasn't played since Durham in 2013.

Thought Kiwis might have got away with that with no hot spot...

Hmm.

the shape of the wave on RTS wasnt that of an edge

normally they are narrow and tall, that was wide and short, not sure what the noise could have been other than an edge though as the bat was knowhere near the pad

[Arthur Crabtree]

I thought there might be enough doubt for it to stay on the field. The edge didn't seem exactly synchronised. But the Kiwi commentators aren't complaining, so the decision must be 100% right. Maybe Smith will make up for it when he's on mic.

[backfootpunch]

i have seen nothing so far to suggest this is a minefield

be interesting to see if siddle can get any swing

[Arthur Crabtree]

I thought there might be enough doubt for it to stay on the field. The edge didn't seem exactly synchronised. But the Kiwi commentators aren't complaining, so the decision must be 100% right. Maybe Smith will make up for it when he's on mic.

Rubbish shot though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The Aussies say Bird was looking good in the nets. He's going for a few out in the middle.

There goes Guppy.

[Alviro Patterson]

Great delivery from Hazlewood, swung too much for Guptill to get behind the ball.