Freezin: good post, I agree with most of it, but would add that, in all likelihood, India would have won the last test so in that sense the series score line flatterred us a little.
I saw something about Latham, how many did he make? Your right about NZ pitches at diffrerent times of year, flat as cricket pancakes when the sun is out. Greg Chappell, Doug Walters, Adam Voges and many more have made a lot of runs in NZ, as you would re-call. Happily, NZ ha produced the great Sir Richard Hadlee and some other useful bowllers along the way.
Gee’s Head seems like a like for like VC replacement for Mitch Marsh in that he is far from earned his place in the Test line up.
Well it at least shows our selection hand in it now seems a battle between Renshaw & Burns one thinks for the Gabba on Thursday with Harris, Khawaja, Head, Patterson & Pucovski.
AR & Freeze what about the side below for NZ’s greatest Test side-
John Wright
Stephen Fleming (C)
Kane Williamson
Martin Crowe (VC)
Ross Taylor
Brendon McCullum (wk)
Chris Cairns
Daniel Vettori
Richard Hadlee
Tim Southee
Trent Boult
Bruce Edgar, John Reid, Andrew Jones, Jeremy Coney, Mark Greatbatch, Nathan Astle, Adam Parore, Ian Smith, Lance Cairns, Ewen Chatfield, Chris Martin, BJ Watling & Neil Wagner are other Kiwis who have been handy over the years.
Easily Bond over Southee…good mix of swing from Hadlee and Boult, with express speed from Bond…and spin from Vettori…and Cairns as the all rounder…some decent bats in Crowe, Williamson and Taylor in the middle order…dodgy openers though in Turner, Richardson or Edgar…Easily McCullum over Paoroe for the gloves…
I seriously hope Siddle doesn’t get the nod over Richardson…and with it being the GABBA…Burns usually bats well there…better than Labuschagne at least…Harris Burns Uzzie, Patterson Pucovski Head Paine Cummins Starc Richardson Lyon for me.
I think they will pick Labuschagne because he provides another bowling option but that then means that Uzzie has to open but I can see the logic of picking Burns and I think the part time leggie would have limited impact in Brisbane anyway.
Harris
Burns
Khawaja
Labushagne
Head (VC)
Patterson
Paine (C) (wk)
Cummins
Starc
Richardson
Lyon
Siddle (12th man)
No Pucovski, Renshaw nor thankfully Siddle!
[/quote]
Fantastic for Jhye to make his debut. I think he could be a 50+ test player for Australia if he can stay clear of injury. I must admit I am a bit puzzled about Pucovski as to why they would pick the young guy in the initial squad and then leave him out at the end when he did more in the CA game than Burns or Labushagne? Maybe its a “team balance” thing
Maybe it was more of a Good Will (no pun intended) measure Mike to have young Pucovski around the Test side after his recent mental health problems and to let him know he is well and truly in the selectors sights…but really who would know with Hohns & Chappell?
You could be right BH. They had to pick Patterson given his form and maybe him and Pucovski were competing for the same spot. Hopefully now he can go back to the Shield in February, make some more runs and put his case to be selected on the Ashes tour.
I don’t think the Poms will be quivering when they look at that team!
Heard today that Ian Healy is backing Steve Smith for captain when he returns. I guess when you look at our leadership, he has to take over as captain. We’ve got no one else.
What about Warner? From what I have read, I think he’s trouble. Is he worth the risk?
As if Labuschagne is gonna bowl at the GABBA in a day/nighter…seriously he is part time at best..will probably bowl 4 -5 overs at most…if he bowls more than SL will be scoring 400 plus…is he a better bat short term or long term than Pucovski?..no… regardless of any mental health or short ball issues Pucovski may have…interesting Pucovski is going to most likely make his test debut in England now…surely more of a testing cauldron than facing SL at home…oh well…nothing surprises me with G&T and their selections
I’m not sure why Labuschagne is regarded as a test quality player. Kohli worked out his tendancy to hit the ball in the air leg side and placed the field accordingly. I’m sure Sri Lanka would have seen that on TV as well.
Looks like a good toss to win at this early stage although the Aussies could have had a few wickets with a bit of luck. Richardson nearly had one with his first ball!
Early days, but SL were terrible in NZ…pretty big step down in class for this Aussie side compared to the Indians…no Pujara, no Kohli…but hey the Aussies still have to bat I guess