Aussies v. Black Caps - 3 Tests.

[Donny]

12 December.

Australia v. New Zealand.

Perth Stadium. 1:00 PM Local Time

-----------------

26 December. Boxing Day Test.

Australia v. New Zealand.

MCG.

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3 January 2020

Australia. v. New Zealand.

SCG.

[Donny]

Just for you, K.

[Donny]

Australia's Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

No surprises. No Green.

Bancroft on standby for the Perth Test.

[K]

Geoff Lawson:

Better than class of '85: Australia's real test lurking across Tasman

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/be ... 53flb.html

"The Kiwis have a trio to match the Australians no matter what the conditions, although injury may yet play a part in who arrives on Australian shores.

Left-arm finger spinner Mitchell Santner joins the ranks of genuine all-rounders with a century in Mt Maunganui, along with wickets and a stunning catch. He may finish his career with better numbers than his bespectacled fellow tweaker Dan Vettori. Colin de Grandhomme, favoured in the short forms, nonetheless finds a way to contribute with bat and red ball.

The trick is to compete, to find a way to get the job done no matter the conditions, the opponent or the scoreboard. And the Kiwis are mastering this.
...

Is this the best Kiwi side to visit Australia since Richard Hadlee's men of the mid-1980s? Probably.
...

Australia are ranked three places below their neighbours across the ditch for good reason, but are feeling very comfortable on home turf at the moment thanks to Pakistan playing them into form."

[K]

'But such are the schedules in modern international cricket that they will instead be obliged to go into a day-night Test in Perth without any sort of warm-up game. Instead, three training sessions - two of which are under lights - will have to suffice.

"It's just another thing to adapt to," captain Kane Williamson said phlegmatically. "Such is the international schedule. We fly out in a couple of days, have a bit of training and we're straight into another match. So it is quite a quick turnaround.

"The conditions - the surfaces - are quite different. They will bounce a bit more. This was a brilliant series win for us, but we're going to have to adapt quickly. We know it's tough - a lot of the guys have been there before - and we know they're very strong, clinical in their own [backyard]. We'll look forward to the challenge." '

(cricinfo)

[Pies4shaw]

The real test for Williamson will be that, unlike England, Australia will probably be able to field a basically competent fielder at mid-on.

[K]

But Oz has no one with a trick slower ball, unless they play Kane Richardson, whose problem is he does not have a good stock ball (even for short forms, let alone Tests).

[Donny]

The 3 Oz pace bowlers (Richardson is a fair way down the list of available quicks) all bowl a good slower ball.

[K]

Yes, I would rank him below the other Richardson, J. I thought of him because he loves trick balls, like Ian Harvey. Unlike Ian Harvey, he's supposed to be a frontline bowler.

[K]

Root: "I think (New Zealand) have got all the tools that can be successful out there for sure."

Stead: "If you look at some of the challenges that have been in front of the team, winning against Pakistan (in the UAE), World Cups (reaching successive finals), things like that, then I guess the team's found a way to adapt to what's in front of them."

[K]

Ponting: “I think you’ve got to bowl to him a little bit like I think how you should bowl to Smithy - on a fourth or fifth stump line and reasonably full.

“He plays the ball really late and drops the ball down to third man a lot, so I think your third slip can be up really close to make him think he can’t play that shot in case it carries to slip.”

[K]

Deano:

How the Kiwis can sink the Australians this summer

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket ... 53gwf.html

"In my opinion, this New Zealand line-up is the greatest Test team they have produced. It’s a big call I know, but I feel they have the personnel that can beat Australia in the three-Test series...


Raval is a limited player who averages 79 balls per innings. When he tries to go up the gears he gets out. ...

[Latham:] New Zealand’s greatest-ever opening bat. ...

Kane’s strengths are that he watches and plays the ball so late. He is so beautifully balanced ...

Ross needs just 200 runs to pass Stephen Fleming and become NZ's highest Test run-scorer. ...

Some say BJ is the best keeper in the world. ...


The Kiwis love analytics and they will definitely have quality bowling plans to guys such as David Warner and Steve Smith. The flat pitches in Australia are a concern for their bowlers. Once the swing goes away after 15 overs, does this Kiwi bowling line-up have the craft required to make up for their the lack of pace? Traditionally, speed wins you Test series in Australia."

[Donny]

They are The Black Caps or Blackcaps.

For Jones to call them Kiwis is disrespectful, to say the least.

"Allan Border says 'world class' Black Caps have best chance to beat Australia since 1985"

Does anyone call the Aussie cricket teams The Kangaroos ? No. The Poms The Lions ? No.

Sth. Africa. Are they The Springboks ? No.

[Donny]

"Crunching the numbers: we rate the Black Caps and Australia head to head" - https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/b ... ad-to-head

[luvdids]

They are The Black Caps or Blackcaps.

For Jones to call them Kiwis is disrespectful, to say the least.

"Allan Border says 'world class' Black Caps have best chance to beat Australia since 1985"

Does anyone call the Aussie cricket teams The Kangaroos ? No. The Poms The Lions ? No.

Sth. Africa. Are they The Springboks ? No.

Why? Who's disrespected?
Aren't people from New Zealand generally called Kiwis? Or is that non PC these days? Are they allowed to call us Aussies?

IMHO those that feel a New Zealander being called a Kiwi is disrespectul are being a bit precious. Hell, they call themselves Kiwis!