TOPIC:

The Aussie team is heading for NZ with 3 T20s and 2 tests on the menu (would have preferred 2 T20s and 3 tests TBH)

The T20s are the last international games before the world cup, probably not too many spots for the peripheral Australian players to compete for in that you have Warner, Head, Marsh, Inglis, Maxwell, David, Wade, Starc, Cummins Hazlewood and Zampa as the core team with the others playing cameo roles in the event of injury/ loss of form/management. Sad that Aaron Hardie got a niggle and missed out on another opportunity to push his claims.

The test series shapes up as quite a contest with NZ coming off a win against South Africa, albeit a 2nd XI and Australia winning 4 out of the 5 home tests during the summer. Interesting to see how Smith goes against the new ball in NZ against the likes of Southee and Henry, the loss of Jamieson is a big blow for them. Australia certainly won't change their XI barring injury. Williamson has been making runs for fun in the last 3 or 4 months but will be tested by the experienced Australian foursome.

Will be worth getting out of bed at 6am to watch it

Just looking at the Shield scores over the weekend, 7 of the Australian test squad going to New Zealand played for their states and for most it was a very useful tune up for the coming series

Carey : 49, 90 and 4 catches
Renshaw: 8 and 14
Neser: 2-18, 3-51 and 14
Labuschagne: 38 and 45
Lyon: 5-153 (from 52 overs) 14 and 17no
Boland: 3-47 and 5-41
Green : 6, 103no, 1-14 and 1-78

Makes you wonder why they don't program more games with test players available as it benefits both the competition and the players themselves

I reckon your very close to the money Mikeh, Wade is the only position for me,

With what will likely be low and slow wickets in the Caribbean, can you carry 2 spinners, or is it time to move him on at 38, keep with Inglis and get short into the side, he hist the ball hard and can bowl some spinners if required?

I don't think this will be a tournament where Marsh bowls a lot, I think the 5th bowler could be made up from Maxwell, Head and short.

I guess selectors need to decide do they look forward a bit with that selection or allow Wade to play a farewell tour like the rest of them

Great start to the Kiwi tour
Mitch Marsh and David steared us home
Tim David had a horrible BBL with the Hurricanes .Been great for Australia.

gtrxuone wrote:

Great start to the Kiwi tour
Mitch Marsh and David steared us home
Tim David had a horrible BBL with the Hurricanes .Been great for Australia.

What an exciting game that was.  Well done Oz!!

The Kiwi's will be spewing choking at the death last night.....35 off  the last 2.....how in hell do you win that or lose that. Marsh whilst the savior at the end with h8s 72, does worry me at times with his captaincy. Good to see him step up and bowl, especially when Cummins was getting some tap. However persisting with Maxi and Zampa, when they were getting more yhen pumped was head scratching.....especially with Head and Short playing.....sometimes the 1 over from the unexpected might come off.....though it could go the other way......but Zampa as gone for over 100 off his last 7 overs of T20 cricket.....

Pretty harsh to judge bowlers on that pitch. 7 wickets for 430 indicates it was an absolute road. The guys that went for less than 9 runs an over did a great job. Must admit I wasn't convinced about Tim David's value to the team before this innings, now I am a convert. It was a brutal display of hitting from him. With Warner, Head, Marsh, Maxwell, Inglis and David in the top 6, you could only imagine what the score might be if they all hit their straps at once!

Fair enough mikeh, but then  I am not sure how you can be a David convert, considering that pitch you speak of....and postage stamp size of the ground as well. But agree when David comes off, he is devastating. 

Not a Davey fan, but well done to him,  for his return send off to the Kiwi crowd....I do laugh when Kiwi's call themself a hospitable bunch...and that final ball groan from the crowd, when David smoked that match wonning boundary.....priceless.

You must have enjoyed heading into work the next day Freeze 

The 2 sixes by David off the final 2 balls of the second last over set it up. Without those, it would have been a bridge too far IMO.