TOPIC:

The Kiwis are currently the 2nd ranked test team in the world and have just come off a series win against England so you would think they will be a handful for Australia. If what I have heard is correct, they will be arriving in Perth and going straight into a pink ball test on the bounciest pitch in Australia without playing a warm up game? If this is true what genius in the NZ Cricket set up agreed to this schedule? They are handing Australia a massive advantage in the Perth test.
This aside the Kiwis have some class batsmen in Williamson and Taylor, an excellent keeper/batsman in Watling and a very competitive attack led by Southee as well as an experienced spinner ( Sautner). They will miss Boult who is out for at least the first test if not the series.

I expect a far more combative series than the Pakistan one ( although that wont be difficult to achieve)

Agree Mikeh, would have though a 3 dayer v the WA shield team would have been a smart move.

mikeh wrote: The Kiwis are currently the 2nd ranked test team in the world and have just come off a series win against England so you would think they will be a handful for Australia. If what I have heard is correct, they will be arriving in Perth and going straight into a pink ball test on the bounciest pitch in Australia without playing a warm up game? If this is true what genius in the NZ Cricket set up agreed to this schedule? They are handing Australia a massive advantage in the Perth test.
This aside the Kiwis have some class batsmen in Williamson and Taylor, an excellent keeper/batsman in Watling and a very competitive attack led by Southee as well as an experienced spinner ( Sautner). They will miss Boult who is out for at least the first test if not the series.

I expect a far more combative series than the Pakistan one ( although that wont be difficult to achieve)

The new test championship scheduling will prevent some warm up games in certain series especially in countries where grounds are shared by different sporting codes
This one has been affected by series in NZ & Australia which have only just been concluded

True Southy WA are playing VIC this weekend in the Shield at the MCG, plus NZ only finished their own 2 Test series against ENG yesterday!
The tight Summer schedule (read Big Bash) has pretty much ended the old tour matches.

Then again Pakistan had 2 warm up games prior to the first test and we all know how they performed.

Both those two NZ v Eng tests were played on slow typical NZ pitches...should be a bit of a cultural shock for them in terms of pace and bounce....surely they let Lockie Ferguson off the leash....talk over here is that Boult will play in Perth as De Grandhomme will....but both will be pretty rusty with no cricket since the 1st v Eng...and no shield equivalent games before hand...

I don't expect Aust to boss NZ around like the last time they played.... Williamson and Taylor are class acts, whilst Watling is boring as all fark to watch bat....surprised Santner is getting talked about here....yep good 100 v Eng....but TBH that Eng attack without the Duke ball in Eng conditions looked pretty sedate....Archer hardly reached the speeds of his Ashes series....think Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood will definitely keep the NZ boys on their toes....really don't think Southee or Henry will worry Aust top six much...Boult will as will Ferguson's zip.

Surprised that Head isn't having a hit in the Shield game....played a cameo in the first test, didn't bat in the 2nd test....hasn't batted properly for nearly a month.....I would of even played Sean Marsh for the Perth test...knows and scores well at Optus...horses for courses I thought was Langers early mantra?

Freezin wrote: Both those two NZ v Eng tests were played on slow typical NZ pitches...should be a bit of a cultural shock for them in terms of pace and bounce....surely they let Lockie Ferguson off the leash....talk over here is that Boult will play in Perth as De Grandhomme will....but both will be pretty rusty with no cricket since the 1st v Eng...and no shield equivalent games before hand...

I don't expect Aust to boss NZ around like the last time they played.... Williamson and Taylor are class acts, whilst Watling is boring as all fark to watch bat....surprised Santner is getting talked about here....yep good 100 v Eng....but TBH that Eng attack without the Duke ball in Eng conditions looked pretty sedate....Archer hardly reached the speeds of his Ashes series....think Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood will definitely keep the NZ boys on their toes....really don't think Southee or Henry will worry Aust top six much...Boult will as will Ferguson's zip.

Surprised that Head isn't having a hit in the Shield game....played a cameo in the first test, didn't bat in the 2nd test....hasn't batted properly for nearly a month.....I would of even played Sean Marsh for the Perth test...knows and scores well at Optus...horses for courses I thought was Langers early mantra?

Agree about Travis Head having a bat in shield game, although with the game in Hobart and starting on Saturday, they probably thought it was too little turnaround time to get to Perth, why would they not have started the shield games on Thursday or Friday to allow for that extra time?

I think the XI will be the same in Perth as it was in Adelaide, even though it is a pitch which suits fast bowlers, Lyon has a reasonable record here and he is just coming off a 5 for.

Also I am totally confused about Bancroft being "on standby" in case a batsman is concussed in the test. The guy has an average of less than 20 in first class cricket this season and he really shouldn't even be in the Warriors Shield team at the expense of Phillipe. If they are looking for an in form WA player to be on stand by for the Perth test surely Shaun Marsh fits the bill perfectly?

If Mitch Marsh didnt have that brain fade at the WACA against VIC a month or so back I have a feeling he would have played in the Tests all Summer batting at 6 in place of Head and giving support to the 3 quicks & Lyon with the ball.

Thank Christ he had that brain fade - he's not a test standard cricketer and should never get selected again same goes for Bancroft

Southerner wrote: Thank Christ he had that brain fade - he's not a test standard cricketer and should never get selected again same goes for Bancroft

Since Bancroft is out of favour he could keep fit by going to Davy Warner's place & polish that "man of the series" trophy with some left over sandpaper..