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TBH mikeh, the Kiwis were over rated before this series started, this was a great reality check to the fans that yeah they punch above their weight(eg WC final), realistically they lack the quality and depth for the longer format of the game....Boult and Williamson would be the only two I personally would think or want good enough to play in India's team and Aust team....Wagner is gutsy, runs in all day...but bowled how many overs for how many wickets compared to the Aussie bowlers? Whilst Taylor has filled his boots v weaker sides more often than not....good batsman but no match winner....the rest you can raffle....genuinely think previous test series has clouded folks thinking about how good that NZ side was....but the rankings didn't help....Williamson, Latham, Taylor and Nicholls all in the top 10-12 batsmen....Boult, Southee and Wagner the same bowling wise....but hey I hope they give the Indians a good run for their money...definitely will be going to the Hagley Oval test....did you see the ground when you can over mate?...great little ground in a English Village type setting

Freeze have the Kiwis done away with playing Tests at the bigger stadiums (Eden Park) in NZ now and are playing at the smaller boutique grounds like Hagley Oval Christchurch, Hamilton, Mt Manganui etc.
The Basin Reserve is a great cricket ground in Wellington but was shocked the Poms didnt play there on the recent tour, McLean Park Napier, University Otago Ground Dunedin are others.
I assume Lancaster Park Christchurch & Carisbrook in Dunedin are no longer in use?

Freezin wrote: TBH mikeh, the Kiwis were over rated before this series started, this was a great reality check to the fans that yeah they punch above their weight(eg WC final), realistically they lack the quality and depth for the longer format of the game....Boult and Williamson would be the only two I personally would think or want good enough to play in India's team and Aust team....Wagner is gutsy, runs in all day...but bowled how many overs for how many wickets compared to the Aussie bowlers? Whilst Taylor has filled his boots v weaker sides more often than not....good batsman but no match winner....the rest you can raffle....genuinely think previous test series has clouded folks thinking about how good that NZ side was....but the rankings didn't help....Williamson, Latham, Taylor and Nicholls all in the top 10-12 batsmen....Boult, Southee and Wagner the same bowling wise....but hey I hope they give the Indians a good run for their money...definitely will be going to the Hagley Oval test....did you see the ground when you can over mate?...great little ground in a English Village type setting

Yes I did Freezin. I managed to get there in 2016 when the Aussies were playing there, fantastic ground in a picturesque setting. I saw Baz Mccullums last test innings. Funny he hit a six off his penultimate ball which bounced right between my wife and I. It was past before either of us managed to put our hand out to grab it. Next ball, he was caught trying to repeat the shot.

mikeh wrote:

Freezin wrote: TBH mikeh, the Kiwis were over rated before this series started, this was a great reality check to the fans that yeah they punch above their weight(eg WC final), realistically they lack the quality and depth for the longer format of the game....Boult and Williamson would be the only two I personally would think or want good enough to play in India's team and Aust team....Wagner is gutsy, runs in all day...but bowled how many overs for how many wickets compared to the Aussie bowlers? Whilst Taylor has filled his boots v weaker sides more often than not....good batsman but no match winner....the rest you can raffle....genuinely think previous test series has clouded folks thinking about how good that NZ side was....but the rankings didn't help....Williamson, Latham, Taylor and Nicholls all in the top 10-12 batsmen....Boult, Southee and Wagner the same bowling wise....but hey I hope they give the Indians a good run for their money...definitely will be going to the Hagley Oval test....did you see the ground when you can over mate?...great little ground in a English Village type setting

Yes I did Freezin. I managed to get there in 2016 when the Aussies were playing there, fantastic ground in a picturesque setting. I saw Baz Mccullums last test innings. Funny he hit a six off his penultimate ball which bounced right between my wife and I. It was past before either of us managed to put our hand out to grab it. Next ball, he was caught trying to repeat the shot.

Was that the same innings Mitch Marsh took an incredible catch in the gully only for Patterson to have overstepped the bowling crease and he was subsequently no-balled and then McCullum smashed the fastest ever 100?

Beasley Hutton wrote:

mikeh wrote:

Freezin wrote: TBH mikeh, the Kiwis were over rated before this series started, this was a great reality check to the fans that yeah they punch above their weight(eg WC final), realistically they lack the quality and depth for the longer format of the game....Boult and Williamson would be the only two I personally would think or want good enough to play in India's team and Aust team....Wagner is gutsy, runs in all day...but bowled how many overs for how many wickets compared to the Aussie bowlers? Whilst Taylor has filled his boots v weaker sides more often than not....good batsman but no match winner....the rest you can raffle....genuinely think previous test series has clouded folks thinking about how good that NZ side was....but the rankings didn't help....Williamson, Latham, Taylor and Nicholls all in the top 10-12 batsmen....Boult, Southee and Wagner the same bowling wise....but hey I hope they give the Indians a good run for their money...definitely will be going to the Hagley Oval test....did you see the ground when you can over mate?...great little ground in a English Village type setting

Yes I did Freezin. I managed to get there in 2016 when the Aussies were playing there, fantastic ground in a picturesque setting. I saw Baz Mccullums last test innings. Funny he hit a six off his penultimate ball which bounced right between my wife and I. It was past before either of us managed to put our hand out to grab it. Next ball, he was caught trying to repeat the shot.

Was that the same innings Mitch Marsh took an incredible catch in the gully only for Patterson to have overstepped the bowling crease and he was subsequently no-balled and then McCullum smashed the fastest ever 100?

Yes it was the same test but I only saw the 2nd innings which was 25 from memory before Warner took a blinder of a catch. That first innings century was 54 balls!

I was there when he made that 100...fantastic knock...I think the Kiwis were 2 or 3 down for 30 odd and the fella just did what he knew best...that Marsh "catch" was a ripper...

Lancaster Park just got knocked down at the end of 2019 BH....was upgraded for the 2015 rugby WC....earthquake came and the stadium was deemed unsafe...Carisbrook still around in Dunedin, but a new multi venue called Forsyth Barr stadium does the cricket and other big events now mate....T20 game v Aust there in March 24...I am going to that one and the one at Hagley 29/3...I think NZ cricket trying to give a even spread of matches around the country...very much Auckland and Wellington most of the time....Christchurch are looking to build a big stadium....not sure by when tho....same site I think as Lancaster Park...right in the CBD...

Is it safe to rebuild on the existing Lancaster Park sit Freeze considering the issues it has had in the past with earthquake tremors?
Good to hear Carisbrook is still around despite their crowds hatred of Australian sides in the past.
Quite like the cricket grounds in NZ as you say they are quaint English Village Green like.
Any idea on when we tour NZ next for a Test Series mate?

Lot of new buildings going up in Christchurch mate...apparently the new stadium will cost over 470 million, similar design to Forsyth Barr in Dunedin..25K capacity...Think more inner CBD than the old Lancaster Park site...but TBH not 100% sure...the old site as you say may not be compatible....as for Aust playing tests in NZ....probably when the new stadium gets built 2024!