NZ v OZ 3rd ODI

[BartMan]

mate, what did he bowl first up? He should have riled up the pig verbally, then thrown in the yorker!!

[BartMan]

Bollinger to Hopkins, SIX, Bollinger goes short and Hopkins upper cuts over third man for six. Daryl Tuffey, who is not playing due to a calf strain, stands up off his seat and takes a comfortable catch in the stands

from cricinfo - classic

[Munter]

I figure 270 is the minimum score we'll need from here. Then we'll need Bond and co to bowl out of their skins.

[KiwiPie]

Powerplay is the key - they've just taken it with Styris and Hopkins well set. 300 is still possible .... but unlikely.

[KiwiPie]

Powerplay is the key - they've just taken it with Styris and Hopkins well set. 300 is still possible .... but unlikely.

Amazing how often the powerplay cocks up an innings isn't it? The red mist descends and suddenly every ball has to be hit in the air.

[cd_wilson]

All out - 245 ...

[KiwiMurph]

All out 245. Not going to be enough you wouldn't think.

Taylor, Styris and Vettori all threw away their wickets......

Have to say have been impressed with Hopkins this series. Didn't think he was anywhere near International cricket standard but he is going well.

[Armchaircritic]

Besides the selectors arrogance of still selecting Ingram so you are starting with a wicket down.
The craps were still on to make 300. They went the way the Ozzies have done where the good players have thrown their wickets away after being in a dominant position rather than good balls that have got them out.

[Squirrel]

Hopkins you beauty
Runs out Watson!

Thats due to great bowling pressure from both ends

[Squirrel]

Mason has let the pressure right off. 20 off his first over. . His career figures don't look too bad, but I never think he's quite right for international cricket

Couple of tough dropped catches hurting us

[Donsteppa]

Difficult when you pick only four bowlers and 10 batsmen...

Two things I can't understand. First, if we have to pick a player with concrete feet, why not go with Sinclair? And secondly, what has turned Southee from a batting find into effectively a #11 in two short years?

[Cyclops]

Difficult when you pick only four bowlers and 10 batsmen...

Two things I can't understand. First, if we have to pick a player with concrete feet, why not go with Sinclair? And secondly, what has turned Southee from a batting find into effectively a #11 in two short years?

Southee never really looked much of a batsman to be honest. He has a good eye but not the temperament for international batting. Give him a few years though, as he matures he'll improve - he definitely has a good eye and is a clean, clean striker of the ball. Being in-and-out of the squad has probably made him focus a lot more on bowling - if he gets a fixed position in the squad, then I reckon he'll start to work on his batting more as well.

[Donsteppa]

Gut-pill into the attack with Mason banished. Southee then drops a catch off him on the boundary...

[Donsteppa]

I spoke too soon about Mason as well...

[Donsteppa]

... and Mason gets Ponting out... (!!??!!)

Holes out to short mid-wicket.

[Donsteppa]

Southee gets Hussey 190/3.

[Allstar]

Mason is farken hopeless, bowling pies.

We really need to stop taking the powerplays so late and relying on our bowlers making the most of it.

Haddin on 91, hussey just skied Southee out to Ingram for not much.

Aussie currently cruising.

[Unco-ordinated]

Just got back from the game. I would've stayed till the end if we even had a tiny chance of winning.

Bollinger was fielding in front of us but didn't get too much shit, probably because he doesn't seem like much of a prick (or is that not much of an australian?).

[KiwiPie]

Felt a bit sorry for Mason, when you have figures of 0.1-0-11-0 at the start of your spell, you're in for a tough day. Not enough runs to bowl at which always seems to be the case batting first.

[Midge]

Pretty disappointing, this time we took the power play too early which forced more risks at a time when we could really not afford to lose wickets.
Guppy is a source of massive frustration as far as I'm concerned. He is clearly a very good player and hopefully things will come right for him. Currently he has am average of 38 by scoring very close to that every game so hasn't won as many games.
Southee has obviously been working on his batting as you will notice he no longer takes a big step outside leg and then tries to pull the ball. I'm sure he will become a decent all rounder in the future, I would have him above Bond but obviously Bond's knock in the win and experience is counting in his favour.

[Mokey]

Just got back from the game, a few thoughts in no particular order. Ingram is shite and should not be opening our batting. Mason is super shite and is nowhere near good enough to be an international player. Quite why they called him up when there were players like Arnel or Scott who probably would have had a good time on their home ground, I'm sure I dont know. Dan is super, but ffs man, ground your bat when you are running. Taylor is super, although like quite a few others tonight, his wicket was bloody soft. Conditions were hot and sunny in Hamilton, boundaries were small, 245 was never ever going to be a decent total. Hope Bond hasnt crocked himself again, he was down for a fair amount of time after getting hit by that ball. Haddin played a very good innings, defending when it was a decent ball, smacking the crap out of it when it wasnt. Boy did we miss desperately decent first change bowlers. And lastly, after a while, the chants of Johnson is a ******, Watson is a ****** or Haddin is a homo are bloody tiresome, grow up people. And they usually led to the Aussies taking a wicket, so no real point.

They will have to pull their socks up fast for Auckland, or the series will be goneburgers.

[Midge]

Completely forgot about Arnel, called into the squad a few times but still yet to be capped. Can't say I know too much about him. Michael Mason is unfortunately a not particularly quick line and length bowler like glen mcgrath. Unfortunately being this type of bowler and not really good means you will be target by world class batsmen.

[Watu]

Id like to blame the injuries on this loss but really despite being at half strength we should have still posted a decent score.
McCullum and Guptill are senior batsmen and again didn't deliver, Taylor batted well but tried to fetch one he shouldn't have and Broom still hasn't justified his inclusion and is running out of opportunities. We only needed one of these guys to hang around and get a big score and that probably would have got us close to 300. It was the regulars that let the side down.

In saying that, what about a B team made up of players unavailable or not in favour:

Ryder
Papps
Vincent
Watling
Stewart
Williamson
Elliot
Oram
Franklin
Mills
Butler

[Chiefy]

Difficult when you pick only four bowlers and 10 batsmen...

Two things I can't understand. First, if we have to pick a player with concrete feet, why not go with Sinclair? And secondly, what has turned Southee from a batting find into effectively a #11 in two short years?

I think a big problem is not getting much batting. He was put into the BCs young and hasn't had the time in first class cricket to really work on his batting. A full season of batting 7 or 8 for ND might mean a huge improvement I think. His test debut probably doesn't help, it showed he has power and a good eye and raised expectations on him (probably a lot from himself as well) to be able to score big runs. If he had got a more sedately made 45* that day he probably wouldn't have the same weight of expectation on his shoulders.

While I would like to see his batting improve to where he is capable, at the moment the onus has to be on improving his bowling first and foremost. He seems to be improving alot against Australia, his first spells keep getting better, which is something he had been struggling with...

One thing I find interesting is the heat on Ingram after 6 ODI's. Normally we would be happy with an opener that comes in and averages above 30 with a strike rate of 80, but this time we can't wait to see the back of him. I'm not saying it's unjustified, because like KP said earlier; the bloke just looks like a walking wicket. But when you compare him to a guy like Neil Broom who has passed 50 once (against Bangladesh), possesses technical deficiencies of his own, averages about 20 at a strike rate of 71 from 20 odd games and bats in the mildly easier spot in the middle order who gets a relatively easy ride...Just seems strange to me. If I was in Paddy and Dan's shoes, I would be seriously looking for contenders for those spots. Hopefully they can both turn it around, but I just don't see it happening any time soon. Happy to be proved wrong like I was by Hopkins though!!

[Munter]

While I would like to see his batting improve to where he is capable, at the moment the onus has to be on improving his bowling first and foremost.

I'm with you on that one. The worst thing we could do for Southee's development is make him think his batting will keep him in the side a la James Franklin. He still has a long way to go to get his bowling where it needs to be.

But when you compare him to a guy like Neil Broom who has passed 50 once (against Bangladesh), possesses technical deficiencies of his own, averages about 20 at a strike rate of 71 from 20 odd games and bats in the mildly easier spot in the middle order who gets a relatively easy ride

I suspect Ryder will be slotted back into his opening role for the ODIs at the expense of Ingram. It's tough on Ingram but I think he'd be even worse in the middle order where it's more about rotating the strike than smashing boundaries. Broom showed last night that he is better at working the quick singles with the fielding restrictions on. His partnership with Taylor was textbook batting until he had to go and fark it up with a loose stroke. Still, I expect Elliott to replace him the moment he is fit again.

The turning point last night was Ponting's run out of Vettori. I'd say that cost us an extra 30-40 runs in the end - could have been the difference.