Aust tour squad v NZ announced - Sayers in.

[stampy]

mccullum has a test average of 38.5 and yet they carry on as if he is a border or steve waugh, why is that?

[bennymacca]

back spasms

this article says he could have bowled today, but there is no way they would have risked him given how far we were in front. so he may be ok for the next test

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/peter-si ... ign=nzvaus

mccullum has a test average of 38.5 and yet they carry on as if he is a border or steve waugh, why is that?

he played as a keeper for most of that time, and 38.5 isnt a bad average either. 100 consecutive tests is also pretty awesome.

you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning stampy?

[mal]

Australia win the first test
The series is now a dead rubber for the trophy

[Grenville]

I've enjoyed listening to the Radio Sport NZ coverage of the Test. Bit of entertainment during the lunch break as well with the farming show.

[Lightning McQueen]

Australia win the first test
The series is now a dead rubber for the trophy

Good chance to see how the Chadd goes.

[daysofourlives]

Australia win the first test
The series is now a dead rubber for the trophy

Good chance to see how the Chadd goes.

Siddle (injured) and Bird (terrible) out, Pattinson and Sayers in.
Bird and Hazelwood are too similar, Bird is no Hazelwood, see ya later.

[Lightning McQueen]

Siddle (injured) and Bird (terrible) out, Pattinson and Sayers in.
Bird and Hazelwood are too similar, Bird is no Hazelwood, see ya later.

I like your line of thinking, I thought he was released to play for the Deadbacks?

[Grahaml]

mccullum has a test average of 38.5 and yet they carry on as if he is a border or steve waugh, why is that?

Because they don't really have any Borders or Steve Waughs in their history. Martin Crowe is probably the only world class batsman in their history until Kane Williamson. They seem to think Guptill is a star with a test average of 30.

[RB]

mccullum has a test average of 38.5 and yet they carry on as if he is a border or steve waugh, why is that?

I was thinking the same thing. Even NZ have had much better players.

[Dogwatcher]

I agree there are players with better averages and more runs.
However, this guy has played fun and exciting cricket in, apparently, the right spirit. He also scored New Zealand's first ever triple century and, to some extent, has reinvigorated the Black Caps. They're probably at their most competitive since the Crowe/Hadlee years.
That might explain some of the hoo ha.

[RB]

They're probably at their most competitive since the Crowe/Hadlee years.

I see this as a bit of a myth; they've still not won many tests against good opposition.

Even if it were true, it's Williamson, Taylor, Southee, Bolt etc. who are responsible for the improvement.

McCullum's captaincy style is more suited to one-dayers IMO.

[stampy]

you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning stampy?[/quote]

nah, i am always grumpy! granted his short foirm record is great but his test record isnt exceptional, its a bit like wg grace, check his average out, hardly awe inspiring

[stan]

Australia win the first test
The series is now a dead rubber for the trophy

Good chance to see how the Chadd goes.

Siddle (injured) and Bird (terrible) out, Pattinson and Sayers in.
Bird and Hazelwood are too similar, Bird is no Hazelwood, see ya later.

Would like to see that attack. Definitely a bit of everything. I think Sayers should get a run and see if he is up to it at that level.

[Dogwatcher]

you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning stampy?

nah, i am always grumpy! granted his short foirm record is great but his test record isnt exceptional, its a bit like wg grace, check his average out, hardly awe inspiring[/quote]

Wow. You might want to push past the stats to find out why Grace was so awe-inspiring. Victor Trumper was probably a rubbish player as well.

[Lightning McQueen]

Would like to see that attack. Definitely a bit of everything. I think Sayers should get a run and see if he is up to it at that level.

He'd thrive on those decks.

[Brodlach]

Don't forget most of his career he played as a wicket keeper and batting was his second string

[RB]

you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning stampy?

nah, i am always grumpy! granted his short foirm record is great but his test record isnt exceptional, its a bit like wg grace, check his average out, hardly awe inspiring[/quote]
Grace played on nineteenth-century wickets.

[bennymacca]

statistics arent the only factor by which to judge a player though. His impact on the game in NZ is almost unrivalled, certainly in the past couple of decades

[Lightning McQueen]

Superstars have been few and far between for the Kiwi's so legendary status standards would be far less than ours.

Without much research I'll throw an XI together during my lifetime.

J.Wright
G.Turner
S.Fleming
M.Crowe
R.Taylor
N.Astle
B.McCullum
C.Cairns
D.Vettori
R.Hadlee
T.Southee

[Lightning McQueen]

I forgot about Bond, he probably never reached his full potential, I was a bit of Danny Morrison fan too.

Where did your team go mal? I thought it was pretty bloody good.