2nd Test: Australia v New Zealand at Hobart, Dec 9-13

[QF WP]

63.4	Bracewell to Lyon, OUT, Bracewell seals it for New Zealand! Got that to nip back in from outside off, closed the face on that one but it beat him through the gate, what a Test match but fittingly, it was Bracewell who finished it off
	NM Lyon b Bracewell 9 (27b 1x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :evil:

Partnership: 34 runs

Dave Warner carries hit bat and now has an awesome Test average - has a lot to be proud of with his innings.

LW now looks squarely at Clarke and Hussey :evil::evil::evil::evil:

 

[david870mdg]

Dare we mention the concept of a Tie?

All out! New Zealand win by 7 runs.

LW sorry to hijack your thread, but the tension from following this finish on the radio kept the updates coming...:arrow:

 

[QF WP]

Hijack??? This is our thread....I just started it.

 

[QF WP]

Many thanks to cricinfo for all the data I posed here:

Lyon was distraught, rewind to the Edgbaston 2005 and this was so much similar, was on his knees wondering what happened. He'd played so well until that point, supporting his senior partner. But New Zealand were just a wicket away, and Bracewell delivered the finishing blow.

Warner: "It's a disappointment we didn't win. I wasn't quite sure, I was always back Nathan's instincts. He batted very well there. We backed ourselves but we didn't get across the line. We've batted well together this year."

Southee: "That was too close to comfort. A nail-biting finish. It's the first time we've done that since some of us have been alive. It was a great innings right through from Warner. We've got a great fielding side, we believe in our fielders, and we did a great job in the slips."

 

[QF WP]

So man of the match?

Warner for 15 and 123*

Bracewell 3/20 and 6/40??

Pattinson 5/51 and 3/54, together with 17 in first innings?

 

[TonyHancock]

Another match that shows the excellence of Test cricket. Ebb and flow, outstanding individual performances and a close finish.

 

[QF WP]

Is this one going down to the wire?

Going down to the wire JohnK, I think so..

Yes, it certainly did.

Would be fitting if Warner and Pattison were there for the winning runs...

Well Warner was there for the end, just not the winning runs

What a finish! Right down to the wire.. 26 runs required with one wicket in hand..
Reminds me of that test match against NZ at the MCG they showed yesterday during the rain delay on Ch.9 with Mike Whitney blocking every ball to hang on for the draw...

I watched that yesterday as well and fleetingly went through my mind...but slightly different circumstance to todays match.

 

[QF WP]

Hope we don't have another tied Test...

Dare we mention the concept of a Tie?

Great minds think alike, alas it failed to help..

 

[casanovawa]

Oh to have the older champs back...

 

[QF WP]

Player of the match DA Warner (Australia)
Player of the series JL Pattinson (Australia)

 

[serfty]

I would have 9 wickets for 60 runs would win, not a match batting average of 138.

 

[QF WP]

138 by my calcs..

In a match of low scores, what's worth more?? 138 runs out of 369 (37.4%) or 9 wickets from 20 (45%). Close call...

For the second innings, 123 out of 233 (52.8%), versus 6/40 (60% of wickets)...

Go figure??

 

[JohnK]

A great match that went down to the wire! Oh so close.... but yet so far....

 

[RB]

Thought I would post on here because it is probably relevant to most readers.
I am currently waiting on delivery of a "slider radio" that will let me enjoy synced ABC radio calls rather than have to listen to the Channel 9 lineup.-hopefully the test lasts until Monday so I can try it!
Lord's Taverners Tasmania

Well radio arrived this morning & let me enjoy the ABC commentators along with the Channel 9 pictures in sync-Can give it a good recommendation.
Excellent test match atmosphere

 

[Justinf]

My side for Boxing Day would be:

Cowan
Warner
Marsh
Clarke
Khwaja
Watson
Wade
Harris/Cutting (if fit)
Siddle
Pattinson
Lyon

Starc is not up to yet, but it's early days and he should be told to go back to Shield level and work hard after being given a taste.
The writing has been on the wall for Hussey for a while now. He saved himself with a good summer last year and a good tour of Sri Lanka, but I don't think he can save himself again.
Ponting needs to go. People keep saying that Dravid saved his test career, but Dravid has a flawless technique and an impenatratable defence. Ricky's technique has always been a bit suspect with him lunging forward early in his innings and his shuffling across the crease. he is about to turn 37 and 37-yar-old's don't get the luxury of rebuilding their technique.
Hughes needs to go, if as much for his sake than anything. He looks folorn and utterly destroyed. I reckon he would be relieved to get dropped. Needs to work very hard to get back in, but I would not draw a line through him for the future. Talent doesn't grow on trees and he has it. He just also happens to have some very big flaws.
I am sick of Haddin. He kept well enough in this test and he will stay in, but I would not keep him in. He has always been a flat-track bully with the bat and has little substance inside.
I would ease Watson back in at No 6 and promote Cowan as opener. Marsh gets No 3 back and Khwaja gets to find his feet at Test level at No 5. Khwaja should not be dropped for the sake of keeping either Hussey or Ponting. That is just a step backwards again. Steve Waugh got nursed through his first 20 tests and look what happened.

 

[JohnK]

Some good ideas there Justinf! Perhaps AFF should be the selection panel! :shock: :mrgreen: Not sure I would be blooding too many more players against India though.

I would let Ponting play out the summer and keep Warner and Khawaja. Which means Hughes and Hussey go for Marsh and Watson.

Not so easy for the bowlers though. Harris should play if fit which means no room for Starc. Perhaps there is room for Christian as Watson would not be bowling.

Haddin and Paine is a bordeline call.

I just hope the young bowlers are up to the task as I can just about see the Indian top 7 plunder the attack.

 

[docjames]

Subject to fitness 1st test vs India my side would be:

Warner
watson
Marsh
Clarke
Khawaja
hussey
Haddin
siddle
Pattinson
harris
Lyon
Starc (12th to come in for Harris if injured)

Hussey has better current form than Ponting but has to keep performing to keep his placegiven age.
Khawaja has shown enough to get another series and can slide around the order if needed although would benefit from a fixed position.
Haddin is gone by end of India series unless he gets runs and is tidy with the gloves.
Starc not getting enough credit for keeping the pressure on whilst Pattinson has grabbed the wickets from the other end so you'd be prepared to keep him in for now.

 

[Justinf]

Hussey averaged 7 in the NZ series, Doc. Ponting averaged 33. Hussey also couldn't make a run against Sth Africa, while Ponting made a half century, and maybe two if memory serves me correct.
So Hussey's form is actually about as low as it can get.
Time for them both to go. But if I absolutely had to keep one of them, I would keep Ponting.

 

[somebol]

My side for Boxing Day would be:

Cowan
Warner
Marsh
Clarke
Khwaja
Watson
Wade
Harris/Cutting (if fit)
Siddle
Pattinson
Lyon

Starc is not up to yet, but it's early days and he should be told to go back to Shield level and work hard after being given a taste.
The writing has been on the wall for Hussey for a while now. He saved himself with a good summer last year and a good tour of Sri Lanka, but I don't think he can save himself again.
Ponting needs to go. People keep saying that Dravid saved his test career, but Dravid has a flawless technique and an impenatratable defence. Ricky's technique has always been a bit suspect with him lunging forward early in his innings and his shuffling across the crease. he is about to turn 37 and 37-yar-old's don't get the luxury of rebuilding their technique.
Hughes needs to go, if as much for his sake than anything. He looks folorn and utterly destroyed. I reckon he would be relieved to get dropped. Needs to work very hard to get back in, but I would not draw a line through him for the future. Talent doesn't grow on trees and he has it. He just also happens to have some very big flaws.
I am sick of Haddin. He kept well enough in this test and he will stay in, but I would not keep him in. He has always been a flat-track bully with the bat and has little substance inside.
I would ease Watson back in at No 6 and promote Cowan as opener. Marsh gets No 3 back and Khwaja gets to find his feet at Test level at No 5. Khwaja should not be dropped for the sake of keeping either Hussey or Ponting. That is just a step backwards again. Steve Waugh got nursed through his first 20 tests and look what happened.

There is no way the selectors would drop ponting or hussey before a big series. The most likely changes would be watto / marsh in for hughes & khwaja. Bowling lineup remains the same unless harris is fit.

 

[Justinf]

There is no way the selectors would drop ponting or hussey before a big series. The most likely changes would be watto / marsh in for hughes & khwaja. Bowling lineup remains the same unless harris is fit.

That was just the side I would like to see. No way the selectors will drop Haddin, unfortunately.