New Zealand v Australia, 2nd Test, Christchurch, 20-24 February, 2016

Quick turn around, so can't see Cot being fit. He was stiff as a board on the field today. So Patto in for him, I guess.

Is Patto fit yet ? ....does that leave Dolly

Will this test even go ahead? Christchurch has started shaking again, and they tend to get earthquakes in bunches........

Good point, Trev.

The cracks will be good for the spinners

Big Dog wrote: The cracks will be good for the spinners

We quake at the prospect

Is Boof allowed to go there?

The sheep's head shepherd has asked for a Christchurch green top that will assistance to the bowlers for two days before flattening out.

So any changes for the test? The margin disguised the poor performances of several players. Oz was lucky with the toss and the Voges decision.
Siddle may be out to be replaced by Pattinson.
Otherwise it could be Sayers., if OP is not fit.
Bird must be at risk after a. disappointing last test.
Otherwise Burns may be feeling nervous. M Marsh will need to make a contribution with the bat. At least he is taking wickets.

Aye h, plenty of dodgy performance masked by the stellar efforts of a few. Still, that has been the Aussie way for quite a few seasons as we seem to have performed above the quality on paper.

Bracewell out

"New Zealand have suffered another blow ahead of the second Test with fast bowler Doug Bracewell ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Bracewell did not fly with the Black Caps to Christchurch with his teammates today after experiencing pain in his right shoulder following New Zealand's innings and 52-run loss to Australia in Wellington.

Subsequent scans revealed a strain to the rotator calf muscle in his bowling shoulder.

"Doug has been a consistent performer for us this summer and put a lot of work into his game, so to miss out on the final Test against Australia is very disappointing for him and us,” Black Caps coach Mike Hesson said.

"He’ll be given time to recover and we’ll work with him to get him back training as quickly as possible."

One of left-armer Neil Wagner or rapid paceman Matt Henry will likely replace Bracewell for the must-win match at Hagley Oval, starting Saturday.

Batsman Ross Taylor (side) and spinning allrounder Mitchell Santner (foot) were ruled out of the second Test on Monday after failing to overcome their respective injuries."

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Advantage Aus.

"rotator calf muscle in his bowling shoulder"

FFS

No wonder he's injured. He's bowling from out the back of his shin.

The wireless tells me this morning that Cot is defo out of this Test, with Patto likely to be his replacement.

Looks like Bird and Burns will retain their spots.

horace wrote:Looks like Bird and Burns will retain their spots.

The latter was never in doubt.

Which is quite unbelievable. Monty is the epitome of an FTB. He'll do OK in Aus but will be found out with his "Squirt behind point" technique in all other countries.

Poor old Sids. That's probably it.

Oh well, he made 200 wkts + 1000 runs. Well done him. An honest servant.

That sounds like Downton Abbey, Lord Skully.

Understandable. Skully is a sgdt and Sids is a Vic.

Cot is/was a good cricketer but nothing more than an honest toiler.

That is what most respect...always underrated...won us the last ashes test and maybe the Ashes would have been retained, had he been picked earlier. Still he is not a spiv or a wasp.