New Zealand v Australia, 1st Test, Wellington, 29 February - 4 March, 2024

Young does a Koala jnr on Williamson who has run out without scoring

Yowzers 3/12

horace wrote:Young does a Koala jnr on Williamson who has run out without scoring

and went on to be dismissed by your favourite bowler

Australia takes a very big lead, then loses Smith immediately.

… and Labuschagne soon afterwards!

Lyon comes in, perhaps one position too low

Lab needs to be dropped. Smith's form as an opener is not super flattering despite him quoting some positive stats after the Windies series.

Puke batting at 3 v the Bi-cranials this afternoon I couldn't help notice, also Nathan McSweeney (McFilth?) who played in the A Team game made 50 there for SA.

Fred Nerk wrote:Puke batting at 3 v the Bi-cranials this afternoon I couldn't help notice, also Nathan McSweeney (McFilth?) who played in the A Team game made 50 there for SA.

Puck 22
McSweeney made 50

There won’t be a change while we’re playing NZ in NZ.

There aren’t any further Tests to drop him for until November, and it’s likely his only FC opportunities after the Second Test will be in England … probably Div 2 CC, so he should be OK there.

Red wrote:Lab needs to be dropped.  Smith's form as an opener is not super flattering despite him quoting some positive stats after the Windies series.

he'll play next game unless injured

but if he was dropped, we could move Smith back to 3. no idea who would open with Khawaja, but it sounds a bit more 'settled' than Smith opening.

I had an interesting day. I was out all morning & got home just before the tea beak with NZ 5/42. So, I watched Phillips & Blundell take the score past the 100 mark before I had to go out again. I arrived home with Australia just about to commence their 2nd innings.

Overall, I watched New Zealand score 60 odd runs for the loss of no wickets & Australia score 13 for the loss of 2 wickets. Kiwis on top!

I might watch something else tomorrow!

One of the weirder days in recent Test cricket.

Smith sounds like every great bat who has played a season or so too long., searching for a number justifying his continued place in the team.

Marnus has never been a great bat despite his ranking at various times. He enjoyed massive doses of good fortune in having the Oppo drop him on a regular basis. That fortune has deserted him and he has reverted to an average stolid Test number 3, which is fine.

lyon takes 4x4 off southee and henry before out. pity i was hoping for a century. Still plenty in the pitch for the bowelrs
so i dont fancy nz chances in the 4th chasing 300+. Get the
big C and marsh together soon.

Nathan Lyon preserves his record of most Test runs without a fifty, having briefly threatened to lose it to Kemar Roach.

Bit of collapso going on. Green standing tall.

pitch worsening?

NZ 369 to win. Never write off a batting side with Williamson in it.

Is Lyon fit to bowl?

Pretty ordinary batting methinks.

Head, Mere and Carey are all hard hands, concrete feet, stand and deliver merchants.

Lyon as top scorer emphasises the weirdness of this match.

Lyon with the two wickets, inc Williamson.

Latham fails again and confirms we are not a minnow in the process. Amirite Skully?

Head gets a third wicket ... still a long way to go for both teams.

Elmer having some fun in Wellington this morning.

lardbucket wrote:Head gets a third wicket ... still a long way to go for both teams.

Not Head, Lyon. I had my top order batsmen confused.

Lyon now has six.

Who would have thought back when he started that Lyon would creditably and consistently pull off the single most difficult spin bowling, if not bowling, follow on acts in history?

Good win in the end, with Elmer's excellent bowling making light of our poor 2nd innings.

Congrats to big Snot, who I presume was MoM for his big undefeated ton on a tricky wicket.

skully wrote:Good win in the end, with Elmer's excellent bowling making light of our poor 2nd innings.

Congrats to big Snot, who I presume was MoM for his big undefeated ton on a tricky wicket.

Yep. Green was motm. Lyon had a decent claim as leading scorer in one innings and taking a 6fer. Henry had a cracking match for the hosts.

I was a bit disappointed with NZ today… not much fight, which is unusual for them.

Our cricketers should play the All Blacks and the Black Caps should take on the Wallabies