All Things Sport

A much improved effort by the WI, so many positives to come out of it. Aust made 5/212, when the test was called off. Clarke 61no. Bravo 3/37. After WI were all out for 317. Gayle, batting right thru, for 165no. 7 hours, oh why cant a Blackcap bat for 7 hours??!! The last was probarly Richardson!!!!
A very good test match, and yet a again good to see really good test cricket. The last 7 tests have all been so interesting.
U.A.E, yes they beat Namibia by 4wkts, in a “test”. A huge result on the cricket scene.

Gayle is 155no, and WI 8/284. They lead by 296. Scoring at 3.05 per over, they will have to bat today. Maybe for a hour, if not bowled out.
What a great fight back, after the 1st test. I still go back to losing Taylor. It could have been so differant. Shame we cant have Edwards, Taylor and Roach stemming in on these hard wickets. Roach has been most impressive.
B J Watling, our latest opener!!! No??? But he WILL be a success. He has very good foot work.
As I commented, they have missed a chance to play Broom, and How. But Guptil and Flynn are now in their true positions.

Pakisean levelled the seris with a 141 run win over NZ. NZ scored 263, Taylor 97. Asif 23.5-9-67-5. The Pak. bowlers outstanding again, but once again a poor batting display. The two teams are very even, and Yousof and Taylor are still the key to holding their batting line ups together.
NZ must make changes. I would like to see How, Watling, Guptill, Taylor, Broom. But will they go this far?? And bring in Southee and Patel.
I still question Vettori’s attacking captiancy skills. Why not bat, winning the toss. Give the batsman a chance to start. And his continued negative field placings. Even he is bowling to flat..give the ball more air!!!!
India are back at no1 where they belong!!!! But now are away for the next two years, its crazy!!!!They won by a innings and 24 runs.SL making 309. Sangakkara 137, Khan 21-5-72-5.
Still will India remain no1 with so many away tests??
WI at last some hope!!!!Aust. made 439, Benn bowling oustanding 53-8-155-5.WI 0/23. If they can get 300 + today, and who knows. But a draw is most likely. It was good to head a very good Aust. batting line up.c

No’s, but so important!!!
NZ 99, Taylor 30, Asif4/40, Kaniera 3/6. Pak 2/64. 16 wickets fell, again showing how the batting of both sides is weak. Full credit must go to the Pakistan bowlers. But our batting woes continue. Pakistan have a great chance of a big lead today, but NZ must keep taking wickets. Then it will come down to our batting…confidence??
Sehwag 293, he didnt get it!!!! India 9/726 dec. Dhoni 100no Muralitharan 51-4-195-4, Herath 53.3-2-240-3. SL 0/11. So many runs, now it comes down to if the pitch will hold together.
WI 6/336 Bravo 104, Chanderpaul 62. What a great fight back by WI after the first test. Hope Nash and Sammy can keep it going.
Two good scores in NZ, Rhodes 142no, on his debut, and Broom 103no. Broom must be close to the test team.
Well all we want/need now is a great NZ batting display!!!!

Wow it was Sehwags day…284no, and on target to be the first to score 3 300’s. India are 1/443 (5.60!!), after SL 393. Mathews joining the 99 club. How can you!!!!
NZ won the toss and put Pak. in. 6/161. They started so well after 32ov 0/60, but then they thru away cheap wickets. NZ bowled patient and tight, and when the break thru came were very impressive. Tuffey bowled very well, at both ends. O’Brien, once he settled, looked good again. Vettori gave the ball more air, and looks better when he does. Martin seems to be lacking pace, and fire.
Well done Capt., you had 4 slips and 2 gullies, for O’Brien. But to late for Mr Bond!!!! Thanks for listening!!!!
Its good to see How back in the runs, with a good attacking 90. He’s to good a player not to be tried again??
Offcourse player of day, Sehwag (and again tomorrow??).

No Bond..well at least its made the build up exciting.It looks like Tuffey will play, I’m dissappionted again that we dont play 5 bowlers.
SL won the toss and batted, scoring 8/366. Dilshan 109, Mathews 86no. H.Singh 4/107. They scored at 4.11.
Here we go again 3 tests under way soon,plus the Plunket Shield. Oh is this heaven??!!!!

Shame to lose Bond, from his injury. But its the right move to let him recover. I have commented else where.
Steyn is being rested by SA, Taylor has gone home from Aust. Bond is out. This is something that we have to live with. Fast bowlers get injured, nothing has changed. But do some captains over bowl them, because its a easy option??

I like to make comments on what is on cricketinfo.
Hifenhaus is injured, and will miss the 2nd test. Strange he doesn’t impress me. But they like him. Clint McKay comes in, but Bollinger should play. He looks very promising.
The gayle Capt. stories will NEVER go away. He’s not a good Capt., end of story. A poor Capt. leading a weak team.

Wow!!!! Yes wow!!!! What a test match. Maybe the best of 2009. Its great having Pakistan back playing test cricket, and good to have NZ winning again. There are so many positives to come out of the match. Ok the batting is not strong in both sides, Pakistans fielding is terrible!!! But the bowling was world class.
The venue was awesome, such a lovelly ground, good pitch and well suppoerted. Well done Dunedin!!!!
I’m still not sure of the LBW video. The angle is the key, and can the camera tell the flight, pitch, angle of the ball like the human eye?? Little loan the swing. But lets give it a go. I think most video decisions were the right ones.
But one does have to feel for the umpire if a decision is changed.
So it looks like Umar/Yousuf, Taylor/Guptill, Pak fielding, and two very good bowling attacks will be the key. And who can score the best from the rest!!!!
Vettori and Yousuf?? I think to sum it up, one wants to be Capt. and one doesn’t!!!! To me Vettori is way to negative, as I have said many times. I would love to see him attack more with Bond, yes 4 slips and 2 gullys. Give away runs, yes but you will get wickets.
The final word, has to be on Bond. I will never for give NZ cricket for letting him go. Buy him a house, buy him a car, send him on a world cruise!!!! You should have inticed him to stay. 2 years of a great fast bowler, yes I use that word!!, lost. It was so good to see him back with a 153k ball.