*Official* New Zealand in Australia 2019/20

[Jezroy]

Yeah I guess as exciting as it is that Ferguson is playing, if he (or any other bowler for that matter) gets it wrong, it's just spanked by Davey Dumb Dumb in the Great Southern Land.

Latham has really improved (opening in tests) over the last couple of years, so will be good to see how he goes against a genuinely very good attack.

Raval - will he be okay? He does like to cut, so maybe the wickets in Aus will suit him? Hopefully he doesn't bottle it. If he averages 30 in this series I'll be happy. Unless he makes 180 in 1 innings. Then that'll be quite annoying.

Kane and Ross should be fine.

Nicholls hopefully on the upward trend.

BJ at #6 I think has stepped up even more with that greater responsibility. Love that little ****.

Santner - still very unconvinced. Feel so much like "Vettori was a handy player for us, and he's similar" is around this guy - ie. containing spinner and handy lower order bat. I personally think it's a good thing if he doesn't bowl much, then that means we don't need him.

CDG - I think his bowling will be solid throughout the series (and maybe even better under lights in Perth). Worry about his batting vs genuine pace, but he won't hold back if they go short to him, and if the wickets are pacy that ball could fly.

Wagner - can't wait to see what he does in the cauldron of Australia. Just a champion.

Southee - his figures have been pretty good in recent times, but I still don't feel like he's going to up to much this series. He'll still average around 50 with the ball in Aussie.

Boult - if he's not ready, don't play him. Still got 4 big tests to play after this one.

Henry - lovely handling of the Powerade hopefully

 

[Immenso]

Even if NZ are to do well in the series, we will be absolutely crushed in the first test. That's just the way it is for most visitors in modern cricket. Dont doubt it, we'll get annihilated over thext 3 days.

Still reasons to look forward to boxing day and new year tests. 2 weeks and a FC game to get it sorted.

 

[Athlai]

No way NZ can be destroyed in the first 3 days when Henry is going to keep the boys so well hydrated.

 

[Howsie]

One thing I will say is thank god Nine lost the cricket over there. Watching this Hobart replay from 2011 the commentating is ****ing horrendous.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

It’s funny to think back to this series in 2015, the NZ supporters (although I wasn’t on this forum at the time) were super confident and predicting a total destruction of Australia.

Now I think we have a far superior team and everyone seems very down in the dumps about our changes.

I’m going to predict our temperament, tactics, grit, experience and playing personnel are all much better, better than Australia’s as well, and we will take out a 1-0 or 2-0 series victory. Bring it on!!!

 

[Athlai]

One thing I will say is thank god Nine lost the cricket over there. Watching this Hobart replay from 2011 the commentating is ****ing horrendous.

Holy ****, didn't even consider this. Might be the best tour ever.

 

[Starfighter]

The main thing Southee's gotta do this time is not waste the new ball by bowling far too wide.

 

[ataraxia]

No way NZ can be destroyed in the first 3 days when Henry is going to keep the boys so well hydrated.

The selectors have determined Ferguson is the better 12th man, as a matter of fact.

 

[Bahnz]

It’s funny to think back to this series in 2015, the NZ supporters (although I wasn’t on this forum at the time) were super confident and predicting a total destruction of Australia.

Nah, not really - looking back at the thread most of the predictions for the tour were 2-0 or 2-1 to Australia. We were a lot more brash and confident about the return series in NZ though.

 

[Burgey]

One thing I will say is thank god Nine lost the cricket over there. Watching this Hobart replay from 2011 the commentating is ****ing horrendous.

Consider it payback for us having to listen to Ian Smith and/ or Jeremy Coney while watching NZ series.

Though tbf i thought he was excellent at the end of the WC final this year

 

[NZTailender]

Consider it payback for us having to listen to Ian Smith and/ or Jeremy Coney while watching NZ series.

Though tbf i thought he was excellent at the end of the WC final this year

Coney is generally pretty good

 

[Athlai]

Ian Smith is a great commentator when it's a good contest. Very poor when it's one-sided though, but I can't be too mad about it because the bloke just can't help but get emotionally invested in the game. I'll take a whinging Smithy sooking for 2 days over utterly benign commentary from "too afraid to say anything interesting" ex-cricketer of the month 38

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, but you can't rationally excuse him being too invested in the game, then turn around and pillory commentators from elsewhere for cheer leading. You really aren't too mad about it because he follows your outfit. Which is fair enough, but just own it.

Edit: but certainly better than Healy, as an example. Or Warne when not talking spin bowling. Though nails down a blackboard is better than Healy.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Nah, not really - looking back at the thread most of the predictions for the tour were 2-0 or 2-1 to Australia. We were a lot more brash and confident about the return series in NZ though.

Must have just been outside this forum, then.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah, but you can't rationally excuse him being too invested in the game, then turn around and pillory commentators from elsewhere for cheer leading. You really aren't too mad about it because he follows your outfit. Which is fair enough, but just own it.

Didn't bring up cheer leading once ITBT

 

[Spark]

I certainly remember a lot of brashness and in-hindsight-hubris before 2015 but I think that was mostly restricted to a handful of posters. kiwiviktor being the worst offender in that regard.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Yeah, but you can't rationally excuse him being too invested in the game, then turn around and pillory commentators from elsewhere for cheer leading. You really aren't too mad about it because he follows your outfit. Which is fair enough, but just own it.

Edit: but certainly better than Healy, as an example. Or Warne when not talking spin bowling. Though nails down a blackboard is better than Healy.

Geez you’d have to have lost your marbles to prefer Healy/Warne/Healy/Nicholas to Smith, no matter what side you’re supporting.

 

[Athlai]

I'm the most optimistic Kiwi poster and I don't think even I was saying we'd win. I thought we had a chance going in of winning and was excited at the theoretical prospect of NZ #1 in Test Rankings but I don't recall anyone being particularly brash about our chances

 

[Athlai]

Geez you’d have to have lost your marbles to prefer Healy/Warne/Healy/Nicholas to Smith, no matter what side you’re supporting.

It isn't that Healy/Warne/Nicholas are partisan that makes them grating, sure its part of it, but even great commentators can wear their flag. You see the real sin these blokes commit is that they're idiots as well as being ****wits. They don't try to know whats going on in the current national set up of their own team, let alone the opposition team. Half the time they talk about their own career because one time 5 or 15 years ago someone, somewhere was amused by an anecdote. We get it, you're old ****s that get paid to talk ****. At least pretend to be a ****ing professional. They're the utter pits. Well besides Nicholas, his sin is that he is entirely innocuous and has lost any semblance of having had a personality outside of "English voice that supports Australia in games they play".

 

[Spark]

I'm the most optimistic Kiwi poster and I don't think even I was saying we'd win. I thought we had a chance going in of winning and was excited at the theoretical prospect of NZ #1 in Test Rankings but I don't recall anyone being particularly brash about our chances

Haha you most definitely were not the optimistic Kiwi poster at that time IMO.