*Official* New Zealand in Australia 2022

[Moss]

Aus vs nz is always an interesting affair in cricket, albeit on neutral and aus venues its more predictable. The aussies tend to make a mansion inside the BC's minds and usually take the W. The nitty gritty cowardly batting crap doesn't work and the 130km swing bowling isn't much of a help. They are our ultimate kryptonite. But after a loss to zim for the aussies, I am hoping for a different result this time, with the BC's hitting their stride and taking the series 2-1.

NZ have tended to do better when they haven’t stacked the side with usual suspects. It’s a long time gone now, but can recall that 2009 CH series in Aus when the likes of Guptill, Elliott, Broom, Southee, O’Brien etc were just starting out in international cricket and somehow drew 2-2 against Ponting and co.

Wish Phillips was trusted more too. As things stand in the middle order, it looks like Macewell is a lock and Phillips/Neeshsam are vying for one spot.

 

[ashley bach]

Australia win toss and bowl, NZ runs quote is 270-280....must be a hell of a good batting track.

 

[ataraxia]

tbh I don't actually mind a really conservative side for the first game; it's our first ODI people might actually care about since pre-covid. But Macewell ahead of Phillips is still a little weird.

A full strength JAMODI (minus Cummins; where's he?) is pretty nice - even in early September. Good time for the game too, very much looking forward to this.

 

[straw man]

Although I'm unhappy to see Allen left out, I do like pushing Conway up to open.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Why no Allen? I hope he plays in the other 2 matches.

 

[Moss]

Australia win toss and bowl, NZ runs quote is 270-280....must be a hell of a good batting track.

Report said it’s been under the covers a bit, may have influenced Finch to bowl first.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

tbh I don't actually mind a really conservative side for the first game; it's our first ODI people might actually care about since pre-covid. But Macewell ahead of Phillips is still a little weird.

They see Macewell as a 5th bowler, whereas they see Phillips good for 3-4 overs max.

 

[Howsie]

Although I'm unhappy to see Allen left out, I do like pushing Conway up to open.

It’s a pretty weak middle order though. Taylor is one of the best to ever do it but Conway could get close to replacing him IMO. Latham, Mitchell and Bracewell doesn’t look flash whatsoever

 

[straw man]

Australia's XI also (to my eyes) looks very close to full strength. Surprising to see both sides playing their top teams in a random series in September nowhere near the next ODI world cup.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Cricinfo is listing Bracewell at 6 and Neesham at 7. Surely it will be the other way around.

 

[TheBrand]

Pretty rough on Finn Allen, and Michael Bracewell at 6 is an absolute joke. Especially ahead of Phillips. Bracewell should be backup for Santner at best.

With the 2023 World Cup around the corner, Conway at 4 and Latham at 5 is much more safe to me.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

It’s a pretty weak middle order though. Taylor is one of the best to ever do it but Conway could get close to replacing him IMO. Latham, Mitchell and Bracewell doesn’t look flash whatsoever

Latham is good vs spin (Zampa and Maxwell) and Mitchell has been our best player all formats this year (and averages over 100 in ODIs).

 

[Moss]

Honestly if Young hadn’t tailed off in the England/Ireland games he would’ve been the ideal no.3/4 for an Australia series.

Latham hasn’t done anything of late to warrant batting at 4, but a chance to put that right I suppose against a bowling attack sans Cummins.

 

[ashley bach]

It’s a pretty weak middle order though. Taylor is one of the best to ever do it but Conway could get close to replacing him IMO. Latham, Mitchell and Bracewell doesn’t look flash whatsoever

What does Mitchell have to do to look flash? Looks pretty good to me what he's done so far

 

[Fuller Pilch]

With the 2023 World Cup around the corner, Conway at 4 and Latham at 5 is much more safe to me.

But then who bats 6 and 7? Mitchell should be a certainty at 6, leaving Neesham, Bracewell, Phillips, and perhaps Chapman as possibilities.

 

[straw man]

It’s a pretty weak middle order though. Taylor is one of the best to ever do it but Conway could get close to replacing him IMO. Latham, Mitchell and Bracewell doesn’t look flash whatsoever

That 4/5/6 does lack a touch of class that Conway brings. Latham is deceptively good in ODIs (esp subcontinent obviously) though his claims to having batting chops when needed, on account of being a test opener, are fading. Mitchell has overachieved compared to the expectations of many, Bracewell meh right now.

But it does add class to the opener spot and allows Conway to put his stamp on the game. If Guptill and Allen tread water for the next 12 months until the ODI WC, I think their combination would be too weak at the top. Guptill late-career and not having performed in finals or semi-finals, Allen still raw. That could get better but it might not - it would be nice to only need the one of those that's in better form late next year.

 

[TheBrand]

But then who bats 6 and 7? Mitchell should be a certainty at 6, leaving Neesham, Bracewell, Phillips, and perhaps Chapman as possibilities.

Yep Neesham at 7 imo.

 

[Flem274*]

this is going to be a bloodbath

 

[Nintendo]

I know green bowled well vs Zimbabwe but I'm still not a fan of him as a specialist bowler. Don't know why we've reverted back to marnus and kept Stoinos in either. Marnus was **** in the SC and we have a WC there in a year, Inglis really should be getting Gametime over him or Stoinos, who averages 19 in ODIs since the start of the 2019 WC.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Latham hasn’t done anything of late to warrant batting at 4, but a chance to put that right I suppose against a bowling attack sans Cummins.

MOTM at 4 in run chase in 3rd odi in WI.
Big 100 to save us from embarrasment vs the Netherlands.