*Official* Match 8 - Australia v New Zealand

[James]

Australia v New Zealand
Fri Feb 25
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur
04:00 GMT | 09:30 local | 15:00 EST | 14:30 CST | 12:00 WST

Australia Squad

Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), John Hastings, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White

New Zealand Squad

Daniel Vettori (captain), Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum (wicketkeeper), Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock

 

[Spark]

Should be a cracker. Lots riding on this other than a WC group match.

 

[_Ed_]

Apparently the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is up for grabs in this game. Didn't realise that.
Cricket: Chappell-Hadlee on the line in NZ and Australia clash | BLACK CAPS News

 

[Burgey]

Tipping NZ here. With a large degree of confidence too.

 

[TumTum]

Aus comfortably imo.

 

[slugger]

australia's winning streak will end tomorrow...

some of the kiwi players have friends and family living christchurch, its going to be a big motivator.

 

[Prad100w]

NZ should do well. Chappell-Hadlee trophy on the line. Should be a snorter.

 

[Mike5181]

The team will be pretty fired up you would expect. Particularly the Christchurch players like Hamish Bennett. Should be an interesting match if both teams fire.

 

[pakcric]

Australia is looking great

 

[Flem274*]

Tipping Bennett to bowl the fastest and most aggressive spell of his career to date, but I also tip it will not be an economical one.

You heard it here first etc etc

 

[Edged&Taken]

Australia is looking great

... off the field at breakfast

 

[Ausage]

There's always a question mark for me as to whether tragedies like the quake serve to motivate or distract sporting teams. My guess is that it will be a bit of both in this case, so I'm tipping us to win pretty comfortably.

 

[morgieb]

Will be a good game. Would normally back us but NZ beat the crap out of Kenya (admittedly not a hard task), we looked sorta scratchy against Zimbabwe and the Christchurch earthquake will probably motivate them.

Still back us, but without a hell lotta confidence.

 

[Blaze 18]

Aus comfortably imo.

This.

 

[Edged&Taken]

NZ are without their physio and trainer. Both of them have apparently rushed back home ,as their families have been affected in Christchurch LINK

 

[AlanJLegend]

Gonna be an awesome game, so glad I'm not working tomorrow night!

No doubt NZ will be motivated to win following the Christchuch earthquake and even as a devoted supporter of Aus it would be nice to see them win and lift the nation's spirits somewhat.

But, I feel Australia are going to win, and probably pretty easily too.

 

[M0rphin3]

Close game and NZ to win.

 

[smash84]

NZ will play their trademark cricket, the one that they are well known for and......LOSE

 

[smash84]

NZ are without their physio and trainer. Both of them have apparently rushed back home ,as their families have been affected in Christchurch LINK

poor trainer and physio. I hope their families are alright......not that their presence would have made much difference to the NZ squad in any case ......Aus to win easily

 

[Prad100w]

Forget Australia, NZ gonna win this WC