Aus v NZ, 3rd Test, Adelaide, Nov 27 - 1 Dec (D/N)

[Toby F]

All in all a good result for cricket. Only saw the NZ innings, I ran out of steam at 4:15 am. No terrors due to the ball or pitch. Good steady bowling by Aus (good to see Siddle back, Hazelwood just isn't consistent enough to keep an end tight at the moment), some absolute gems of balls and some poor shot selection by some NZ. Nice to not end a first day on 5 gazillion for 2.

Not sure if the reported swing was due to the lights (atmosphere I suppose), but Siddle and Hazelwood are not big swingers anyway and Starc had obvious issues from ball one.

The pink ball is certainly highly visible on the TV during the day/early evening. Actually lasted NZ innings (65 overs) without being replaced which is better than the red Kookaburra has done for the last year or so. Kookaburra need to get their act together or everyone will be using Dukes.

Looking forward to day two (though probably only the first session this time).

[bigfluffylemon]

Tour matches are embarrassing now. Each touring team to Oz should play a 4 day game at a Test venue against Australia A, featuring players who are pressing for national selection rather than state selection.

I would go even further and say this should be the model for final warm-up games on all test tours.

Agree. It's no wonder that so many sides struggle overseas. By the time they've got used to the conditions, the series is already lost.

Shaun Marsh will probably do well in this test. Everything's set up for him - Australian wickets in general have been batting paradises the last couple of years, Adelaide is the flattest of them all, the Kiwi attack is (Southee aside) looking half-baked, and he'll be coming in at 5, when 1) the threat of the new ball will be long gone and 2) given the strength of the top 4 in Australian conditions, there are likely to be bags of runs on the board, so he'll be under no pressure.

This will then keep him in the side until the next tour, when he'll predictably fail again.

Well, I was completely wrong. Instead, Sean Marsh comes in with Australia under a bit of pressure after early wickets, on a trickier pitch, and predictably fails again. Either his brother has to come good, or the captain will have to bail his side out...

[greyblazer]

For some overs, the pink ball consistently swung. When it swings, Southee or Boult are as good as anyone going around.

[GarlicJam]

How about a tucker break, mid session?

I've been on to James Sutherland, and he agrees with us - from now on, the 20 minute break will be known as Smoko and the 40 minute break Tucker.

[GarlicJam]

Aus falling apart. bit of a worry.

[from_the_stands]

Surely it's time the selectors gave James Faulkner another run, at the expense of Mitch2.1, with Mitch 1.1 out for the summer, Faulkner will be the only lefty. This will leave us Mitchless, but we'll adjust... and our next opponent is the West Indies, so it's not like we're at a crisis just yet.

[from_the_stands]

Gee, I reckon he got an edge on that.

[yuppie]

Gee, I reckon he got an edge on that.

Seems so, strange decision.

Snicko showed nothing, was it turned on?

[The Professor]

Great test so far. Stark contrast to the dominance in the other tests. Fitting way to start D/N tests.

[yuppie]

Have NZ has favorites here.


Australia don't have their best bowler, and will have to bat last.

[backfootpunch]

Seems a bit odd watching that short highlight package that mccullum bowled the spinner to Starc

Surely that is exactly what Starc would have wanted

[Arthur Crabtree]

118-8. Good recovery for the Aussies. But this couldn't be tighter.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Although the Aussie commentators think this is in the bag.

The whites look good under lights.

Good crowd again.

[Aidan11]

I've just realised Siddle is growing a 'tache.


I wondered who would take over from MitchJ. He seems the obvious choice.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Apparently Lyon survived a howler from the tv umpire while on zero.