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alright chaps, 150 odd for 3, is that good bad or indfferent for australia?

Personally i see the 3 wixkets as a little warning to australia, and to ponting haters in particular. the three wickets, Warner, Hughes and Khawaja (or however you spell it) suggested to me that these players are not ready to compete with the best at test level, or at least not yet.

Khawaja i think is the closest to being ready. he seems to make some decent starts, and then get out. he did it twice last year against england, and he did it again here. if he can just work on his concentration so he does not lose focus, he will a very decent test batsman in the not too distant future.

now onto hughes. hmm, well i've said this before and i'll say it again, i do not see him as a test opener. he has a very flawed technique which might serve him well in the sheffield shield, but at test level against the strong bowling of tests level teams, i dare say even lowly zimbabwe, he will struggle. for his wicket today, he got all squared up, it was incredibly ugly. he needs to do a lot of work, untill them i see him as a number 6, not a number 1 or 2.

I think warner just got unlucky, it was a good ball and he just couldn't get his gloves out of the way, we shall have to see how he does in the second innings. His first class average is 60, but that may not translate into great test figures, as hughes' relative first class and test averages show (50odd and 30odd respectively).

anyway, all set up for an interesting day 3.

I agree on Hughes,, at test level. You may get away with it on the odd day. But with them kinds of flaws. International bowlers will work on them all the time.And then it becomes a matter of time before your on your way home..

I think finally the signs are starting to look good for Australia. Ponting seems to be getting better and we have a pretty formidable battery of fast bowlers to choose from? The spinner still remains a worry but the batting line up is looking up if Marsh, Khawaja and Warner can stay fit.

Looking forward I hope the Australia team will look like this for at least a couple of years before Ponting, Hussey and Harris have to retire:

Warner
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Marsh
Haddin
Harris
Siddle
Cummins
Spinner

With Hughes and Khawaja coming in for Ponting and Hussey. Wade coming in for Haddin. Back up pace bowlers of Copeland, Starc, Pattinson and Johnson.

As for this test I imagine Australia will have no problems securing victory, despite the bowling line up being incredibly inexperienced.

Aus so far look like they will overtake NZ with a few wickets to spare and i imagine they will be able to post a lead of 50-100 or maybe even more.

they only way i can see NZ getting aresult is if the pitch starts to really take spin on day 5 and australia collapse, but i highly doubt that this will happen.

as for australia's prospects going forward, i agree that things are looking up. Warner is still unproven, but there is every chance that he will make a good opener, he certainly seems to have good technique and power, from what i have seen of him at T20 level. as for the bowlers, i thought that lyon looked really good yesterday, excellent flight, consistancy, accuracy, he could have got a couple more than he did had certain catches gone to hand. the quicks look like they have potential, but their inexperiance showed yesterday, with dependable siddle having a good day.

I completely forgot Bollinger, would like to see him play for the test team again so I would put him in for Siddle or Cummins.

Clarke is looking good to make a century and I think that Australia will mostly likely post of a lead of at least 100 runs and will most likely win this test by upwards of 5 wickets.

i wouldn't put bollinger in for siddle. I think siddle is key because he is consistant and very economical. a prolific strike bowler he may not be (though he has his moments!), but a key player he is none the less.

However, i still think bollinger has a part to play in the future of australian test cricket, but i think he'll have to fight for his place against the likes of cummins, starc and the rest of them. it is quite a nice problem to have; a choive of a lot of good young fast bowlers.

Clarke has his century, well played, this is a key patnership for australia (clarke and haddin); into the tail after this.

Time to give MaCullum the gloves back. hes not an opening batsman.

I'd say Australia's 3 best pacemen are Harris, Bollinger and Siddle in that order. I really rate Hilfenhaus but he will never play for Australia again and I also think that Bollinger will find it hard to get back in to the team if Cummins keeps his performance at the level he showed in South Africa. I really hope I will never see Johnson in an Australia shirt ever again.

i don't think your wish for the exclusion of johnson will come true duncan. as much as he is irratic and unreliable, he does take wickets. i expect australia's first choice bowling lineup to be Johnson, Harris, Siddle and Lyon.

in response to know it all, who do you think should replace mcculum at the top of the order if he is not suitable?

Iv'e no idea of who is in contention for Newzealand Jezzer.
Am all for attacking shot play, but as an opener if you get out most times playing like that.. Its time to give someone else a chance..

my point was that New Zealand aren't exactly spoilt for choicew when it comes to quality cricketers but i take your point that he might be better useed down the order. MacIntosh is a possibility for NZ as an opener, but his tests stats to date are poor.

it is somewhat a conundrum.

Martin Crowe? tis a conudrum, Going back to this game., If Newzealand can bat all day.. And get anything like a lead of an 180/200 they maybe in with a chance..

yeah, time my become a factor if New Zealand are disciplined. i think we maybe able to draw comparisons of the first test of the ashes at the gabba last year. a less than impressive first innings total, 400 odd in the second and then on a flat pitch a massive innings to draw the match.

are NZ up to it though?

Am afraid Newzealand wont be upto it.. Vetori is one of their batsmen if not the best and he bats at 7.. I cant see them batting the 4th day out. But they may surpise.Who knows..

81/6

hmm i can't see NZ getting anything out of this

Quite right they didnt.. Bit of a tame effort if truth be told..

yes, an anticlimactic end to the test