NZ v Australia Test #2
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<p>Well, that's that. #1 Test ranking again, and finally some consistent form across the team this summer. Warming up on the WIndies' reserve side definitely helped, but it was a thoroughly disciplined performance in that first session in Welly to put the brakes on any BC momentum.</p>
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<p>Now we need to start winning overseas more.</p> -
<p>Ya make me wanna cryyyyyyyyy</p>
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<p>"I will try to sum up 14 years in two minutes," says <b>Brendon McCullum</b>. "And at the same time not take gloss of the performance of Australia. You guys played excellent cricket. It was played in good spirit too. You have a good leader in Steven Smith.</p>
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<p>"Like to thank the fans who have supported us over the year. We try to represent our country with passion and try to do so with smiles on our face. The way you have turned up over the last 12 months, it has been special</p>
<p>"To NZC. To everyone who has supported this New Zealand team over the years.</p>
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<p>"To my team. We have had some fun over the last few years. We have achieved some pretty cool things. Hey we have lost a few games, but we have got our souls back. I will remember for the rest of my life some of the time I have spent playing for New Zealand. Thanks for buying in, and accepting we have to play the game differently.</p>
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<p>"Lastly, to my family. It is a tough place as a cricketer, spending the time away that you do, it is not possible without a supporting family. I said I will pay you back, and I do mean that. I came in as a youngster, and leave as a 34-year-old with three beautiful kids and an amazing wife. I said I will pay you back, and I love you.</p>
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<p>"Thank you again. You can believe in this team. They are a great bunch of men. And good luck Australia."</p>
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<p>"Lastly, to my family. It is a tough place as a cricketer, spending the time away that you do, it is not possible without a supporting family. <strong>I said I will pay you back, and I do mean that.</strong></p>
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<p>I assume he means cashing all of those T20 cheques? :)</p>
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<p>Anyway, well done BMac for a career that provided plenty of highlights, if not results when it really mattered. Personally, it's hard to get too emotional about this because he isn't retiring, just not playing for NZ again.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="560484" data-time="1456274825">
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<p>Well, that's that. #1 Test ranking again, and finally some consistent form across the team this summer. Warming up on the WIndies' reserve side definitely helped, but it was a thoroughly disciplined performance in that first session in Welly to put the brakes on any BC momentum.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now we need to start winning overseas more.</p>
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<p>Not sure why you're bothering going on about it. No one on here really cares about cricket. Anything that might have been mistaken for enthusiasm was actually boredom while waiting for Super Rugby to start again.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="560505" data-time="1456277935">
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<p>And so, the sun came up on rugby season, and the vampire that is New Zealand cricket fandom returned to its torpor.</p>
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<p>Must say though: been a helluva 12-13 months for NZ Cricket in general.</p>
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<p>I thought a 1-0 victory to the BCs was not out of reach at the start of the series. Didn't dare think 2-0 was possible. Good to nail the ODI series but feel a bit meh about the test series. Can't help but be a bit gutted we didn't do a hell of a lot better.</p> -
Little Stevie has been sent to the naughty chair after all...<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://nzh.tw/11594927">http://nzh.tw/11594927</a>
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<p>And the Veitch crowd get some more material for the "Aussies are fluffybunnys" **** bank.</p>
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<p>Smith admitted he acted poorly, and will be disciplined appropriately... Unless you're a Kiwi, in which case nothing short of forfeiting the series is appropriate :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="560522" data-time="1456280983">
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<p>And the Veitch crowd get some more material for the "Aussies are fluffybunnys" **** bank.</p>
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<p>Smith admitted he acted poorly, and will be disciplined appropriately... Unless you're a Kiwi, in which case nothing short of <strong>forfeiting the series is appropriate</strong> :)</p>
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<p>Well, at least split it 1-1 ?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="560522" data-time="1456280983">
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<p>Smith admitted he acted poorly, and will be disciplined appropriately... Unless you're a Kiwi, in which case nothing short of <strong>forfeiting the series </strong>is appropriate :)</p>
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<p>What series? Can't recall any series....</p> -
<p>Well played Australia. It's all about bat versus ball and the Yellow team were superior in both ergo, a better team, and deserving victors.</p>
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<p>Got to see how a Wallaby supporter feels, with due optimism being replaced by harsh reality - a yucky feeling ;)</p>
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<p>Nah, a bit proud of how the BC boys kept scrapping but in sports class and skill beats endeavour most times</p>
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<p>Good to have proper cricket on the agenda for a while though.</p> -
<p>Genuinely unsurprising result. New Zealand's cricket strength is their one day side.</p>
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<p>I'll just leave this here....</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11584294'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11584294</a></p>
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<p>:whistle:</p> -
<p>well, so long cricket season. It was fun. We sort of found our place in the world. </p>
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<p>As a Black Cap fan, while it was disappointing to be put in our place, this team is still pretty awesome (for us i mean). Plenty of our teams over the last 20 years would have folded in this test, and lost it by an innings. </p>
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<p>It's a great time to be a cricket fan from NZ. </p>
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<p>Well done Australia, way too good all summer (in the whites anyway). It will be interesting to see how you go in India and England, but in familiar conditions this is a pretty formidable unit. A deserved win for a team playing good cricket in all facets. </p> -
<p>Without trying to sound like a stuck record , </p>
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<p>We needed to win the toss and bowl first in both tests to be any chance , </p>
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<p>Thats the way it goes , Aussies deserved to win , simply because they are better </p>
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<p>Ive had enough now, Bring on the rugby </p> -
<p>These 2 reports after the first day of this test capture the supreme madness of a McCullum innings</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/77105681/greg-baum-brendon-mccullums-ton-one-for-the-ages-one-for-the-road'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/77105681/greg-baum-brendon-mccullums-ton-one-for-the-ages-one-for-the-road</a></p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-australia-2015-16/content/story/974601.html'>http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-australia-2015-16/content/story/974601.html</a></p>
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<p>After the madcap first day, the defeat was rather predictable and depressing. The difference in the quality of the pace bowling was large - in Australia you could say that the Mitchells had the extra pace to use the harder wickets but here the NZ bowlers were meant to compete. But while the Aussie quicks were probing and accurate, seaming the new ball and reverse swinging the old one, a wicket always looked imminent; the NZ quicks were respectable at best, the new ball did nothing and it was a major surprise when a wicket fell.</p>
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<p>Finally there are similarities in the style of McCullum to the legendary Jessop <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketer/content/story/134791.html'>http://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketer/content/story/134791.html</a></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">He went down the wicket even to bowlers of extreme pace with the intention of making them drop the ball short, and when they did so, he would cut or pull the ball savagely. No hitter has ever cut so well, and his footwork enabled him to cut balls even on his leg stump, or pull them to leg from outside his off stump. He had an enormous variety of strokes which meant that he recognised no such thing as a good-length ball, though he always said that he liked to bat against good bowlers; hence his remarkable success against the Yorkshire bowling, the greatest of which was the scoring of 104 and 139 at Bradford in 1900, where he struck Rhodes eight times right out of the ground for six, and also made another eight hits over the ropes which were worth only four.</blockquote>
