Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread. (Part 2)

Very harsh on Guptill. Thought he really fought yesterday.

And why two keepers? Is Ronchi really going to offer you anything more than Guptill.

Also, I'm fairly sure that Henry is injured.

Point taken. I will persist with Guptill for the next 2 tests. Hopefully they can put on 100+ , then the stroke-makers can cash in...have a good feeling about the WACA Test....

Richardson catching Warne on 99 (off an uncalled no ball) and a fat Aussie guy wearing a Warne T Shirt losing his shark in the croud are my best memories of that match

A century and a half century on debut for Vincent too. Must seem like a long time ago for him!

Followed it up with a duck in his next inning making him and Scott Styris the only players in test cricket at the time (maybe still?) to have their first three innings as hundy/fifty/duck.

#factsarefun

This is touring Australia. Even with the review system, they still get the rub of the green and then some. And then- see you in 8 more years, thanks for coming.

Though I think Anderson is the better of the two, in both departments.

Even if it did it doesn't help the players to dwell on it and it makes it feel as if the ability to control the game is taken out of their hands.

After scoring a the hundred and the fifty combo in his first test, I wonder how much Vincent getting a duck in his next innings was paying at the time?

I remember too. Jason Gillespie given not out by this guy. With the second worst umpire sitting at the other end. Still p*sses me off thinking about it.

Great watching the four centuries in the first innings though. Here it is in all it's statistical glory.

This could be a long couple of days...

Hundy opening partnership in five consecutive innings by Australia. Warner is a complete cock but that's quite impressive. 

Haha and done! Yessssss.

Very little umpiring luck this series so far!  Also, injudicious use of referrals hasn't helped.

This could be another hammering.

What has happened to our bowling attack? They certainly haven't provided us with anything in terms of pitches. We better repay the favour when they come to NZ!

How painful is it making Khawaja look like a world beater!

Good fight back 2 for 50 today, hopefully can restrict them to under 550. Bat for 2 days ....

Guptill gone cheaply...one more innings to save his career...

Latham in his"danger" area 25-50...

Good  fight-back from NZ ! Kane is just outstanding.....

From Cricinfo's Day 2 report: 

Williamson scored heavily through cover and struck 10 fours, and Australia continued to have trouble finding his weakness. Probably because he doesn't seem to have one.

The Aussies have really taken the piss with these pitches though - there's just nothing in them for the bowlers. Fair enough to make conditions that suit the home side but it doesn't help the match as a spectacle. More green seamers please!

Bueno Kano, you are a star.

Kane . Great hundred....bat all day lad!!!

I believe KW is the first NZer to score two centuries in a series in Australia....

BMac shows why his stats are much worse than Williamson and Taylor. Enough with the going hard at every ball

Yup. Why does he not consider trying to build on their work rather than get out, be behind by 150 odd, they smash a big score tomorrow and bowl us out on day 5?

So much to be said for 'this is the way I play' but when you can't win the test, then how about playing not to lose.

Why can't we win the test?

Ok. Sure. We can win it....

Wonder what the TAB are paying.

Kane will be "gutted"...had 200 in his sights , hopefully Ross can get 200 ...

Yeah I am disappointed for him. He is class and doing it against a class bowling attack. This is a good knock for Rosco. He generally only needs 1 hitout to be back in form so this should be the start of a nice summer for him.

Hopefully can "declare" tomorrow...with a lead of 100+..Khawaja injured, Burns sore head, Marsh sore finger...we have a decent winning chance...

Just when you've watched Taylor and Williamson guiding and timing boundaries all over the ground, to watching McCullum wack the ball into the ground and give up 2-3 chances...now giving Aussie a sniff...Taylor just taken 14 off the last over...why not just support him?

It's just a sneaking possibility...

Congrats Ross, great 200, first against Australia by a NZer...

Silly from Bracewell. He hasn't been troubled at all, then has a huge hoick it just misses the edge. So he does it again later in the over and gets out...should have just nurdled it around for the end of day...

disappointing...74 for parity...

Yeah I was a little surprised he came out ahead of Craig anyway. Craig seems a lot better organised at the crease and doesn't chase as much crap.

Bat as long as possible tomorrow me thinks then see how we go in the day/night lottery in Adelaide. That might suit our bowlers a bit more than the first two pitches.

Great days play. Take a bow Rosco, batting through a whole day takes quite a level of concentration. Awesome.

possible job interview for the side all rounder perhaps?

I'd love us to win this. Man, McCullum somes takes a game by the scruff of the neck, like our semi-final against South Africa and sometimes simply misreads completely what is needed in the situation, like the final against Aussie. 

Also, thoughts on McCullum opening and Guptill at 6 or as a floater in the last innings? If he could bring any of his power hitting to the test arena man...imagine a test where Guppy, Latham, Williamson, Taylor and McCullum all fired and then Watling batted with the tail...that'd be ok!!

What a great effort so far.

First Innings lead to NZ..small moral victory....

Unreal knock from Taylor. Highest ever score by an opposition batsman in Oz.