Archive for the 'New Zealand' Category

Crowe calls for New Zealand clean-out

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, has called for a complete overhaul of the way New Zealand are managed after an innings loss in Adelaide that he described as “our worst moment in Test cricket”. The defeat at the hands of Australia meant New Zealand fell below West Indies on the ICC Test rankings […]

Ponting: We have to improve

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Ricky Ponting has warned his team will need to improve if they are to match South Africa in the upcoming three-Test series.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has warned his team will need to improve if they are to match South Africa in the upcoming three-Test series.
Brett Lee claimed five wickets as Australia dismantled New Zealand’s batting […]

Lee regains his spark

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Australia came home from India with more unanswered questions than when George Bush plays Trivial Pursuit but at least Brett Lee has responded in the affirmative to one of the biggest queries. An in-form Lee is essential for Australia to succeed in their contests against South Africa and England in the next nine months […]

Patel gains valuable experience

Monday, December 1st, 2008

New Zealand spinner Jeetan Patel says a session with former Australia spinner Ashley Mallett was invaluable.
Mallett, 68, played 38 Tests for Australia and offered to work with the BlackCaps number two spinner after Patel was named 12th man on the first morning of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Patel, who has played five Tests […]

‘Haddin deserves the rewards’ - Clarke

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Michael Clarke is the youngest member of Australia’s batting line-up but maturity is not an issue for the man most likely to be the team’s next captain. Clarke’s 110 in Adelaide was his fourth Test century this year and his calm and measured manner was a contrast to the aggressive approach taken by Brad Haddin […]

What’s the story, grumpy Vettori?

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

A day to forget for Symonds …
Things have a habit of going wrong when you’re struggling, as Matthew Hayden discovered when he was run out on the second day. On the third morning fortune also frowned upon his good mate Andrew Symonds, who is trying to re-establish his Test career after being stood down from […]

Hussey plays the percentages, and the field

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Michael Hussey is probably the world’s most organised cricketer and in an Australia team so unsettled that they haven’t picked the same XI in consecutive Tests for 11 matches, his reliability is invaluable. Hussey has become so good at stabilising potentially worrying situations that he could get a job straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Australia’s […]

Lee puts Aussies on top

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Brett Lee ripped through New Zealand to dismiss the BlackCaps for 270 on the second morning of the second Test.
After reaching 262 for six at stumps on day one, the Blackcaps survived just over eight overs as Lee took three for six in a 27-ball spell to finish with first innings figures of four for […]

Australia on top after first day

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Aaron Redmond hit 83 for New Zealand on day one of the second Test in Adelaide as the Black Caps closed on 262-6.
Spinner Nathan Hauritz, who replaced the injured Jason Krejza, took 2-62, including the key wicket of Redmond, caught by Andrew Symonds in the deep.
Ross Taylor (44) and Peter Fulton (29) added 64 as […]

Kiwi batsmen dig deep in final session

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Stubborn resistance from the New Zealand batsmen failed to prevent Australia from claiming the upper hand on day one of the second Test in Adelaide.
The Black Caps closed on 262 for six with an unbeaten final-session partnership worth 34 between Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori giving the tourists hope heading into the weekend. […]

The Adelaide mantra: win toss and bat first

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

The batsmen let New Zealand down in the first Test in Brisbane, but a better performance would be expected at the Adelaide Oval, an Australian ground where overseas batsmen have traditionally done well in recent years. Since 2000, visiting batsmen have averaged over 30 in Adelaide, and the only venue where they have averaged higher […]

Vettori looking forward to Moles era

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

New Zealand’s inexperienced batting line-up are looking forward to the arrival of new coach Andy Moles.
Moles will take over from incumbent John Bracewell following the conclusion of the second Test against Australia, which starts on Friday, and will have just a few days to stamp his mark on the group before the series against the […]