Australia v New Zealand: First Test, Brisbane

by **Pal Joey** Wed 30 Nov 2011, 10:06 am

First topic message reminder :

December 1-5, 2011 at Woolloongabba Ground, Brisbane

Start time: 1000 (0000 GMT, 1100 EDT)

So it's all about to start here tomorrow morning with Australia still favourites; despite the fact that there will be at least 3 debutants and New Zealand believing they have a very good chance of winning in Australia for the first time in 26 years. Either way it should be an entertaining match given Australia's series levelling performance in Johannesburg and New Zealand's slightly more settled line-up since their recent tour to Zimbabwe.

Pitch & Conditions:
There's always plenty of seam and bounce at the Gabba, and captains can be tempted to send the opposition in. The forecast is for thunder and rain on the opening day, while showers could also fall on the final two days.

Australia:
1 David Warner, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk),
8 Peter Siddle, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Mitchell Starc

New Zealand:
1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor (capt), 5 Jesse Ryder, 6 Dean Brownlie, 7 Daniel Vettori,
8 Reece Young (wk), 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Chris Martin

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 1:44 am

Ryder needs some runs now.

He is in fine form.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 1:52 am

Lyon bowling very well.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 1:54 am

Taylor edges to the 3rd man boundary. v. loose

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 1:56 am

Pattinson gets Taylor to drag on just before lunch 93-4

by **Pal Joey** Thu 01 Dec 2011, 1:57 am

James Pattinson bowls Ross Taylor now for 14... just before lunch.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 1:58 am

Well,well,well all 3 debutantes get their 1st Test wkts clap

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:01 am

Lunch taken, Aussies in total control NZ 94-4.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:08 am

Right off for tea, even though it's lunch Very Happy

by **Pal Joey** Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:20 am

Just had my lunch here - a massive peppersteak pie. It must be early morning with you skye.. 02:15?

Some very sad news this morning with the loss of one of our Rugby League Legends - Arthur Beetson. A true Queenslander, great player and real character. Premier Bligh interrupted Parliament to break to news.

https://www.606v2.com/t19323-rip-artie

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:26 am

Not into the League rugby, but always sad news when a Sportsman that means a lot to people passes away.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:28 am

Yes 02.28 now, and having a beer and a mince pie cake

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:40 am

Oh no, it has got very gloomy, the umpires are looking at the light.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:41 am

Lights are on, and we get to start Very Happy

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:43 am

Lyon was looking very dangerous before lunch, hope he comes on straight away.

by **Pal Joey** Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:45 am

Starc strikes again... Ryder now gone for 6.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:46 am

woahhhh Ryder gone c Warner b Starc.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:47 am

Guess the selectors were right on this occasion Wink

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:48 am

Danger for NZ now, got to knuckle down.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:50 am

With these guy's and cummins, Mitch Johnson must be a worried man.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:52 am

Vettori needs another one of his major innings.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 2:59 am

The 100 comes up for NZ, 100-5 29th over.

by **Pal Joey** Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:00 am

Edge from Vettori dropped by Clarke! That was a sitter.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:01 am

Vettori edges to Clarke to the slips, he drops a dolly.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:02 am

Brownlie smacks a four. But straight through the hands of Warner. Another dropped catch.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:10 am

"Vettori as NZ's best batsman comes in at 7 because the job of the NZ top 6 is to see the shine off the new ball before swiftly departing. It's all going to plan today. Clarke is playing right into NZ's hands," says John (Wright?)

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:12 am

Starc to Brownlie, FOUR, Brownlie inside edges past the stumps.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:25 am

Replays of McGrath hitting Vettori for six in 2004 being shown on air. The reaction from Gilly, Ponting and Martyn is priceless. And then the reaction of McGrath himself. Spendid!

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:27 am

Vettori in the last 3 years averages more than forty.

Stiil hope for NZ then Very Happy

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:31 am

Four, Vettori plays a delectable slap shovel over the gully area.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:48 am

40th over, NZ 138-5, a small recovery in progress.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:52 am

Hussey into the attack, not sure about that?

Got Sanga out recently, mind you.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:57 am

50 partnership comes up, keep it going.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 3:59 am

Clarke using his 1st review of the day, wasted.

Ump spot on.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:01 am

Missing leg by a mile

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:03 am

150 up for NZ, plenty more needed.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:09 am

Four, on the pads, Brownlie chirps inside the line and flicks it fine for a boundary.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:10 am

Vettori pulls for four.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:11 am

Next ball, Vettori, four, edged but safe

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:22 am

Haddin's keeping looking better today.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:25 am

Brownlie playing a proper Test innings for a team in trouble.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:26 am

A few blue holes appearing in the gloomy clouds now Very Happy

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:27 am

10 mins until tea, NZ 168-5 and looking comfortable.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:29 am

Brownlie square cuts for a classy four.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:31 am

50th over, 173-5

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:34 am

Nooooooo, off for bad light eight mins before tea Crying or Very sad

by **Pal Joey** Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:44 am

They're firing up the lights now so hopefully there will be some more play.

That proved to be a costly drop from Clarke... would have been 96/6 but instead these two have fought back well.

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 4:58 am

Rain now

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 5:04 am

Linebreaker, a replay of the Ashes is on, just for you Very Happy

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 5:11 am

These bad light delays are showing cricket in a poor light Very Happy

Sorry

by skyeman Thu 01 Dec 2011, 5:11 am

Still raining Sad

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