NZ vs Australia, Test series, 2010

[Bradman99]

He has done well with the bat also this season averaging 55.92, he has had the benefit of carrying the bat a couple of times batting down the order compared to say Hughes or Khawaja. The benefit of having Smith would be having another bowling option Ponting could go to as it seems they bowl Clarke less and less because of his recurring back problem, so looking at the role North plays in the squad Smith would probably fit the role the best out of the 3.

He took 7 wickets in the 2nd innings the other day for NSW as well. By the way he averages 77.2 in first class cricket this year with the bat. 53 in the one dayers.

[99.94]

I'd rather Katich bowl than Smith.

[Bradman99]

Still, he is good enough to be in the side for his batting alone.

[Chandan]

There hardly seem to be a bowler in the squad! Martin, Southee and Tuffy? Goodness me!

[Sir john]

this time he will play well

[Mr Eintstein]

this time he will play well

every f***ing time i hope that...:((

[Chorazin Reto]

77.2, this average looks off I went through the sheffield shield games for this domestic season. His scores were 90 28* 17* 6 4 58 52 8* 1 15 49 124 18 0 36 177 100 * denotes not out

[Bradman99]

77.2, this average looks off I went through the sheffield shield games for this domestic season. His scores were 90 28* 17* 6 4 58 52 8* 1 15 49 124 18 0 36 177 100 * denotes not out

Wellington, Mar. 15 (ANI): Steven Smith has become the second youngest winner of the Steve Waugh Medal, and now is almost certain to make his Test debut against New Zealand after a brilliant season. He has scored 772 first-class runs at 77.2 - including four centuries - and claimed 21 wickets, capped by a career-best 7-87 against South Australia last Friday. The 20-year-old was similarly dominant with the bat throughout the Ford Ranger Cup (318 runs at 53), and was a major contributor in NSW's inaugural Champion League Twenty20 victory in India. His NSW apprenticeship accomplished, Ponting believes Smith presents a near-irresistible case for a Test debut against New Zealand. Both Ponting and Australia's first-choice spinner Nathan Hauritz are talking up the worth of giving Smith a run against the Kiwis at the Basin Reserve from Friday. They are not necessarily advocating the sacking of out-of-form Marcus North at No. 6, but both believe Smith is running hot enough to convert his dominant Shield form into immediate Test success if the selectors give him the nod. "He's not doing much wrong at the moment, is he," Ponting said. "We wanted him to get that bit more experience at first-class level at home. That's excellent for us. "We haven't talked about the likely make-up of the Test team yet ... but he's done everything right to give himself the best chance to play," Ponting added. The Basin is to be tailored to spin given that left-arm tweaker Daniel Vettori is likely to be the Kiwis' trump card in the absence of IPL-bound speedster Shane Bond, but a drier-than-normal surface could also play into Hauritz's hands

[Bradman99]

New Zealand paceman Chris Martin says Michael Clarke is a good guy and the home team will treat him accordingly. "He treats people he plays against with respect and that should be the way he gets treated as well,'' Martin said. Clarke is making headlines throughout the cricket world after quitting Australia's one-day series with the Black Caps with three matches remaining last week to be with his troubled fiancee Lara Bingle. The model was struggling to deal with a nude-photo scandal and as further gossip and dramas surrounded the celebrity pair on a daily basis, Clarke announced their engagement was off. Now back in Wellington for Friday's first Test, Clarke is bracing for hostile reactions from Kiwi fans and players. But Martin says he and the team have no problem with the Australia vice-captain. "That's pretty much how it works. The fans will probably have a ball but that's nothing to do with us,'' Martin said. "I know that I've stood on a few boundaries in Australia and been ripped to shreds so it's nothing new on either side of the Tasman and it's actually something that's quite humorous. "It's very tabloid. I suppose cricket maybe in the '80s when Ian Botham and Viv Richards and those guys were floating around, it may have been a bit more tabloidy, but I haven't seen it since then." Meanwhile, Clarke joined team training on Tuesday at the Basin Reserve and appeared relaxed. "Great to back with the boys. Just home from a big training session,'' Clarke said on his Twitter site. "Thanks to all my followers for your support.'' Australia coach Tim Nielsen said Clarke's challenge was to cope with "external influences''. "There are things that people would pick on, it's just that everybody out there at the moment knows about this one,'' Nielsen said of the enormous public interest in Clarke's movements. "Deal with things and still perform. That's the nature of the beast. "That's why Michael has played 58 Test matches and performed so well.''

Respect for that, NZ have always been fair. The crowd may stir things up, but that's different. Australians would do the same thing.

[S.Bond]

doesn't look a so special squad...

[Mr Eintstein]

NZ vs Australia, Test series, 2010 don't mean to sound like a smart *****, but wasn't 77 his bowling average?

[Watson87]

every f***ing time i hope that...:((

Southee is in good form, he'll destroy the Aussies, Infact the whole NZ players are full of confidence after the 3rd odi win, moral must be very high, with your team's current form why can't you win? :--D I am not cutting Tuffey out either - second most consistent batsman after Taylor:winky:

[Mr Eintstein]

Southee is in good form' date=' he'll destroy the Aussies, Infact the whole NZ players are full of confidence after the 3rd odi win, moral must be very high, with your team's current form why can't you win? :--D I am not cutting Tuffey out either - second most consistent batsman after Taylor:winky:[/quote'] getting right into your pre series jinxing then?:nervous: :asleep:

[Chandan]

There hardly seem to be a bowler in the squad! Martin' date=' Southee and Tuffy? Goodness me![/quote'] CS Martin, TG Southee, BJ Arnel, DR Tuffey, DL Vettori, MJ Guptill .... These were the bowlers to bowl in the 1st test. No wonder Australia scored 450+!! Where have all the bowlers disappeared?

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Cricket: McCullum leads way as NZ fight back Brendon McCullum was in sight of his fifth test century as he fought galeforce winds and had some technological luck to help New Zealand's cause in the first cricket test against Australia in Wellington today.McCullum was 92 not... More... McCullum leads way as NZ fight back Monday Mar 22, 2010 Brendon McCullum was in sight of his fifth test century as he fought galeforce winds and had some technological luck to help New Zealand's cause in the first cricket test against Australia in Wellington today. McCullum was 92 not out when bad light forced an early tea break on the fourth day with New Zealand 363 for six in their second innings, an overall lead of 61. He and Daryl Tuffey, on 22 not out, added an unbroken 54 for the seventh wicket as New Zealand showed some welcome fighting spirit after starting today at 187 for five. McCullum and captain Daniel Vettori, who made 77, added 126, a New Zealand sixth wicket record against Australia, beating Stephen Fleming's and Chris Cairns' 110 here in 1999-2000. Vettori was the only wicket to fall in the first two sessions when he swept spinner Nathan Hauritz on to his stumps, ending a brave innings of a tick over three hours and 119 balls. McCullum, meanwhile, reined in his attacking game, reaching his half-century off 110 balls. At tea he'd batted 208 minutes, faced 172 balls and hit 11 fours and a hooked six off paceman Mitchell Johnson which soared out of the ground. McCullum also had a big stroke of luck thanks to the Wellington gales recorded at the ground at 130kmh-plus. On 52 he didn't offer a shot to Hauritz and was given not out by umpire Asad Rauf, but fielding captain Ricky Ponting challenged the decision. But the Virtual Eye technology which tracks the likely path of the delivery couldn't make a reliable reading from the fixed camera on the wind-blown southern tower, so third umpire Aleem Dar couldn't overrule the decision. The ball appeared to be heading on to hit the stumps and Ponting remonstrated with the umpires Rauf and Ian Gould. It meant it didn't count as an unsuccessful challenge for Australia, who still had two remaining in the innings. Australia's bowlers struggled in the wind, with Hauritz doing the bulk of the work as he sent down 48 overs and took three for 118. Paceman Doug Bollinger, who took a test best five for 28 in the first innings, had two for 65 after bowling just 10 overs in the first two sessions. - NZPA

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Cricket: Tuffey out of 2nd test New Zealand paceman Daryl Tuffey has been ruled out of Saturday's second cricket test against Australia after suffering a broken left hand in Wellington today.Tuffey was hit on the hand by paceman Mitchell Johnson during his innings... More... Cricket: Tuffey out of 2nd test Tuesday Mar 23, 2010 New Zealand paceman Daryl Tuffey has been ruled out of Saturday's second cricket test against Australia after suffering a broken left hand in Wellington today. Tuffey was hit on the hand by paceman Mitchell Johnson during his innings of 47 not out today, and x-rays later confirmed a break. He will have surgery this week in the hope he can recover in time for the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean starting in late April. "He has to have surgery and that'll decide how long he'll be out for," captain Daniel Vettori said. "He got hit in the hand and I think he's got a broken metatarsal. He's having surgery on Thursday." Vettori said spinner Jeetan Patel would come into consideration for the second test if the Hamilton pitch looked likely to suit the slower bowlers. The New Zealand squad will be named tomorrow morning. - NZPA

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Hughes takes Aussies to victory in the first test against Kiwis Phillip Hughes thrashes 86 not out in an Australia total of 106-0 as the tourists wrap up victory in the first Test against New Zealand. More... Phillip Hughes takes Australia to victory in Wellington First Test, Wellington (day five): Australia 459-5 dec & 106-0 beat New Zealand 157 & 407 by 10 wickets Phillip Hughes thrashed 86 not out in an Australia total of 106-0 as the tourists wrapped up victory in the first Test against New Zealand. New Zealand added just 38 to their overnight 369-6, but Brendon McCullum had the consolation of making his fifth Test century before falling for 104. Ryan Harris (4-77), who removed McCullum thanks to Michael Clarke's slip catch, added two more strikes. And Chris Martin was last man out, bowled by Mitchell Johnson (1-107). Australia then rattled off the runs with ease with Phillip Hughes hitting 12 boundaries and a six in his dashing 75-ball innings. Typically, Simon Katich was much more circumspect with an unbeaten 18.

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Uncapped Kane Williamson added to New Zealand squad for second test New Zealand have added uncapped teenager Kane Williamson to their squad for the second Test against Australia in Hamilton, which starts on Saturday. More... Kane Williamson's coming, ready or not New Zealand have added uncapped teenager Kane Williamson to their squad for the second Test against Australia in Hamilton, which starts on Saturday. By SAM WORTHINGTON - 25/03/2010 Kane Williamson is blocking out the hype as he prepares to make his New Zealand debut against some of his childhood heroes in the second cricket test against Australia. The Tauranga teenager rivals Jesse Ryder as the country's most talked about batting talent since Martin Crowe, and selectors took the plunge after the heavy first test defeat. Williamson has dominated domestic attacks this summer and took a call from New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch late on Tuesday night. "I was absolutely thrilled," Williamson said. "I had a bit of contact with Mark Greatbatch, to just say keep going. That's probably all that needed to be said because if you score runs, you've got your name in the hat." Williamson said he was focused on ignoring the public and media expectation surrounding his selection. "I haven't listened to much of it. I'm aware a lot of it is going on. The focus for me is just the next game at whatever level ... just keeping it simple and trying to zone out of the external things that have been going on. "There's a lot of nerves. I'm really excited to test myself at the next level and learn a lot." Williamson, a former New Zealand under-19 captain, described playing against Australia as cricket's pinnacle. "I do have idols and possibly some of them are in the Australian side at the moment. There's players like Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke who I've admired from a very young age." His selection marks a major flip-flop from Greatbatch, who explained Williamson's omission ahead of the first test by saying: "At the moment the selection panel don't feel like it's his time." Just a week later, it is, although there is no guarantee Williamson will play at Hamilton's Seddon Park, starting Saturday. Williamson has been included in a 13-man squad as a replacement for the injured Daryl Tuffey, with Mathew Sinclair and Jeetan Patel also in the frame. "We resisted the temptation to bring him in earlier," Greatbatch said yesterday. "But we've decided with one test left, he's a young lad playing well, very talented and it's an opportunity for him to be involved in our environment." Greatbatch said the selection panel hadn't bowed to public and media pressure, and Williamson had been picked as a batsman first, bowler second. "He's developing his offspin. He's definitely a batter first, but he bowls quite unique offspinners, a little bit more Asian-like so if he does play he could add value." Greatbatch batted back fears Williamson against Australia would be a lamb to the slaughter like a young Martin Crowe in 1982. "I don't see any Dennis Lillee or Jeff Thomson, or Glenn McGrath or Shane Warne," Greatbatch said. "The lad is pretty experienced for his years and he's got a good head on him. If he plays he'll be nervous like Brent Arnel was, but Arnel performed pretty well in his first test." Williamson has hit 170 against Wellington and 192 against Auckland in the Plunket Shield this season but he was an unknown to Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris. "I didn't even know his name until you said it," Harris said. New Zealand (from): Daniel Vettori (capt), Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill, Peter Ingram, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel, Mathew Sinclair, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

[Watson87]

New Zealand going the bangla way, picking up young guns not bad.

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'Watto' set for Test return at Hamilton ALLROUNDER Shane Watson will return to the Australian side for the second Test against New Zealand after declaring himself fit and ready. More... Shane Watson declares himself fit for New Zealand Test Peter Badel The Courier-Mail March 26, 2010 FIT . . . Shane Watson says he is ready to play in the second Test against New Zealand. Source: Herald Sun SHANE Watson will return to the Australian side for the second Test against New Zealand tomorrow after the allrounder declared himself a certain starter. Watson was a late scratching for the first Test with a hip injury but a final net session at Seddon Park today convinced the Queenslander he will be fit for the return bout. The 28-year-old will replace rookie opener Phillip Hughes, who underlined his potential as a future Test star after blasting 86 not out from just 75 balls in the second innings to pilot Australia to a 10-wicket victory in Wellington. Watson, the reigning Allan Border Medallist, looked comfortable in the nets during a one-hour hit out today and is relishing the prospect of reuniting with opening partner Simon Katich. "It's sweet, I'm all good. I'll play," he said. "The last four or five days it (his hip injury) has come together well so I will be right to go at full steam. "Three days ago, it improved significantly. The cork disappeared and the strain went with it. I was really confident the last day of the (first) Test when I jogged again. "Initially, it was a cork that set it off in the fourth (one-day) game, I had a pull shot come off the back of my hip. Throughout the fifth one-dayer it was a bit tight and it tweaked a bit leading into the first Test. "It's all settled down well so I'm ready to go." Watson said the injury would not affect his ability to bowl against the Kiwis. "I've had a fairly big workload in the last six months with my bowling so a week off not bowling won't make much difference to my workload. I'll be able to bowl the overs that Ricky wants me to bowl," he said. While Watson is guaranteed to start, there may yet be a late selection shock with Australian skipper Ricky Ponting leaving the door ajar for exciting leg-spinner Steve Smith to make his Test debut. Ponting said the green-looking deck may take spin late in the match, but added the team already had part-time tweakers Michael Clarke, Marcus North and Simon Katich to support frontline spinner Nathan Hauritz. Asked if the Hamilton deck had brought Smith into the equation, Ponting said: "If it looks like the wicket is really going to suit that, we will look at it. "The beauty of the balance of our set up is we have guys like Clarke, North and Katich who can bowl some reasonable spin if the wicket turns a fair bit. "I notice that New Zealand have the two spinners in their squad. We'll have a look at the wicket today and try and make an informed decision." Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori revealed 19-year-old sensation Kane Williamson is unlikely to make his Test debut against the Australians. Vettori will play his 100th Test, making him only the second New Zealander to reach the century milestone behind former skipper Stephen Fleming, who played 111 matches between 1994-2008.