That test was dissapointing
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NZ got pretty good first inngings score, it was a very good pitch, and against the best bowling attack in the world, we scored a decent total. Then our bowling went great, the Australians looked in big trouble, unfontonatly like always the aussies managed to put on an almost 200 partnership between Katich and Gilchrist. I don't know how they do it, whenever theyre in trouble they always have a batsman come in and get 100's+, this time 2 of them came in at like 6 down. When bowling they always manage to take that vital wicket. Theyre an amazing side.
Second innings wise NZ did very poorly with the bat, just wasn't our day. Warne had another great bowling performance, but he had pleanty of assistance from the pitch which had lots in it, along with 2 poor umpiring decisions for LBW off his bowling which diddn't really matter as the batsmen were tailenders, apart from Vettori, who was and certainly is capable of making a very nice score, he has scored over 130 before and has come off 2 centuries opening the batting for his provincial side.
The aussies of course chased the total with ease, it diddn't help that there was a poor 3rd umpire decision for a catch, but it wouldn;t of made much difference.
All in all, it was a pretty good test, the 4th day was terrible though, it ruined a nice set up for a close and exciting test match. Also the umpiring wasn't the greatest and that is also annoying.
NZ had their debuton O'Brien who got 1 wicket but went for 5 runs an over including a good first few overs and then 2 overs in a row costing 10 runs. Along with Franklin who is a very poor bowler and Martin who started poorly due to not playing much cricket lately. The NZ side just wasn't good enough, and when your facing such a powerful test team, they needed to perform at their very best, all 5 days, no favors were made that we have bowlers including one of the fastest and best fast bowlers in the world and good, reliable and experianced batsmen with injuries.
Now for my opinion, you fail to mention Vettori's 5 wicket bag and 1 wicket in the second innings, the only wicket. If it wasn't for Vettori, we would be absolutly skrewed. Even though I am biased, I must say, his bowling performance in that match was better then Warnes. Yeah im a big fan of Vettori, and im biased. Warne has great back up bowlers he can depend on, Vettori was pretty much all we had for a bowling atack, a debuton, a poor medium/fast pace bowler who was bowling 30kmph balls, with no swing and a very average medium fast bowler who did a reasonably good job. Cairns has reitred from tests, Oram is injured, Bond is on his comeback still, styris who can bowl a bit of medium is almost right with his injury. Its just big problem for us, our bowling. Even if we hadn't collapsed during our 2nd innings the Australians would of been able to get it, whatever the total. And of course Flemming failed again, because we have no second opener, Richardson retiring, Papps injured and Sinclair in poor form.
I honestly hope we can put up a better fight in the next test, I just hate to see a game fall to peices when its just starting to get good.