Story Australia tours New Zealand 08/09 (Abandoned) NEW: Australia's Long Ashes Tour coming soon!

[Jaztheman]

Awesome batting by Districts, mindblowing. They are batting so fast and aren't losing wickets. 350+ is looking good here. Aussie bowlers need to regain their composure and get the wickets.

Very good presentation, mate, nice mix of graphics and writing.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Oh wow!! Brilliant batting by Districts. Yeah their run-rate is so high I feel 370 odd is manageable. Aussies need to get some wickets quickly.

Good presentation and writing Roo. KIU

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
Northern Districts vs Australia
Warm up Match

Innings wraps up, in fine fashion
Australia pick out 5 wickets in the innings​

Well lucky enough for the Aussies, it was raining wickets at the end of the innings, with 4 of them being taken, but the damage was done for Northern Districts, as they had reached the bareable 400 run mark. This is a huge effort from them, and it's going to be very very hard for the Australians, with their young team, to overcome this total, or even maybe half the total.

The next wicket that was taken by the one of Jayawardene, who was playing very well. He made 36 before he was dismissed by the very expensive Ben Hilfenhaus, who is the most experienced Australian bowler out their at the moment, as Jayawardene lofted on to Haddin the keeper, as he edged the ball trying to straight drive the ball down the ground.
A good wicket for the Aussies, but again it was a little too late, as the damage had been done.

Jayawardene played a supportive Innings

Australia at this point in time, their bowlers were bowling pretty well. They weren't giving much away in the overs, unlike they were at the start of the innings, as the run rate started to climb over the 8-12 runs an over mark. Here is a little map about how the run rate stood throughout the innings by Northern Districts, it remained over the 6 an over throughout most of the innings, and a couple of times it went into the high 20's

The Captain Ricky Ponting and Ashley Noffke combinded for the next wicket of the match which was too the high finished Jacque Kallis. Nearly reaching his half century, Kallis got too confident in himself and tried to smash Noffke over his head and down the ground for a boundary. Like the story of the first 2 wickets, Kallis didn't get enough bat on ball, and was caught out by the Australian Captain. Stuck on 48, Kallis would be dissapointed in not making the 50, but in one mind would be happy with himself, contributing immensly to this already massive total.
A good knock from the South African, shows why he one of the best batsmen in the world at the moment. He'll be good with the ball this afternoon if he gets a chance as well.

Jacque Kallis plays a positive knock, but unlucky to not make 50

The England middle ordered batsmen, in Ian Bell came out to the crease, and about the same spot as he would with the England Cricket team, at number 6. A good middle order batsmen, he will certainly be looking for a lot of runs to finish out the innings.
A that's what he did. It didn't take long before Bell was playing fours, and playing some shots that only he can master. Some of the shots were coming right out of the middle of the bat, and he had only been out in the middle for about 10 minutes. That is a sign of a good confident batsmen at his prime. It's good to see for England fans, that Bell is playing well, and getting some quick runs.

Quick runs from Ian Bell makes England supporters happy

A weird situation was confronting the Australian team, which is running out of bowlers before the 50 over mark is up. Ponting knowing this match was pretty much over as it is, gave the ball to a unlikely type of name. Michael Hussey was given the ball, to bowl a couple of overs at the end of the innings, seeing if he can get a wicket with his slower right arm paced balls.

The plan some how worked. Michael Hussey got the wicket of Herschelle Gibbs who was playing sensational. A slower bowling type wasn't the way Herschelle wanted to end his innings, which was a good one worth 77 runs. Hussey was astounded with the result, and his Captain couldn't believe it either. Jimmy Hopes was the catcher in all this, but all eyes turned to Hussey who picked up a wicket. Not known as a bowler, and how about that

Michael Hussey of all people picks up a wicket of Gibbs

 

[age of the fall]

So what exactly is up with that ND team? Lol.

 

[Roofrom50]

lol what do you mean?

 

[shantanu_rooney]

OMG!!! 435 will Aussies be doing yet another World Record chase???

Wow thats great batting by Districts :happy just outplayed them in their batting and Aussies need some one to play a huge innings. I sense Districts to win the game though. Great presnetation Roo

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
Northern Districts vs Australia
Warm up Match

Aussies come out to bat
(Marsh and Katich meet in the middle)​

So, after a total of 435 for the Australians to chase down, Simon Katich and Shaun Marsh make their way to the crease after the 30 minute break here in New Zealand. This might be the Australian's next opening pair, after the retierment of Adam Gilchrist last season, and with Matty Hayden being out of form and on the verge of retierment, Australia needs to rely on these 2 men, to get the total/start they need to post any type of total.

First out comes Simon Katich. Katich has had a very good record in One Day matches, and he will be the main survivor for the Aussies, they need Simon to get off to a good solid start, so he can get himself in, and really mark his position on this match. Katich has average just under 34 for One Day matches, and his highest was 107*...
Only making the one century in his ODI career, Katich will be looking to add another one here today, as his nation really needs him to put on a show.

Simon Katich enters the arena

Joining him out in the middle is the 25 year old Shaun Marsh. He is a little more in-experienced out of the 2 batsmen, but he is a talent. He is a good little left hander batsmen from Western Western.
Marsh in his ODI career has only played the 14 matches, and scored 566 runs which is a strike rate of 75. His a very good opening batsmen that can score really quickly. He only debut in the ODI format of things, at the middle of last year against the West Indies at Kingston, but he will himself be looking for a good score here today, as he and Katich will be chasing this total down.

Shaun Marsh gearing up

Now getting onto the match side of things, It was a pretty entertaining first 10 overs. Australia did score quickly, and would be well ahead in any other ODI match. But it was against this World class team, so they aren't ahead at the current time. The run rate for the Australians is above 6 an over. They need at least 9 an over to win this match and to keep the run rate above the Districts score.
Simon Katich was trying his best, with many boundaries and wonderful shots all over the ground. He is playing a smart innings, and some smart thinking shots, as the field is restricted to only 2 men outside the circle.

So Australia will need to take as much advantage of this as they can, as when the field is spread, it will be hard to get the boundaries and to make a big score.

Katich playing a smart innings

Australia: 0/59 (10 overs)
S. Katich: 35
S. Marsh: 15

 

[just_cricket]

So what exactly is up with that ND team? Lol.

lol what do you mean?

I thinks he means Northern Districts are stacked with world class international overseas players- they would win the Champions League Twenty20 hands down!
Interesting story so far, nice graphics, but can I just point out that if Northern Districts are playing it is not considered an ODI, but a List A game, which I'm sure Peter Siddle would have played in before, and taken wickets.
Still, a good read, KUTGW

 

[Jaztheman]

Australia have started the chase well but they have been set a mammoth total to get. I doubt they will bat well enough against the likes of Bracken. Saying that, ND's bowling attack isn't that strong.

Great work mate, nice graphics and writing.

 

[mattfb]

Australia would normally be in a great position, but with the big chase they have ahead they are probably behind. Katich has started awesomely though. Top form, he needs to get a big ton. Great stuff Roo, awesome presentation! kiu!

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
Northern Districts vs Australia
Warm up Match

Katich and Ponting put on show, until Kallis enters
(Marsh goes cheaply, but Ponting comes out firing)​

After a very high scoring first 10 overs, this is the part where Australia were going to struggle. They had to come up against their best bowler in Nathan Bracken, and the spin of Harbajan Singh. But first, in Matthew Hoggard's last over of his spell, which was his 9th over, Hoggard got a breakthrough of the Australian opening pair. It was Shaun Marsh who was finding it very hard to deal with conditions out their at the moment. But now he finds himself walking back to the pavillion, as his own team mate, Luke Ronchi contributed to getting him out. Hoggard pitched a up ball from his usual length, and Marsh was too busy watching some of the shots that Katich had been playing, and tried to do one himself, instead found a top edge off the bat, and i must admit, it was a sensational catch by Ronchi, one that picked up the first wicket of the innings, and one that might feature in the KFC Classic Catchers.

Marsh did find it very hard against the worlds better bowlers, only making 16 in the end, from 32 balls, and only included 2 boundaries. Very slow start from him, which is why his sitting in the pavillion watching from the side lines.

Ronchi takes a screamer to dismiss Marsh for 16

So with the breakthrough of Marsh, now the Captain of Australia, Ricky Ponting enters the arena. And what a great record he has. Arguably the best batsmen in the world at the moment, Ponting has played over 300 One Day matches, and his strike rate of 80.46 is phenominal. 164 is his best throughout the One Day Career, and he has made a total of 66 half centurys and 26 tons. It's been a stellar career from "Punter"

The worlds best batsmen enters the middle

Ponting would of given himself a job to do before he entered the arena, no matter what position the Aussie were in at this stage of the match. He had a big task to continue, and with Katich playing well up the other end, it just inspired his captain to play the same. It certainly didn't take Punter long to get into things, with a down the ground flat ball, by Bracken for 4. It was a good battle between one of the best batsmen in the world, and the best ODI bowler in the world. Both men had their moments, as Bracken beat Ponting with length, while Ponting would smash him away on the on side like a gem.
A massive 6, from Ponting is what sparked the crowd up, after a ball from Hoggard who came back into the attack. It was huge and basically straight down the ground. A classic from Ponting.

The legend lives on

With Ponting playing very well down one end, Simon Katich was the quiet underchiever at the moment. Everyones eyes turned to Ponting who has come out and blasted some balls right back where they came from. Katich was still playing very well up the other end, but this time not with the boundaries like the start of the innings, but he was pushing his captain for 2's and 3's.
It's been a good innings from Katich, who pushed a ball down the ground just for a single as he brings up his half century. It's Katich's 10th half century of his ODI career, and it's been a pleasure watching it.
It only took him 38 balls, and the pleasureable thing about the innings was there were 10 glorious boundaries to come with it. Well done Simon....

Katich reaches half century as job not done yet

But right after his Half century, Harbajan Singh was introduced into the attack, and was giving some trouble to Ponting and Katich. Katich was the one that found himself playing the spin a little better then Ponting, as Harbajan came around the wicket to Ponting, which was a little harder for him to play because his right handed. Katich had 7 players on the on side for him, but still somehow found the boundary through the players.
It was a good tussle between the 2 players, with you would give the honours to Katich at the moment, as he races into the 80's and will be looking for his second century in his ODI career.

Harbajan Singh vs Simon Katich

Ponting was going very nicely. Nearing to reach another half century in his career, but it was stopped by the new bowler, Jacque Kallis. Kallis bowling his medium pacers, got the important wicket of the Australian captain.
A fairly reasonable shot from Ponting, was trying to get enough power to play a shot over the head on the on side, but didn't get the power he needed to make it to the boundary, and Herschelle Gibbs one of the best fielders in the game, took a good catch to dismiss Ponting. Stuck on 48, Ponting puts his head down, and heads back to the locker room. A good important knock, but he'll think his job was more then half done.

Ponting nearly reaches another milestone

Australia: 2/154 (20 overs)
S. Katich: 81* (58)
M. Hussey: 0* (0)

Last wicket:
S. Marsh: c. L. Ronchi b. M. Hoggard: 16 (32)
R. Ponting: c. H. Gibbs b. J. Kallis 48 (30)

 

[Jaztheman]

Ponting was unlucky to get out for 48, to fall just short of his half century. Marsh only went thanks to a sensational catch from Luke Ronchi, so Australia are playing well. They have got the run rate, I feel and if they can carry this on without losing too many more wickets then they have a chance. Their middle order will have to bat incredibly well, however, and Katich needs to get his century and then continue to dominate the bowlers.

Brilliant mix of writing and graphics mate, keep this up.

 

[mattfb]

Ponting played a good important innings to boost the run rate there, and was unlucky not to hit that 50. Aussies are still behind the 8 ball though, with about 300 runs needed from the last 30 overs but if Katman stays in and hits another 60 or 70 runs from 30-40 balls you are a chance. Northern Districts need to get rid of Katich then they should have the win in the bag.

Awesome work with the writing and gfx there mate!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Katich looks very aggressive out there in the middle. Aussies are in a good position and they should keep wickets in hand for the last 10 overs. Good innings by Punter also..Looking to be a thriller of a match.

Good presentation and writing Roo..

 

[Highlander999]

Wow, Aussies are flying along, Katich especially is on fire. Loving the presentation, it is awesome

One thing though, pretty sure it is Harbhajan Singh. Tiny thing though