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

[surendar]

Now its tough for Aussies to make that total.. I feel Aussies are going to end somewhere very close to the target Keep up the good works

 

[Kiko_97]

It is gonna be quite a tight run chase, hopefully, Katich can manipulate the innings and turn this into a victory for the Aussies.

 

[Roofrom50]

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.

Our middle order is very in-experienced, so if we are going to win this match, then the top order will have to bat longer

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!

Thanks for your comments mate, always getting comments from you, which is helping me do this story

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.

Shall be a cracker of a contest, i think we can get close, but a win is out of our reach

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

Haha you love commenting on me for my spelling mistakes dont ya ok then Harbhajan it is

Now its tough for Aussies to make that total.. I feel Aussies are going to end somewhere very close to the target Keep up the good works

Nice to see one of my favourite memebers back into this story, thanks for the comments mate

It is gonna be quite a tight run chase, hopefully, Katich can manipulate the innings and turn this into a victory for the Aussies.

Thanks for the comments mate, and everyone, this is the reason i keep on with this story is the wonderful comments like this.
Updates coming soon:happy:happy:happy

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
Northern Districts vs Australia
Warm up Match

Wickets fall in last 20 overs for Australia
(Katich and Voges fall to the quick bowling changes)​

With the 2 left handers out in the middle, Hussey and Katich it was starting to look pretty bad for the Districts side, as both men we're playing beautifully. The run rate was starting to die down, as they started to push it back up to about 8-9 runs per over, which is what they needed. The Captain of Northern Distrcits, Jayawardene and the bowlers at the current time we're finding it hard to pitch the right length to the left handers.
This has been the Aussies trade mark for many many of years, with Hayden and Gilchrist being both left handers which is why they've been so dominant over the past decade.
Hussey and Katich were providing headaches for the opposition

Left handed combination proving tough for the bowlers

Strangely enough though, everytime the Aussies look like they are starting to get on top of the Northern Districts, they fight back well, and somehow find the way to take a wicket. Ian Bell was given the ball by Jayawardene, and didn't let his captain down. Katich was the man that fell, as he found it hard to compete against the slower bowling by Bell who isn't a natural bowler. It was a good tactic from Jayawardene and it took out the Aussies best batsmen by far for today. Bell clean bowled Katich, as Katich tried to smack one down the ground over the bowlers head. Enough pace on the ball would of seen that happen, but Bell slowed it down a little bit, which saw it knick the top edge and onto the stumps. A huge breakthrough for Northern Districts

Katich is bowled for 111, a fine innings comes to an end

It was a sensational Innings by Katich who needed to score big, for the Aussies to come anywhere close to this total that the Northern Districts set earlier in the day. Too bad Marsh couldn't get going, and he had a good partnership with Ponting and Hussey. But it was a fine knock, and now Hussey needs to step up and take the responsibility from Katich, as Adam Voges is the next batsmen to the crease.

A standing ovation for Katich as he leaves the ground

Michael Hussey really needed to continue here in New Zealand. He needs to stand up, with a youngster at the crease with him now, he needs to take as much of the strike as he can, and play his normal game, which once use to be a very good batsmen. He has played very well so far, but as soon as Katich went out, Hussey started to pick up the pace. Some beautiful boundaries came from the next couple of overs from Hussey, one was a late cut down to 3rd man which beat the fieldsmen to the fence, and one was a cover drive, which saw 2 fieldsmen beat on the fence as well. Hussey looked to be back to his old self, where he use to play freely and not worry about building a innings. It's some good stuff from Huss

Michael Hussey playing like his old self. Going for everything

The new kid Adam Voges was playing fairly well. He was doing the right thing and trying to give Hussey as much of the strike as he needed. When Voges was on strike he did the little things that would make his Captain happy. He pushed the ball down for singles, and even pushed through hard between the wickets to pick up 2's and 3's. Not really interesting in playing the big shots, except a wonderful late cut from Kallis, which soared away to the boundary.
But like any young kid new to the game, he was just in time about to get out, which he did. Kallis was the bowler agian, which picked up his 2nd wicket of the match, as he found a thick edge on Voges bat which soared to Ronchi in keep.
Good wicket for Kallis as he becomes the Districts main bowler at this point of the match. A little innings come to an end for Voges

Voges played nicely, but was beaten by a much experienced player

So that now leaves James Hopes to come to the crease. Hopes has played 46 ODI matches for 626 runs in those matches making his strike rate to be 87.40. Hopes has only made the 1 milestone while playing in a ODI, which was a 50. Hopes made his ODI debut against New Zealand in 2005 at Wellington where he took a important wicket of McMillian.
Hussey is still at the crease with him, so with 10 overs to go, Australia are still in with a chance.

James Hopes comes to the crease for Australia

Australia: 4/268 (40 overs)
M. Hussey: 67* (61)
J. Hopes: 0* (1)

Last wicket:
S. Katich: b. I. Bell - 111 (100)
S. Marsh: c. L. Ronchi b. M. Hoggard - 16 (32)
R. Ponting: c. H. Gibbs b. J. Kallis - 48 (30)
A. Voges: c. L. Ronchi - b. J. Kallis - 13 (16)

 

[Kiko_97]

With Katich gone Australia need a miracle, I think it's safe to say Northern Districts have comfortably won this one. Great presentation KUTGW

 

[surendar]

Now, there has to be some miracle happening if Aussies have to win this one As usual, excellent going with the story, Roo

 

[Roofrom50]

It's time ladies and Gents, for the KFC predicta contest. This is the stage of the story where you, the memebers can get involved and share your opinion on what the situation will turn out to be.

So here is the situation Australia need 168 runs off the last 10 overs. Can they do it?

1) Australia will fall 0-40 runs short
2) Australia will fall 40-90 runs short
3) Australia will fall 90-168 runs short
4) Australia will win

So there are the options guys, so get cracking and predict. Will be a interesting way to finish the match, and whoever guesses the right margin, will get reps

 

[Slowcoach]

So, are some of those Northern Districts players going to take advantage of New Zealand's ridiculously short qualification period and be picked in the Test and ODI side?

I had a laugh at Ben Hilfenhaus' face in the game, he looks like Damien Martyn with a beard.

 

[Kiko_97]

I'll go with 3

 

[Roofrom50]

Anymore voters?

 

[stevo1]

Hey Roo, what gameplay patch do you use from Cricket 07, and is it any good??

 

[Roofrom50]

Hey Roo, what gameplay patch do you use from Cricket 07, and is it any good??

Pretty sure im using Black Magics super IPL patch, and yeah i certainly recommend it

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
Northern Districts vs Australia
Warm up Match

Game wraps up with Kallis taking 5'fer
(Michael Hussey reaches 150)​

With Michael Hussey playing some wonderful cricket, it was the last 10 overs where Australia needed 168 to win the match. It was always going to be tough, but with Hussey in some fine form at the moment, nothing is impossible. Hussey playing play quick and firing shots, which soared them past the fieldsmen and hitting the rope at speeds no one can describe. He absolutely let loose by the time he hit around 80.
4's coming everywhere around the ground, it was going to be hard to stop Mr. Cricket, because when his in form, he'll damage you.
Some trade mark shots from Hussey came out of the innings, a down the ground power drive which saw no fieldsmen outside the circle down the wicket, which is odd, because the Aussies have attacked that boundary the most, being the shortest.
And a wonderful cover drive over the fieldsmen on the circle, which raced away for 4.

Hussey in fine form

If Australia were going to win this match and bring down the total, Hussey couldn't do that on his own, in just 10 overs. He certainly needed some help, and with James Hopes at the crease, it's not what he got.
Hopes lost his wicket as he tried to smash a bad ball from Kallis over Rahul Dravids cap. But the nice slower ball from Kallis got Hopes by surprise as the ball, bounced more the expected which saw the top edge kick in play. Hopes did hit the ball in the direction that he wanted, but it was straight to Dravid, as he had to dive forward to take a sensational catch. One of the better catches we'll see in this series, and Kallis taking his 3rd wicket of the match is starting to grow in confidence.
So Hopes is gone for 6 and now the Aussies/Hussey are looking in trouble.

Brilliant catch from Dravid, a classic!! :happy

So things were starting to look pretty bad for the Aussies, and now into the bowling attack, it's going to be very impossible for them to snatch a win or a draw here, as Haddin comes to the crease. He has had a little more experience and would be looking to score some runs, so maybe for the Aussies it wasn't over yet. Haddin has played 43 One Day matches and certainly has a good record in them, but i'd think his more suited to the opening batting then down the order where he is today.

Keeper Haddin comes to the crease

But BANG, straight away once again it was Kallis that struck. Kallis picked up his 4th wicket of the match, and it was keeper Haddin that made a meal of himself, and is quickly walking back to the pavillion quicker then he walked out from it. A little more pace on the ball this time from Kallis, saw Haddin try to push the ball for a single down the ground. But a little extra bounce and pace, as Haddin pushed the ball into the air and straight to the fieldsmen.
It was Nathan Bracken that took the catch. Not as good as Dravids, but just as important.
A Kallis picking up 4'fer, he is in serial form at the moment.

Haddin goes cheaply for just a single run

Australia loose 2 quick wickets in succession and now they have Ben Hilfenhaus and the bowling attack into the fray now. Not too much experience from Hilfenhaus as he has only played the 9 ODI matches and has only made the 7 runs to his name so far, so we wouldn't be expecting much from his this afternoon. And with Kallis in some fine form and turning the ball and bringing out the slower balls every now and then, you wouldn't think Hilfy would have a chance

In-experienced Hilfey comes to the crease

As the wickets fell from one end of the pitch, up the other end Michael Hussey was still battling on, as he made his century. A wonderful innings from Hussey and now joins Katich as a centurion. It's been a splended time watching Hussey out in the middle this afternoon, and he feels like his job isn't over yet, he would want to get as close as possible as he can to this total which they have to chase down, and then he can say his job was done.
A great century only took him 78 balls, and with plenty of boundaries, 11 4's and 2 sixes, it was a glorious time for Michael.

Mr. Cricket raises the bat for his century

But still no luck down the other end of the pitch as Hilfenhaus wasn't out in the middle for long. Only took him 1 ball before he was walking back to the dressing room, as he was bowled for a duck. Again it was Kallis who ended up with 5'fer that got the wicket of Hilfenhaus, and his mate Luke Ronchi took the catch behind the stumps.
It has been a day out for Kallis, as he has troubled the Australian batsmen right from the word go. First it was Ponting, then Voges, Hopes, Haddin and finished off with Hilfenhaus... a very good days work from the veteran

And in the end the Australians fell 59 runs short, which in the end is a very very good result considering they had to chase 400 odd in the innings. A great innings from Dravid set up the afternoon but was answered by Katich 111 and Hussey 158 who finished the match un beaten in the end.
Some great bowling from Kallis who took 5 wickets.
So the Man of the match award will be a interesting choice to choose. Whose going to get it? We'll be back after the commercial break to announce the winner.

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
Northern Districts vs Australia
Warm up Match

Match Presentation ​

Hello Laides and Gentlemen and welcome back to the cricket, i am Mark Nicholas your presentor for this match, which ended in glorious fashion. Northern Districts set the Aussies a huge total of 435 in 50 overs to chase down. With half their side being debutants, Australia looked no where near going to challenge that score, but Simon Katich gave them a glimmer of hope. And then when Michael Hussey entre the arena, it was nearly done and dusted, but only just falling 59 runs short.
A very good run chase, but falling short, and it's good match practice for the younger players that Ponting decided to play in this match like, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger and Adam Voges, who will gain a lot of experience in this type of match.

I would like to welcome the loosing captain, Ricky Ponting to the podium... Now Rick, so close but so far mate?

"Yeah mate it certainly was, but we never really came into this match trying to win the game. We tried to give as much of experience to the younger boys as we could, and like you said, the guys like Siddle, Bollinger, Voges, Noffke and Hopes all had pretty good games by our standards. They were up against a A-Star batting line-up so we can't argue too much about how many runs they went for, it was just to give them experience, and get them ready for the up-coming One Day series against New Zealand, and see if they can get a run or not".

Tell me about Mike Hussey, is he back???

"Haha well i'd like to think so. Huss is a important player in the team, and more often then not, when his firing, so is the team. It was great watching him this afternoon and some of the shots he played were outstanding. I think we might be seeing the old Huss back in the side, but he'll only use this as practice for the ODI matches coming up, just like the young boys did with their bowling attack".

Well thanksyou Ricky, and good luck with the up-coming matches of this Tour. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ricky Ponting....


Now join me in introuducing the victorious Captain, Mahel Jayawardene
Now, what a great win for you guys, is it different to be able to play with some of the greats in the game at the moment?

"It's very good challenge, as players from different countries, we all have different ideas about tactics and stratagies, so it was a little bit hard to get over the talk from the other players. But i was very happy with the result and it was good talking and playing with players all over the world"

Tell me about Jacque Kallis, he did his part today didnt he?

"He certainly played well. Took 5 wickets in the end i think? It was very good job from Kallis which shows how he is one of the best all rounders in the competition. Not only with the ball, but was very handy with the bat earlier in the innings".

Well thank you Jayawardene, and good luck for the future mate
Well there you have it, the two captains have joined me here today and now i bring out the cheque, and the player of the Match award goes to Rahul Dravid.

Mate, you played a wonderful innings, it set up the whole match in the end, and your partnership with Ronchi was something special....

"I tried to stay out in the middle as much as possible. It was pretty hard playing with players you aren't use to playing with, so Ronchi was quiet a challenge, but we got it together there for a while, and it worked out. Jayawardene wanted me to have a big hard hitting innings, which i tried to do, and making a century in a A-List match is very good"

Well mate, you have won the MOM award, so congradulations.
Well that wraps up things here, but stay tuned for more cricket Australia here in New Zealand

 

[punterpupnroy]

Ahh unlucky on the loss, but a great match. Hussey and Katich both played blinders, Your presentation really is top notch. Great work