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

[mattfb]

You got the important wicket of Ryder after getting McCullum and Taylor earlier which was vital, and Stryis couldn't make much of an impact which is good news for the Aussies. Fulton is playing a good innings though and the Kiwis are in a great position thanks to him. It's going to be a hard chase unless you bowl them out for around 260.

Great work Roo, brilliant writing and great work all round. kiu!

 

[surendar]

This pair has to bat in matured way.. else its of no use.. And it would have been even more better for Kiwis if McCullum and Ross would have smashed the Aussie bowlers

Keep up the good works

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
New Zealand vs Australia
First ODI Match

End of the New Zealand Innings
(Aussies strike back, with quick wickets)​

We are down to the very last few overs of the match, and New Zealand have kept the run rate ticking all throughout this whole match, but the Aussies have pegged it back, with taking wickets in between the run onslaught, so the game is evenly balanced at the end of the New Zealand innings, and give the Australian's a par score to chase down in their 50 over innings.

Part time spinners targeting as trouble​

Australia came into this series wondering who to take as a spinner, as they came of the decision that having 3 different part time spinners, might be more useful then having the one good quality one. Michael Clarke, David Hussey and Cameron White can all play some spin, and as we saw in the Trial match, Mike Hussey can also turn the ball.
What sort of use would they provide, well in this first ODI match, they made quality contribution, with a combined total of 4 wickets of the match.
Michael Clarke picked up the wicket, the first of the 3 spinners, as Grant Elliot didn't stay out in the middle long. Clarke had got a fair good purchase on the spin of the ball which trouble Elliot on his first ball. The ball was struck by Elliot with great ease, but straight down the fielders throat. White was the fieldsmen, and Elliot is walking back to the pavillion more quickly then he walked out of it

Grant Elliot finding it hard to adapt to the big league

This time, White comes out with the goods​

The Victorian, Cameron White, who has been bowling fairly well during the match, finally got his first wicket of the match, and it was only just the start, as White ended up picking up another 2 after this first one, and finished with 3 wickets for the matches, a very good effort from the Victorian part timer.
His victim was Jamie How, who was starting to look pretty good for a lower order batsmen. He was piling on the runs, until he game up against the Victorian. Another big shot down the ground that failed to make the fence, as it fell into Nathan Bracken who was down on the fence. Some great field placements from Ponting, as his team has taken a lot of catches this afternoon

Victorian Cameron White picks up How with fine fashion

Everything not going as planned by Ponting​

Well certainly not everything was going to plan for the Aussies and Ponting. Sure they have picked up the cheap wickets of the lower order, but with still Fulton at the crease, there is no way to get over excited, which i think they were doing for a while. Which made them loose concerntration, and loose control of Fulton, who started smashing balls around the park.
With Mitch Johnson back into the attack, Fulton found this the oppourtunity to start playing with Johnson's speed, as just play his normal strokes.
This was giving massive headaches not only for Johnson the bowler, but for his Captain, and well his country watching this match and the fans here at the ground. Johnson is loosing his touch and isn't in any good form.

Fulton brings the total up and up and up :help

Bracken wrap things up here in Auckland​

But with the help of the magical bowling display from Nathan Bracken and Cameron White, Australia keep the black caps down to 252 after 50 overs, after all being bowled out.
Bracken finished the match with 4 wickets, while Peter Fulton was his last victim, as he lasted to 94 before he edged a ball into the keepers hands. A wonderful knock from Fulton is the reason why New Zealand are in this position.

Bracken proves again why his soooo good :hpraise

 

[LUMB_YORKSHIRE]

good bowling there by White but especialy by Bracken nice work bud keep it up

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
New Zealand vs Australia
First ODI Match

Australia ready to go​

With a lot of work to do for the Australian opening batsmen, out comes Shaun Marsh. Had a little trouble in the trial match, but will be looking to get off to a good start here in Auckland. Only played the 14 One Day matches, but has a very good record of 43.53 average in those matches which is a very healthy record for One Dayers.
His left hand combination with his opening partner will be a huge test against the New Zealand bowlers, as the Aussies have had the success using 2 left handers throughout the last decade with Hayden and Gilchrist.

Shaun Marsh opens the batting for Australia

Joining Marsh at the crease is the in form Simon Katich who had a wonderful Tour game just a week ago, against the Nothern District team where he reached a century. He certainly did put on a show that match, and the Aussies will be hoping he can find that form once again here in Auckland so he and Marsh can get off to a good solid start, so their team can post a total that will chase this 252 score down.
Katich the 33 year old, has had a lot of experience in ODI's, and has averaged just under 34 for his career, which is solid.

Katich joins Marsh in the middle as play is about to begin.

 

[Roofrom50]

Who will score the most runs for Australia?

1. Shaun Marsh
2. Simon Katich
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clarke
5. Michael Hussey
6. Other



Feelin Blue? - Katich
Yorkshire_no1 - Ponting
Stevo1 - Other
shantanu_rooney - Clarke
Jaztheman - Hussey


All winners will recieve reps from me​

 

[mattfb]

Aussies have a big task ahead of them unless Marsh and Katich get off to a flier. Hopefully they do, so the middle order will follow suit.

I will go for number 2, Katich.

 

[Yorkshire_No1]

Losing an early wicket I say Ponting will stand and deliver. Great story, very enjoyable to read .

 

[Roofrom50]

Thanks for your two votes guys, but we'll certainly need some more by the time i update the story. So please people put in your votes

 

[stevo1]

I'll go 6 .

Great pres! Kiu Roo!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

I will go with the puppy Clarke..KIU roo

 

[Jaztheman]

Nothing like a bit of Michael Hussey, I think he'll get them back into the game after a poor start.

Good presentation, Roo, and some good writing as normal.

 

[Roofrom50]

Thanks for all your predictions guys. They have all been stored into my brain for the end of the contest.

Updates coming tonight :happy

 

[Roofrom50]

Australia in New Zealand
New Zealand vs Australia
First ODI Match

Aussies loose a early wicket, but looking strong!!
(Franklins gets Katich)​

The 2 Aussies openers got off to a flyer. The two left handed batsmen have more then enough experience to be a damaging opening pair, which they have provided this afternoon. Australia have been known for their dominance at the top of the order with 2 left handed batsmen from the last 10-15 years, with Matty Hayden and Adam Gilchrist taking charge, but with a new look opening team, Shaun Marsh and Simon Katich are taking over with ease.

Both have started well here, with both players finding the gaps, and playing safely for the single. One little mistake from the wicket keeper McCullum which gave away 4 wides, as it should of been a wicket chance into 4 extra runs to the batting side.
Franklin was having a hard time against both left handers. while Tim Southee was a little more accurate in his approach.

Aussie Openers do it "the old way"

James Franklin was having trouble accumulating to the conditions out in the middle, and with these 2 batsmen both in some form, it looked like the impossible to stop them.
Although some good thinking from Franklin, and a cool head, he finally got his breakthrough.
Marsh and Katich had put on a 56 run partnership which lasted until the first wicket fell of Katich falling into a edge trap from Franklin, which ended up in the hands of Brendon McCullum who would be relieved after hanging onto that catch after letting 4 byes go past him just an over ago. A beautiful out swinger from Franklin saw Katich try to play the shot down the ground, but with the late swing found the edge.

56 run partnership comes to an end for the Aussies

A big breakthrough for the Kiwi's, and now heads to the crease is the Australian skipper who has been out of form in this New Zealand series. Only making 6 runs in the friendly match against the Northern Districts, Ponting comes to the crease with a lot of work to do. The run rate is certainly well above the required run rate, but Ponting needs to do himself but most importantly, his country some good and play some wonderful cricket we know he can produce.

Skipper Ponting comes to the crease with a workload

Australia: 77/1 (off 14 overs)
S. Marsh: 35*
R. Ponting: 3*

Last wicket
S. Katich: c. B. McCullum - b. J. Franklin (28)

 

[Highlander999]

Wow Roo. I had no idea your work had improved this much. It is like a completely different story with this new presentation. Really is awesome to read, a lot of effort obviously goes into it. If I seen this earlier, I might have voted for you in SOTM, but it is too late.

Australia have made a pretty good start here, Marsh especially is doing well. Hopefully we can have a nice and exciting finish