When I say isn't good I mean it isn't a belter. Personally I like sporting pitches. Ones which give the bowlers something all the time and something batsmen can play their shots on. I think this pitch fits that mould. Very fair pitch and also it doesn't seem like it mattered with the toss. It's played fair and about the same all throughout.
I think Matthew Hayden should/might retire in Adelaide. Especially if Australia scrape home. Pressure is starting to come onto him to score runs and he probably wants to go out before his place comes under jeopardy.
Just curious, irrotev, is your name meant to spell Vettori when read in the reverse order or is your name actually `irrotev` ?
If Hayden does decide to retire during the Aussie summer, he`ll announce it during the SA test series which will be a more high-profile series (can`t wait for it).
I can predict an ODI retirement soon.There is no reason for him to continue playing ODI cricket. He has achieved all that a player could ask for, won 2 World Cups!
Test Cricket is something which is hard to decide upon.He has just played one series after his return from injury.We have seen time and again as to how difficult it is to strike form after an injury, especially when it is late in your career.We`ll have to wait and see whether this is just a phase in his career or whether the alarm bells are ringing loud.
I`d say that we would be in a better position to judge that when we are through with the first two SA tests. If he fails there, I can see a Sydney test retirement in the New Year`s test.
I definitely can see him struggling against Anderson,Freddie,Sidebottom,Harmisson and Broad in swinging and seaming conditions during the Ashes, especially if he is not in peak form.
Coming back to this game, it should be a cracker.This is what a good sporting Test match pitch can do.It has had action throughout. For those saying that the wicket is loaded in the favour of the bowlers,I do not agree.The Aussies would have notched up a 400+ target on this very wicket against this Kiwi bowling attack, had this match been played 12 months or so ago.
They are not at their most confident self at the moment and that is showing in their batting. Ponting and Hayden who were raking up hundreds for fun in the 2006-07 season are both finding things a bit difficult now and that for me is a reason why the Aussies are struggling.The Aussies have just won 2 of their last 9 test matches.
Last year during the India-Australis series in Australia (before the Perth Test), I mentioned how tracks helpful for seam bowling would be the best way to beat the Aussies.I still maintain that. SA would feel that they have a real chance in their forthcoming test series if they have a fully fit pace attack.
I`ll have to plan on waking up early tomorrow to catch live acton because the rate at which things have happened in this match, it could well be over if I wake up late.It is the charm of the Aussie season.The early wake-up times and crystal clear coverage with great commentary is what makes the Aussie summer tests a delight to watch.It has a very fresh feel to it.
. McCullum and Taylor to lead them home tommorow i'm predicting.
Johnson was average in his first spell of 5 overs, went at 6 an over. His saving grace was he had McCullum which was a good ball. But other than that he was either too wide or short. Second spell was a bit harder to read as it happened so quickly and the NZ tail was all but gone. He would give me more confidence if he starting getting more wickets off good balls rather than the wide ones.
