Cricket

Of course. But the Aussies wouldn't have batted like that as they wouldn't known exactly how to pace themselves and exactly what was needed.
NZ would have though. They only lost 4 wickets. Do you not think they could have scored another 10-20 had they known what total they needed and been able to pace themselves ? Massive advantage batting 2nd and knowing from the first over what your target is.

 

No. I think the Aussies would of got 200+ batting first and NZ would of fallen 20-30 short.

Of course you are right that batting second is an advantage. But that advantage is less of a factor when one side plays so much better than the other, as was the case today (and, for that matter, when England beat the Aussies).

I just don’t think NZ played to their full capabilities, especially the bowlers.

 

Boult bowled well but the rest were poor.

 

You're using the form that NZ showed having to bat first, and that the Aussies showed chasing a known target, and assumed that would happen with roles reversed. It would of course have neen a completely different game and recent form would suggest that NZ would have been strong favourites in that scenario.

 

Well, it’s a matter of opinion, isn’t it. My opinion is that the Aussies were far superior on the day and would have won anyway, and so I don’t think that “it would of course have been a completely different game” had they batted first.

Recent form is irrelevant, frankly, as the Aussies proved in winnng the tournament.

 

Indeed it is a matter of opinion. I think favourites NZ would have restricted to Aus to 150 or so and then comfortably chased it down but we will never know. I agree recent form is less important than the toss of the coin.

 

Did their play today justify the favourite tag? No it didn’t.

Notwithstanding your obvious thrall to your profession, predictions, statistics, probabilities, past results etc etc don’t always determine results in sport - otherwise, who would ever bother watching? Sometimes it comes down to performance on the day. Watford 3 Liverpool 0, for example.

You would have a point about the importance of batting second if it had been close. But it wasn’t.

 

It’s really very straightforward. Your assessment of the likely outcome is based upon two ostensibly evenly matched teams playing to the best of their capabilities (or at least, equally as well as each other), in which case matters like who bats first can indeed be determinative. All I am saying is that that doesn’t always happen - and it didn’t happen today.

 

…and I’m saying today it didn’t happen because the Aussies had the overwhelming advantage of batting second. Had NZ batted second it’s just as likely that they would have found bowling easier in the first innings and batting easier in the second. As you say it’s very straightforward. I have no problem that you disagree with me, and clearly we aren’t going to agree.

 

I don't.

Though I did once call HB1 a 'pillock'.

 

Yesterday’s testimony was damning. Today’s revelations were equally so.

 

Very poor. Unfortunately Paine is hopeless so this will strengthen them.

 

Yes, I agree. “Let’s do this for Tim”.

 

I don’t agree. Institutional racism is a wholly different thing from instances of racist language by an individual.

I imagine Rafiq is feeling pretty embarrassed though.

 

Only one thing can save cricket now. Players must take the knee at the start of every game

 

Marvellous, shows the ACB in their true light - hypocritical cover-up merchants.
Surprised he didn’t ask her to use sandpaper on his ba11s.

 

So not ideal preparation;
"England have just two warm-up matches before the Ashes start, both against the England Lions.
James Anderson has been rested for the first match, while the players who featured for England at the T20 World Cup are still in quarantine.
With weather disrupting the first matches, there is scope for England to alter their programme to include more cricket, but a tight schedule means options are limited."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59386203

 

Somehow it rarely ever is when we go over there

 

........Only 29 overs were possible on Tuesday, Wednesday was abandoned without a ball being bowled, and more rain is expected on Thursday. Great prep. Get the feeling this tour is just a case of fulfilling contractual obligations.

 

The preparations were probably organised by WFC's defensive recruitment team.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59484770

 

Seems an odd decision to me.

 

He's got his whole career ahead of him.

 

God It’s so depressing watching BT sports trying to present cricket .

Please bring back Nasser and Athers .

Worst thing is because of Covid all the in ground comms are Australian .

 

Gabba is generally about pace .

 

Just spoke to my brother on WhatsApp, he's at the Gabba in his Watford shirt.

 

F*#@