Yeah, Taylor’s not looked that flash this World Cup. Nice to see Martin Crowe honoured, although I get the feeling the poor guy hasn’t got that much more left in him.
118 for 4. Looks like they’ve steadied it.
146 for 9? What just happened?!
Fucking hell. This is cricket!!!
Kiwis by one wicket.
WHat a game! Kane williamson is one of the best batsmen in the world
Dear God, that was not easy watching. All credit to Mitchell Stark, he just about tore their throats out. Well, everyone said it would be a close game…
… and Boult is just barely hanging on against Stark trying to get Kane Williamson on strike, and then Williamson steps up and closes it out with a stroke.
It was a debacle really. Australia had no right to get that close. There were a hell of a lot of poor shot selections, poor bowling and poor captaincy.
However, a few things did come out of the game.
I don’t really rate the Australian team- they are no where near the strength of past winning sides. I always believed they were false favourites (with out bookies). NZ are probably favourites now but their strength is bowling and the batting seems a bit fragile if you get rid of McCullum and Williamson.
You don’t bowl short to McCullum on those small grounds.
Starc bowled well, as did Boult.
Johnson lived up to my my opinion of him. As did Marsh.
Positive for Australia- they hadn’t had a game for two weeks and took it close in NZ.
Negative for Australia- they batted like shit.
Positive for NZ. They destroyed Australia. They are unbeaten.
Negative. McCullum- how bad is the blow to his arm?
Just trying to get my mind around all the teams there have been so many rather strange results that no one team seems to dominate. A few teams rely on one or two players, whereas a team like India may come good.
Looks like I got it very wrong. I was over by 150 runs!
I hope someone gets a comment from one of those commentators predicting the score of 400 though.
Sometimes I think the commentators know less than I do. Honestly, the “experts” are no more often correct in their prediction than an unbiased fan. (And I will be the first to admit I never expected either team to struggle to get to the scores they made).
An epic game with just over 300 runs scored. Williamson is amazing.
Well, he is a very good batsman, but an average of 45 in Tests these days don’t suggest he is elite (yet). He may very well get there though.
In a very arguable discussion I would think Virat Kohli is as good as anyone (even though his average is much the same).
Certainly though, I wish he had got a duck today 
I was talking from temperament point of view. I like his temperament and technique.
average is ever increasing
from last 3 years, he is averaging ~50
and from last 2 years, avg. is 56+.
Kane is not yet near ABDV who is the best atm. But one of the best.
Kohli is > ABDV in ODIs. I know many people will contest this. But Kohli’s knocks while chasing make him better imo. In tests, De Villiers much better but kohli has started to perform in tests too but here, he is comfortably behind AB.
He is quite young and he has the potential to be very good. However, his stats against opposition away from home are not great. He averages 39 which is only a pass- and in England , Australia and RSA they are poor. However, he has not played many matches there either.
However, he has been a very good player in a team that is not seen as a powerhouse (and that is not to denigrate NZ). A future captain I would think.
agree. away stats aren’t that great as yet from the limited no. of matches. And future captain for sure.
Sheesh. This ain’t your grandma’s World Cup, that’s for sure. NZ, set a mighty 152 to win, got 42 of them in sixes. In a game dominated by fast bowling, McCullum still found time (well, he didn’t need much time) to score 50 off 24 and Mitchell Johnson went for 68 off 6 overs.
But that’s the way this NZ team plays. Come in needing 20 off 30 overs? Biff your second ball for six, and if you get out slogging, well, it scores the same as if you defended for half an hour and then got a good ball. This is the 20/20 generation, where the dot ball is a sin even if you’re five or six down.
I like the way we’re all talking about Williamson even though it was Boult and Starc’s game. Bowlers can’t get no respect. Pop quiz - was Starc’s 6-28 the best ever World Cup bowling in a losing cause?
Shane Bond got 6 for not very many against Australia a few cups ago. New Zealand failed to chase down the target of 208. Sorry on my phone so can’t link to it.
I think it was the way he instantly carved his way into Eden Park folklore: guy will never have to buy his own drinks again. Have to give credit to McCullum’s captaincy, too: he plays his team like it’s Plants vs. Zombies. Boult not taking wickets? Pull him off early and let Vettori - who for me was the hero of that game - throttle 'em slowly, then when they’re impatient put Boult in again and let him pick them off.
No doubt McCullum is a very fine captain but did you watch a different game? Boult didn’t come off early, he bowled 5 overs straight. Vettori had already bowled 3 overs by the time Boult finished his first spell.
I should add that if Australia don’t win the World Cup I will be happy for the Kiwis to win just for the perfect ending for Daniel Vettori’s career. He is the one New Zealander that every Aussie cricket supporter I know would happily have allowed to play for us if we could.