Be interesting to see who Australia pick as their bowlers for the next test as James Pattinson is fit and ready to play. Do they drop the quick but has a wobbly radar Jackson Bird (10 overs 0/52) and play an all seam attack of Pattinson, the ever improving Josh Hazlewood (4/42) and the reliable (and in my opinion grossly under-rated) Peter Siddle (3/37)? Or do they stick with Bird and leave out one of the other three, all of whom wouldn't struggle to get into another test team?
With Warner, Khawaja and Smith looking set in the top 4, Mitchell Marsh taking the all-rounder 6 spot and Peter Nevill looking good with bat and gloves, the only real areas of concern look to be an opening partner for Warner and the number 5 as Adam Voges indian summer isn't likely to last for much longer.
After the 2015 Ashes in which neither team distinguished themselves overly, pretty safe to say that Australia especially are on the way back.
McCullum fastest all time test hundred of all time. 54 balls, a bit ropey at times, but,my word, he can hit.
At the other end Corey Anderson is 37 from 23 balls.
Amazing to watch - if only I had. Still, the highlights were more or less the same thing.
Worth remembering that New Zealand Cricket chose to reduce the series from three Tests to two, so they could fit in more pyjama games. Shame on them, as it's another full house in a series that now can't be won.
Fascinating first session, with the contrasting styles of Burnes and Smith, and Australia looking to get a clear advantage by the end of the day, despite McCullum's heroics, on a pitch doing less than before
diggedy derek wrote: I can't think of a more exciting batter to watch than McCullum. Ever.
IVA Richards for one. Neil Wagner by somehow pitching the ball short and being intimating manages to get 6 wickets though no more being medium pace to leave NZ trailing by 135 when they really should have been out of sight. Makes for a fun test and the Hagley Oval is a beautiful test match arena.
Though it has to be said that McCullum's wonderful and inventive captaincy will definitely be missed as at least half of Wagners wickets were due to field placings and plans others could only have dreamt of.
Gayle is the only one I can remember recently playing like McCallum. I can't imagine a batsman before Twenty20 playing like that, but clearly Richards did.
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