I’m not really capable of writing up last night’s match, ‘cos I watched it on the Internet (I’m not even capable full stop, really). So we’re out of the Tri Series when only last week we were contemplating playing with the Aussies more than Neil Finn, with the Tri Series finals followed by the Chappell – Hadlee series, but thanks to England’s resurgence, we’re out. Here’s my hits and misses for the series:
Hits
– We played better than against Sri Lanka – not that hard to do, but after being bowled out for 73, I’ll take it
– Oram topped the NZ averages for the series with 87, and strikes fear into Australian hearts like a closed betting shop. He’ll be huge in the Windies
– Bond, save one scare, is still injury free, and posted some great figures at last last night. Cotton wool, NOW
– The rotation policy seems to have been binned, and we’ve got a top order again
– We’ve got bowlers to help Dan and Shane out. With Gillespie, Patel and Franklin we have a bowling ATTACK instead of batsmen bowling slow mediums to bore sides out
– We still get to play Australia three times which will provide more sledging opportunities, and it never hurts to play the best. Just ask the Wallabies
Misses
– We catch and field like we’re drunk. This is usually one of our big strengths, I hope they have a lot of training scheduled between now and the WC
– We don’t have Nathan Astle now – with the form he was in, and the freshness of Vincent, Oram and Styris we didn’t notice so much, but there should have been a place for an experienced campaigner like him to go to the WC as backup at least
– Fleming’s form – yes he got a century, but he’s still not at his best – he needs to pull finger and quick
Moment of the Series – Oram’s century in Perth. Following Vincent’s return to the side, this was the turning point and when the chaps remembered they CAN bat after all. It pissed McGrath off too so yeah, I enjoyed it a lot
Most painful moment – this one. Concentration is the key, Kevin