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The Crowd Says (15) | Page 1 of Comments

• Whiteline said | February 27th 2010 @ 9:23am | Report comment

  My feeling is that NZ’s batting is on a par to that of Pakistan and the Windies – not good signs for anything except the Aussies bowling averages

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  • Ora said | March 1st 2010 @ 11:39am | Report comment

    Must be feeling pretty white faced there Whiteline, This was a cracker of a game andf noone gave the Black Caps a chance. McCallum – (take note Rebulican) was on fire and was all class he was toying with the Australian bowlers. It was a cracker game and unfortunately for Australia the unpredictable Southee bowled a decent over in extra time

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• Republican said | February 27th 2010 @ 11:20am | Report comment

  The Black Caps will get one back in Cch tomorrow, wait and see!

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• Whiteline said | February 28th 2010 @ 9:17pm | Report comment

  Republican – more of those predictions would be good. Today’s game was a relief!

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• allblackfan said | February 28th 2010 @ 10:12pm | Report comment

  So much for the Aussie bowling averages, Whiteline!!

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• Republican said | February 28th 2010 @ 10:55pm | Report comment

  Whiteline

  MacMullen was the difference – just. I reckon a game i.e this should simply be declared a draw myself.

  The Kiwis are always going to be a threat to Aust (esp on hostile home soil), in the truncated versions of the game. They have always had the big hitter factor to draw on i.e. the Mac Mullens, whereas Australia tend to spread their batting across the team more evenly, lacking in the agricultural slogging department as a rule.

  I think our last player with that sort of brawn was Symonds and he was a bit of an exception to the rule for Australian ODI sides really.

  My prediction is that NZ will take the ODI series as well however I would be shocked if they were to get up in the Tests, then it’s amazing just how far a little confidence boost i.e. todays victory can go.

  More power to you anyway and well done to your mob today!

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  • Ora said | March 1st 2010 @ 11:40am | Report comment

    I thought we normally had to wait five days for a draw Republican lol,
    But in all seriousness I ‘m glad they have a play off a draw is worthless.
    Play to win, at least a bowl off is a little more exciting than a penalty shoot out

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• Republican said | March 1st 2010 @ 12:00pm | Report comment

  I think draws are more than valid in sport. albeit there are way too many in Soccer.

  Regular footy fixtures accept draws as par for the course. I understand that in a G.F situation this is usually not an option however it would not bother me to see a flag shared once in a while.

  I like that fact that sometimes there is NO clear cut winner ( test Cricket) but hey T20 is an extremely contrived and sensationalised brand of Cricket, so in that respect I guess the punter that is attracted to it, and I am not one of them, has little appreciation of the more subtle nuances offered by such dated concepts.

  I reckon the gold meda playoffl in this a.m. Ice Hockey could well have been shared which puts pay to the idea that ther can only be ONE winner.

  Cheers

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  • Ora said | March 1st 2010 @ 12:05pm | Report comment

    Fair point but who wants to see a draw. Ashes aside test cricket is hardly attracting big crowds this days even India the spiritual home of cricket they are finding it hard to get crowds along. I for one am certianly not interested in a game that is played for 5 days and no result is forthcoming. How absolutely boring.

    I guess if Australia had won the bowl off you would see it in a different light maybe

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• Whiteline said | March 1st 2010 @ 12:03pm | Report comment

  ABF and Ora,

  I think you lads have misinterpreted my post. Sure, I’m an Australian but my point was that I didn’t want the Aussies to win everything in sight against the Kiwi’s – to the contrary. I wish for a series which is close and competitive (not only limited overs but tests as well).

  My point being that the batting of the NZ’s in game one was poor and given recent history, the Black Caps batting (especially in tests) hasn’t been great and I want the Aussie bowlers and team to be tested so we can actually see if they are any good. If you were unfortunate enough to view any of the recent games against the Pakistan and West Indies teams you’ll surely agree that they provided zero challenge or backbone. I know that the Kiwi’s are fighters to the end but all I’m wanting is a competition. If NZ wins and plays well then there want be any complaints coming from here.

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• Republican said | March 1st 2010 @ 12:58pm | Report comment

  Ora

  I have already explained why I believe draws should have a relevant place in sport. That no one is interested as you say, is my very point and why sadly the tradition of Test Cricket will struggle to survive.

  As far as the’ bowl’ goes, I honestly don’t place any importance or interes whatsoever in these slog fests since they are more to do with brawn and good and luck, as entertaining as some may find them. To be perfectly frank, T20 is simply NOT cricket and should subsequently go by some other brand

  I guess if NZ were capable of producing the calibre of Test Cricket to match Australia you and the rest of NZ would see the true form of the game in a different light – also.

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  • Ora said | March 1st 2010 @ 5:17pm | Report comment

    Simply not quite true at all Republican, I find all three forms of Cricket to be rather boring and generally only watch if there is nothing else on to see.
    New Zealand has less people than the state of NSW Republican and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that producing players is also very much a numbers game as well as acadamies. Australia would easily have 5 -10 times more cricketers doing the rounds not to mention cricket is your national sport.
    I am happy that they won but being cricket I’m not to fussed should they lose.

    Also Republican read what I said Ashes aside test cricket throughout the world is stuggling to attract crowds. Are you trying to tell me that because a series between Aus and England is good that test cricket (crowds) globally is strong???
    Sadly that is not true whatsoever less and less people are attending these matches that surely can not be good for the game.

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• Republican said | March 1st 2010 @ 7:53pm | Report comment

  Ora

  I do not disagree on the future prognosis for Test Cricket. I am not an avid supporter of the game either however i am making a distinction between the truncated versions of the game and it’s pure form in suggesting that this evolution will spell the end of Cricket as we know it.

  What a predictable Kiwi response, amounting to little more than a rather trite excuse for your mediocrity in playing the numbers card. Crickey I’m aware of NZ’s population. Sometimes an entire national squad, team etc can come predominately from a particular demographic within a country, that happens to excel in a particular sport due to environmental and cultural factors.

  The majority of NZ’s Swim team for eg. comes from Auckland and you should also know that the Kiwi national swimming cause is headed up by no less than three very fine Australian coaches. The majority of Australia’s swim team have often come from Brissy, respective populations not that dissimilar, whereas the standards are.

  There are contradictions and anomalies a plenty in this respect, one being that NZ are superior to Oz In Union despite smaller numbers it would seem, which is also cultural surely.

  There are many countries around the globe that excel at particular sporting disciplines, based on historical, environmental and cultural influences, who have far less access to resources than NZ do and with comparable populations.

  NZ also spend an inordinate amount of $’s on their jingoistic sporting pursuits being a highly ranked developed country, certainly as much as Oz does on a per capita basis.

  The biggest resource your country has in remaining at all competitive on the sporting world stage is Australia. Our continued benevolence in fostering any potential in this respect, should never be taken for granted. It was interesting to hear the end of the T20 broadcast, when the Kiwi commentators acknowledged as much, buttering up Australia publicly as only the mercenary Kiwi can, for without access to our competitions or being pitted against our various national sides and athletes, NZ would fade into obscurity in this respect.

  it should come as no surprise to you, that Australia also punch above their weight, conversely, they don’t use their light weight status as an excuse for failure, as NZ”ers tend to esp. v Australia Ora. It’s such a simple existence being that mediocre because you always have an excuse for failure with absolutely no expectation or pressure, which is just the way you Kiwis like it.

  Good night and good luck.

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  • Ora said | March 2nd 2010 @ 7:30am | Report comment

    fark you talk some utter rubbish Republican and you know very little about New Zealand sporting culture. I am tired of debating with you because you rather insecure and devoid of any rational thinking. You pull figures and absolute untruths from your rear and post them here as they are truths which they are not.
    I am not using any excuse for failure either chump as it stands I don’t remember NZ losing to the much hyped Australia in Christchurch!
    What i am doing is saying that we have nowehere near the numbers playing cricket that Australia does and nor is it our national sport but we certaibnly punch above our weight on the world stage.

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• Republican said | March 3rd 2010 @ 8:04pm | Report comment

  Ora

  Firstly were you actually debating, i apologize, i misinterpreted your posts as not so subtle goading, only returning in favor.

  Punching above your tiny NZ weight, yes, my sentiments exactly.

  Your powers of comprehension leave much to be desired Ora.

  Guess what, so to do Australia in the scheme of things, punch above their weight however you Kiwis seem to think that this is a trait purely unique to you while struggling, especially when defeated by Oz, to offer any sort of praise preferring to make, yes EXCUSES ad nauseam. We are afforded the occasional back handed compliment courtesy of you playing that smaller ‘numbers’ card.

  This has become very boring Ora and in FACT is a bit of red herring if anything., which is what I was attempting to expose. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black, since NZ’ers are the most obsessively insecure collective case study of nationhood in existence.

  By the way well done in todays ODI match with two very good players out as well, Australia are again going to be brought down a peg or two while touring NZ. I predicted as much on a Roar thread, that the Kiwis would take this series, punching above their weight again no doubt. It seems that the same is happening v our women cricket side. No excuses from this Ozzie!

  I will stand by everything I have previously stated and your pathetic little juvenile dummy spit does not negate the FACTS as you so keenly desire if any indeed exist, in deconstructing something as esoteric as the Kiwi sporting psyche. That said, this should in no way inhibit my right to express what I believe to be true, especially since NZ’ers spend most of their waking hours piously deconstructing Australia and it’s people as if it were their God given birth right. Believe me Ora when I say I know much more about NZ and it’s people than you would ever like to admit.

  Good night and good luck = but a little less luck in future!

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