The Australian summer of cricket gets underway this morning when Australia square off against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at the GABBA for the first of a two-test series. We’ll have live scores and commentary of the action throughout the day, with pre-match starting from 10.30am AEDT.
Scroll down to find the live blog in the comments feed.
If Australian cricket had ever experienced a period of upheaval over the past 25 years, it is now, with a foreign coach, new captain and a raft of debutants coming in for their first taste of Test cricket.
Admittedly the results under Michael Clarke in Sri Lanka and South Africa have been surprisingly solid, but even the teams from those series has changed drastically.
David Warner has – for now – shed the ‘Twenty20 specialist’ tag and will open with fellow left-hander Phil Hughes, Victorian quick James Pattinson will lead the attack with Peter Siddle and either Mitchell Starc or Ben Cutting will also debut.
Fortunately for the Australians their opponent for the whirlwind two-Test series is hardly poised to capitalise on the home side’s inexperience, not being in stellar form themselves.
The Black Caps come in with a ICC Test ranking of eight, superior to only Zimbabwe, and the similiarly young outfit has managed only four wins in their past 28 Tests.
Their form in Australia doesn’t exactly make for great reading either, having won one series in the past 20 years, but they will fancy their chances against an Australian top order who could be vulnerable.
The forecast in Brisbane for showers to develop later on in the day, and if play is greeted with overcast conditions it could be an interesting opening session on a wicket known to give something for the seamers early.
The first day of this Test really could go either way and if either side manages to seize the initiative today their opponent may have a hard time getting it back.
It’s summer time, and the cricket is back. We’ll be providing coverage throughout the day here, so be sure to join in and give your opinion on the day’s play below.
krunal kulkarni
Guest
i think australia must win the sries comfortably i always backes up for australia because one time they are the best in the world and they still no 1 odi team wso i think they musr rule this series and win the sries by 2 0 thats whats i think and i am loking for a fight by austrlia after this series next sreies agisnst india .
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Rhys, that's a deliberate ploy by Nine, it happens in the city too. I get around it by streaming Grandstand online. By the time the call gets digitised and streamed to your computer, it's been delayed by about the same amount as the TV, and matches pretty nicely. Needs a computer in your lounge room though - I just use a laptop.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Well all - that's 6 pm and I'm calling it a day. I shall see you here bright and not-so-early tomorrow, at 10.30 am or even slightly beforehand, in the hope that Brisbane's rains have cleared and the duel will be recommenced. Until then!
Rhys
Guest
Geoff, I agree with your assessment of Nine's commentary team. Chappelli's anecdotes can go on for a bit too long at times. I'd love the option of synching the ABC Radio commentary but there's generally a few seconds delay between radio and tv image where I am - I think this is generally the case in regional areas where the main Nine feed is relayed with a few seconds delay.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Andy, The problem is holding the ball. As far as bad light goes, yeah, turn the lights on.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
I haven't had a chance to look through all the blog yet - but the production quality annoyed me too. The package wasn't my issue - the editor will always touch up the contrats etc to make a package look better a year later. What annoyed me was the camera-work. It was so average. They cut from wide shot for run up to the tight pitch shot late all the time. Then when they went to the tight one they had some new technique where it zooms a lot more than it used to as the ball went down the pitch. So frustrating, makes it much harder to judge movement and bounce while watching. Then they often had to jerk too far out to catch up with the shot or the ball going to the keeper. I sms'd a few mates and they all noticed the same thing. Why? FTA TV seems to be getting worse and worse at producing sports. Channel 7 didn't even have their main home straight finish camera in line with the finish post for the Melb Cup. Then channel 9 offer this. At least Foxtel learns how to shoot their sports properly. They've fixed up their soccer angles and shots well and rugby looks great there.
Jaceman
Guest
Packer the previous owner begged for HD and now they dont show it - perhaps the anti-siphoning list must include a HD requirement. Perhaps iits cost - Nine is on the financial brink of course...
Rellum
Roar Guru
There are many techincal reasons why that image would look better, mostly because the editor would have time to tweak it to use a non techie term.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Am prepared generally to sacrifice my hearing with Bill n' Tony, etc for the pictures when near a telly. When in the car on the road, it's the ABC Radio lads for me, too...
Rellum
Roar Guru
I know people in the TV industry think the digital channels are minor channels that nobody watches so they never put big sport on them. Hence no HD.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
PS: methinks snatching a glimpse of the FOXtel coverage of the SAF-AUS series hasn't helped my non-appreciation levels of Nine's work...
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Big call Johnno! Based on the ineffectiveness of the bowlers in that last partnership? Or was that sarcasm?
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Good catch by Greatbatch. This broadcast is not in HD, for reasons best known to Nine - there was some discussion earlier in the thread that might throw some light on it. Not something I personally know that much about. For me the pleasing familiarity of Nine really comes from the old boys in Richie, Bill, and yes, even Tony Greig. He can grate, but he knows his business. Of the newer lot, Tubby can't actually enunciate words, so everything is a kind of vowel soup. And Healy, who I loved as a player, has the most pointless contributions to offer. Slats plays the clown, but is not very good at it. It's those guys, and the endless grating ads every over, that make it inevitable that I'll sync up with ABC Radio instead.
clipper
Guest
Geoff, I actually bought a suit off him in the aforementioned suit shop. It was in the city in one of those centrepoint malls. Had no idea who he was at the time, only later when I recognised him on the TV - still wear the jacket, bit hard to get into the trousers now!
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Geoff - I''d have to say an Aussie day (bar the weather). Caught most of the second session on Nine (WIN-tv in Victoria). A couple of observations.... While there's something wonderfully familiar about all the Nine stuff (well, a lot of it - Mark Nicholas, Heals, Slats, Tubby), some of it is admittedly for a cricket nut starting to grate (Tony Grieg in particular). It was almost as if the game was fascinating despite the coverage! LOVED Ian Smith and pleasantly enjoyed Brett Lee's input, too. Strangely though was it just me or did the quick-flick package of the 2010-11 ASHES series over the tea break seem more visually crisp than the Gabba pictures from 12 months later (even given the poor light)??? Was the ASHES simulcast in HD digital on GO/GEM (from memory)??? There was no doubt that the picture on the standard signal was somehow on the fuzzed side (and I do have a digital-capable telly). Classic catches rocked though, always nice to see the old footage of Hadlee, Greatbatch, AB and co...
Johnno
Guest
NZ won day 1 In my opinion.
zax
Guest
yep, just had a look at the radar. that thing is uglier that a kardashian pre-nup.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Now the rain is belting down. Whether we get back on today is starting to look a little dubious. In the meantime, what do we think? Clearly Australia's day, but New Zealand came back at the end there. For those who've clicked in late, here's the brief summary. NZ started well with an attacking approach by McCullum and quiet support from Guptill. They scored the second-highest opening stand by NZ at the Gabba, an embarrassingly low 44, before stumbling. Some poor shots saw the top five all depart with only 96 on the board, with Ryder the last of them going just after lunch. Since lunch, Vettori and Brownlie survived a very dodgy period, with Brownlie dropped by Clarke with the score on 102, and both batsmen edging and hitting some airborne deliveries. Brownlie also survived an lbw referral and some appeals. But having forged through that tough period, they put on 80 runs together in an unbeaten stand, before being taken off shortly before tea. Siddle, Pattinson, and Lyon each have one wicket, Starc has two, both to Warner catches, so all the debutantes are happy. If the Kiwis can press on tomorrow and push up to around 280 or 300, they'll feel happy given Australia's recent batting fragility and inexperienced line-up. They could equally subside for less than 200, which would put the pressure on. Who were the winners on day one, and where is it going from here? Let's get your thoughts below.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Should have hit by now. Seems to have petered out though.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
True what Steve says - the option has now been taken from players. Umpires are instructed to stay on the field until such point as it becomes "dangerous". Frankly, when guys are wearing more padding than a fished-up penguin, safety isn't that much of an issue. New Zealand were going well there, you're right. They really want another hundred to start feeling a bit more comfortable though.