NZ Story ICC 2008 Version(Normal)

[seanoc]

Obviously we will keep the same side that has served me so well through this series while the Aussies have made 2 changes since the last time I played them with Justin Langer and Michael Clarke coming in Hayden and Katich. With an absolute belter and fast outfield predicted it should be an exciting high scoring game.

[seanoc]

1st Finals Match vs Australia

NZ Innings
290/5 P Fulton 99, J Ryder 73
M Johnson 2-48, A Noffke 2-66

Aus Innings
190(34) P Jaques 64, M Hussey 43
D Vettori 5-46, J Oram 2-50

NZ win by 100 runs

What I said following the last game has proved to be right once again. After an opening partnership of 83 between Jaques and Hussey, we were slightly on the back foot. Up stepped the experienced Vettori who dismissed, Hussey, Ponting and Clarke within 2 overs and also captured the wickets of Lee and Haddin. An outstanding performance by all with more of the same required for the next game.

[seanoc]

The Aussies have made 1 change for Game 2 with Jason Gillespie replacing Johnson.

[seanoc]

2nd Finals Match vs Australia

Aus Innings
301/7 P Jaques 139, R Ponting 72
S Bond 4-61, J Oram 2-41

NZ Innings
224(47.1) J Ryder 68, B McCullum 46
A Symonds 3-39, B Lee 3-69

Australia win by 77 runs

Unfortunately in this game nobody stepped up and we got thrashed because of it. Another impressive top order batting display from the Aussies set them up beautifully and they were probably disappointed with their final total. In reply we never looked likely with wickets falling at regular intervals. We will need to drastically improve our performance in game 3 if we are any shot for a win.

[seanoc]

For the 3rd and final match I will keep the faith in the same side that has got me this far. Aussie have made 1 change with Johnson coming back into the side, replacing S Clark

[seanoc]

3rd Finals Match vs Australia

Aus Innings
201/9 M Hussey 68, P Jaques 41
J Ryder 3-30, D Vettori 3-31

NZ Innings
203/9(47.4) A Redmond 84no, J Ryder 59
M Johnson 2-45, A Symonds 1-30

NZ win by 6 wickets

A fantastic win and a fantastic achievement for the team. We have won a reasonably prestigious tournament against the 2 top sides in the world. Another great performance today has got us over the line with Ryder and Vettori starring with the ball and Redmond the rock with the bat.

[seanoc]

The review of all NZ first class openers which was going to happen now has been pushed back until after the Indian series for 2 reasons. We have found 2 openers in form and that is when we can take into account the whole seasons efforts from the openers.

[seanoc]

Our final series for the season is against India. It will be at home and will consist of 3 tests and 5 ODIs. We will be once again sorely tested by a quality side with stars such as Tendulkar, Dravid, Sehwag, Ganguly and Kumble. We will need to be on top of our game if we are to win this series.

Our 12 man squad for the 1st test is:
P Fulton
A Redmond
I Robertson
J Ryder
C McMillan(c)
J Oram
B McCullum
D Vettori
J Franklin
T Southee
S Bond
I O'Brien

One of Bond, O'Brien or Franklin will be dropped for the 1st test.

[seanoc]

Bond has been cut from the final XI while India has also named their side:

V Sehwag
G Gambhir
S Tendulkar
V Laxman
R Dravid
S Ganguly
K Karthik(wk)
P Chawla
H Singh
M Patel
R Singh

[GrahamB]

A fantastic win and a fantastic achievement for the team. We have won a reasonably prestigious tournament against the 2 top sides in the world.

You're doing well!
India will be tough though.

[seanoc]

1st Test vs India

India 1st Innings
444 K Karthik 91no, R Dravid 89
I O'Brien 4-98, J Oram 4-94

NZ 1st Innings
333 P Fulton 99, D Vettori 59no
H Singh 4-106, P Chawla 4-90

India 2nd Innings
393 R Dravid 79, S Tendulkar 61
J Franklin 3-62, J Oram 3-73

NZ 2nd Innings
364 P Fulton 92, D Vettori 48no
H Singh 110, P Chawla 4-104

India win by 140 runs

We have put in a reasonable effort but at the end of the day it is a fair reflection of the 2 sides. The difference was Dravid and their spinners who we struggled to play. Vettori on the other hand is really battling for form and may find himself on the outer for the 2nd test.

[seanoc]

We made 2 changes for the 2nd test with Bruce Martin(SLA) replacing Vettori and Bond replacing O'Brien. India had also made a change with Zaheer Khan replacing P Chawla.

2nd Test vs India

India 1st Innings
407 H Singh 67, G Gambhir 53
S Bond 3-89, J Oram 2-39

NZ 1st Innings
409 C McMillan 95, B McCullum 68
H Singh 4-91, Z Khan 4-121

India 2nd Innings
364/9dec S Tendulkar 114, K Karthik 87
J Franklin 3-76, J Ryder 2-28

NZ 2nd Innings
249 I Robertson 75, J Ryder 49
R Singh 4-60, Z Khan 3-92

India win by 113 runs

Another polished performance from India has killed us off with Harbajan Singh and Zaheer Khan particularly impressive with bat and ball. For us it was a case of nobody standing up with bat to score that match winning/saving hundred or take 5 wickets with the ball. We are a mediocre test team at the moment with only pride to play for in the 3rd and final test.

[seanoc]

I made 1 change for the final test with Nick Horseley replacing Redmond at the top of the order.

3rd Test vs India

India 1st Innings
496 R Dravid 244no, V Sehwag 137
T Southee 4-119, J Oram 3-70

NZ 1st Innings
331 J Ryder 77, S Bond 45no
H Singh 4-85, Z Khan 2-103

India 2nd Innings
228 R Dravid 90, K Karthik 43
J Oram 3-66, S Bond 2-77

NZ 2nd Innings
454/8 I Robertson 103, J Franklin 96no
Z Khan 3-106, R Singh 3-120

NZ win by 2 wickets

What a thrilling finish to the series! At 262/6 I thought we were heading for a 3-nil whitewash. Some spirited lower order batting however has given us some respectability.James Franklin deserves some credit for his batting under pressure and it was the bowlers who gave us any chance of victory(albeit a slim one). They began their 2nd innings with a lead of 165 and had us at their mercy. We put up our highest score of the series(i think) in our last innings under pressure and that is really pleasing. It is now onto the one dayers

[seanoc]

Our 15 man squad for the 5 match ODI series with India looks like this:

P Fulton
A Redmond
N Horsley
I Robertson
R Taylor
J Ryder
C McMillan(c)
J Oram
B McCullum(wk)
J Franklin
K Mills
D Vettori
S Bond
T Southee
I O'Brien

Robertson and Horsley are the only new ODI players in what is an otherwise experienced squad. We have high expectations for this series following our tri-series win in Australia.

[seanoc]

We went into the game with the same lineup that won us the tri-series while India's team was:

G Gambhir
V Sehwag
S Tendulkar
V Laxman
R Dravid
K Karthik
I Pathan
P Chawla
P Kumar
H Singh
Z Khan

India's main problem is the lack of a genuine allrounder which leaves them with an extremely long tail.