The Brisbane conundrum

While play gets underway at the Gabba, I'll be in Seattle preparing to interview with Microsoft. That basically means I'll be doubly anxious. But no matter how wide the gulf between NZ and the Aussies appears, the contest will still be fascinating.


I have some misgivings that a side in its infancy should have to play the Aussies at this stage of its development. Because on paper we have a great deal of talent and would have challenged Australia even more maybe one or two years down the line. Especially given this Australian side with a returning Andrew Symonds hungry for redemption, and Ponting and Lee desperate to erase memories of their Indian tour, it seems we may be on a hiding to nothing. But the aura has diminished, so any chink in the Australian armour is cause for optimism, I suppose.

The start of this tour has its parallels with the tour of 1997, and that series may be a good indicator of what to expect; some gutsy cricket from the Kiwis but ultimately the difference in depth settles the issue. That was Stephen Fleming's third series in charge, and the side was roundly derided for being "awful on paper, but performing even worse on the field". Just as this side lost to New South Wales in the tour game, that side suffered a heavy defeat to Queensland which Fleming termed "A learning experience", to which my reaction, as a fourteen year old, was "By the end of this tour, you'll be amazed at how much there is to learn". But despite the 2-0 defeat the side did not disgrace themselves, and the pictures of Craig McMillan hitting Shane Warne out of the park on debut and Shane O'Connor uprooting Steve Waugh's stump at the WACA sticks in memory. The core of the same side returned in 2001 to give the hosts a real scare. And I expect a similar thing to happen; this side will do better than expected, and still lose. But they'll come out of it a much hardened outfit, and when the next tour arrives the core of the side should be ready.

In the absence of Jacob Oram, the initial response of the selectors to the selection puzzle was a bit worrying. They seemed to have been set on Grant Elliott to fill in the allrounder slot, but it is doubtful if the Wellingtonian can deliver the goods at this level. Next they indicated they wished to play the extra bowler, a good attacking move which probably represents NZ's best chance of victory. But after the batting disappointments in the tour game, they've done an about turn and decided they want the extra batsmen. Such confusion in the build-up only offers more encouragement to the opposition. But I see one positive in playing the extra batsman; it will allow Peter Fulton to slot in at number three and everyone else to drop down in the order. Fulton to me is probably the best batsman NZ have unveiled in the last three years and needs a long run in the test side. Such a situation means that Jesse Ryder will bat at four, Ross Taylor at five, and McCullum and Flynn at six and seven and they'll be all the more comfortable for it. Either way it'll be interesting to know what the final combination is. My guess is, given the conservatism NZ's test selection in recent times, seven batsmen with Tim Southee and Mark Gillespie to miss out, although Kyle Mills has been listless of late.