45HG

Mate, I wouldn't write off our post-resergence slump and the fact we're away to west ham. I don't rate them, but don't be surprised to see a Spurs loss. Hate to say it, but we just don't seem to have it. Would like to score, but wouldn't be shocked by 1-0

HT then

I almost hope he has a poor WA test, just to see what you two say

I see what you mean about Lee, but I also think it's a bit far-fetched. Of course any player who has a poor overseas tour, and then follows it up with two poor home tours would then be in trouble. No big surprise there. Yeah, NZ batting was pretty woeful. Though I felt, and perhaps it was misguided, that many of their cheap wickets fell from frustration at not being able to keep the runs flowing easily. It seemed they would stick around for 8-10 overs, unable to rotate the strike, and then play a ridiculous stroke trying to force the play. (The Brisbane test is a difficult one to get a gauge on, as both teams played incredibly irresponsibly (Save for Katich, Clarke (in one innings) and Taylor. It's an interesting article you quoted, I love Roebuck, but I think it also underpins the lack of intelligence in the Kiwi squad at present. Application is their biggest problem IMO

Lee may have had a poor tour, but I do not think that would've warranted him being dropped. Of course there are simple tactics a team can use to try and gain the ascendancy. I think the NZ batsman were able to stay at the crease for periods of time, but while they were doing that they were not putting any pressure on Australia. They saw out overs without purpose, and when they attempted to change the course of the innings, they were found wanting which is understandable. What frustrated me was when they looked like building a partnership, they didn't seem to try to tick the scoreboard over. They allowed the Australian bowlers to find their rythym because the Aussies knew the Kiwis would either not score or would throw their wicket away. I'd call it lazy cricket without application, hopefully they can learn the necessary application...

Vettori fits the standard, he carries that team, no matter how mediocre they are. Bond should be allowed back

Surprised to see McCullum at 7 since we're talking of the NZ tail. Their problem, in my view, is that they have no distinct strategy, especially when batting. They seem to go into "test match" mode or "one day/twenty/20" mode and struggle to find a balance in between. Their batsmen would either get stuck trying to defend, blocking out over after over to survive at the crease, or would go hell for leather attempthing to add quick runs to the total. The first hour in Adelaide saw half an hour of 7 runs, and then half an hour of 35. They started their second innings at over four an over, yet after losing their first wicket spend the next 20 overs going at under 2. (28 overs for 45 runs) Periods of "test match" mode let the Australians dictate terms, to pick a target as the batsmen refused to look for the quick, easy singles (something NZ really should be pretty good at), and whilst in "one day" mode would all too often, as is to be expected, gift their wicket away. I'm not sure if the Kiwi team had the talent that it once had, but it certainly used to have more brains than it seems to at present. And I honestly do not believe Brett Lee was ever in any immediate trouble, certainly not before Stuart Clark. His 56 wickets this year, 62 in the past calendar year, at sub career-averages certainly points to his standing in the australian team and relative safety. He's hardly the first fast bowler, or Australian bowler for that matter, to have a tough time in India, especially with such little support, and I doubt he'd have been dropped unless he endured a poor Australian Summer. And I'm talking the full 5 tests plus the one-day series.

Queen, better hope he doesn't have one more bad test, or he'll be in trouble again!

Robbie's petulance is something that irritated the hell of me at Spurs, and was something that not too many of my non-Spurs mates' picked up on. Often, when tackled for instance, instead of trying to go again at the contest when the ball remained in the area, he would whinge and moan incessantly to the ref. This happened all too often and would often last into several contests. I think he was a great team player who near the end of his time at Tottenham who relied heavily on a certain large Bulgarian striker which may have upped his trade value. Loved him as a player but his complaints were always one large detraction for me. I hope the Reds can fend off ManU and Chelscum, but you're right, it's those losses that kill you. Mind you, this season has been one of the more unusual and I'm sure there are many more twists and turns down the track.

I could be off, but I thought it was pre-Gardner. I can't really see how we could link with an EPL side, or what we would get out of it.

and God I hope United get rolled tomorrow night Rooney Acts Decidedly Twatish

Whatever happened with AC Milan?

Very odd ey Diablo. What odds would you have gotten for the three biguns to go nil all? Far out, i've picked the worst time to start having a flutter with the bets Liverpool and Chelsea, 53 shots to 8, 0-0 across 180 minutes. Crazy

I just do not rate Shane Watson

Great decision there I think, I thought gone for all money. Very good umpiring

4-73, shocking shot from Ryder, big wicket of McCullum. Not that I think it was the pitches fault in the case, but it seems a devilish pitch. You wouldn't really want to play at anything

2/22, bowling a beautiful length, causing all sorts of problems

And I was lambusted for saying our next side shouldn't include a spinner!

140 overs to chase 415 on a flat pitch. Less than 3 an over. Not so sure that's the certainty you'd have us believe it is

Must keep in mind here that in the final 10.4 overs (roughly 40 minutes) we put on a further 76 runs, taking it from a low 400s target to a high 400s one.

Vettori batted 7 in the first innings of the tour match, and batting 6 in the second innings Has there been an injury, or are they trying to cover holes through the great all rounder?

Come on you Spurs! It would seem you're our bunnies Diablo. What a weird thing sport is, and how much does it go to show that all a team needs is a little bit of confidence. And in other news, Chelsea are 3-2 down in a penalty shoot out against Burnley. 4-2, 4-3. This for the Burnley win.... over the crossbar!! And Chelsea score their's. Back level. Heartbreak for Burnley? 5-4, tension! This for Chelsea to stay in. And yes, this just in. Chelsea have lost to Burnley

Why not use himself if he was that desperate? I scored 5 bucks from the match! Not much, but I'm not a big spender!

Glenn Mcgrath didn't bother too much with variety, served him well in India with an average of 21.3 in India

They should've been forced to fight much harder to get to that total though. India should thank Ricky Ponting for being allowed to get to that total after we had them in a difficult position.