Game abandoned!
It’s all over at Napier. Thanks for coming, fans. But no thanks. See ya later. For close to six hours they’ve been patiently camped out on the hills around McLean Park, but now the umpires finally call it off. Finally the fans are told that the outfield will not dry out. Could that have been done earlier? Probably.
Anyway, that’s if from us. On we move to the final match at Hamilton on Sunday. Be sure to stop by and join us for that, and hopefully we’ll actually get some actual cricket to watch.
It’s starting to rain again
Brilliant. There has been none for hours, in which we’ve had no play, and now with umpires and players meeting behind closed doors in the sheds, it’s falling again. Anytime you fancy making a call, lads.
....yep, still waiting.
Totally token inspection by the umpires. Walked out for a glance. Surely it's off, but there hasn't been any communication. #NZvAus
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 2, 2017
It's just remarkable that the people running cricket matches can treat the spectators with such pure contempt. #NZvAus
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 2, 2017
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A decision is imminent
Fingers crossed.
Here. We. Go. Again #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/QIhnXLwLDT
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 2, 2017
A Sheffield Shield update while we wait
This via AAP:
Western Australia have built a 40-run lead over South Australia for the loss of just one second-innings’ wicket on day two of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide. The Warriors, after conceding a 46-run first-innings deficit, have advanced to 87-2 at Thursday’s tea break to continue an impressive turnaround at Gliderol Stadium.
Opener Cameron Bancroft has played watchfully for his 39 not out, while Hilton Cartwright was dismissed for 30, bringing Adam Vogs to the crease. The Redbacks dominated day one to end at 156-4, having cleaned up the Warriors for just 201.
However, career-best figures of 7-81 from WA paceman Simon Mackin on day two turned the match around with the Redbacks dismissed for 247. Redbacks opening bowler Chadd Sayers (1-23) has taken the only wicket to fall, that of opener Jonathan Wells (11). Sayers, the Shield’s leading wicket-taker, began the second innings on an unlikely hat-trick after his 5-68 on Wednesday.
And in the Victoria-NSW game:
Half-centuries from Ed Cowan and Kurtis Patterson have pushed NSW into a strong position at tea on day two of their Sheffield Shield match against leaders Victoria at the MCG. NSW are 219-3 in reply to Victoria’s 258.
The Blues were on the back foot early on Thursday at17-2 before Cowan and Patterson combined for a third-wicket stand of 141. Patterson was eventually bowled by Dan Christian for 61. Cowan remains at the crease on 95 in a patient 198-ball knock with Blues captain Moises Henriques on 36 not out.
Resuming at 0-0 after facing just one over on the opening day, the Blues lost Nick Larkin (11) and Daniel Hughes (8) within the opening half-hour. NSW have just two wins from five outings as the competition enters the second half of the season.
And rounding things out – Queensland v Tasmania
An unbeaten century by captain Chris Hartley has helped Queensland post a formidable first-innings run chase for Tasmania in their Sheffield Shield clash at the Gabba. Hartley struck an unbeaten 102 before declaring their first dig at 405-9 just after lunch on on Thursday’s second day.
Queensland resumed at 251-6, with Hartley not out 31, after winning the toss. Hartley’s 200-ball knock lasted almost five hours and included nine fours and one six. It was his 10th first-class ton and first of the Shield season in his return from a broken finger that sidelined him for the entire Big Bash League.
In reply, Tasmania are 46-2 with Jordan Silk (14) and George Bailey at the crease. Hartley has history in his sights again, and sits just two victims away from breaking Darren Berry’s record of 546 Shield dismissals by a wicketkeeper.
For Tasmania, Shield debutant Andrew Perrin (3-84) and Cameron Stevenson (3-77) were the most successful with the English Dukes ball introduced this Shield round. The Dukes has replaced usual manufacturer Kookaburra to help Australian cricketers prepare for the 2019 Ashes tour.
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Update: the next pitch inspection will take place in 25 minutes
This could be make-or-break time for this encounter. Umpires Brown and Dharmasena must deem that the outfit – sodden and unfit for play all day so far – is suddenly dryer and safer for play despite a total lack of sunshine in Napier. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Get ready for 5th inspection in Napier at 6:30pm. Crowd starting to get restless, umpires copped bit of abuse during 4th #NZvAUS #aapsport
— Rob Forsaith (@robforsaith) February 2, 2017
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They must be close to calling this
Players are still sitting around in their tracksuits and training gear, and little about the scene indicates we’ll actually have any play. It’s a real shame for the faithful fans who’ve stuck around but if a ground doesn’t dry out for play, it doesn’t dry out.
The umpires are out in the middle again
“Conditions have not improved as you would expect” says Simon Doull on the TV now, and that is the understatement of the day. Rain cleared 90 minutes ago in Napier and the players are itching to go, but their safety is the issue here. At present, it is too dangerous under foot for play to begin. No sun + bad drainage = no play
Doull has a scathing comment following all that, saying that the punters need to be told to go home if there is not going to be any cricket today. He’s as miffed by it all as they must be.
The rain has stopped in Napier
But we’ve still got no play. Frustrating? Yes. Avoidable? Who knows, but based on recent images from the ground, whatever work is being done to clear the moisture at the edge of the inner fielding ring is not working.
The umpires asking the groundsmen to work on a particular area #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/afgDHfueOs
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 2, 2017
Moment of truth? 🤔 #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/xqBEyIc9zt
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 2, 2017
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Thommo v Trump?
Reader Robert McLiam Wilson certainly thinks so. “Breaking News: Trump just dissed you guys on Twitter,” he says, talking of course about Australia’s Prime Minister suffering the phone call equivalent of being dunked on, then this tweet. “So I’m thinking it’s time for that exemplary carnivore, Thommo, to get off the TV and suit up for some political punditry. If ever there was the perfect meeting between subject and object. I wonder what the verb will be...”
Sub-question: would Thommo revert to his 1974-74 self and fall in line behind Chappelli? If we do a bit of friendship maths here, and extrapolate, I think we all know which side of history he’d fall on...
Just met Ian Chappell for 1st time. 'Hi, Mr Chappell, I'm Piers Morgan,' I said. 'Nah mate, you're a dickhead,' he replied. Meeting over!
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 1, 2014
Cricket update: still no play but I’m currently watching Jeff Thomson water-skiing, so life ain’t that bad.
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We don’t have any live cricket but we do still have Thommo
While doing a Twitter search to find that last image I also found this one, which is too good not to share. I’m no car buff, but I believe this is a Ferrari Dino, right? And do I want to know what OTD stands for? I’m not sure if Thommo still owns it but it would surely be worth more than a holiday house on the Gold Coast by now.
Thommo and his Ferrari, 1976. pic.twitter.com/SdbzzT69x0
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) September 21, 2015
Hello all. It is indeed Russell Jackson here to take you through the rest of whatever kind of cricket match we get today. I’ll be honest, it doesn’t look good. Literally. Jeff Thomson is currently on my screen, wearing the kind of floral-print shirt even Richard Hammond would deem a bit much. I could live-blog Thommo’s episode of Fox Sports Cricket Legends, but I’m sure you’ve already suffered enough today.
Thommo's shirt still the best thing about the Crash 'cricket legends' interview series on Fox. pic.twitter.com/x3gimp4aQx
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) November 25, 2016
It’s Russell Jackson to take over the rain watch. Thanks for your company over the last three and a half very frustrating hours. Sometimes it just isn’t meant to be. In saying that, hopefully Russ has some cricket to bring you in the next 90 minutes or so. Or they put everyone out of their misery. Either way. Until next time. Be nice to one another.
Another delay.
“A lot more shaking of the head than nodding of the head,” says Ian Smith on the TV. Suggesting we’re still on hold. These aren’t good signs. In short: 40 minutes until they take another look.
Update: Another inspection at 5.30pm. Concern over player safety #NZvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 2, 2017
But what does it meeeean?
The skippers talk in front of the main grandstand as everyone waits to see what's happening #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/KmCuoZUWNJ
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 2, 2017
The time has come. To look at this pitch again. Or more to the point: the outfield. Reports elsewhere say that a pool of water emerged between the previous inspection and the proposed toss. How have the ground staff gone? We stand by to find out.
Less good news...
The ground is still unavailable for play. This is despite them setting up the game to begin a half-hour from now. That’s when the next inspection will occur.
That makes the toss 4:15pm local. That’s 22 minutes from now.
Inspection complete, we're getting some cricket...
37 overs per side! Beginning at 4:45pm local time. So, that’s about 55 minutes from now. Hurrah!
They’re running out of NZ highlights now. We’re into... what even is this? A Chris Martin retrospective? At least it is the good one. Another pitch inspection shortly. Promise.
Read that Trump/Turnbull thing and feel a bit sick? See that disgusting Herald Sun front page this morning? Want to smile instead? I happened upon this today - some outtakes from Peep Show. This’ll make you smile.
Next inspection: half an hour from now. So, 3:45pm local time.
Have a song while you do the maths on what that may mean for over reductions and the like.
No news is... no news. The talk on the internet is that they wanted to get going about 30 minutes from now. But the surface water - the darned surface water - is going to be a handbrake on that. Still no formal information though, which is a bit slack given the inspection was a quarter hour ago. But there we have it.
Meanwhile, the TV has moved onto the end of the Chap-Had last year at Hamilton. What a brilliant venue, and day. Had the good fortune of calling the game for local radio there, and assure you it meant an awful lot to them. Especially with Baz’s final ODI. Excellent game of cricket too.
Looks like we’re much closer at Napier. Inspection as I type. But the track is ready. And shots coming in from the ground now, the sun is out at least in part. The TV broadcast is talking about 3:45pm - but they’re speculating. That would be 45 minutes from now. Deck looks brilliant. Standing by for official information as the umpires lap the ground, assessing the outfield.
The covers are off with an inspection in around 10 mins... #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/b4G8haqqwz
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 2, 2017
If you haven’t had a look at this Neighbours recap...
Use your time wisely investing some time in it before play begins. Dee the bloody scammer.
(Ten minutes from a pitch inspection, by the way)
Another take. In from Craig Mackie. Hi Craig.
“Isn’t the real issue the confusion and frustration caused to all by not having a transparent and consistently applied selection process?”
I can see that. But, at the risk of having something thrown at me, it isn’t new for them to have a bit of a tinker with the ODI side for (relatively) unproven talent. Whether we like it or not, it is consistent.
Craig continues: “And more to the point hands up who would like to see Donald J. Trump face an over from Mitchell Starc?”
He’ll hit the biggest six. The biggest six you’ve ever seen. With the heaviest bat. No one has ever had a bat as heavy. Won’t be able to hold it though - the small hands.
Public service announcement: the final stages of the NZ v Australia World Cup 2015 game on the telly. I probably should have mentioned this before now. What a game of brilliant few hours of cricket it was. What a World Cup, for that matter. PS - I miss Baz.
Updated
Interesting. The CA website have lobbed up a story on the White v Hohns stoush. And mentioned the ACA by name in the tweet.
Gary Naylor has popped his head in too. “They sound like blokes in the early stages of bar-room row. Unedifying, but hardly, er... earth shattering.”
We’re inside half an hour until a formal pitch inspection at Nelson. If you’re just tuning in, it rained heavily there this morning. Plenty of water about.
But the good news is that it has stopped. So we’re a chance to get a proper game in provided the rain stays away and they can get the clean up done in peace.
ACA rally behind Cameron White after interim National Selector rebuffs selection policy criticism https://t.co/tddbY5APK5
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 2, 2017
Relevant to our topic.
An observation: Cameron White is younger now than Trevor Hohns was when he first got picked to play for Australia.
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) February 1, 2017
On the rain. The latest reports are that the mops are out. The blowers are out. The supersopper is out. Will still be a while, but progress at least while the rain stays away.
Let’s talk politics.
Not Trump’s circus. Not Turnbull’s wallet. Cricket politics.
It started Tuesday when White made some relatively measured comments about national selection. He’s probably been around enough to have a view, and his is that Shield/50-over form isn’t counting for enough.
Trevor Hohns didn’t like that, so he had a direct go back at White. A man who didn’t have an “earth shattering” career. That isn’t a measured comment.
The Australian Cricketers Association didn’t like that, describing Hohns’ critique of White - with 139 international caps - as disrespectful.
Understandably, this is being written as the latest skirmish in the CA v ACA stoush that’s been running alongside the summer of cricket.
What do you reckon? Hohns off the mark? White to keep his mouth shut to begin with? The ACA right to get involved?
Tell me here: Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com. Or of course, here: @collinsadam.
“The rain looks to have stopped.” Okay then. It still looks pretty rough out in the middle, so we’re going to be waiting a while in any case.
This game, then. The Black Caps have the chance to win the Chap-Had at home, just as they did a year ago. That time it required three games, with a helluva finale at Hamilton, but they could do it in straight sets with a win today.
The alternative way of looking at today is Marcus Stoinis Part Two. The state of that innings the other day. Goodness me. Could it be, and excuse the old SAT analogy, but... Symonds : Jo’Burg 2003 :: Stonis : Auckland 2017? Sure, not the same stage. Not even close. Nor the drama. But it wouldn’t be the first time a moment in time has been the catalyst for something more enduring.
Since they last met Matt Wade has gone home with his crook back, meaning that Aaron Finch keeps the arm-band, and Pete Handscomb the gloves. He had a bit of a ‘mare the other day. I didn’t mind that, it proves he’s human after all.
The maligned Sam Heazlett was one of a host who battled at Eden Park as Australia’s top order faultered. A talking point. He’s expected to keep his spot, but team sheets are yet to be exchanged with the delayed toss. Gotta feel for him. He didn’t select himself, you know.
What we know about the Kiwi side is that they’ll be without Martin Guptill, who has pinged a hammy. That’s big, for he’s made a habit of piling on runs against the Australians in this form of the game. That ton he made in Sydney in December stands out, utter class. Dean Brownlie comes in for him, for his first run in a couple of years.
Right. They’re the Cliffs Notes. A song while it rains? Sure thing. One for the groundsmen out there. “It’s gonna take a bit of work.”
I'm sorry. It's raining.
Welcome to Guardian Australia’s live coverage of the second Chappell-Hadlee Trophy hit out from McLean Park in Napier. Adam Collins here, and I’m relishing the chance to bring you this first innings.
But here’s the thing: it’s raining. The delightful Kiwi TV broadcasters are reporting “a lot of water” around the boundary line, at the very least. The covers are on in the middle. So we’re going to have a delayed start, this much is certain.
“Maybe a minimum of an hour and a half to two hours,” Simon Doull is now speculating. Bit bloody grim, isn’t it? I’ll be back in a tic to tell you about the game of cricket. But I thought it was best that I levelled with you off the top. Yes, there’s going to be plenty of youtube. But we’ll make it work. We always do.
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here are more details on the spat between Cricket Australia and the players’ union:
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