Also, and I suspect this applies to most places around the country, since the washed out test, I think…

a cricket match has always been a good way to break a drought here in Hawkes Bay!

Stuck here at work, every time cricinfo is slow to refresh I fear there's been a wicket! Must get home...

Ditto. Following online ok here but. Looks like Taylor's going great guns. Well enough to get us ahead just in time... Class act that fella. A new Nate Astle/Paddy Batch

Is it tempting fate to think that Martin Guptill looks like he might be a really good player?

Stuck here at work, every time cricinfo is slow to refresh I fear there's been a wicket! Must get home...

West Indies seem to be playing Vettori out (he's 10-0 off six overs) and might be trying to win the game off the other 40 overs. Which is brave.

35 off his last four overs.

It was a fine innings by the Windies, but pretty random. I don't know if…

However we don't really want Gayle to be in 10 overs from now (he's got 79 of 124 runs so far).…

I remember the happy days at Lancaster Park, where the crowd wandered onto the field at half-time to look at the (roped-off) pitch while the kids played cricket round the boundary.

They still do it for the tests at the Basin. Last year my son (then six) broke his bat…

There aren't many places where as a paying customer you are treated like a smuggler when you go in and potential pitch invader while you are there, wherever you are seated.

I remember the happy days at Lancaster Park, where the crowd wandered onto the field at half-time to look…

Did anyone see Duminy's scoop six in last night's 20/20? He is going to score a LOT Of runs in all forms.

Yup. Was off Shaun Tait – hardly a dibbly-dobber even if he was the most expensive bowler.

Definitely. His job may not have been as glamourous as Guptill's, but he executed perfectly. Years from now, we may look back on Saturday as the day the nightmare ended.

You don't want to put a bigger jinx on it do you?

Did you do something similar when Sinclair scored…

While not wanting to take anything away from Guptill, the other debutant (N. Broome) made a valuable contribution.

Definitely. His job may not have been as glamourous as Guptill's, but he executed perfectly. Years from now, we may look back on Saturday as the day the nightmare ended.

And -…

And – can anyone explain to me again how embed youtube videos?

On a related point, it's been very interesting to see the Australian cricketing public really get behind the RSA side.

I think part of that has to do with Warne and Smith playing in the same 20/20 side in India. I remember when Warne side won the Indian tournament ,…

I really hope NZ's…

I've been despairing recently about no one really stepping up and demanding to be selected, particularly openers. And now in the matter of a month we've had both McIntosh and Guptill show off their stuff.

It's early days, but it's looking hopeful for NZ's top order in the next few…

Rather than pause on his trot in with the bowler he just kept on going, running upright, reached down with one hand as he met the ball and threw with the next stride.

I did a similar delayed-reation catch playing club cricket in Ireland one time, but that was more…

But I think it really started during last year's home series against India, when an ugly, arrogant side to Ponting's side was revealed.

Amongst the die-hard fans, there's no real dissent, but more broadly, there's a view that Ponting's on-field attitude sucks. A dominant team surely dominates, but needn't behave…

I suppose after a decade or so of being unbeatable, anyone's interest would start to fray.

I have a suspicion, based on conversations with a couple of aussie mates, that they are catching the rest of the world in thinking their team is a mite arrogant, and it would be…

On a related point, it's been very interesting to see the Australian cricketing public really get behind the RSA side.

I have a suspicion (based solely on reading Australian cricket blogs) that the Aussie public are becoming just a little sick of their team. I suppose after a decade or…

Just what the rest of the cricketing world needed, another one of that guy...

David's been in the 20/20 and possibly the ODI side before – they've played together at least once, I think. Michael's form's not good, not sure what David's was like in the Sheffield Shield.

But quite…

Big congratulations to Marty Guptill. For non-cricket-enthusiasts, the upshot is that his ODI debut performance was the second-best ever.

It was great wasn't it.

I've been despairing recently about no one really stepping up and demanding to be selected, particularly openers. And now in the matter of a month we've…

I really did enjoy watching Guptill play. A couple of times his shot making and foot movement reminded me very much of Nathan Astle.

Half an hour before the start of play, the two captains convene and exchange team selection sheets. These list the composition of each side, which cannot be changed for the duration of the match. Then, under the supervision of the umpires, a coin…

Does anyone here know anything about his upbringing? I've heard rather second hand that he may even have been living a street kid type of existence at one point.

He certainly didn't live on the streets. People I know know him a bit and he grew up in Napier pretty…

A bonus for us viewers without Sky, Prime has the cricket live.

I saw that too, I was flicking between tennis and cricket this afternoon.

As a fan, I'm rather divided on him. On the one hand I'm really excited about his potential, but resigned to the fact that his drinking problems may mean he never realises them.

That's what I meant really. Potential versus Actuality.

Shame he's been boozing again (and not handling it,…

The way Shane Bond was handled still REALLY grates.

The media release regarding…

I'm very disappointed that he won't be playing tomorrow as I'll be there! (assuming I get my thermos and water bottle past security)

Actually I have just now read that he has been dropped for tomorrow match because of drinking indiscretions.

Bugger. I really hope they give the guy enough proper support to avoid these situations. Some talents are too precious to just let slip away.

Does anyone here know anything about his…

Ryder seems to have that marvellous ability to be seeing and reacting at a sort of different rate than most.

Ryder's great to watch isn't he. I think he has more in common with Crowe than just his reaction time. He has a great range of shots and plays them…

Megan Wegan, These guys are dodgy.

I'm pretty sure that Megan knows that very well by now.

Yeah, I know they are just using me for my scones.

in my view one day cricket is about the only sport that's actually any good at the Stadium

Unfortunately the new layout here in Christchurch looks the opposite. Where the old number 1 stand was (the only place where us older family types could get a view behind the bowlers…

Funnily enough Gretsky went through my mind when I noticed Ryder's number 77 on his back. Imagine if he could become so great that they retire that number when he goes?

They could raise the jersey to the Basin flyover.

CALL ME when you do this.

I imagine it'll be against India in March, unless there's one earlier

Jesus saves, but Gretzky scores"

Funnily enough Gretsky went through my mind when I noticed Ryder's number 77 on his back. Imagine if he could become so great that they retire that number when he goes? Just like they did for '99'.

Megan Wegan, These guys are dodgy.

I'm pretty sure that Megan knows that very well by now.

Wayne Gretsky – get his 1000th assist at a game in Edmonton way back when.

We'll have to convert Hadyn to hockey next, won't we?

"Jesus saves, but Gretzky scores"

I might have been one of those people. There's also the infamous 'who ate all the pies', and the incredibly lame, but addictive "give us a wave _insert name here_ give us a wave'.

It was you! (They finally crack, turn around and wave, everybody cheers, they go back to…

Devonshire teas, anyone

If you're really nice to me, I'll even make scones.

Long may he grace our summers.

Hear, hear. Although for that to happen somebody might have to do something about how much he likes the, er, taste of alcoholic beverages.

If Giovanni is bringing the cucumber sandwiches, I'll bring the strawberries and cream.

This could be the beginning of a…

I did spend one game behind a group who spent an innings trying to make Alan Donald cry while he was fielding in front of us.

I might have been one of those people. There's also the infamous 'who ate all the pies', and the incredibly lame, but addictive "give…

You have a thermos, right Tom?

No, actually, but I can investigate. I presume that, unlike the Stadium, one can bring thermoses into the Basin?

Anyway, you wanna get in before they build that motorway fly-over right next to the terraces.

Well, some of us are doing our best to…

I'm not at the level of Emma or some of the others who comment here

Urge... to smut... rising...

no one really seemed to be yelling at the cricket (except the folks trying to start the Mexican wave). Is that normal or did the low score have something to do…

But the large gaps between fielders did throw me. The few times I've watched cricket on TV it seems as though the ground is teeming with them.

That's because the Windies' poor performance encouraged Vettori to be aggressive with the field placements, so all but a couple were inside the…

The next one definitely has to be at the Basin.

Yes, Hadyn is ready for the real thing, it has to be a test next. I'll bring the cucumber sandwiches.

I come home from rugby matches hoarse, but no one really seemed to be yelling at the cricket (except the folks trying to start the Mexican wave). Is that normal or did the low…