Bring on those Aussies

OPINION: Cricket needs Australia to arrive in New Zealand and in double quick time, writes Logan Savory in this week's Sav's Say.

The cricket fans' eyes are starting to get heavier and heavier and it won't be long until the yawn that has been the international summer of cricket turns into full-blown snoring.

After what was an enjoyable and mostly eventful 2010 domestic twenty20 series New Zealand cricket followers have been served up a cup of warm milk on a scorching hot day.

Bangladesh are far from what we needed at this time of the year.

Throwing pot shots at other cricketing nations from New Zealand isn't generally justified – we are far from perfect – but in this case it is.

Bangladesh have offered us nothing to warrant any upwards spike in our excitement levels.

The one-day series is already over after three games and there hasn't even been a real contest in any of the games.

I've seen some poor cricket in my time – on most occasions I've been the person involved in producing that poor cricket – but what Bangladesh have managed to date goes close to topping all of that.

New Zealand have, in fact, gained next to nothing out of having them in the country in the leadup to the Australian series.

I'm not sure if Bangladesh themselves have gained anything out of it either.

Do we really know if new boys Andrew McKay and Peter Ingram have got what it takes following their performances against Bangladesh?

We would get a better indication through their domestic showings than against a struggle Bangladesh outfit.

Promise flows from the pair but we are none the wiser about whether that is a strong chance of transferring into wickets and runs against Australia.

Come the end of March when the Australians depart our shores they may be looking at us the same way that we have viewed Bangladesh in the past couple of weeks.

Just like we've poked holes in Bangladesh Australia are always a chance of doing the same to us.

But for some reason I'd much prefer watching us in an uphill struggle with Australia than a leisurely walk in the park with Bangladesh.

» Logan Savory is a former Southland cricket representative who was named New Zealand junior sportswriter of the year at the 2007 TP McLean journalism awards. His main rounds are cricket and rugby.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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