i have to say that dean brownlie looks very good. composed and assured, just what new zealand need.

Yeh, he looks a damn fine batsman. The Aussie bowlers seems to be extracting a lot of movement out of the pitch, I wonder how the batsmen will get on.

hughes gone for low score again

I watched the first hour and how green was that wicket? That was a bowler paradise and it will be another test that will finish early.

indeed. if i were a fast bowler, i would be rubbing my hands with glee if i were to be bowling on that. i agree with mark taylor on commentary last night that the pitch at the gabba gave something for everyone, this is to much in favour of the bowlers.

The problem is after day1 the match is more or less over and thats what a heavily bowler friendly circuit does to tests.

well, i think cricket goes in cycles. in the 90s, we saw the bowlers dominate, with only a handful of batsmen averaging 50 or over (Lara, Waugh and Tendulkar). in the 2000s, we saw batsmen dominate with many batsmen averaging 50 or over, and now perhaps we will see it go back the other way

From an entertainment point of view i'd rather watch wickets fall throughout the day than see a team on 340-2 at the end of the day.

Me too, give me a sporting wicket over a flat track any day.

The Tasmania pitch is absolutely brilliant. Offers more than enough to the bowlers, but with a bit of grit and skill you can score runs. That's the perfect balance.

Brownlie's half century was a real achievement, a very very good innings. I enjoyed watching it much more than Sehwag's double ton, and I mean that.

i'm sorry but this is rediculous.

this pitch does not give batsmen a chance. it is far too green, it should be reported to the ICC. yes there will always be variation in pitches, and that is good, but there must be something in a pitch for everyone, a chance for any result to occur, including a draw and that is not the case here.

Its not dangerous and at least there will be a result Jezzer, unlike some nations pitches.... Why shouldnt the bowlers have an edge for a change ?

I think it makes for good cricket...

btw.. I`m watching the game right now, Clarke as just gone (left one) and the Aussies are 7-75...

i disagree. the gabba made for good cricket, as did that first test in SA. if you were disciplined at the gabba or at cape town as a batsman there was something there for you. there is nothing here for batsman. you go out and hope to survive a while and get a few runs. as i speak it is 75/7. have australia batted that badly? there may have been a couple of loose shots, but in the main the dismissals have been due to movement off the pitch. no it is not dangerous, but i would say it is unfair. i like to see an even contest between bat and ball, i haven't seen that yet.

hasza i disagree with you. even with great skill and determination, i cannot see even a great batsman like tendulkar making runs here. batsmen are just trying to survive, and failing.

there is nothing here for the batsman. if i were an aussie batsman at this point i would have no backlift and would just protect my stumps. there is no point playing expansively even to a bad ball because there is so much movement it is too risky.

nwe zealand played very well on day 2 and deservedly lead. let's see how many that can put on before the pitch works its magic once again.

in terms of jcc rankings, if NZ were to win this test it would be very bad for australia

"have australia batted that badly? there may have been a couple of loose shots,"

Did you see Ponting and Clarkes dismissals?!

Jezzer ffs get a grip. For every one of these pitches (which has given us 3 days of thrilling cricket), there are 50 dead pitches where 500 plays 400. And i'm not exaggerating.

This pitch is a rarity and it makes a great change. Groundsmen should aim to produce one like Gabba, if they produce one like this then great.

Oh and I didn't see any of Ross Taylor's 50, but Brownlie's 50 was played with confidence and a wonderful technique for the conditions. That's why he scored 50 and no-one else did in the 1st innings of the Test Match.

Now stop talking bolloks and enjoy the cricket!