Maximus

I agree entirely and absolutely and utterly completely in every possible respect with ..Say No More!!. (Holy Hell, I think we're going to win the Final.)

it was a tough wicket as many have been. And that's my key point ...Williamson has been fabulous at reading the requirements of each game. I hope he can do it one more time. I hope we win the toss and BOWL. At least we'll get fair value for our investment in time and tension that way - cos even if England get 350 we can have a crack at them, but if we're 25-3 or worse batting first we probably wont be in it for long against their cavalier batters doing their B McCullum impersonations! Ferguson is inexperienced but the way he bowled against Dhoni shows he's unlikely to be be overawed by the occasion on Sunday night. If Nicholls is out, I guess they have the perfect opportunity to bring back Munro for a do-or-die assault..or Sodhi if they feel spin twins can winkle out those impatient Pommie blaggards!

I agree and disagree with you Mardi... more than one good performance ...in several games NZ batted poorly but won - eg v Bangladesh (Williamson); eg v Windies (bowlers and great fielding defending and average/poor total). we beat Sri Lanka for the loss of no wickets but Sri Lanka beat the Poms ...so it all gets down to 'on the day' ..can we spot their weaknesses and exploit them (their openers susceptible to spin; their mid-lower order susceptible to Ferguson's pace and variations, and perhaps to Henry/ Boult, esp if there's some cloud/humidity Sunday.) And we'll have to catch everything that comes our way!!

Picks for Graeme (Brown Fox) for the Koolest of Kats R1–3,7 R2–6,8 BB R3–2,3 R4–5,6 R5–1,2 R6–2-13 R7–5,14 R8–3-13 R9–8,14 R10–6,11 BB

Guptill is due for two ton.

Hesi, like you I hope you're r-r-rong again ...the Poms are in the position the Black Caps were in in 2015...whereas we have already gone through the fire of a grand final loss. If Lord's is a belter on Sunday we may have to do something ingenious like playing Ish as well as Santner and dropping Nicholls (?) or deGrandhomme (?). If I were the coach I'd be inclined to keep the same 11 as the semi-final heroes deserve a shot at the gold ...and deGrandhomme can be very destructive in just a few overs. Tempting to open with Santner if there's turn ...remember Bairstow's first-ball duck early in the tournament ??

NZ the underdogs with no momentum beat the team with the biggest resource pool (people), most money. most clout. best opener, best no 3,best bowler, best spinners, best bla bla bla ..so it deserved to be high on the news agenda..i think we will go all the way now...

Virtue Signalling Capital Of The Third World

..the big three for India scored 3 runs ...ya cant credit them with the extras!! 1-1-1 the perfect number to call. I think Kohli has been very gracious in defeat, unlike many others who want his head ..just further proof that Williamson is the better leader.

and do we get a sentence from you now, Hesi, including the words "I apologise" to the Black Caps and their loyal supporters (including this Mustelid) ..for the many incorrect predictions on this thread about how this game would unfold? Yes, Guptill was 'the man' at the end running out Dhoni, but it was not all about Guptill. What about Williamson's composed captaincy (and batting the day before)? The patience and concentration required to slowly build partnerships, to understand that this was a tricky wicket to bat on and a modest total could be defended? How important was Taylor's patient innings? Compare them to the impatience of Pandya and Karthik. What about Neesham's stunning catch? What about Boult and Henry executing the perfect lines/lengths in those conditions, and keeping the pressure on the Indian batsmen, forcing the run rate up from 4.8 to 9?? (and to think the critics wanted Henry out, though Southee might have done just as well!) What about Santner's brilliant ten over spell? And Ferguson, so cool, fast and accurate, unlucky not to get more wickets, and great even at the 'death' when bowling to one of the best of all time. We all should know by now that any side can beat any other side on the day in an ODI ...but this was an EPIC, exceptional team display...even the 'failure' deGrandhomme, who had the brains to run up to the stumps for the Dhoni run out ..and GOT OUT OF THE WAY!! MM

captain Maximus has Brown Fox's picks under control...unless it's someone else's responsibility ...let me know, please

countering negative press (including, I presume negative video footage) is not as important as suing the pants off these owners/trainers/jockeys for animal cruelty.

AMENDED BY MAXIMUS Table after Round 4 (WITH THE TEAM AGGREGATE ON TOP) 2. 8 Kool Kats - $5259.60 1. 11 Why Worry ? - $4851.00 5. 5 Brian's Beasts - $4578.80 3. 8 Dream Weavers* - $4429.00 4. 8 Betty's Beauts - $4112.60 6. 3 The Formidables* - $4059.80 7. 3 The Friggers - $3877.60 8. 3 Lost Marbles - $3784.60

yep..I predicted my post would flush out your HTD...didn't want to spoil your party by gazzumping you with ours ...LOL... LFTI SNM

.not contemplating the Joker against such a formidable adversary as the Worrywarts...but might play the HTD card ....thinking, thinking ...with Jenlove Sharne and Rob all back in tiptop razorsharp form, tis I,captain Maximus, who appears to be the weakest link ..can I find a suitable victim?

captain Maximus has airport duties and many miles on the road tomorrer, so reporting for duty early and with a clear message to the Koolest of Katz: LETS DO IT TO THEM BEFORE THEY FRIGGING DO IT TO US 1. Te Rapa R3 –4,5 2. Awapuni R4 – 2.4 3. Awapuni R5 – 1.6 4. Te Rapa R6 – 3.9 BB 5. Te Rapa R7 – 3,6 6. Flemington R5 – 2,9 7. Flemington R6 – 5.10 8. Flemington R7 – 2.3 9. Flemington R8 – 5.10 10. Flemington R9 – 2,12 BB

They are making seriously good changes to the old Cambridge Stud HQ ...excellent owners and staff

yep, ads have free speech but they'd better not go breaking any employment contracts..or else!

The new site is excellent easier to navigate and easier on the eye.. I hope you and Pete just let the old crap go and concentrate on building new features to attract more contributors. D:

Hesi...if you want a Thomas-free zone STOP MENTIONING HIM. FRANKLY I'M SICK OF IT. We don't need to be constantly reminded MM

sad to see and say that Demonetization has been hugely disappointing the last year or so... Tiley had big raps on this horse from the start.

and yes I know a long way to go so shouldn't be getting too cocky. Say no more, say no more, Purley, SAY NO MORE! STREWTH!

Never fear, Mustelid Maximus is here...recovering from a hectic weekend, hosting visitors and drowning in Moet after my rellies' mare Hello It's Me smashed 'em in the Northpine Waipu Cup. Belated congrats to the Beauts of Betty from the temporarily-defeated Kool Katz (whose sombre leader would be imposing name change to Pussies if this trend continues much longer). However, there is a silver lining in every cloud here in Bedrock, and on Saturday is was the return of Jenlove to the winning ranks, earning us a valuable point at the end...and Brown Fox (Graeme) his usual reliable self. A more disturbing trend is the appallingly good form of the Why Worry mobsters. Early days though boyz. Enjoy the view from the top while you can. Thanks for your scores 'n updates PJ ... MM D:

Morning citizens, Mustelid Maximus here, from Bedrock ... where the weather is Kloudy n Kool, and the Koolest of Katz are all looking forward to a big day's racing. As predicted, last week at Tauranga was treacherous to say the least, upending the Katz ...so captain Mustelid has stayed Kalm and is exhorting the team to return to winning form pronto!! Someone is going to feel the Wrath of Jen!! Have a great day, Betty, and be nice to me! Go Katz, go ..let's do it to them before they duz it to us! 1 Hastings R3 - 12.11pm – 1,11 2. Rosehill R2 - 2.05pm – 2,4 3. Hastings R7 - 2.20pm – 1,5 4. Ruakaka R6 - 3.24pm – 2,5 BB 5. Ruakaka R7 - 3.59pm – 2,6 6. Ruakaka R8 - 4.32pm – 1,4 7. Rosehill R7 - 5.05pm – 1,5 BB 8. Sunshine Coast R6 - 5.57pm – 1,3 9. Sunshine Coast R7 - 6.33pm – 1,10 10. Sunshine Coast R8 - 7.10pm – 3,13

classy at best, this horse, but I wonder if he is still as good as he was. Connections must be desperate to see a glimpse of the 'old' GN - he's only won 1 race since March 2017. At least he has a few runs under his belt and has put in a couple of decent efforts already. The keys may be not just the tempo but the 3kg claim from Ashvin (down to 51kg) and the better track (Dead 5 or thereabouts, no rain on the day). Certainly a decent value runner as long as he doesn't get too far back - hard to make up ground from the back at Ruakaka sometimes. Best of luck, Barry!