Fleming asks for more out of top order
New Zealand were shell-shocked by the game's turnaround and Stephen Fleming asked for more out of his top order for the second Test at Adelaide
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The turning point was yesterday when the game was well balanced. We had Australia five down and if we could have bowled them out for parity, or for 50 to 100 runs ahead, we could have looked to set them a target. But that period in the afternoon gave them an advantage and that last partnership took the game away from us. The team that turned up today probably had a hangover from that.
Today is extremely disappointing, but I think yesterday was more disappointing.
We're working with pretty small margins against a pretty good Australian side. We need things to go our way and when they don't it makes it hard. It hurt us at times during this game, but it's not why we lost.
There's nothing more than usual. I'd be disappointed if it was all cuddles and handshakes.
I was interested in how it finished when I saw that conversation in the middle of the field. Craig said it was sorted and I take his word for that. He seemed pretty relaxed about it.
Just because one or two guys are on a crusade doesn't mean it changes the way of 95% of the other cricketers. We all like the game played in the best spirit, but if individuals don't it has to be respected either way.
I'm not going to put a blanket on my side that says they must walk or follow every gentlemanly agreement. It's still international sport and some guys are playing for their livelihoods. It's been happening for too long to be changed overnight, and putting pressure on players to do it is wrong.
Today's batting was poor. In the first innings, to have No. 7 get us through to a score is becoming too much of a trend for my liking, and the top order have to improve. To get 350 is a par score ... just.
I don't think it damages us too much because I think you expect the best to come out.
Clearly Hawk-Eye has been shown to be inadequate throughout this match. Some balls were hitting the stumps or not hitting the stumps, and the umpires, who aren't wrong, were in difference to that. Clearly the technology is not up to it yet, and shouldn't be used.
Everybody except James Franklin is fit in the squad. We will be looking at the surface first, and obviously the history. Losing James could have made some difference for us here.
Chris Martin was magnificent for long periods, and it was good to see him get the snap back that he lost in our winter. Dan [Vettori] bowled beautifully and to a plan for several batsmen coming in. A number of these [Australian] guys are great cricketers, they are establishing records of greatness, and there are very small windows of opportunity.
Perhaps only Martin, of the quicks, had bowled against them before, and the counter-attacking may have become a little bit too much for them.