Good morning world!
Welcome to the charming and hospitable Wynnum Croquet Club in Brisbane for the illustrious Trans Tasman Test Series.

The format of this event is 3 two-day tests between Australia and New Zealand. Each test consists of 1 day of doubles (4 different mixed doubles pairing), and one day of singles (single gender - 4 women's and 4 men's), and the matches are all Best-of-Three, with time limits of 3hr, 3hr, and 2hr (cumulative).

The teams we have contain a number of the best players in the world, and they are (in playing order):
NZ:
Greg Bryant (Captain)
Aiken Hakes
Chris Shilling
Josh Freeth,
Jenny Clarke
Nina Mayard-Husson
Alison Robinson
Pam Fisher

AUS:
Malcolm Fletcher
Edward Wilson
Greg Fletcher
Stephen Forster
Claire Bassett
Rosemary Landrebe
Alison Sharpe
Alix Verge
and Reserves Fleur Brockway and Jannine Hawker.

Conditions are very pleasant. The forecast temperature for the week is basically mid-20s, chance of a shower or two but nothing torrential, and the lawns are running between about 11 and 12 seconds - depending on the time of day.
The grass cover is excellent, and consistent, and the lawns are very nice to play on. The hope is, nevertheless, that the sun stays out and they speed up a bit, given that there is no mowing scheduled for the week as yet... The will be rolling though.
The lawns are pretty true, although lawn 1 (of 4) is rather wavy over long distances, and a couple of boundaries roll off, but otherwise, all is good!

I'm not sure how much commentary I will have the time/motivation/battery power to do throughout the week, but I'll try and do some every day if possible. I believe NZ Team Manager Steve Wardle will do some to depending on his time and internet. If there happen to be any interested readers who have particular questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] and I might possibly read check my inbox every now and again.

Anyway, on to play!
On lawn 1, we have Australia's Alix Verge & Edward Wilson (replacing Robert Fletcher) v. New Zealander's Aiken Hakes & Alison Robinson,
Lawn 2: Aus Malcolm Flet

cher & Alison Sharpe v. Nina Mayard-Husson & Chris Shilling

Lawn 3, Aus Claire Bassett & Greg Fletcher v. NZ Jenny Clarke & Josh Freeth

Lawn 4, Aus Rosie Landrebe & Stephen Forster v. NZ Pam Fisher & Greg Bryant

All games have started (while I was waking up my typing), and here is what I have seen from the corner of my eye so far:
Lawn 4: Landrebe hit (nor sure 4th or 6th turn) and has made a speedy 9 (2-4 leave with a lose 2 ball), and Bryant is taking the 4 ball lift down the East Boundary. Hits.
Lawn 3: Bassett hits 3rd turn and makes 2 (fails an angled 3), and Freeth is now in and making a break to hoop 4
Lawn 2: Sharp and Fletcher are on 7 (1back - for those of you who can't count past 6) and 1 (in that order), and Fisher and Shilling are on 3 and 1 - not sure how any of that happened. Shilling now approaching 1.
Lawn 1: Verge has just made 8 (2back) - no other clips have started.

I won't commentate every stroke, but will let you know when anything interesting happens (if I haven't got other things to do, which I expect to have sporadically as the day goes bye)

Bryant Set up for Fisher, and Landrebe missed on lawn 4. Fisher now has a rush to 1, but opposition balls in Corner 1, and mid-East boundary.
Otherwise, no interaction, and breaks are proceeding smoothly (not too challenging conditions at the moment).

Battery needs charging, so will resume shortly.

On Lawn 4, Both Fisher and Forster have made 1 each, and broken down, and Bryant has now made 1 with balls ahead... will be interesting to see what he does.
Lawn 3, Freeth has finished his 9, but looks like has has work to do to make a decent leave..
Lawn 2, Shilling is up to 2back,
Lawn 1, Verge made 9, Hakes (hit?) didn't get past 3, and now Wilson has just missed a 12 yard return roquet after running 1 to the north boundary. NZ have an 8 yarder (Robinson) mid lawn if they want it.

Sorry, that last one was a bit delayed.
On 4, Bryant (playing Forster and Landrebe) has made 1back (partner on 2, oppo on 2 and 4back)
On 3, Freeth (v. G. Fletcher and Bassett) sets leave with not the greatest result, but Bassett misses and Freeth has a 10 yarder to get back in. Hits - will be setting for his partner (still on 1 - oppo on 1 and 3)
On 2, Shilling makes 9, and M. Fletcher hits and is now making 2 - balls all set for a sextuple... but doesn't get the first peel after 1. Conditions are relatively easy, and he's playing well, so even though it's early in the morning, he has a chance of getting there, even though it'll be delayed...
Will update you on players' current forms later.
Lawn 1, not really sure what's been going on - just misses, defensive shots, sets-up, but Wilson seems to be rolling to 3 from just west of the middle of the north boundary. Has a 2 yard straight hoop, and runs it to the south boundary giving himself another 10 yard return.. hits and makes 4.

Steve Wardle is going to take over commentary for lawns 1 and 2 (Verge & Wilson v. Robinson & Hakes, and M. Fletcher & Sharpe v. Shilling and Mayard-Husson, so when this battery charges up a bit, I'll be able do give you a few more details on the games I'm covering.

On Lawn 4, Captain Bryant has made a leave after 9. The balls are: Landrebe's Yellow (for 4 back) 6 yards North and 2 East of 4, Forster's Red (for h.2) 1 ft SW of 2, Fisher's Blue on the boundary 8y SW of that (West Boundary), and Bryant's Black (4back) in Corner 2. Forster shoots at partner from where he lies, and misses.

Bryant misses partner to Corner 1, Landrebe hits the 4 yarder, and will be setting up for Forster...

Lawn 3, Jenny Clarke seems to have made it to 3, though not sure what happened. Claire Bassett seems to have hit, and is taking croquet from part

Actually, it was Greg Fletcher who has hit, and taking croquet from partner up behind h.2 (he's for 1) and taking off to oppo balls on East Boundary just up from 4.

Pulls up a bit short and hits the in lawn ball (looks like he's setting up for his partner). The set-up will be: Yellow (4back) 2 yards off south boundary just east of 4, Red (h.3) 1yard off East Boundary level with 3, and Fletcher and Bassett somewhere else... hasn't done that yet.

Lawn 4, Forster is through 3, with a hampered shot on partner (5 yards), and oppo just out of Corner 1, and in Corner 4. Misses.
Long shots are the only ones available for the Kiwis.

Oho - contact Leave on Lawn 2! Steve is probably covering this, but it is interesting.
Malcolm in C1 (for peg), Alison 1y south of C2 (for 7), Shilling 7y East of peg (for 9), and Nina MH 18in West of peg.

(Nina is for h.3)

Back to my business. Lawn 3 set up for Fletcher & Bassett was just off west boundary giving Basset a rush pointing towards mid East Boundary - not sure if that was where it was supposed to be pointing, but Clarke played defensively and shot her ball off to Corner 1, only to have Hoop one villainously interpose itself between her moving ball and the corner, and has now left Greg Fletcher a perfect load at 1, and an easy takeoff to put a ball at 2, which he does (although wiring himself from the ball at 1 - but ran the hoop backwards and roquetted) Easy.

Bad luck for Jenny there - it would have been a good break for Claire to dig out.

Lawn 4

The game there is Toing and Froing, but Pam fisher has just hit a 25 yard set up, and will do someth

Lawn 4

The game there is Toing and Froing, but Pam fisher has just hit a 25 yard set up, and will do someth

ing when her partner materialises...

She apologizes for hitting and making him walk back across 3 lawns to get there.
She is on 2, but will have to do a 4yard takeoff behind an oppo ball on the east boundary level with 4 to get a rush anywhere. Forster is on 5, both Bryant and Landrebe have made 9.

Lawn 3
Easy break in progress for G. Fletcher - just run 3. Will report back on that one when something interesting happens.

Lawn 4
Pam Fisher doesn't play for the rush, but croquets Forster's h.5 ball up t

Lawn 4
Pam Fisher doesn't play for the rush, but croquets Forster's h.5 ball up t

to 2 (her hoop) and puts the other oppo 8y East of the peg, while setting herself a rush (to the easterly ball) on the south boundary just west of 1.

Forster shoots from 2 at the oppo on S. Boundary, and misses. Long rushes coming up for Fisher!

Pam's partner has nevertheless departed again for his second attempt at a smoke (outside the premises and several lawns away), so she stands patiently (with hands on hips) waiting for him. Chief referee reiterates to her that play is supposed to be expeditious, and that she can't wait like this all day. Fair enough - these games are time-limited and mixed doubles have a habit of pushing those limits. Hopefully the advice is taken without any ill will, and play continues smoothly.
Pam rushes to near yellow out east, and will be able to get a reasonable load at 3 and a cut rush to 2.

Unfortunately (for the New Zeelander's) she fails 2, with a 5 yarder for Landrebe and a ball at her hoop.

Setting up for partn

er.

Meanwhile, spectators are arriving - all the local ex-players and not-today helpers and managers. Reserves are coffeeing and lunching, and looking much more might and chirpy than they did at 6:30 a.m.

Landrebe's setup was good, and Forster is trucking round on his break. No peels coming up (not likely anyway), but it should be a peg and 4back v. 4back and 3 with lift in about 5 min.

Lawn 3. Fletcher makes it to 4back, so clips are now level 4back and 3 v. 4back and 3.
Jenny Clarke (for 3) snicks lift shot (reverse diagonal) and rushes to EB level with 6. Will be loading 4 getting a rush on partner back to 3. Hits it a bit gently and will have to cut partner back to 3. Ends up closer to 6 than 3, but will be rolling in. Does well, but has a long hoop.

Fails 3, leaving opposition with a choice of 20 yard shots.

Meanwhile on Lawn 4, Forster did 1 peel (straight) when he could without risk, but will now be going to the peg.

Forster makes it to the peg, and will be setting up on East boundary level with 5.
He has put Bryant's 4back ball in the jaws of rover (protruding quite a bit to the south) and Fisher's h.2 ball about 9y west of the peg.
Landrebe's rush is pointing at penult.
Bryant lifts the ball in rover, and will be making a double on opposition from B balk.
Just misses...

Lawn 3
Scores unchanged. Fletcher & Basset setting another leave.

NZ miss - 3 to 4 (Jenny - on hoop 3)

Lawn 4
Rosie Landrebe had a rush to penult, played it perfectly, and made it with a rush to the west boundary behind the ball 4 yards off it (in lawn), but the plays a takeoff leaving partner on West Boundary... Gets a rush to rover, but not out of it. Doesn't take on the 5 yard takeoff to partner on the boundary, and is now taking croquet 13 yards from the peg.

She has croquetted oppo Blue to NW of 2 (it's for 2), and leaves black (Bryant - for 4back) on EB level with 4.
She sets up half way betwen C1 and H1 with a rush to the peg, and 1 ball wired from Bryant's black. He has a 25 yard shot at oppo or 30 yard at partner to save the match.

Misses.. Rush to

Misses.. Rush to

the peg should make it Australia ahead in 3 matches so far.
Bassett & Fletcher v. Clarke and Freeth is still going slowly. Claire Bassett has however made it through 3, and is on a break - balls still not all marshaled in yet though.

Rosie Landrebe misses the peg front ball of the pegout (5 yards...) and pegs herself off.

Time for some fun!

35 min to go for Bryant and Fisher...
Greg has made his last 3, and is on the peg.
His leave is Red (Forster for peg) wired from pet half way between H1 and C1. Sets up a rush for Pam 1y NW of 2 (she's for 2).
Forster plays away to WB half way between 5 and peg, and Pam makes hoop 2 and has a rush to 3.
Could take a while to get around, but she's playing quickly, so could be interesting.

Lawn 3.
Claire Bassett has stopped at 3back (not sure how), and Jenny Clarke hit in and failed a relatively easy looking H.3. Basset back in and making 3back.

Lawn 4.
Fisher has made 3, and is up in C3, setting a dolly rush to 4. Red is unmoved on WB just up from 5.

Forster shoots at the peg, and misses to mid EB.
Fisher ignores it and takes her rush to 4. Missapproach and has a short angled hoop. Debating whether to try or not.

Doesn't. Sets a rush in to 4.
Forster will be having another crack at the peg from mid east boundary.

Referee awakes and goes to watch.

Misses.

Pam Fisher makes 4 and has a straight rush to 5.

Makes 5 and overrushes up to 6, and will have a 2yard backward takeoff. Partner will be out the side though so a good chance of getting a rush to 1back or to the ball mid East Boundary if she runs it.
She sticks plum in the middle. Forster at peg again...

Nope, shooting at receiver at 6. Misses to N.Boundary in line with 3 and 4.

Interesting - I would have been scared of Pam running to the boundary, hitting Red, and having a 3 ball break, but since she calls the ref. and only taps it through taking a rush to 7, he has anticipated her lack of confidence in smashing it through.

She makes 7, and sets up with a rush to 2back down between the aforementioned hoop and C1.

Lawn 3.
Basset makes it to peg (Fletcher still on 4back), and sets another reverse diagonal, with Jenny Clarke's 3 ball down north of 4, and Josh Freeth's yellow just west of the peg.
Jenny picks up red, and is taking the short shot at oppo from B-balk. Good shot choice (shortest) given the time remaining (18min ish). Misses.

Lawn 4. Forster shoots at peg and misses badly. Pam Fisher has a good chance for a 3 ball break if she wants it. 17 min to go and 5 hoops to make. Forster's red is now 2y west of 1 on the south boundary.
Fisher runs 2back firmly, hits red, and will be putting that towards 4back while trying for a rush on partner to 3 back (partner is 2y SE of 2back)

Oh dear, she's turning down the 3ball break (not risking making an error with oppo) and just takes her rush to 3back. Plays it well and runs the hoop with control and has a rush to 4back. Top stuff.

Pam is playing speedily but not rushing. The Australians may well be regretting pegging one ball off now - given that they no longer receive lifts, and only have long shots at the peg every now and again.

Runs 4back to boundary and has a rush back to Penult. Perfect.

Lawn 3, the Kiwi's are back in.
Fletcher croquetted out by a smidgen while approaching 4 back... Jenny Clarke is now making a break. Another potentially interesting ending coming up. Clip positions are Bassett=peg, Fletcher=4 back, Freeth=4back, and Clarke = break.

Lawn 4, Fisher has (earlier) wired Forster's red from the peg down (down near corner 1), and will be setting herself a rush to Rover up near corner 3..
10 min left.
Aus are Peg and Box, v. NZ Peg and Rover.

I take it back, she doesn't get a rush to Rover, but if AUS shoot, she will, so they'll be lurking somewhere.

Forster lags to West Boundary peg high.

NZ stay where they are - but now set a rush to Rover.
Forster should only have one more game deciding shot.

Forster misses by quite a bit again.

Lawn 3.
Jenny is still motering around and has just run 2back. Laid break ahead, and may well peg off Claire Bassett if she gets to the peg. If she gets a peel or two on the way, she may elect to take herself off too...

Lawn 4.
Pam Fisher rushes to and makes Rover, but has a rush away from the peg. Sets up down between H1 and C1, giving herself a 1 yard rush towards the peg.
Another game deciding turn for Stephen Forster.
He hasn't shot well so far, but he certainly can...

Taking lots of practice swings on the boundary.
a couple of mins left...
Shoots, yells "Come on! Come on!"

...

That was a long half second.

he missed.

Pam Rushes to the peg, just misses the peg, and has a 4ft pegout.

Calls ref (Brian Foley from Victoria, who is in the process of wearing a track from his seat to this peg), and partner to help line up, and hits the peg with both balls.
Deserved applause and NZ take this match 26-25.

sorry - this game of this match

Ok, Lawn 3...
Clarke makes it to the peg, and pegs herself off - after time - to lead by 1 hoop...
AUS have 1 turn left to equalize/ win.
Fletcher (4back) is about peg high over near East Boudary, Bassett (peg) is half way between H2 and C2, and Freeth is WB just sough of peg high.

A lift is available, and Greg Fletcher is taking it - up with West Boundary at Freeth's yellow from Corner 1

Hits, and cuts Freeth's yellow up to just east of 2.
Still a good chance for the Australians.

Greg Fletcher gets a perfect rush, plays a perfect approach, runs the hoop perfectly to the boundary having an almost perfect rush back to penult (may choose to take it to the ball over near 2 if he chooses) and needs one more point to be game up to Aus in this one. However, he hasn't done it yet.

Aft

Aft

After this game ends I will take a break for a while (and do some managerial duties - and have some second breakfast), and be back on a new commentary page in the fullness of time.

Apologies for the stuttering - my keyboard sometimes malfunctions of its own accord.

Greg Fletcher makes penult and takes Game 1 on Lawn 3 for Australia. Will no doubt try and finish the game with a 26 though. You'll see the score so I'm off now. You'll see my typing again soon!