**Official** England in New Zealand

[Athlai]

How good is he, Elliots somewhat an enigma to me, goodness gracious we're in a good position here. We're even playing Jeeves which means we can actually maintain pressure for long amounts of time and as good as Oram's bowlings been, his batting has been poor, so we don't have to worry about that, nearly a full strength batting line up to go with this untried attack.

 

[Blakey]

I expect England to get at least 350. With the inexperienced lineup and the ball getting older NZ won't be able to maintain the pressure with the ball to cause wickets to fall.

Southee won't be able to bowl more than 6 overs without fatiguing and Eliot I don't think will get enough movement.

Still a great start though.

 

[Goughy]

Elliot looking very ordinary. Though different to what stated, he is getting a little shape away.

 

[Richard]

How good is he, Elliots somewhat an enigma to me, goodness gracious we're in a good position here. We're even playing Jeeves which means we can actually maintain pressure for long amounts of time and as good as Oram's bowlings been, his batting has been poor, so we don't have to worry about that, nearly a full strength batting line up to go with this untried attack.

Elliot(t) should be able to pretty much match Oram's economy-rate mereckons, but don't see him offering the same threat. Oram can extract something out of all but the least seam-friendly surfaces, Elliot(t) strikes me as being possibly vaguely useful if you were playing on a wicket with outfield-style grass but not much else in terms of wicket-taking.

BTW, has anyone yet managed to deduce whether there's 1 or 2 ts in his name? What's more, how many other South Africans have qualified via residency full-stop for teams other than England? Kepler Wessels (Australia) is the only other 1 that comes immediately to my mind.

 

[Richard]

Elliot looking very ordinary. Though different to what stated, he is getting a little shape away.

Yeah... 1 ball in 12...

 

[Richard]

Wellllllllll, there's interesting... turn for Vettori, in his 3rd over, just the 23rd of the match.

Will wait until I see when the next 1 that turns before commenting again.

 

[Natman20]

Elliot gets his first

 

[Richard]

Well, Bell gone too. Evidently trying to out-Strauss Strauss. At least driving a short innocuous delivery back at the bowler for a simple return-catch is original I guess.

 

[chalky]

Bell - end

 

[Goughy]

Terrible dismissal. I really have low expectations of Bell but that was especially poor

 

[Spitfires_Fan]

Doubt that has ever been more applicable really. Absolutely dreadful.

 

[chalky]

Need a repaet of Adelaide (1st innings) from Collingwood & Pietersen.

Think England will struggle to reach 200 now though

 

[Athlai]

Elliott gets him, believe it's two t's as well Rich, my mistake earlier on.

If Vettori gets spin that means, Patel definitely will. England are in trouble.

 

[Zinzan]

C'mon NZ make it one more before lunch, that will totally negate England winning the toss if they haven't done that already

 

[Richard]

Terrible dismissal. I really have low expectations of Bell but that was especially poor

Still too few occasions in his career where he's made scores when coming in with not many already on the board. Not non-existant at all, of course, much as some would probably like to believe, but truth remains that much of his best work has been done ramming home rather than earning the advantage.

We'll do well to get 200 at the current time.

 

[Richard]

Southee back on, good move for mine, Elliott would've played Collingwood in for my money, Southee might possibly get him out.

 

[Goughy]

Ok. Time for my 1st look at the kid

 

[Woodster]

Bell appeared to me to be caught in two minds, should probably have been a back foot punch through extra cover, but seemed to be almost attempting a pull. Bad shot selection, almost premeditated.

 

[Goughy]

Ok. Time for my 1st look at the kid

Interesting

 

[Athlai]

KP, I knew it, just like Tendulkar, whenever anyone says something about them in the media they have a great knock. Hope we get him before he starts to turn the tide.