Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
TBH the only reason I'd make said decision would be to get Vaughan out of that bloody opening slot. Key = Shah in most respects for my money, except that Key bats in the position we want someone in.
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**Official** England in New Zealand
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Indeed, but the lack of support from others is, this time, 100% poor. I said people underestimated how well NZ bowled earlier in the series, but this time it was plain poor batting and virtually nothing else. Only Vaughan was actually got out rather than getting himself out. Shocking performance. There's been good reason for the poor performance in the series so far, but there's nothing much to excuse 'em this time.
chalky
International Debutant
New Zealand well on top although pitch not as flat as was thought before the start.
There definately is some swing with new ball & good bounce & carry. I suppose the key will be if England can bowl as well New Zealand with the New Ball if New Zealand's top order can bat as badly as England's have.
New Zealand's lower order is a lot stronger than England's though so I expect them to give New Zealand a decent lead.
There definately is some swing with new ball & good bounce & carry. I suppose the key will be if England can bowl as well New Zealand with the New Ball if New Zealand's top order can bat as badly as England's have.
New Zealand's lower order is a lot stronger than England's though so I expect them to give New Zealand a decent lead.
tooextracool
International Coach
It is true, not many players play as many tests as Strauss did while blatantly not being good enough. It is indeed sad that he might still end up with a career average exceeding 40(assuming he is dropped forever) and bloggers and forum members years from now may actually wonder why on earth he didn't play more than he actually did.
chalky
International Debutant
Haven't seen that mutch of Key since he last played test cricket TBH. However some of the things I've read & heard about Rob Key I think he gets a raw deal because of his shape & supposed lack of athleticism.
If I recall correctly Steve Waugh rated him fairly highly when he played in Australia a few years back & definately thought England should have stuck with him a bit more.
Saying all that though I would still bring in Shah for Strauss but have Key breathing down Bell's neck for the next batting spot.
chalky
International Debutant
So Robin Smith then.
NZ's is a bit longer this time though
KiWiNiNjA
International Coach
Actually, I think its the opposite. Southee + Patel > Mills + Gillespie
Elliott also might be an upgrade with the bat over an out-of-sorts Oram
tooextracool
International Coach
Robin Smith did get a raw deal though. There is little doubting Smith's ability against pace, but his ability against spin was what ended up going against him. Not many players do get dropped despite scores of:
12,10 175, 78,6,13,16,61,46,44,43,52,34,2,66
in his last 15 innings though. Although tbf he was 33 when he did get dropped.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
With today's blob Strauss is down to 39.52, so (assuming he's dismissed) would need to score 80 or more in the 2nd to push him back into the 40s. If I were a bookie I'd offer long odds personally...
Anyway, have now finished watching today's highlights. Pretty depressing they were too. Only really Vaughan & Ambrose were positively dismissed rather than contributing towards getting themselves out with twatty shots. Even KP's lovely little knock was ended by a rather loose drive, although 129 runs out of 240 means I'll forgive him that.
Southee looks a real find, bowls at a decent (and very consistent) lick, generally around 82-4mph and moves the ball both ways. His dismissal of Vaughan was a masterpiece of its kind; two lavish outswingers followed by one that comes back in off the seam. Patel bowled really well too, gaining both his wickets with balls that drifted away from the right-handed delivered over the wicket. Collingwood's attempted cut was rather daft tho, the ball being far too wide for the shot.
Broad played quite well for his 42, top edged a pull for 4 & sent 2 thick edges through the slips for boundaries, but played well enough for his luck. I don't wanna put the mockers on him for later, so I'll say no more than that for now.
tooextracool
International Coach
Bowls with a very open chested action though not too dissimilar to Liam Plunkett. For whatever reason, Ive always preferred bowlers with side on actions, i think it helps prevent injuries as well as to generate outswing but I'll refrain my judgement on Southee until Ive seen more off him.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
Don't think Collingwood's place should be under threat although i agree Ramprakash deserves a go again. Not sure about Key as an opener TBH would rather back Vaughan at the top as well.
tooextracool
International Coach
Vaughan is not a regular opener, hes merely a makeshift opener. Its quite unlikely that he will succeed for much the same reason as Fleming in that he is a strokemaker and strokemakers with the exception of very few do not succeed at the top of the order. His most recent stint as opener epitomises that in fact as the only time hes scored runs were on flatter pitches.
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
One who came to my mind was Vinod Kambli TBH.
Woodster
International Captain
Very disappointing day yesterday for England on a track that looks great for batting, providing you bat wisely against the new ball. How England use the new ball on day 2 will be crucial.
KP batted really well, restrained when he needed to be and conviction in his aggression when going after the ball, barring his dismissal.
Cook, Bell, Colly and Strauss should all have been down about getting themselves out on a track like this.
Intriguing day ahead, think near 300 is the absolute best we can hope for. If Broad goes early, around 250 is a distinct possibility. Broad batted very sensibly yesterday, giving KP solid support and took a few more risks, successfully, when with Sidebottom.
KP batted really well, restrained when he needed to be and conviction in his aggression when going after the ball, barring his dismissal.
Cook, Bell, Colly and Strauss should all have been down about getting themselves out on a track like this.
Intriguing day ahead, think near 300 is the absolute best we can hope for. If Broad goes early, around 250 is a distinct possibility. Broad batted very sensibly yesterday, giving KP solid support and took a few more risks, successfully, when with Sidebottom.
wpdavid
Hall of Fame Member
If NZ are still batting half way through the afternoon session on day 3, then we're out of the game.
Woodster
International Captain
Providing our top order actually bats like the talent it clearly has, we can afford a deficit of a few runs. Actual figures, I would say if they score more than 150 more we are in real trouble. The track here does not seem to get worse, in a domestic game there Canterbury knocked off a sizeable target in the fourth innings, so we do need to set a healthy target for NZ.
All depends for me what side of our top order we see. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for no deficit!
All depends for me what side of our top order we see. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for no deficit!