**Official** England in New Zealand

[Smudge]

So Fleming is in form - will he get out in his 40s or 60s?

 

[GIMH]

 

[Tim]

ffs, why is Fleming retiring? With less pressure on him he can concentrate on racking up some runs over the next year or two. Anyway..not to be.

 

[GIMH]

Poor bowling this

 

[Natman20]

So Fleming is in form - will he get out in his 40s or 60s?

I hope not. Want to see him show us what he could have done in his career this match

 

[Natman20]

ffs, why is Fleming retiring? With less pressure on him he can concentrate on racking up some runs over the next year or two. Anyway..not to be.

I think he struggles with not being in charge after all those years.

 

[Tim]

It's very poor bowling considering these are the conditions that are supposedly ideal for these England bowlers. Still, one wicket and it could change dramatically so we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[slugger]

SFleming..avg...40.01 right now...

 

[Goughy]

haha, spank the rubbish

 

[wpdavid]

Even before that Anderson over, you felt that NZ had ridden the storm. Now it's looking very ominous indeed for England. We really needed 2 or 3 with the new ball.

 

[GIMH]

Goughy, interested in your opinion on Sidebottom? I'm sure you've probably stated it before, but the only thing I remember reading from you was after the first Test of his recall you said that should be that...have you changed your mind on him?

 

[Tim]

How's been slow, if he gets out now he'll probably be ridiculed for taking up so many balls but he'll know that the longer he can see off the new ball, the more runs he can score later. Fleming's scoring runs at the other end anyway.

 

[Zinzan]

As I said at the time of selection I can't believe NZ played Bell in this match. Not simply based on his lack of runs in the series but more due to how out of form he looked in Wellington. His confidence is clearly shattered to the extent he's looking like getting out every ball.

Just an aside, England have been very lucky with the overhead conditions this morning

 

[GIMH]

Hoping Broad can bowl as he did in the 2nd dig last week...the spell that was pretty much exactly a week ago now springs to mind

 

[Tim]

But where are the other opening options. There just aren't any. They've got to hope Bell pulls it together by the return trip to England in May.

 

[Woodster]

Fleming has looked in top form this morning, his timing has been retty exquisite throughout the series. Let's hope he switches off for a minute and thick edges one into the gully region.

 

[_Ed_]

But where are the other opening options. There just aren't any. They've got to hope Bell pulls it together by the return trip to England in May.

What happened to McIntosh? He looked really promising for a while there.

 

[Natman20]

How's been slow, if he gets out now he'll probably be ridiculed for taking up so many balls but he'll know that the longer he can see off the new ball, the more runs he can score later. Fleming's scoring runs at the other end anyway.

From what i've seen how is the sort of player that hangs around for a long time and either gets out or starts scoring quicker and quicker. He just has to get settled.

 

[Tim]

McIntosh 260 runs at an average of 27 for Auckland this season in 10 innings...not good enough.
If anything Redmond's been the next best opener with 431 runs in 10 innings with a century and 3 half centuries.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

What happened to McIntosh? He looked really promising for a while there.

I'd rather have ANYONE than the Bell of this morning. Cumming a given for a recall surely.