**Official** England in New Zealand

[Zinzan]

Haven't been watching. Is the pitch looking easier to bat than in the last 2 days and have the NZ bowlers been beating the bat at all ?

 

[Richard]

The pitch isn't really playing much different TBH. The major difference is a) the batsmen have played vaguely well for the first time in the match and b) the clouds have turned to blue skies and there's been virtually no swing. Let's see whether that changes now the new-ball is taken.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

No swing today. Bell has left one ball and been beaten by maybe 3 out of 106 balls.

 

[Richard]

We've just been given Bell's shot-plot. He's just left his 107th ball, and in the previous 106 there was 1 at which he did not play a shot.

EDIT: seems I was beaten to it.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Martin getting some swing with the new ball.

How did I beat Richard ? :P

 

[Richard]

The pitch isn't really playing much different TBH. The major difference is a) the batsmen have played vaguely well for the first time in the match and b) the clouds have turned to blue skies and there's been virtually no swing. Let's see whether that changes now the new-ball is taken.

Yes, it has. Martin gets some swing in his opening new-ball over. Wonder how long it'll last.

EDIT: beaten to it again by the same poster.

 

[Zinzan]

The pitch isn't really playing much different TBH. The major difference is a) the batsmen have played vaguely well for the first time in the match and b) the clouds have turned to blue skies and there's been virtually no swing. Let's see whether that changes now the new-ball is taken.

Cheers, England have had the best of conditions by the sounds, especially considering it was overcast all yesterday

 

[Natman20]

NZ chasing 250 is highly unlikely let alone 400+ . Can't wait for this match to finish and the humiliation and fustration to end

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Amen

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

At least I can't feel sad about missing the last days of play live

 

[Zinzan]

NZ chasing 250 is highly unlikely let alone 400+ . Can't wait for this match to finish and the humiliation and fustration to end

I hate to say it, but get used to it if you plan to follow NZ's test cricket fortunes over the next couple of years. Huge concerns over the batting

 

[Richard]

One hundred for Strauss.

 

[Zinzan]

One hundred for Strauss.

Timely for him to say the least. Is it too little too late or will this save his current spot for the 1st test of the return series ?

 

[Richard]

Nah there's no way he's going to be dropped now. He'll be in the team for the First Test at home. I just damn well hope he's opening, FFS.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Nah there's no way he's going to be dropped now. He'll be in the team for the First Test at home. I just damn well hope he's opening, FFS.

Yep, you cant drop a guy who gets 100 in his last innings surely. But if he fails at Lords then he's toast.

 

[Richard]

Bell absolutely must get himself a century, ideally a 140-150 too. That'd be his first really significant at-five\six contribution since the West Indies series, and still only his 3rd notable one there, after the 3 consecutive centuries against Pakistan in 2006 and the isolated 2 out of 5 good knocks against West Indies in 2007.

 

[Richard]

Yep, you cant drop a guy who gets 100 in his last innings surely. But if he fails at Lords then he's toast.

Wouldn't want to bet on that TBH.

 

[Days of Grace]

Elliott is New Zealand's answer to Mark Ealham.

Rubbish bits and pieces player. Never to play for NZ again. Unless he scores a century with bat in hand.

Ha ha, one comentator saying he would be a useful squad member. 'A useful bits and pieces player'. **** off you nitwit!!! There is no such thing as a useful bits and pieces player FFS!!!! Idiot.

NZ to be chasing 600+ in the second innings.

****ing dire, **** performance by the batsmen. Should all be hung and quartered, except for How and Fleming. **** 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Elliott is New Zealand's answer to Mark Ealham.

Rubbish bits and pieces player. Never to play for NZ again. Unless he scores a century with bat in hand.

NZ to be chasing 600+ in the second innings.

****ing dire, **** performance by the batsmen. Should all be hung and quartered, except for How and Fleming. **** 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty similar to my response when waking up to see NZ had been skittled yesterday. Just like you I used lots of those **** words.

 

[Days of Grace]

I blame myself actually.

Yesterday, I woke up at 6.30 to watch the cricket. Just ate breakfast and lied on the couch until the lunch break.

But when I got my Japanese textbook and started to study that's when the wickets started to fall.

I will never study Japanese when watching us bat again.


****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!