**Official** New Zealand in England

[Richard]

Although his 1st class form has dipped a bit I woulod like to see Rob Key next in line after Shah.

Nah, Strauss and Cook are both fixed currently.

 

[Richard]

One thing's for sure, Hoggard has to come in for Anderson as soon as he's fit again.

I'll honestly be very, very surprised if he were to play the next Test, even if he was fit and had played for Yorkshire before that.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Collingwood's only ever scored runs on ridiculously flat pitches and\or when he's received let-offs - to cover for any other situation so I've basically got 99% of matches any player has ever batted in covered. Bell's usually only scored relatively easy runs. Neither of them have particularly good Test careers to date, but Bell doesn't play for Durham. This alone makes him always worth the go-ahead. This argument is about as well crafted as any in my 56,000+ posts career.

Corrected.

 

[Richard]

Yeah, that's right, I hate players who play for Durham.

 

[chalky]

Yeah, that's right, I hate players who play for Durham.

Your love of Steve Harmison & Liam Plunkett is ledgendary.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, that's right, I hate players who play for Durham.

Yeah, Scaly isn't biased towards Durham at all - everyone else is just biased against Durham.

 

[Leslie1]

C'mon now NZ don't let the advantage slip.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Yes. I would have to give Taylor MotM over Vettori at this stage, even though both have been fantastic (bar further heroics).

Broad doing his best..

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hmm. Broad making it look fairly easy here. Consecutive fours. Get him in the top six.

 

[Richard]

I wonder how many Broad will manage to cut the deficit down by with a few hit-it-when-there's-a-single-wicket-left strokes?

 

[jammay123]

broad is putting the other england batsmen to shame here. hes showing some agression and intent.

 

[Richard]

Your love of Steve Harmison & Liam Plunkett is ledgendary.

I say they're crap because they're crap, not because they play for Durham.

I actually think Mark Davies is a decent bowler, and Durham have signed some excellent players from overseas in recent years in di Venuto, McKenzie and Benkenstein.

 

[Leslie1]

Mills' figures - 1 wicket for 4.18 run rate from 8 overs. Is he an all rounder or is he one of our main seamers?

 

[chalky]

I say they're crap because they're crap, not because they play for Durham.

I know I was only joking should have probably put a few smiley's in the post though to make it obvious. I agree on both counts BTW.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

Not the best day at the office for Mills with the ball, but he is going up against Broad who is throwing the bat with nothing to lose.

 

[Richard]

broad is putting the other england batsmen to shame here. hes showing some agression and intent.

Having just seen that wonderful cover-drive from Anderson, I'd have to say he's matching them actually.

 

[Richard]

Not the best day at the office for Mills with the ball, but he is going up against Broad who is throwing the bat with nothing to lose.

Yeah, exactly. No way can we say everyone earlier should have played as he is. Apart from the fact Mills is bowling very poorly this game, hence his tiny number of overs compared to O'Brien.

And as we say that... yes, Broad hits Mills straight to Patel at extra-cover. Well played Stuart Broad, that was an important little knock. But NZ take a lead of 179.

 

[_Ed_]

All over.

 

[chalky]

LOL at the Banter between Bumble & Ian Smith

McCullum didn't exactly do an Afridi there.

 

[Craig]

Broard doing a good job of frustrating the New Zealanders.