**Official** New Zealand in England

[steds]

Marron must have replaced it with tarmac overnight.

 

[_Ed_]

****.

 

[steds]

Overthrows. Rubbish fielding.

 

[Richard]

If this continues we'll virtually have this wrapped-up by Lunch.

I'm not expecting it to continue, but it's incredible how little uneven bounce there's been so far, and how little real big turn.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

There really has been some appalling cricket in this test. At least the ending should be fairly close, as there's been little in this to advertise the greatness of test cricket.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Overthrows. Rubbish fielding.

When I do that it only goes for one overthrow. Me > McCullum, obv.

 

[Blakey]

Glued it over night?

 

[Richard]

There really has been some appalling cricket in this test. At least the ending should be fairly close, as there's been little in this to advertise the greatness of test cricket.

Indeed. Run-outs, overthrows (the latter from both sides), the ultimate signs of poor attention-to-detail.

At least the catching has so far been excellent, and the Umpiring fairly acceptable.

 

[Manee]

Iain O' Brian has started, as he left off, with an unwaveringly troubling line just outside off stump to the right hander. If he could create similar consistency to the left hander, he could become a mainstay of the New Zealand attack as the support seamer.

 

[steds]

Wonder what would have happened had Flynn managed to evade that ball.

 

[Richard]

When I do that it only goes for one overthrow. Me > McCullum, obv.

Whatever-your-club-is's outfield > this one, obv.

 

[Richard]

Wonder what would have happened had Flynn managed to evade that ball.

Or maybe even just had a gum-shield in.

No knowing, I suppose - but I guess we could fairly safely say that had he scored 74 or something, New Zealand ended-up with 560, then the game might've been drawn.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Marron must have replaced it with tarmac overnight.

Don't know how these guys could have done the work you've specified. They look the deadset laziest workmen I have ever seen.

 

[NUFAN]

Wonder what would have happened had Flynn managed to evade that ball.

NZ win I would say.

 

[steds]

Glued it over night?

Marron does tend to glue his pitches, but I'm confident he doesn't do it mid-Test.

 

[Richard]

Don't know how these guys could have done the work you've specified. They look the deadset laziest workmen I have ever seen.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

The Old Trafford groundsman is called Peter Marron, FWIW.

 

[Richard]

I cannot believe Vettori hasn't got a third-man.

Half-century for Strauss - that's the 4th innings in a row he's passed fifty. Full credit to him for resurrecting his Test career and I now see no reason he can't stay in the side for the next 4 or 5 years and go from strength to strength.

 

[GGG]

England to win comfortably from this position and another blown opportunity by our cricket team. Hopefully the end of either marshall once and for all and the hunt for another opener to partner How continues.

 

[99*]

WTF? Why is Vettori not using an attacking field, get another ******* slip at least.

 

[chalky]

Solid start for England this morning interestingly the Bookies now have England as huge favourites:

England paying 1.20
New Zealand paying 4.33
Draw paying 67.00