**Official** New Zealand in England

[Prince EWS]

But he'd only conceded 5 runs - he's now likely to end the season with an average of 5, and it always really annoys me when players play 1 game, get 1 wicket for nothing much and end-up topping the averages.

It just irritates me when captains declare instantly a wicket falls. Why didn't McCullum declare before Hopkins got out, or wait a bit longer and allow some of his lower-order to hit Crook for a few runs so he took 1-30 or something?

Maybe because McCullum doesn't give a flying **** about Crook's figures and declared when he felt was right in the context of the game in preparation for the next Test, FFS.

Jeez.

 

[Perm]

Maybe because McCullum doesn't give a flying **** and Crook's figures and declared when he felt was right in the context of the game in preparation for the next Test, FFS.

Jeez.

Haha, hit the nail on the head. Non-issue really.

 

[Richard]

England really can't afford to have openers who can't take advantage of the power-play in these times.

So don't pick Prior. We've already got ample evidence that he can't.

 

[Richard]

Maybe because McCullum doesn't give a flying **** about Crook's figures and declared when he felt was right in the context of the game in preparation for the next Test, FFS.

Jeez.

I'm not actually expecting McCullum to do so, believe it or not. Hopkins getting runs, getting out, whatever - matters not a jot for the next Test. He's not going to play. McCullum could've declared before Hopkins got out or not declared at all and it'd have made zero difference to New Zealand's preparation for the Third Test.

It just generally irritates me - this is far from an isolated instance - when people declare just after a nothing bowler has got a wicket. Happens in the Championship the odd few times per year too. Makes zero sense in any way, shape or form. Invariably, the game is finished as a game by the time said instance happens. So declarations are pointless.

 

[Days of Grace]

The declaration was not pointless in yesterday's game, because NZ wanted another session of bowling. Makes sense?

 

[Richard]

If they wanted some bowling, they should've declared earlier. 20 overs is nothing of much use.

 

[aussie]

So don't pick Prior. We've already got ample evidence that he can't.

No we don't. As i mentioned earlier anything he did with the willow before last season was totally irrelevant because he shouldn't have been picked. Againts India last summer he looked good getting some good quick starts but didn't convert.

Now he is in pretty good form i'd be willing to back him in the ODI team at the top of the order ATM.

 

[Richard]

Anything that's happened before isn't irrelevant. Prior has not reinvented himself as a batsman this winter.

I'd still be astonished if he ever becomes a ODI-standard batsman or close to. He didn't do at all well last summer against WI and India BTW. He got slow starts (as well as not doing sometimes) and then got out.

 

[steds]

The only thing Matt Prior's fit for is use as shark bait.

 

[aussie]

Anything that's happened before isn't irrelevant. Prior has not reinvented himself as a batsman this winter.

I'd still be astonished if he ever becomes a ODI-standard batsman or close to. He didn't do at all well last summer against WI and India BTW. He got slow starts (as well as not doing sometimes) and then got out.

I am not saying Prior has reinvented himself but since SRI last winter his batting clearly has being going well & has Brumby rightfully said he is a dasher & can bat in the top order & i'd give him a shot to open TBH.

 

[Richard]

Prior has played a whole 3 innings in one-day cricket since said Sri Lanka tour. He's scored 50, 31 and 79. Pretty reasonable by his standards, but not remotely the sort of thing that calls for a rethink on a very poor ODI career.

 

[Richard]

The only thing Matt Prior's fit for is use as shark bait.

Your location avoids the filter TBH.

 

[FBU]

I'd go with that idea no doubt. England really can't afford to have openers who can't take advantage of the power-play in these times.

With Tres out & with all fit the best ODI line-up ATM (subject to change after NZ series):

Cook
Prior
Bell
KP
Collingwood
Flintoff
Ambrose
Mascarenhas
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson

I would have

Cook
Wright
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah
Flintoff
Read
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson

 

[oitoitoi]

I quite like that side although I would switch Shah and Collingwood. That said Swann could be a weak link, however there isn't really anyone else who can play in that role except maybe Tredwell. Personally I think they should have stuck with Read after the Pakistan series where he impressed. England should face it that they don't have a Gilchrist and go for a guy who will consistently score 30's rather than a hundred once in a blue moon. Read was flexible which is what would make him a good no.7. Boucher probably couldn't bat up the order but he's invaluable at no.7 because he can play to the situation and shepherd the tail well.

I was in the understanding that Prior was dropped for his poor keeping skills? I certainly wouldn't pick him as a specialist batsmen despite some top returns this season (that last hundred against Durham was very good indeed). I wouldn't back him to score against international quality attacks.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

If they wanted some bowling, they should've declared earlier. 20 overs is nothing of much use.

Better than none.
Why declare after a batsmsn gets out? Well, its practice. Your last recognised batsman gets out and you give your bowlers a go. Why let them bat?

And about declaring before a batsman gets out. Yeah, Hopkins knew exactly when he was gonna get out. Same goes for McCullum. In the NZ coaching staff, not only do they have a Doctor, Shrink, Analysist, and Trainer, but they also have a Precog and a Prozzie to boot.

Jeez Dick Dick.

 

[Richard]

I would have

Cook
Wright
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah
Flintoff
Read
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson

That's extremely light on batting, with only Cook, Pietersen and Collingwood offering even the pretence of established calibre.

 

[Richard]

Better than none.
Why declare after a batsmsn gets out? Well, its practice. Your last recognised batsman gets out and you give your bowlers a go. Why let them bat?

And about declaring before a batsman gets out. Yeah, Hopkins knew exactly when he was gonna get out. Same goes for McCullum. In the NZ coaching staff, not only do they have a Doctor, Shrink, Analysist, and Trainer, but they also have a Precog and a Prozzie to boot.

Jeez Dick Dick.

Still makes next to no sense to me TBH but whatever. I just hope Crook plays again this season.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Still makes next to no sense to me TBH but whatever. I just hope Crook plays again this season.

Ah, I see. Ignore "the logic" but care about "the who the f*ck cares"

 

[Richard]

As I say - don't really think there is much logic there. And yes, I know most people don't care about batsmen taking 1-5 in their only spell of the season, but as I say - it's one of those little things that gets on my nerves for no apparent reason.

BTW, avoiding the filter ain't terribly wise.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I am not saying Prior has reinvented himself but since SRI last winter his batting clearly has being going well & has Brumby rightfully said he is a dasher & can bat in the top order & i'd give him a shot to open TBH.

Prior is a piss poor OD batsman, he's barely good enough to play for Sussex let alone England.