**Official** New Zealand in England

[Prince EWS]

How'd Cricinfo stuff that up though, Bopara was out, and they said that, right?

Think you misinterpreted his post. He was saying that it sounded (on cricinfo) as if there had been a ****-up on the field; not that there was a ****-up on cricinfo.

 

[wpdavid]

Think you misinterpreted his post. He was saying that it sounded (on cricinfo) as if there had been a ****-up on the field; not that there was a ****-up on cricinfo.

Yup.

Anyway, 154 for 7 now. I gather that DL will add a few to our total, as we thought we were batting for 39 overs for the first 12 or so, but we're still looking light afaics.

 

[Jono]

Think you misinterpreted his post. He was saying that it sounded (on cricinfo) as if there had been a ****-up on the field; not that there was a ****-up on cricinfo.

Ah okay, Lol

Apologies wpdavid.

Reckon this will be an interesting chase. A lot depends on McCullum and Taylor.

 

[Jono]

Lol, 3 runs extra on the target.

 

[wpdavid]

Lol, 3 runs extra on the target.

Yeah. Would it have been more if we hadn't been bowled out in the last over?

 

[Prince EWS]

Mustard is no more an opening batsman than Ambrose though.

Okay, mythbusters.

During the rain I've done a bit of research.

Ambrose has indeed played quite a few innings as a List A opener - in fact he played as a specialist batsman in that role quite often early on. He's done it twenty times in total. Here's the catch though - he hasn't done it since 2004. Why? Well, he wasn't very good at it. He hasn't scored a half century opening since 2002 - which itself was only against Buckinghamshire - and his stats in that position are as follows:
527 runs in 20 innings @ 26.35, SR: 52.70; 4 half centuries; HS: 95

Given Ambrose hasn't done the job in four years and he hasn't done it with any success at all in six years, I think it'd be fair to say that Mustard is much better credentialed in that position based purely on the good 2007 he had batting there, but I'll go through all of his 95 games as well if you really insist.

Really, I'm not advocating Mustard by any stretch of the imagination. I quite like Ambrose and I'm backing his selection. I just thought it was a slightly odd time to drop Mustard, especially given the fact that it changed the balance in such a way that ADM was dropped for Luke Wright. I suppose Mustard's poor domestic form played a large part in that.

Slightly off topic, too, but looking at the OD innings Ambrose has played, I'm not convinced he'll be too effective at #7 unless England lose four or five early wickets. He's not a finisher. Best of luck to him, however. He may not suit the roles open for English wicket keepers at the moment but I'd certainly back him to adapt to more different situations Mustard or even Prior with the bat and his glovework looks leagues above both.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah. Would it have been more if we hadn't been bowled out in the last over?

Nope. They knew they were only going to get that many overs when they lost the wickets. Wickets only matter if the batting team is assuming they have a different maximum number of overs to what to what they end up with when they lose them.

 

[Richard]

I'm sure the people who took the day off to see the game and pay for tickets would disagree!

Yeah, obviously.

Seriously, a 24\23-over game is not a ODI and has no right to be called one. Play it, yeah, but there's no way this should be a ODI or count to the series. Just abandon the game and play a Twenty20.

 

[Nate]

For all the talk about his power, McCullum's placement is superb.

 

[Richard]

Okay, mythbusters.

During the rain I've done a bit of research.

Ambrose has indeed played quite a few innings as a List A opener - in fact he played as a specialist batsman in that role quite often early on. He's done it twenty times in total. Here's the catch though - he hasn't done it since 2004. Why? Well, he wasn't very good at it. He hasn't scored a half century opening since 2002 - which itself was only against Buckinghamshire - and his stats in that position are as follows:
527 runs in 20 innings @ 26.35, SR: 52.70; 4 half centuries; HS: 95

Given Ambrose hasn't done the job in four years and he hasn't done it with any success at all in six years, I think it'd be fair to say that Mustard is much better credentialed in that position based purely on the good 2007 he had batting there, but I'll go through all of his 95 games as well if you really insist.

Really, I'm not advocating Mustard by any stretch of the imagination. I quite like Ambrose and I'm backing his selection. I just thought it was a slightly odd time to drop Mustard, especially given the fact that it changed the balance in such a way that ADM was dropped for Luke Wright. I suppose Mustard's poor domestic form played a large part in that.

Slightly off topic, too, but looking at the OD innings Ambrose has played, I'm not convinced he'll be too effective at #7 unless England lose four or five early wickets. He's not a finisher. Best of luck to him, however. He may not suit the roles open for English wicket keepers at the moment but I'd certainly back him to adapt to more different situations Mustard or even Prior with the bat and his glovework looks leagues above both.

OK, then, now tell us Mustard's OD record opening outside 2007?

 

[Prince EWS]

OK, then, now tell us Mustard's OD record opening outside 2007?

I don't see why 2007 should be discounted, though - he opened regularly and did well, which is more than Ambrose has ever done in the position. If we discount 2007, Ambrose shouldn't be anywhere near the side either.

 

[Richard]

Even with 2007 included his record would hardly be outstanding, and it's very much a one-off to date. If something more like it happens again later, then we'll start to consider it the norm rather than the exception.

 

[Nate]

Also, Mitchell Johnson > Scott Styris with the bat.

 

[Richard]

Not a chance.

 

[Prince EWS]

Even with 2007 included his record would hardly be outstanding, and it's very much a one-off to date. If something more like it happens again later, then we'll start to consider it the norm rather than the exception.

The very same could be said about Ambrose's List A batting, though.

 

[stumpski]

Six more overs for this to be an official match, is that right?

They should keep going now, however bad the light gets. Only got a spinner and medium-pacer on anyway.

 

[Prince EWS]

Six more overs for this to be an official match, is that right?

They should keep going now, however bad the light gets. Only got a spinner and medium-pacer on anyway.

This game has been so farcical that a no result would probably be fitting at this stage. Would love to see a result purely for the spectacle though.

 

[Richard]

The very same could be said about Ambrose's List A batting, though.

Yep, it could - and if you look very carefully you'll see I wasn't extraordinarily happy when he was picked for the NZ tour - still wanting Read (who IIRR wasn't ICL-contracted at that point) instead.

Right now, though, he's kinda in a Bryce McGain-style position. One season isn't ideal, but he's still done more than any other wicketkeeper-batsman apart from the unavailable Read has.

 

[Richard]

Six more overs for this to be an official match, is that right?

They should keep going now, however bad the light gets. Only got a spinner and medium-pacer on anyway.

The rain is massing and the groundstaff are hovering. 4 overs left to get a game in.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yep, it could - and if you look very carefully you'll see I wasn't extraordinarily happy when he was picked for the NZ tour - still wanting Read (who IIRR wasn't ICL-contracted at that point) instead.

Right now, though, he's kinda in a Bryce McGain-style position. One season isn't ideal, but he's still done more than any other wicketkeeper-batsman apart from the unavailable Read has.

Mustard has had one good season though, in a batting position that is more beneficial to the team.

I should probably stop this Devil's Advocate line of debate though as I don't want Mustard in the team any more than you do.