**Official** New Zealand in England

[Richard]

Really, you think it's that good a pitch to bat on, or are the English and Kiwi fans just trying to outdoom each other here?

It's a superb batting pitch. That's pretty obvious. England have done poorly, NZ have bowled well - the only question is will the inverse happen immediately after? Far from impossible, of course.

 

[Leslie1]

The pitch is a road. Maybe some tennis ball bounce at times but other than that Shah and Bopara showed it is easy to score runs.

How on earth is Southee getting wickets?

To quote a madman, he's the luckiest cricketer he's seen since Botham.

 

[duffer]

It's a superb batting pitch. That's pretty obvious. England have done poorly, NZ have bowled well - the only question is will the inverse happen immediately after? Far from impossible, of course.

Ah, haven't seen much of it,but looking forward to seeing NZ tee off later (hopefully).

 

[Scaly piscine]

The ECB should hire Dr Kawashima and see if he can find any signs of intelligence in England's batting line up. While he's at it he can give an official diagnosis on Ian Bell as to whether or not he's technically an invertebrate.

 

[wpdavid]

D-L gives a par score of 266 from 175-4 off 37 overs.

Clearly DL haven't seen much of England's lower order lately.

 

[Leslie1]

"I think that he's (Southee) probably a better bowler than Richard Hadlee was at this age"

Sweet.

 

[Blakey]

To quote a madman, he's the luckiest cricketer he's seen since Botham.

Not so lucky anymore. 2 fours through where a regulation 2nd slip should have been.

 

[Richard]

Finally, a run-out. Not before time.

 

[Blakey]

Have to say very well bowled last over from Dizzy. Each ball right on the toes of the 'batsmen'.

 

[Richard]

Not so lucky anymore. 2 fours through where a regulation 2nd slip should have been.

Regulation first-slip. Stupid to have second-slip to a tailender and not first.

 

[Leslie1]

I'll back English bowlers to do well.... which probably means I hope my statement curses Black Caps to victory... or have I just done a double jinx here?

Side thought: Zimbabwe + Mugabe = death of cricket in Zimbabwe.

 

[NUFAN]

Very remote chance.

245 will be good from here.

Haha, second good call of the day!

 

[wpdavid]

I'll back English bowlers to do well.... which probably means I hope my statement curses Black Caps to victory... or have I just done a double jinx here?

Lost track of that about half way through. But this will be a piece of piss for your boys.

 

[Blakey]

Regulation first-slip. Stupid to have second-slip to a tailender and not first.

I think it would have been too wide for a first slip, hence my thinking for a 2nd slip.

 

[Leslie1]

Lost track of that about half way through. But this will be a piece of piss for your boys.

This would be easy if we still had Fleming, Vincent, Astle, Cairns etc etc etc...

Problem is our batting is on par with England's batting at the moment - except McCullum < KP.

Bowling performance ranking:

1. Southee
2. Mills
3. Oram
4. Gillespie
5. Vettori
6. Elliott

 

[Athlai]

This would be easy if we still had Fleming, Vincent, Astle, Cairns etc etc etc...

Problem is our batting is on par with England's batting at the moment - except McCullum < KP.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Leslie going for a reverse jinx, methinks.

If he is wrong, then he will be happy.
If he is right, he will say "I told ya so"

 

[Richard]

This would be easy if we still had Fleming, Vincent, Astle, Cairns etc etc etc...

Vincent was crap, Cairns retired the best part of 3 years ago (might as well "if we still had" about Crowe and Larsen), and Fleming and Astle retired at the right time. You might as well "if we still had" about Hadlee and Turner.

 

[Richard]

I think it would have been too wide for a first slip, hence my thinking for a 2nd slip.

Reckon it would've been straight to TBH.

 

[Athlai]