***Official*** England in New Zealand series 2013

[Flem274*]

A fast pitch suits most of our batsmen anyway.

And will actually suit decent cricket unless this slow pitch have some seam or turn in it.

 

[Kippax]

Rope-a-dope tactics, England not settling for the second and third draw I guess. Let them punch themselves out, with a little punch to short extra cover.

1_002_03 - YouTube
I thought I'd seen this cover on the test pitch during games precisely to prevent it being scarred and baked-out; disappointing tstl. If Eden Park is suddenly slow, we'll know NZC has adopted an 'everyone's aware we've done far worse things' attitude towards curator manipulation.

 

[Immenso]

I'm surprised that people are surprised at a slow Basin pitch. Same thing last year, made de Lange look medium.

It's a shame, but the last two seasons the tourists have had strength in the area of our own greatest strength; seam bowling. Resulting in pudding pitches. It's tough being an NZ bowler, even at home conditions don't suit anymore due to uselessness of their batting. Our batsmen - If they're not dropping catches, or sending them out to bowl 45 overs after their last efforts, they are indirectly creating awful home pitches.

 

[Kippax]

made de Lange look medium.

That's exactly what he was into the wind tbf, 135.

Kane Williamson 102* Tribute - YouTube

 

[straw man]

I'm surprised that people are surprised at a slow Basin pitch. Same thing last year, made de Lange look medium.

A matter of degree - last year's pitch was described as below in comparison to to this years.

"It won't be as quick and bouncy as the South Africa test last year."

 

[theegyptian]

A fast pitch suits most of our batsmen anyway.

And will actually suit decent cricket unless this slow pitch have some seam or turn in it.

Fast wicket more likely to suit england imo. Brings Anderson into the match more and Cook, Trott, KP, Prior all enjoy pace on the ball as long as its not super fast bouncy. More likely to bring to the fore the bad technique of some of the NZ batsman.

Rope-a-dope tactics, England not settling for the second and third draw I guess. Let them punch themselves out, with a little punch to short extra cover.

As kippax suggests the best chance for NZ is these flat slowish spongy wickets where england have to force the pace and NZ have the more experience.

Bowling first is meant to be a pretty big advantage in wellington too as well so hope Cook wins the toss.

 

[Immenso]

The pitch at the Basin during England's last tour in 08 was the best test pitch I have ever seen. It was a fantastic match as well until the inevitable NZ session melt down. Was it the one where Oram bowled an unplayable over in last over before stumps where everything seamed away about 6 inches.

Gillespie got lots of (expensive) wickets. Tim ****ing Ambrose cut, sliced, and occasionally edged his way to a test century.

The Basin is a great wicket, which is why it is such a shame that our batting is ruining decent test cricket it this country at the moment. Those ****s need a safety blanket.

 

[Bahnz]

Bowling first is meant to be a pretty big advantage in wellington too as well so hope Cook wins the toss.

Sez who?

In each of 2007, 2008, 2009 (twice), 2010 and 2012, New Zealand bowled first at the Basin and got hammered (4 losses and two rain shortened draws). While that's probably partly down to New Zealand having a very weak side during that period, it's still hard to take it as evidence that bowling first is the way to go.

 

[theegyptian]

Some journo tweeted it, no real research of my own. Although from my brief following of domestic cricket in NZ this season matches seem to follow the pattern of ~ 200,400,350, 150-4 pattern almost regardless of where they are played

 

[hendrix]

As kippax suggests the best chance for NZ is these flat slowish spongy wickets where england have to force the pace and NZ have the more experience.

Sorry, NZ is going to outlast England?

Hell ****ing no.
If any team is capable of the rope-a-dope, it's England, as they've shown on numerous occasions in the last 5 years.

It doesn't matter if England's strength is their bowling. Australia's strength was their seam bowling in Hobart too, wasn't it?

 

[Bahnz]

Some journo tweeted it, no real research of my own. Although from my brief following of domestic cricket in NZ this season matches seem to follow the pattern of ~ 200,400,350, 150-4 pattern almost regardless of where they are played

Not at the Basin. Of the three FC matches played there this season, two wins have gone to the side batting first, along with one draw (where the side that batted first had their opponents 8 wickets down and about 70 short at cop on the 4th day). Reckon whoever tweeted that is talking bollocks.

 

[theegyptian]

Not at the Basin. Of the three FC matches played there this season, two wins have gone to the side batting first, along with one draw (where the side that batted first had their opponents 8 wickets down and about 70 short at cop on the 4th day). Reckon whoever tweeted that is talking bollocks.

Trying to find the tweet but can't seem to find it. Maybe I just imagined it. I'll bow down to your superior knowledge of the subject.

 

[Bahnz]

 

[Kippax]

Sorry, NZ is going to outlast England?

Hell ****ing no.
If any team is capable of the rope-a-dope, it's England, as they've shown on numerous occasions in the last 5 years.

Disagree, that won't be tolerated against NZ. Everyone in their press contingent in particular still likes to think of this as a "now it's our turn again" dynastic period for English cricket; one that can flat-out conjure ***iness like the Australian side of the decade previous. In reality though, their five best bowlers have needed help from the air or the pitch to prevent BJ Watling playing match-winning hands, Corey Anderson going to town of them and Hamish Rutherford batting for six hours. Their batsmen have tried to bring some imposing Australian ***iness to our Ilford second XI bowling talents Jimmy Neesham, Carl Cachopa, Bruce Martin and Neil Wagner, and failed.

 

[chris.hinton]

We always seem to get off to a very slow start, but we deserved to get a draw but have to be thankful that New Zealands pace attack is not top draw

 

[Immenso]

We always seem to get off to a very slow start, but we deserved to get a draw but have to be thankful that New Zealands pace attack is not top draw

Could say almost exactly the same for NZ, tbh. Almost always lose first test of a series. Very rarely score over 400 - so thankful Englands pace attack is not top notch.

Yeah, being a bit cheeky. But I looked up stats guru as it got me interested. Excluding Bangles and Zim;
NZ has lost the first test the last 4 series- back to this time last year had weather effected draw at same ground v proteas.

Going Back to England's last tour here in 08 - NZ have lost the first test in 10 out of 12 series before this (exceptions SA last year, and beat Pak also at Dunefin in Nov 09).

This is the first time NZ have scored over 400 in the first test since Nov 2010 v India in Ahmedabad.

So my point is England aren't the only team to get first test blues. NZ are usually notoriously underprepared, and usually have only two-test series and they are all over before any signs of adjustment are seen (exceptions being Hobart and Colombo).

I'll concede though that this year NZ should be better prepared as have had a tough tour to SA, and FC schedule has a more sensible structure to dovetail with test cricket.

 

[Bahnz]

Cricket | Clack Caps Name Unchaged XI to Face England... | Stuff.co.nz

New Zealand to name an unchanged side.

McCullum said: "I'd expect it to be a normal Basin Reserve wicket, maybe with a little bit of sting out of it, which isn't a bad thing for us."

He said it was a bowl first pitch, given the recent trend in domestic cricket for pitches to offer something for the fast bowlers on the first day then flatten out and not deteriorate much.

Yarg! No! We had this discussion already!

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Any pitch the Blackcaps play on is a bowl first pitch tbf

 

[Bahnz]

Maybe, but I resent the idea that it's a no-brainer to always bowl first at the Basin. There's just no evidence to support it.

 

[Flametree]

Maybe, but I resent the idea that it's a no-brainer to always bowl first at the Basin. There's just no evidence to support it.

Some ideas just take hold. Doull vs India is 15 years ago but still vivid... Martin vs Sri Lanka in 2005. India failing in 2002. Even England were 130-6 last time they played there before Ambrose cut and sliced his way to a hundred.

I know a number of big first innings have happened in that time but still, those ones stick in the mind.