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

[Bahnz]

Ugh, what a joke of a player.

 

[Meridio]

Woeful from Southee. We'll be following on before tea.

 

[Mike5181]

Southee is such a dumb player.

 

[hendrix]

Yup absolutely dreadful from Southee that.

How this guy can be considered for vice-captaincy I just don't know.

 

[otagoman]

Awhile ago John Bracewell made the pea hearted comment about Ian Butler. I reckon Southee is more suitable for that. When the pitch is doing plenty, he looks a world beater, when its not he really struggles and looks discouraged...and batting, he has no fight, anything short he will just slog it down the throat of fielders in the deep

 

[Meridio]

Yup absolutely dreadful from Southee that.

How this guy can be considered for vice-captaincy I just don't know.

Was literally about to make this exact post. Hesson is such an idiot. Actually, on that subject, had to laugh at this quite in an article about Rutherford on Stuff today:

What we weren't told at the time was that former Otago coach Mike Hesson, who has since gone on to have an interesting start as New Zealand's head coach, had told his successor Vaughn Johnson that Rutherford's game was suited only to the shorter forms of the game

Really knows his cricket, does Mike.

 

[vandem]

Impressed by Watling, again. Has gone past 40 in 4 of his last 5 test innings. Batting at #6 or #7. Now can we stop using him as an opener on ODIs?

 

[straw man]

Ducked out for a bit and disappointed to see McCullum is out - live by the sword I suppose...

Great to see some fight from Southee . At least you know that Martin and Wagner will put some effort in.

 

[straw man]

Important innings Watling - a bit of luck but we really needed that.

Not looking forward to the second new ball though.

 

[hendrix]

I know there are other reasons, but the lack of application from our tailenders has to have been a significant factor in our demise over the past few years.

Comparing Steven Finn's innings to Tim Southee's really highlights the problem.

 

[straw man]

Southee at eight if obviously ridiculous, though I guess they think he should be taking responsibility and coming in ahead of Martin and Wagner as they're are both new in the side. Sometimes when you give someone more responsibility than they're accustomed to they will rise to the occasion. Here, not so much.

We don't have anyone really that is at home batting at 8 in tests, though Martin and Wagner definitely add something to this tail (as does losing C Martin). I don't believe Bracewell was lacking in application but he doesn't yet have a batting method that had been proven to work even at domestic level.

 

[Zinzan]

Okay, so Bruce Martin now averages 50 with the bat and under 30 with the ball. Easy game this test cricket.

 

[straw man]

Haha, that's quite a leave

 

[Mike5181]

Bruce Martin just has a far more mature approach to batting than Southee. Southee might be more talented as a batsman, but he's mentally weaker so Martin will utilize his skills better.

 

[straw man]

Arg. Follow-on still on here.

 

[Zinzan]

Wow, Gladstone Small has hardly aged at all.

 

[straw man]

Whadashot! Martin's eyes lit up when he saw that.

 

[hendrix]

Bruce Martin knows where his offstump is and picks the swing early. He also sees the difference between a good ball and a bad ball and has the discretion to play shots at the bad balls.

Do we have another batsman, let alone tailender in the side about whom this description would be true?

Watling? Taylor sometimes?

 

[Zinzan]

Bruce Martin knows where his offstump is and picks the swing early. He also sees the difference between a good ball and a bad ball and has the discretion to play shots at the bad balls.

Do we have another batsman, let alone tailender in the side about whom this description would be true?

Watling? Taylor sometimes?

The guy is showing some guts, no doubt, but let's not get carried away and make out he's one of the top handful of batsmen in NZ

 

[Zinzan]

Ahh crucial wicket with just 14 needed to avoid the FO. England odds-on now.