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

[Days of Grace]

And this is why we have warm-up matches, people.

This mess could have been happening in the first test.

 

[hendrix]

And this is why we have warm-up matches, people.

This mess could have been happening in the first test.

Exactly.

TBH I thought Rutherford should've retired after he got to his century. Although I guess it is still a first class match.

 

[Cabinet96]

Squad announced.

England squad Alastair Cook (capt), Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan

Can't say I'm a fan.

 

[Maximas]

Squad announced.

England squad Alastair Cook (capt), Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan

Can't say I'm a fan.

Looks OK to me, although I would love to have seen James Taylor in there over Bairstow, Bresnan will miss out then I spose.

 

[Jarquis]

Not sure how you can have too much issue when 10 of the spots were nailed on. Bairstow was 90% likely to make it and then it was a toss up between Bresnan and Onions I expect.

 

[Howe_zat]

Pretty fair. Onions a bit stiff but nowt to moan about

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Bresnan must be fully fit and bowling quicker then. Happy with the squad.

 

[MW1304]

Yeah hopefully Bres is actually fully fit, although I expect Finn will play anyhow.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yep Onions could take wickets at 15 for the whole season, get one Test where he was the best bowler and he'd still probably not get another look in.

Oh wait.

Lets look forward to Bresnan playing and hoping he's fully fit. Otherwise it'll be more garbage about how Finn has done this that and the other but still happens to be a guy with all the raw ingredients but who just isn't a Test bowler.

 

[Kippax]

ECB | VIDEO | Features | Features Video | England Lions v New Zealand - Day 2 - Root in command

 

[Howe_zat]

I wonder if Root can get to 1000 before the end of May despite playing for England. He's on 561 (in his 4th innings) as I type.

Edit: Nope, no county game after the Tests in time

 

[Prince EWS]

As someone said before, the remarkable thing about Root is that he really hadn't been banging the door down for international selection before it came, and after a few games a bit of slightly surprising success he's gone back to the county and A-level scenes and really dominated.

I wonder if it's more of a case of him being picked at exactly the right moment just before he was about to break out, or if his time with the England side gave him just that little bit of extra confidence and specialist coaching he needed to do it. It was most likely a bit of both I guess.

 

[MW1304]

As someone said before, the remarkable thing about Root is that he really hadn't been banging the door down for international selection before it came, and after a few games a bit of slightly surprising success he's gone back to the county and A-level scenes and really dominated.

I wonder if it's more of a case of him being picked at exactly the right moment just before he was about to break out, or if his time with the England side gave him just that little bit of extra confidence and specialist coaching he needed to do it. It was most likely a bit of both I guess.

I really doubt playing for England helped him get that A* in Chemistry.

 

[Howe_zat]

I really doubt playing for England helped him get that A* in Chemistry.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I expect Bres to play if fit.

Finn didn't exactly nail his place down in NZ and, with the batting misfiring a few times on that tour too, the pull towards the tubby Tyke could well be irresistable.

 

[Howe_zat]

Whaddaya mean, "could be"

Carn Bres

 

[MW1304]

I don't really understand why they haven't been out for the last hour or two, there has been no rain at all in this time, and the rain hasn't been heavy and prolonged at any stage today so i seriously doubt the ground is particularly wet underfoot. Interesting to know they are taking tea at the moment, looks like its about to pour it down.

 

[stumpski]

Forecast is a bit better for tomorrow fortunately - sunny with a possibility of showers - so hopefully there'll be a full day's play or something close to it. Reckon the Lions should bat on for at least another hour, maybe even till lunch.

 

[Howe_zat]

They'll get the runs quicker now than in the second innings, so yeah, might as well try at a lead that won't be overtaken. Would mean that Ravi & Woakes probably get a bat as well.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yep Onions could take wickets at 15 for the whole season, get one Test where he was the best bowler and he'd still probably not get another look in.

Oh wait.

Lets look forward to Bresnan playing and hoping he's fully fit. Otherwise it'll be more garbage about how Finn has done this that and the other but still happens to be a guy with all the raw ingredients but who just isn't a Test bowler.

I don't even think Finn has as many brilliant raw ingredients as people think. People overestimate his pace for tests because of the pace he bowls in ODI's, where you only have to bowl a maximum of 10 overs, before getting a couple of days rest. It's a different story when you have to run in all day, and then some. His pace in tests at the moment is no quicker than Bresnan was pre elbow. And unlike Bres, he doesn't swing either the new nut or old ball much.

I don't think he has enough tools yet to be a real handful for good test batsman on good wickets. He'll continue to play though, and get hyped up by the media, because he'll gun it in the ODI's like he has for two years. He's brilliant in those.

As someone said before, the remarkable thing about Root is that he really hadn't been banging the door down for international selection before it came, and after a few games a bit of slightly surprising success he's gone back to the county and A-level scenes and really dominated.

I wonder if it's more of a case of him being picked at exactly the right moment just before he was about to break out, or if his time with the England side gave him just that little bit of extra confidence and specialist coaching he needed to do it. It was most likely a bit of both I guess.

I'm gonna put a hunch on the line and say when he was picked for the India series they didn't intend to play him, and they just brought him over for the experience. I wouldn't be surprised if he improved massively on tour, as the coaches said they were really impressed with him. After all, they went with Bairstow in Mumbai, but went with Root in Nagpur. Surely Bairstow didn't just fall behind the pecking order because of one failure on a pitch only Pujara, KP and Cook conquered? No; I reckon Root got in because he improved remarkably throughout the tour.

I've been pretty skeptical of Root so far in his international career, as I'm a big believer of picking guys who make big runs, like Compton, and not guys on potential. I wasn't happy when he made his debut in each format, and because I'm a stubborn ****, I've remained skeptical for a while. But all he's done in his international career so far is prove me wrong, and his start to the season has finally converted me.

Won't make another run this season now

They'll get the runs quicker now than in the second innings, so yeah, might as well try at a lead that won't be overtaken. Would mean that Ravi & Woakes probably get a bat as well.

Yeah, bat till Lunch.