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

[BeeGee]

...Oram at his best played some 'very-good/great' innings - that Safrican one being one of them.

The 100 he hit in Brisbane was one of the best knocks I've ever seen live. One of his sixes landed just a few seats away from me. Just awesome hitting.

 

[Prince EWS]

If it makes you feel better, even when he bowled well and had a good test average, he still bowled a lot of trash in between the good balls.

Yeah; if anything I feel he's slightly more accurate these days. He bowled at mid 130s and swung the ball late though; also had a good off cutter. He was just a lot more potent in general to make up for his occasional pie.

 

[the big bambino]

Occasional pie? The guy's a ****ing Baker's Delight.

 

[Kippax]

Cricket: Eagerly-awaited test for Vettori | Stuff.co.nz

He turned a couple past Martin Guptill’s bat, including one gem which would have troubled anyone. After 30 minutes and about 8-10 overs, Vettori was happy and wandered off to pad up.

Times Vettori turns it past players better than Guptill:

0 - Brumby
1 -
2 - Kippax
3 -

 

[NZTailender]

McCullum probably thinks he's safe to fill in for one test match now. When Young/Hopkins/Van Wyk etc all had their time with the gloves, there was always that feeling they weren't far away from being dropped. So if he took the gloves for a game or two while they were finding a replacement or something, there was always that danger that he'd be stuck in the role. Now they have Watling, who is a level or two above those guys, and adequate replacements if a long-term injury were to ever happen to BJ in Luke Ronchi and to a lesser extent Tom Latham. He probably feels there's far less chance of him getting stuck with the gloves again.

Yeah given our next Test series is 5 months away (or is it 8?) imagine this is simply temporary and it'll be Watling as usual come the next series. No point messing about with replacements for this test.

That said I would've liked to have seen Latham in as a specialist bat. Hope Guptill proves me wrong. Having Guptill and potentially Vettori feels like the dark old days - yes even after we've been rolled for <100 again.

 

[GGG]

Guptil to get a ton.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah it's really disappointing that Guptill is back as a middle order bat again. Even if McCullum is going to keep then I think Ronchi's better than Guptill on batting alone - alas, not in the squad. With who's available, I'd probably just bat Vettori at seven as Watling's replacement and bring Bracewell in. Despite the fact that Vettori has been out for ages and was in poor batting form before injury anyway, I still don't think Guptill's any more likely to make a significant score than him, and that option gives a proper seam bowling attack with both a defensive and an attacking spin option to back them up.

 

[Flem274*]

I love how KW is the attacking spin option.

And it sounds like Guptill is playing inside the line of straight breaks.

 

[Dan]

Yeah, turning one past Guptill is hardly the epitome of spin bowling.

Would rather see Latham, tbh, as much as I like Guptill as a person.

 

[Hurricane]

Yeah, turning one past Guptill is hardly the epitome of spin bowling.

Would rather see Latham, tbh, as much as I like Guptill as a person.

Good username - probably been hearing that all day I imagine.

 

[Spikey]

Simon Wilde ‏@swildecricket 8m

McCullum confirms Vettori ruled out of second Test. Reacted to yesterday's net. Plan is four seamers plus Williamson's part-timers

 

[_Ed_]

Simon Wilde ‏@swildecricket 8m

McCullum confirms Vettori ruled out of second Test. Reacted to yesterday's net. Plan is four seamers plus Williamson's part-timers

Sanity prevails, IMO.

I didn't think he could possibly be match fit. And I'm not convinced he's the best option even if he was.

 

[Bahnz]

Simon Wilde ‏@swildecricket 8m

McCullum confirms Vettori ruled out of second Test. Reacted to yesterday's net. Plan is four seamers plus Williamson's part-timers

Ok, a pity as I would've liked to have seen how Vettori would've gone with the support of a couple of genuinely threatening quicks. Still, it'll be equally interesting to see how the 4 seamers strategy plays out. The first time we've tried this since the 2nd test v WI if memory serves.

 

[wpdavid]

Ok, a pity as I would've liked to have seen how Vettori would've gone with the support of a couple of genuinely threatening quicks. Still, it'll be equally interesting to see how the 4 seamers strategy plays out. The first time we've tried this since the 2nd test v WI if memory serves.

Funny place, Headingley. Traditionally you'd think it would be a good place to pick an all-seam attack, but England have had some horror shows when they've done that there. You'd think that Onions would be a better bet than Finn in the likely conditions, but obviously that's academic now.

Things are looking so bad for NZ that they're almost worth a flutter. Stranger things have happened.

 

[BeeGee]

Things are looking so bad for NZ that they're almost worth a flutter. Stranger things have happened.

Yeah, it's a funny situation. Looking at the three tests in NZ and all but the last day of the first test in this series, you'd say there was nothing between these sides, but because of some dire batting and a red hot spell from Broad on that final day suddenly England are hot favourites again.

Martin did little in that test, so I'm not sure his loss is that great. Whether Guptill can perform as well as Watling could... who knows? I am excited to see how the four quicks bowling attack goes. Those four are NZ's four best bowlers (of any type), but will the lack of variety offset the gain in quality?

It'll be interesting to see how things go from a mental point of view, also. Have England finally broken the confidence barrier over NZ? Has defeat broken NZ's resolve?

 

[Jezroy]

Re McCullum taking the gloves - it makes very little sense. If it's just a one-off then why not make a direct swap of Rochi/Latham for Watling? He can't permanently take the gloves again or he'll look like a liar.

Careful - he might sue you or ask for an apology

 

[Jezroy]

Yeah given our next Test series is 5 months away (or is it 8?) imagine this is simply temporary and it'll be Watling as usual come the next series. No point messing about with replacements for this test.

.

Supposed to be early October in Bangladesh (2 tests) - so just over 4 months away.

Then should be WI in NZ in Dec/Jan (apparently 3 tests) , then India in NZ in Feb (apparently 2 tests)

 

[Viscount Tom]

Weather forecast not looking good for tomorrow.

BBC Weather - Headingley

 

[Days of Grace]

Supposed to be early October in Bangladesh (2 tests) - so just over 4 months away.

Then should be WI in NZ in Dec/Jan (apparently 3 tests) , then India in NZ in Feb (apparently 2 tests)

If we can get away with a decent result and/or performance in this test, then I'd back us to develop further and start notching some wins on the board in the next 10 months, with an aim of winning all those test series above.

 

[hendrix]

Yeah, if Southee and Boult keep consistent it might be very difficult for India to beat us at home.

Although, as always, the batsmen still need to put the runs on the board.

The west indies series will be very interesting.