*Official* New Zealand in England 2015

[Moss]

Vaughan is a complete moron.

Just ignore the evidence of the last year. It has nothing to do with run rates and everything to do with tactics.

- make runs against the old ball.
- hit Jimmy off his length if you can't keep him out (e.g. Guptill)
- have loads of slips and bowl full to batsmen like Ballance (I think a 12 year old would understand this)
- Tailenders without defensive capabilities should swing from the hip.
- General have a strong team with good bowlers and some decent batsmen.

This is not how we won in the West Indies, for example.

There's a not-so-subtle dig at India in Vaughan's piece too. Sure, India were pummeled in England last year, but dashers? I seem to recall Vijay and Rahane making hundreds on difficult conditions there.

Another stereotype about NZ we'll probably have to live with is "knowing only one way to play, draws don't exist in their world". Apart from saving that Basin test against India, in the draw in the 2nd test against Pakistan last November (Taylor's last hundred) NZ showed fantastic survival instincts.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

BJ Watling.

He'll never get the due praise he deserves except inside his own group (even though a lot of us on here love the bloke). The guy doesn't do soft runs, every one of his Test hundreds has been in a tricky situation - even his debut hundred v Zimbabwe when many were questioning his place in the side.

I'd argue that he's nearly every inch as valuable to this side as Kane, possibly just sitting 2nd in the pecking order. We get to play the 'brand' of cricket we play because we have a guy at 7 who specialises in tough runs. He also adds to the group that fighting mentality, his level of preparation is spot on and his keeping has been largely faultless and is a credit to a guy who didn't even do the job full-time at state level 3 years ago.

this "BJ Watling doesn't get enough credit" thing is moving into meme territory

 

[straw man]

Praise Him. Praise Him. Watling, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Like a shepherd, BJ will guard His tailenders,
In His arms He carries them all day long:

Praise Him. Praise Him.
Tell of His excellent batness.
Praise Him. Praise Him verily!
Ever in joyful song!

 

[SteveNZ]

this "BJ Watling thing doesn't get enough credit" thing is moving into meme territory

It's not in the realm of 'earn the right'.

I might ring one of the local radio stations here in Melbourne and suggest to them he's a better wicketkeeper bat than Brad Haddin, then give them the fact he's scored more Test tons in less than half the matches. Sure they'd poopoo it pretty quickly (and probably not know who he is)

Strawman, you get a big like for that.

 

[straw man]

Yes Watling, what a man. Everyone's favourite apostle gets his day as the prophet.

I see Chris Rattue has already written a reactionary article suggesting Watling should now give up the gloves in favour of Ronchi. Not sure he's thought that one through too much.

 

[SteveNZ]

Yes Watling, what a man. Everyone's favourite apostle gets his day as the prophet.

I see Chris Rattue has already written a reactionary article suggesting Watling should now give up the gloves in favour of Ronchi. Not sure he's thought that one through too much.

Fortunately a lot of us have learned where online and in print Rattue's columns will be, so we can avoid them. If there's one type of journalism that makes me ill, it's reactionary inflammatory tripe like Rattue writes. If he'd said before Leeds that BJ is better off without the gloves and will prove it, fair play. But we're all experts a day later.

 

[NZTailender]

haha made the worst decision to stop watching after Ali's dismissal so I've missed all the fireworks. I remember waking up and checking the score on my phone and Latham had just got out early so I decided going back to sleep was best. I'm a ****.

 

[SteveNZ]

haha made the worst decision to stop watching after Ali's dismissal so I've missed all the fireworks. I remember waking up and checking the score on my phone and Latham had just got out early so I decided going back to sleep was best. I'm a ****.

Haha I've done this twice in 2 nights. Woke up with England at 217-1 and went back to sleep unhappy...then awoke to happy news. Last night, fell asleep at 140-4 or whatever it was, woke up to 338-6.

 

[NZTailender]

So anyway, this Test is being setting up rather nicely just like the first. I'm hoping for that magical 400 mark which is certainly within the abilities of Craig and Watling with some jammy runs from SHB (they're not really good enough to be a full batsman on their own but together they could average 30!!!!11) but dat new ball could see us done for 350, which won't be so bad if it's going to be a cloudy rainy day.

key wickets for us obv are Root and Stokes who will most likely be the ones to pull England to a victory - and if England need just 50 runs after those two depart things are well set up for Buttler to get it in 20 balls. Cook will probably try to lay the platform like he did in the first dig, so we need to trick him into playing a ODI innings I mean all we need is 33.2 overs, amirite?

 

[Dan]

I think I'm in love with BJ Watling.

 

[NZTailender]

Haha I've done this twice in 2 nights. Woke up with England at 217-1 and went back to sleep unhappy...then awoke to happy news. Last night, fell asleep at 140-4 or whatever it was, woke up to 338-6.

Haha yeah I stopped watching after Cook and Lyth were 150 odd. Actually a pattern is emerging here, maybe I shouldn't watch tonight/tomorrow...

 

[Athlai]

So hungover, so stoked. BJ wag.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

I think I'm in love with BJ Watling.

back of the queue, ****

 

[Hurricane]

Praise Him. Praise Him. Watling, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Like a shepherd, BJ will guard His tailenders,
In His arms He carries them all day long:

Praise Him. Praise Him.
Tell of His excellent batness.
Praise Him. Praise Him verily!
Ever in joyful song!

This is magnificent.

 

[Hurricane]

Well - I think to pump my predictive abilities up I called it 50 50 between England and the blackcaps when they were 74-2 in the first test and people said I was pessimistic.

England will chase down anything south of 350 with a fair bit of fuss and they will get there probably 8 down. 350-370 anyone's game. 370 plus and shut the gate.

I am aware of how hard it is chase 4th innings totals but England bat deep and their captain is seeing it like a football.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Has the pitch changed? Cricinfo commentary seemed to indicate that a few balls had variable bounce, but I didn't watch the majority of day's play. If the pitch is still virtually the same as before, you never know how close England could get.

 

[JediNudist]

this "BJ Watling doesn't get enough credit" thing is moving into meme territory

He;s a cool head and doesn't panic. Can do the gritty stuff when needed. Valuable fort test cricket.

 

[JediNudist]

Yes Watling, what a man. Everyone's favourite apostle gets his day as the prophet.

I see Chris Rattue has already written a reactionary article suggesting Watling should now give up the gloves in favour of Ronchi. Not sure he's thought that one through too much.

I'm thoroughly sick of Rattue' s articles. They are knee jerk and he changes his mind week in week out . Ronchi comes in first test and gets 88 so its time to drop Watling LOL good one Rattue.

 

[Days of Grace]

Clouds are forecast to roll in at 2pm and rain at 4pm. So another quick 50 then stick them in.

It's forecast to be fine from noon on day 5 so we may get about 90 overs at them.

How's the drainage system?

 

[Swingpanzee]

Watling love him so much

Think we should bat for about 85 overs or so (if we last that long) and get 50-60 runs more and then send them in.