*Official* New Zealand in England 2021

[Fuller Pilch]

So only Duffy and Ravindra are lunch boxes on this tour I think everyone else are going to have a hit. Scathing for the two younger boys.

And Bracewell

 

[straw man]

CDG apparently has some sort of niggle, though I'm sure he'd play through it if there wasn't another big match coming up.

Jamieson should be playing though - could do with another outing with the Duke ball and would substantially improve our chances of winning the series.

 

[nzfan]

The management loves Henry don't they? Would have loved to see Duffy in his place. I don't have good memories of Henry in red ball cricket.

I was planning on watching all night but will have to rethink that now. Would have been good to watch our boys bat.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Is it bad that the past week has me thinking that Overton would have played this week if was wasn't for the optics, even though he wasn't part of Tweetgate?

The listed #8s for this Test were the listed #10 and #11 respectively in the last one. Could see some quick ends to the innings.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Surely Mitchell is also contesting CdG's spot

Who knows? What if Young goes big and Taylor fails? Or if Blundell keeps perfectly and scores impt runs?

 

[nzfan]

Yeah don't get this at all. Not fully utilizing the one genuine advantage we have over India.

I can understand. I was calling for it and looked a bit silly here.

 

[Moss]

Jamieson should be playing though - could do with another outing with the Duke ball and would substantially improve our chances of winning the series.

Yeah his omission is more perplexing for mine. Guess they are bringing Henry as the "like for like" replacement. Let's hope unlike Santner, Henry manages to prove us wrong somewhat.

 

[straw man]

I dunno, I still feel the team is pretty decent. And better to rest everyone with a niggle before the final.

I do like most of our replacements, it's not like days past when an injury crisis would lead to absolute randoms playing. Most have earned it through taking chances in previous NZ outings (Blundell, Ajaz, Mitchell), or having a good domestic record behind them (Young).

But there's a feeling of taking foot off the pedal, which has a risk - side isn't going to feel great if they go and lose this match and series.

 

[SteveNZ]

Why even ask for a 2 test series if we obviously wanted to play exactly 1 test? This is bizarre

Wasn't the original situation that Jamieson, Williamson, Boult would only have been available for the 2nd Test if the IPL had gone ahead in its entirety?

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Imagine if Matt Henry picks up a 10fer here.

My imagination isn't that good, sorry.


*Looks at the England batting line up*

Ok, actually yeah I can see it now.

 

[Moss]

Thoughts on England not bringing in the spinner on this pitch, and likely having to bowl last?

 

[hendrix]

I see zero reason for resting Southee in particular.

Really?

 

[kaetor]

Very weird lineup for NZ. I'm unconvinced about resting Jamieson after a single test match overseas before the WTC...

Ajaz deserves to play, I'm happy to see him get a go, and he may bowl more than under Kane who is famously reluctant to bowl spinners.

Happy to see Young and Mitchell.

 

[Bahnz]

Thoughts on England not bringing in the spinner on this pitch, and likely having to bowl last?

Spinners have played a pretty minor role at Edgbaston in recent years.

 

[Bahnz]

Really?

It’s not like the first test involved a massive workload, especially seeing as NZ had a rest day in the middle of it. He’s probably our best bowler for the conditions, and dagnabbit I want us to win this series.

 

[straw man]

Dirty little secret - I do actually like Jimmy Anderson

 

[kaetor]

Is it controversial to like Jimmy?

 

[vandem]

I like the NZ side.

No need for Southee and Jamieson to play, then can rest and recover and peak for next week. Would have been different if there was a week off before WTC Final.

I would always have picked Mitchell and de Grandhomme for a game each, de Grandhomme still in recovery mode and need to give Mitchell a run in case he is needed for the final.

Henry was always 1st reserve if one of the 4 top quicks was injured, now gets a run. Bracewell and Duffy were needed in the squad because we thought IPL quicks wouldn't here for the 1st test.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Quote from Joe Root:
We've got to look at ways of seeing what things look like when we haven't got those allrounders we're so used to seeing


Morgan and Buttler to show they're not racist by mocking this on Twitter imo.

 

[Bahnz]

Also 2 left armers against a team stacked with rhb’s is a questionable approach under any circumstances.