*Official* 2022 New Zealand Tour of England, Ireland, Scotland & Netherlands

[Uppercut]

Don't disagree really, but he's looked 10 times better than he has done before, but that's more saying how bad he looked before. Beggars can't be choosers though, and this innings has probably guaranteed he plays the series.

The problem is that opposition bowlers can see what we see and will quickly notice you can bowl straight to him all day without getting punished.

Lol he clips a boundary off his hips right after I post that.

 

[straw man]

Sure there've been a few false shots from both batsmen but wouldn't say Lees/Pope have been overly troubled this morning (Trundler certainly overplaying how much difficulty they've faced). NZ will continue plodding away and may eventually turn one of these false shots into a wicket, but it's also looking quite easy-paced now for the next man in.

In the mean time, runs flowing. Even allowing for erring on the full side and throwing in the odd tempter, think we've been a little loose this morning.

 

[straw man]

Pleased with Henry's pace in the 135-139 range.

Edit: 139 outside legstump still trash though

 

[trundler]

Sure there've been a few false shots from both batsmen but wouldn't say Lees/Pope have been overly troubled this morning (Trundler certainly overplaying how much difficulty they've faced). NZ will continue plodding away and may eventually turn one of these false shots into a wicket, but it's also looking quite easy-paced now for the next man in.

The pitch is completely placid yet Pope has managed to get squared off a few times. Looks ok here but he's not a #3 is what I'm saying.

 

[grecian]

Sure there've been a few false shots from both batsmen but wouldn't say Lees/Pope have been overly troubled this morning (Trundler certainly overplaying how much difficulty they've faced). NZ will continue plodding away and may eventually turn one of these false shots into a wicket, but it's also looking quite easy-paced now for the next man in.

In the mean time, runs flowing. Even allowing for erring on the full side and throwing in the odd tempter, think we've been a little loose this morning.

Yeah, not sure what Trundler is watching, been a few false shots, but this pitch is a pudding today, and yes those shots from Lees looked a bit more like a Test player off his hips, people can improve with confidence, stranger things have happened like Kate Bush getting to number 1 again.

 

[trundler]

Lees has looked much better since getting to 50 I'll give you that.

 

[Moss]

Think NZ may now be feeling differently about the combination of the attack they’ve gone with for this test, though some better catching yesterday would’ve helped. Time to stem the flow of runs and create some pressure.

 

[Gremlin]

Can I assume Lees has stopped buggering about with his mark? I've only got radio commentary currently and it's not been mentioned.

What has been said is that he looks test class now. A confidence thing maybe?

 

[Flem274*]

We're not getting 20 wickets here. Good batting so far and a good pitch for it. If England knuckle down then it will be a long 3 days trying for us I think.

 

[straw man]

Yes Henry, good attacking the crease. Did that tail away slightly?

Lees still gonna be very unhappy with himself.

 

[Flem274*]

I'd say that was dumb but we'd be praising him if he creamed it so poor execution there.

 

[wpdavid]

And there he goes. Shame, and a waste of a great opportunity to make a test hundred.

 

[grecian]

Not good, don't think he'll ever have a better chance of a ton, and I'm with Uppercut really that shot will get him out more than be successful as a test opener.

Big time for the game now with our one class bat.

 

[Gremlin]

Drinks break bags a wicket. Ah.

 

[Uppercut]

I'd say that was dumb but we'd be praising him if he creamed it so poor execution there.

An English test opener who gets all his runs by driving outside off without moving his feet, what could go wrong.

 

[Flem274*]

An English test opener who gets all his runs by driving outside off without moving his feet, what could go wrong.

hah yeah I know you're in the "ban all cover drives" camp but even an English test opener needs the shot to punish half volley machines.

 

[trundler]

Creamed.

And I'm not talking about that cover drive.

 

[Meridio]

He'd driven on the up outside off a lot this innings, always looked a candidate for nicking off. Hitting half volleys is fine, doing it to good length balls is risky in England even on flat pitches like this one.

 

[straw man]

Aside from that one where he overpitched, Henry bowling very well here.

Jamieson a little indifferent this spell though the previous over was better.

 

[Meridio]

It's been noted a bit here bit not at all touched on in commentary - we're giving away far too many runs here, just a bit all over the place. Last 12 overs have gone 7 - 1 - 4 - 8 - 1 - 8 - 6 - 8 - 2 - 2 - 6 - 4 i.e. 57 runs which is a hell of a lot. We've obviously got huge runs in the bank but we're just not building any pressure. Expecting Bracewell to get a trundle here, try and provide something a bit different