*Official* England in NZ 2023

[G. S. Kohli]

I liked Bracewell as team men, great Fielder & Dependable Batsman

Root/Brook 80* in partnership.

Can Brook hits his 4th century in first 5 test?

 

[G. S. Kohli]

Eng have overall record at the Basin Reserve, with four wins and one defeat in 11 previous Tests at the venue, dating back to 1930. That one setback, courtesy of Richard Hadlee in 1978, was also New Zealand's first victory over England, at the 48th attempt.


Another England win would make it seven in a row for Stokes' men, one shy of the record run of success that Michael Vaughan oversaw in 2004, spanning three wins against New Zealand, four against West Indies and one in South Africa.

 

[SteveNZ]

Yeah I'd have gone with a seam-bowling allrounder at 8 (who wasn't Kuggs). Everyone knows I push the Dougeh barrow but Shipley or Smith could've been good picks for that too. Tickner bowled well in the first Test and should've been third seamer here.

If they wanted to hedge their bets a bit and make sure they still had Bracewell as a spin option then I totally get that (especially since he's been genuinely getting better), but whenever that's true they aboslutely need to back him to bat top 7. If they want a specialist spinner he's not it.

100% on all this. M.Bracewell needs to average 35 plus (bat) to be viable in this team. Or they land in the predicament where they hold quality spinners back for not much gain at all

 

[G. S. Kohli]

Some problem during 21/3 on Amazon video no live feed but its okayed now

 

[Prince EWS]

Disappointing lack of reverse sweeps from Root to seamers so far today

Haha yeah the ultra aggressive thing makes sense for the rest of the lineup but given Root was averaging 50 without it it does seem like a bit of a gift when he does that. I think Pope needs to reign it in a little bit more than he has since the tour of Pakistan as well.

 

[SteveNZ]

Ugh. I know this is low-hanging fruit, but Scotty J Stevenson has no appreciation for the nuances of Test cricket. When there's enough happening, you don't need to be talking about David Gower mullet dress-ups. So often I find myself ugh-ed by his irrelevant musings when I'd much rather hear someone with cricket smarts analyse where we're at.

 

[Athlai]

I'd personally have picked Boult because I'm not a coward.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

100% on all this. M.Bracewell needs to average 35 plus (bat) to be viable in this team. Or they land in the predicament where they hold quality spinners back for not much gain at all

As it stands, Sodhi averages half a run less than Macewell in test cricket.

 

[SteveNZ]

Ugh. I know this is low-hanging fruit, but Scotty J Stevenson has no appreciation for the nuances of Test cricket. When there's enough happening, you don't need to be talking about David Gower mullet dress-ups. So often I find myself ugh-ed by his irrelevant musings when I'd much rather hear someone with cricket smarts analyse where we're at.

Ugh, then he called Devcich 'one of the greats' in a three-man panel.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ugh. I know this is low-hanging fruit, but Scotty J Stevenson has no appreciation for the nuances of Test cricket. When there's enough happening, you don't need to be talking about David Gower mullet dress-ups. So often I find myself ugh-ed by his irrelevant musings when I'd much rather hear someone with cricket smarts analyse where we're at.

Inclined to agree but given about 35% of my posts in tour threads are memes and inside jokes even at the tensest moments I probably shouldn't talk.

 

[Athlai]

Ugh, then he called Devcich 'one of the greats' in a three-man panel.

Ew

 

[SteveNZ]

Haha yeah the ultra aggressive thing makes sense for the rest of the lineup but given Root was averaging 50 without it it does seem like a bit of a gift when he does that. I think Pope needs to reign it in a little bit more than he has since the tour of Pakistan as well.

It's a weird one, this. Joe Root must be one hell of a team man that he is prepared to bat that way, when his old way allowed him to become the greatest England batsman (arguably) of all time. It would be frustrating to England fans if it were not for the fact they're winning so much, it's not relevant.

Obviously the overall approach works but guys like Root, and I believe Stokes shouldn't be changing the way they always played. That's probably the next progression of 'Bazball' is that it's only an approach for a couple of guys, while others bat around them.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Ugh, then he called Devcich 'one of the greats' in a three-man panel.

lmao

 

[Prince EWS]

Ugh, then he called Devcich 'one of the greats' in a three-man panel.

ATG of Hamilton Premier Cricket.

 

[straw man]

It's a weird one, this. Joe Root must be one hell of a team man that he is prepared to bat that way, when his old way allowed him to become the greatest England batsman (arguably) of all time. It would be frustrating to England fans if it were not for the fact they're winning so much, it's not relevant.

Obviously the overall approach works but guys like Root, and I believe Stokes shouldn't be changing the way they always played. That's probably the next progression of 'Bazball' is that it's only an approach for a couple of guys, while others bat around them.

The obvious example in NZ's proto-Bazball days is that even then, BJ Watling always batted like BJ Watling.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

100% on all this. M.Bracewell needs to average 35 plus (bat) to be viable in this team. Or they land in the predicament where they hold quality spinners back for not much gain at all

If he could be a useful bits and pieces spinning allrounder like Moeen Ali it would be fine. But he is much worse.

 

[SteveNZ]

Inclined to agree but given about 35% of my posts in tour threads are memes and inside jokes even at the tensest moments I probably shouldn't talk.

Hahaha yeah but your musings and other 65% perfectly fit the environment in which you post. Scotty J's do not fit his environment at all. I do not want to hear about men being called 'roosters' in a Test commentary. If I did, I'd switch to ACC commentary.

 

[Prince EWS]

It's a weird one, this. Joe Root must be one hell of a team man that he is prepared to bat that way, when his old way allowed him to become the greatest England batsman (arguably) of all time. It would be frustrating to England fans if it were not for the fact they're winning so much, it's not relevant.

Obviously the overall approach works but guys like Root, and I believe Stokes shouldn't be changing the way they always played. That's probably the next progression of 'Bazball' is that it's only an approach for a couple of guys, while others bat around them.

I think Stokes doing it as captain is important even if he makes slightly fewer runs, to set the tone and make the others feel like they won't be criticised if they look dumb when they get out. It could be much damaging to Root than "slightly fewer" too.

 

[Prince EWS]

Hahaha yeah but your musings and other 65% perfectly fit the environment in which you post. Scotty J's do not fit his environment at all. I do not want to hear about men being called 'roosters' in a Test commentary. If I did, I'd switch to ACC commentary.

He couldn't commentate a hoop down a hill.

 

[straw man]

Brook really has mastered the art of bash some and miss the good ones.