*Official* England in NZ 2023

[The Hutt Rec]

Bit of a random muse, but I think our treatment of Sodhi was harsh. He's just had his best ever test series and is a pretty respectable T20 bowler most of the time. I think we missed a trick not playing him against guys who will come after him. They went after Abrar who we largely neutered and Abrar did get poles and had a solid series for a debutant.

England could have smashed him because they have a lot of quality players (I liked Pope before it was cool) and Joe Root is an ATG and even better than Babar, but it makes more sense as a selection than most we've made this series.

It's just exactly what we did to Ajaz when we came back to NZ for the Bangladesh series last season. The current selectors will never select a spinner in NZ unless they are seen as an all rounder (I say seen as, because Sodhi averages more than Macewell with the bat in tests) ...

Another pretty poor decision to add to the list imo.

 

[Pothas]

When is Bairstow due back btw? He's gotta play somehow but can't drop Foakes either. Pope or Stokes (I've seen that suggested) to open?

Think it is assumed that he will be back for the summer.

Have genuinely no idea what they will do at this stage.

 

[G. S. Kohli]

When is Bairstow due back btw? He's gotta play somehow but can't drop Foakes either. Pope or Stokes (I've seen that suggested) to open?

Johnny if returns will not keep wicket, in overseas test. Pope or Stokes not open in Ashes or vs Ireland test in eng

 

[cricman]

Even if NZ gave England a Target of 300, I'd back England to chase it down in 2 sessions.

 

[straw man]

Bit of a random muse, but I think our treatment of Sodhi was harsh. He's just had his best ever test series and is a pretty respectable T20 bowler most of the time. I think we missed a trick not playing him against guys who will come after him. They went after Abrar who we largely neutered and Abrar did get poles and had a solid series for a debutant.

England could have smashed him because they have a lot of quality players (I liked Pope before it was cool) and Joe Root is an ATG and even better than Babar, but it makes more sense as a selection than most we've made this series.

Yeah such a waste to have him spending his time eating calamari instead.

 

[thundaboult]

Liking this. Some life being shown ?

 

[G. S. Kohli]

! Dempster / Jackie Mills 276 for 1st wicket record here vs England at Wellington test,
Latham/ Conway now well set after playing 180 balls so far

! English bowlers so upset of that partnership that they over step for 43 extra runs, till Frank Wolley's 7 fer restricted nz for under 450.

 

[straw man]

At risk of jinxing, "all we need to do" is play traditional test cricket. A hamfisted attempt at Bazball on the fly won't win the game for us. I'm not sure how the weather will play out but England are going to 100% charge for a win because that's their mindset. Our guys have batted time in the past and they should set targets.

* Knock off the deficit by end of day, preferably a 50 run lead.
* Bat all day tomorrow to get to 250-300 lead at least
* Bat most of the first session on day 5
* England will think 350-400 in 2.5 sessions will be a doddle, but will require accelerated batting. Most wickets to come from caught in the outfield.

Game on imo [/nzfanoptimism]

yes I realise this requires us to score like 600

Love this optimism.

It would paper over cracks, but it's not like the NZ setup would act decisively to change coach/selector after a comprehensive home loss anyway. We'll just have to wait for the end of the year for some of that to (hopefully) happen.

 

[ataraxia]

At risk of jinxing, "all we need to do" is play traditional test cricket. A hamfisted attempt at Bazball on the fly won't win the game for us. I'm not sure how the weather will play out but England are going to 100% charge for a win because that's their mindset. Our guys have batted time in the past and they should set targets.

* Knock off the deficit by end of day, preferably a 50 run lead.
* Bat all day tomorrow to get to 250-300 lead at least
* Bat most of the first session on day 5
* England will think 350-400 in 2.5 sessions will be a doddle, but will require accelerated batting. Most wickets to come from caught in the outfield.

Game on imo [/nzfanoptimism]

yes I realise this requires us to score like 600

It's time for Kane to shine – to prevent a collapse after this lucky opening partnership.

 

[G. S. Kohli]

It could be wicket # 686 if Crawley hold That catch off Anderson

Lucky Escape Devon on 42*

 

[G. S. Kohli]

! Dempster / Jackie Mills 276 for 1st wicket record here vs England at Wellington test,
Latham/ Conway now well set after playing 180 balls so far

! English bowlers so upset of that partnership that they over step for 43 extra runs, till Frank Wolley's 7 fer restricted nz for under 450.

Opener Put on 100 but next 10 dismissed cheaply

Nz 81/0

Worth to watch

https://img1.hscicdn.com/image/upload/f_auto,t_ds_w_800,q_50/lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/281000/281079.1.png

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

5000 test runs for Latham. (72 matches).

 

[Flem274*]

5000 test runs for Latham. (72 matches).

I would like to thank Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and (tough tbh) subcontinent tours for enabling this achievement from our first solid opener since Mark Richardson.

 

[cricman]

Jimmy Anderson's last decade reminds me of Djokovic in Tennis.

He must be extremely disciplined with his diet to be going this strong this long.

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

Jimmy Anderson's last decade reminds me of Djokovic in Tennis.

He must be extremely disciplined with his diet to be going this strong this long.

Indeed. Although I was just thinking that at the moment he looks exhausted and p***ed off. Maybe Root will conjure up a wicket.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bit of a random muse, but I think our treatment of Sodhi was harsh. He's just had his best ever test series and is a pretty respectable T20 bowler most of the time. I think we missed a trick not playing him against guys who will come after him. They went after Abrar who we largely neutered and Abrar did get poles and had a solid series for a debutant.

England could have smashed him because they have a lot of quality players (I liked Pope before it was cool) and Joe Root is an ATG and even better than Babar, but it makes more sense as a selection than most we've made this series.

Yeah when he was released from the squad entirely I said it was harsh but possibly understandable to let him play PS if they knew 100% that they'd want to have four seamers on the Basin pitch.

Then they only picked three seamers anyway.

 

[Anil]

Is the possibility of rain why England enforced the follow on?

 

[Prince EWS]

Is the possibility of rain why England enforced the follow on?

Yeah the forecast is dodgy and the Basin always holds together so batting last isn't a problem (averages in the last 10 years for 3rd innings and 4th innings are actually identical) - it would be a combination of those things. It was the right decision IMO.

 

[G. S. Kohli]

Jimmy Anderson's last decade reminds me of Djokovic in Tennis.

He must be extremely disciplined with his diet to be going this strong this long.

He requested same term as m. Amir regarding Resting his work load but ECB not Agree his demand.

Anyway he is physically fit at 40 years plus

 

[Prince EWS]

When is Bairstow due back btw? He's gotta play somehow but can't drop Foakes either. Pope or Stokes (I've seen that suggested) to open?

If Stokes is gonna bat like a cowboy to set an example for the others to be fearless and bowl Root almost as much as himself he really might as well open. I can definitely see himself thinking that he's happy to take one for the team by being the one to do it as well.