**Official** England in New Zealand 28 Nov-18 Dec 2024 - 3 Tests

[Skyliner]

I thought Seddon Park was always the one lone pitch where it would spin, though maybe that was in the past.

 

[vandem]

I thought Seddon Park was always the one lone pitch where it would spin, though maybe that was in the past.

Last season Piedt (off spin) took 8 of the 13 NZ wickets to fall at Hamilton. And Lyon got 10 wickets at the Basin. And Ravindra + Phillips together took 6 at each venue. But that was Feb and March, not Dec.

 

[Bahnz]

Any Wellingtonians here? Is it worth having Santner play at the Basin?

Going from Plunket Shield, I still can't be shaken from being convinced both the Basin & Seddon won't be spin friendly enough for it to be worth bringing in Santner.

Really hard to know. If it spins like last year 100% yes. But that was pretty atypical

 

[mackembhoy]

The unpredictability is becoming predictable!

I honestly don't see the benefit of Pope batting 6 again.

I thought it was a nice confidence booster for him, but doesn't really help him for next years 11 test matches.

Surely if Bethell was able to score some more runs in this game and/or the next that puts pressure on his place in the side.

But then perhaps that's why we've stuck with Bethell to look an alternative player for that reason!

 

[FBU]

Really hard to know. If it spins like last year 100% yes. But that was pretty atypical

Scorecard - 2022-2023 New Zealand v England - 2nd Test - 24/02/2023 - Basin Reserve, Wellington - Test No. #2494

Test Cricket - Scorecard: 2022-2023 New Zealand v England - 2nd Test - 24th February, 2023 - Basin Reserve

howstat.com

Jack Leach got 8 wickets

 

[Hungry Llama]

Or the other bowlers
Atkinson 35.3
Carse 38.1
Woakes 39.0

The most NZ bowled 29.4, 28.0, 26.0, 23,0

yes they had 4 fit seam bowlers, but we have stokes as a 4th seamer and hes not very reliable, so really we only have 3 seamers and bash. So our 3 seamers had to bowl a lot more than NZ. But theyve had a decent layoff so hopefully theyll be OK, fingers crossed.

 

[Molehill]

I honestly don't see the benefit of Pope batting 6 again.

I thought it was a nice confidence booster for him, but doesn't really help him for next years 11 test matches.

Surely if Bethell was able to score some more runs in this game and/or the next that puts pressure on his place in the side.

But then perhaps that's why we've stuck with Bethell to look an alternative player for that reason!

Yeah, almost feels like they see Bethell as some kind of next Messiah. I remember when Buttler first burst onto the scene in white ball cricket, you knew he was special and wanted to see him in every form of England kit.......can't say I get the same vibes here.

 

[Nicky]

I do think Bethell is a special player. It turned out it didn't work for Buttler in Test matches, but I guess they are comparable in terms of talent.
For the 2nd match, England will have a number 3 averaging 60, a number 4 average 50, and a number 5 averaging 60. Pretty solid

Why wouldn't Pope batting at 6 be good for the future ? He has been at 3 for a while and hasn't be very convincing.
Imagine Bethell & Pope both perform in the next match ?
I think, "for the future", Crawley should be dropped and Ollie Robinson could take his place ?

Robinson
Duckett
Bethell
Root
Brook
Pope
Stokes
Atkinson
Carse
..
..

 

[Chin Music]

Brydon Carse: Steven Finn on why England fast bowlers are performing better at international level than county cricket - BBC Sport

Earlier in the thread, it was mentioned how Carse was far outperforming his stats in the county championship. This is a pretty decent article by Steve Finn on why the challenge of bowling in test cricket is so much different to that in the CC.

 

[Bahnz]

Scorecard - 2022-2023 New Zealand v England - 2nd Test - 24/02/2023 - Basin Reserve, Wellington - Test No. #2494

Test Cricket - Scorecard: 2022-2023 New Zealand v England - 2nd Test - 24th February, 2023 - Basin Reserve

howstat.com

Jack Leach got 8 wickets

Yeah, though though the spin wasn't exaggerated, and NZ won despite their spinner being an ascended part timer. Not saying that a spinner isn't often useful at the Basin, just that last year was the only time in recent history that a spinner was essential.

 

[Skyliner]

NZ going with same XI as Hagley.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[FBU]

Brydon Carse: Steven Finn on why England fast bowlers are performing better at international level than county cricket - BBC Sport

Earlier in the thread, it was mentioned how Carse was far outperforming his stats in the county championship. This is a pretty decent article by Steve Finn on why the challenge of bowling in test cricket is so much different to that in the CC.

That could be why they were interested in Hull. F/c average of 57.63 econ 4.95 but 6'7

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

NZ going with same XI as Hagley.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

They're really beating my enjoyment of cricket out of me. I've followed Blundell's career for years, given he's played for Wellington. Southee has been a great bowler for NZ over the years, but given the dearth of test cricket over the next few years (it seems) it is ritually bizarre if not downright insulting to both players and fans to trot out these spent forces and expect things to change. No doubt given Stead's luck in selectorial calls, one of these two at least will come off in Wellington, but the horse they're whipping isn't just dead, the flesh has been flayed off and the whip is now powdering the bones to dust.

 

[Dick Rockett]

NZ going with same XI as Hagley.

I'm not surprised but FFS