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

jcas0167

International Regular
Important win and great way to send off Southee. Remember the fears this could be the 5th straight home loss? Big reversal starting with the 105 run opening partnership. Will Young has now played in 4 straight test wins. Santner had a great all-round game and deserved man of the match adding some much needed balance to the attack. That said, I felt O'Rourke's hostile spell on day two really blew England away and had a big psychological impact. The guy could become the best pace bowler in the world.

Also, nice to see Kane convert and get a big score (albeit in easier second innings circumstances). After the Potts drag on in the first innings I was skeptical he could do it.

England might have run out of gas a bit in this game but must be delighted with how Carse in particular has gone this series. He looks like a big raw-boned bowler who will do well in Australia. The Bethell selection at number 3 sounded a bit out of left field but he looks like a great prospect.
 

BazBall21

International Captain
Series win was the primary objective, it's a relief after the shambles in Pakistan and some frustrating tours of New Zealand before this one.

But the manner of the defeat that's just unfolded was disappointing and feels a bit too common with this team. When they're bad, they really are bad and the more cynical impulse might suggest they couldn't get on the golf course quickly enough.

Ollie Pope clearly felt he didn't need to lay down a marker judging by the state of his innings&dismissal and the fact he's probably right tells you a lot of what's wrong with the setup. I feel him, Crawley and Bashir are all pencilled in for Australia, and might finally get dropped at the end of that tour.

Anyway, have a good Christmas all New Zealand (and England) posters. 🎄🎅
 

kevinw

State Captain
Series win was the primary objective, it's a relief after the shambles in Pakistan and some frustrating tours of New Zealand before this one.

But the manner of the defeat that's just unfolded was disappointing and feels a bit too common with this team. When they're bad, they really are bad and the more cynical impulse might suggest they couldn't get on the golf course quickly enough.

Ollie Pope clearly felt he didn't need to lay down a marker judging by the state of his innings&dismissal and the fact he's probably right tells you a lot of what's wrong with the setup. I feel him, Crawley and Bashir are all pencilled in for Australia, and might finally get dropped at the end of that tour.

Anyway, have a good Christmas all New Zealand (and England) posters. 🎄🎅
I hate this obsession with an away Ashes because underperforming players can still be guaranteed a place because this is the sole goal. No, if Crawley sucks, then give someone the Summer and if they score runs, they're inked in. I don't care if we end up blooding a new opener in Australia. You know what you'll get with Crawley. One good score and the next ten innings will be blowouts.
 

BazBall21

International Captain
I hate this obsession with an away Ashes because underperforming players can still be guaranteed a place because this is the sole goal. No, if Crawley sucks, then give someone the Summer and if they score runs, they're inked in. I don't care if we end up blooding a new opener in Australia. You know what you'll get with Crawley. One good score and the next ten innings will be blowouts.
I get that Crawley and Bashir are seen as ideal profiles for the conditions, but I'm not so convinced. Crawley has the potential to do well on 2010/11 Ashes style pitches (even though he's a major candidate to throw it away even when cruising) but he will be patchy at best if the grassy wickets that have become common in Australia recently are used. Bashir isn't ready and if England aren't careful they will ruin him. Pope? I gave up on him a while back. He's not good enough. It doesn't help that the management reduce their own sample size of alternatives by only wanting highly attacking batsmen but tbh Bethell looks a much better bat than Pope. Just needs some maturing on the value of going big, unfortunately this team aren't exactly models at setting that example.
 

GIMH

Norwood's on Fire
I like what we saw of Bethell, but his runs all came in the lower pressure innings didn't they. At number three you're going to need to dig your team out of a hole in the first innings. Not that Pope does that all too often either, but it's worth thinking about.
 

BazBall21

International Captain
I like what we saw of Bethell, but his runs all came in the lower pressure innings didn't they. At number three you're going to need to dig your team out of a hole in the first innings. Not that Pope does that all too often either, but it's worth thinking about.
Bethell has a much better technique
 
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GIMH

Norwood's on Fire
Bethell has a much better technique
Agree but James Vince had a wonderful technique.

I'd like Bethell in the side, because he's a joy to watch. And also I'm enjoying how silly some of the posts in this thread when he first came out to bat already look, and I'm petty like that. I just think three half-centuries in second innings where the game was already done and dusted don't tell us he's our man. It doesn't mean he's not.
 

BazBall21

International Captain
Agree but James Vince had a wonderful technique.

I'd like Bethell in the side, because he's a joy to watch. And also I'm enjoying how silly some of the posts in this thread when he first came out to bat already look, and I'm petty like that. I just think three half-centuries in second innings where the game was already done and dusted don't tell us he's our man. It doesn't mean he's not.
I was never a Vince fan, especially against the new ball because of his loose driving. Think sometimes lazy elegance gets overrated in technical terms. Bethell looks quality. Just needs to mature at going big.
 

Betterpolo

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
I hate this obsession with an away Ashes because underperforming players can still be guaranteed a place because this is the sole goal. No, if Crawley sucks, then give someone the Summer and if they score runs, they're inked in. I don't care if we end up blooding a new opener in Australia. You know what you'll get with Crawley. One good score and the next ten innings will be blowouts.
For the Ashes tour I think I would take this right now! 😬
 

ashley bach

Cricketer Of The Year
No surprise to run into Baz and Zak down the local casino testing their luck on blackjack.
They were in good spirits winning and there was even talk of the shoe being the best ever.
However the mood changed when the waiter wouldn't accept anymore drinks because it was 1.02 and alcohol service closes at 1.00.
Baz ''but we ordered a few minutes ago''
Waiter ''um..er..no you didn't''

Pretty pathetic service tbf, and a fairly ordinary casino with only one blackjack and one roulette table open.

*Random sightings
They were all there tonight, almost making it impossible for the public to get a game.

*Carse really is arse, somebody needs to tell him you should sit on 17 not take more cards.
 

LangleyburyCCPlayer

State Regular
England ratings for the series:
Crawley: 2/10–couple of starts, but overall very concerning
Duckett: 6/10–a 92, two starts and 3 low scores, more than enough to keep the wolf from the selection door in this era of a lack of opening options
Bethell: 8/10–3 good 50s in the second innings of each Test, a shame he couldn’t convert one of them. Showed some level of durability even with some low scores in the first innings of each Test, but if we were to be nitpicky, it would be nice if he could show a bit more earlier in matches
Root: 6/10–Normally he’s our most influential player, but his one century was when the game was almost won, and his 50 came in a doomed effort. Good by mortal standards, but not his best by any means
Brook: 8/10–he gave up some chances in his first ton, but his second ton in difficult circumstances was one of his best so far. After the mediocre summer he had, it’s encouraging that we have someone else to rely on if Root doesn’t fire
Pope: 6/10–encouraging start, tailed off at the end, but should take some confidence after a harrowing tour of Pakistan (wouldn’t say his dismissal in the first Test was ‘unlucky’, but Phillips took a stunning catch when NZ had doused their fingers in butter!). We can only presume he won’t be a gloveman going forward, so with the form Bethell showed, whether this series strengthens his spot in the team I have no idea!
Stokes: 6/10–Not much action with the bat in end end, but some good lower order knocks. Mental to bowl him so much when he’s kept together by sticky tape these days though!
Atkinson: 8/10–A tick under 25 with both bat and ball, almost genuine all-rounder territory! His pace is down, I don’t know if that’s a concern or whether it’s a feature of bowling far more than he's used to (plus with Carse in the team now he’s definitely not the main man in terms of pace), but he is still picking up wickets which is definitely the main thing
Carse: 9/10–I’m not getting carried away, but he’s definitely the reincarnation of Lillee and Thomson!
Woakes: 7/10–we’re simply lost without him overseas now! Encouraging bowling (although I’m not sure he has much of a future overseas considering New Zealand is about as Englandy as it gets in terms of conditions), batting is a perhaps a slight concern, but much less of one now that we have unearthed two very good lower order batters in Atkinson and Carse
Bashir: 3/10–it’s a tough job being a spinner in New Zealand, but he’s got a lot to learn hasn’t he?
Potts: 7/10–definitely won’t get into the team as a first choice, but he did an acceptable job as a stand-in for the third Test
 

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