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

[Molehill]

That sort of logic wouldn't surprise me with this setup.

I hope not as I think Robinson was unfairly overlooked in the summer, he should have been in the backup batsman role instead of Cox.

But he's an idiot for costing himself a test cap with his expired passport. So only himself to blame this time if Bethell gets the nod.

I don't think the passport cost him a spot, he'd have never made it in time for the First Test anyway.

 

[mackembhoy]

I don't think the passport cost him a spot, he'd have never made it in time for the First Test anyway.

It was implied that was the case by Ali Martin of the Guardian. Gone back and looked at his article which is updated and advises differently

 

[Molehill]

It was implied that was the case by Ali Martin of the Guardian. Gone back and looked at his article which is updated and advises differently

Just checked the timelines - Cox broke his thumb on the Sunday, First Test started on the Thursday. No way Robinson ever had a hope of playing, and yet the BBC seemed to report it as such.

 

[straw man]

And Phillips does bat well with the tail. Kane would probably bat well with the tail too. It's not a great argument for deciding the batting order. Speaking of the tail, Southee left Phillips stranded by going for another six in the first innings. For his final tests if there an established batsman at the crease (say like Dean Brownlie on 70 odd at the Gabba) could he try giving them the strike and not get caught on the ****ing boundary? Too late for that discussion?

It's hard to bat well with the tail if the tail doesn't want to bat well with you.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

How much longer will you be in NZ? Sounds like you're having a blast.

And did you go to Pakistan as well, or did I imagine that?

Fly to Wellington today and go home after that one. Its a great holiday. Best ever.

We planned to go but with so much uncertainty over venues we changed to New Zealand instead.

 

[SteveNZ]

And Phillips does bat well with the tail. Kane would probably bat well with the tail too. It's not a great argument for deciding the batting order. Speaking of the tail, Southee left Phillips stranded by going for another six in the first innings. For his final tests if there an established batsman at the crease (say like Dean Brownlie on 70 odd at the Gabba) could he try giving them the strike and not get caught on the ****ing boundary? Too late for that discussion?

Great points. You could look back on my posts for the last decade and see me bemoaning that tailenders refuse to bat for an established batsman. O'Rourke is a rare exception. It gives me the shits.

GP batting well with the tail might be true but it's such a lazy, unintelligent reason. Number 6s bat with the tail, too. GP is a far better bat than Blundell therefore, in the best interest of the side, should bat higher to maximise his run output.

Dylan Cleaver made a great point in his sub stack (which every NZ fan should subscribe to,it's brilliant) that GP's all round talent is being underutilized. His Test bowling average is 28 but bowled 9 overs in the first Test, and we're likely going to add Santner in Wellington and again dilute his influence. Bashir bowled 32 overs when his side won the toss and bowled. One of our best talents is being used as a tail shielding batsman and part time spinner. I also feel like he goes silly in the field when he isn't allowed to have an influence on the game - he got carried away and did it in the Australian T20s last season and he did it this week. That cat on a hot tin roof personality does not do well when it's starved of attention

 

[SteveNZ]

Worth also mentioning that England in the Baz Ball era have smashed us 5 out of 6 Tests, and lost one when they wanted to win by an innings and play golf (obviously we played good enough cricket to win, but point remains)

This side needs to prove it is decent by finding a way to reverse that dominance. Latham wanted to play it down this week and talk about fine margins although it wasn't fine, we were smashed.

Otherwise, that Indian miracle is looking it was exactly that, rather than a set of results brilliantly planned and executed by not even a great side, but even merely a good one. The evidence is mounting that we've had very,very few decent Test series performances since the WTC win

 

[jcas0167]

Great points. You could look back on my posts for the last decade and see me bemoaning that tailenders refuse to bat for an established batsman. O'Rourke is a rare exception. It gives me the shits.

GP batting well with the tail might be true but it's such a lazy, unintelligent reason. Number 6s bat with the tail, too. GP is a far better bat than Blundell therefore, in the best interest of the side, should bat higher to maximise his run output.

Dylan Cleaver made a great point in his sub stack (which every NZ fan should subscribe to,it's brilliant) that GP's all round talent is being underutilized. His Test bowling average is 28 but bowled 9 overs in the first Test, and we're likely going to add Santner in Wellington and again dilute his influence. Bashir bowled 32 overs when his side won the toss and bowled. One of our best talents is being used as a tail shielding batsman and part time spinner. I also feel like he goes silly in the field when he isn't allowed to have an influence on the game - he got carried away and did it in the Australian T20s last season and he did it this week. That cat on a hot tin roof personality does not do well when it's starved of attention

I literally was just reading Cleaver's latest substack post about the test :-) Interesting point about Phillips also being underbowled.