*Official* 2022 New Zealand Tour of England, Ireland, Scotland & Netherlands

[straw man]

Fair play to Bracewell, I was adamant that his selection was a mistake, and I still think there are better options out there, but he's had a pretty reasonable match, and really should've been given a bowl much earlier.

It's possible to see what the selectors see in him with the ball, something to work with despite his paucity of FC wickets. At the very least Bracewell's overspin style of bouncy spin bowling is a good contrast to the sidespin style Ajaz offers (and Phillips and Rachin too), and perhaps better suited to SENA conditions a la Nathan Lyon.

It will still be a weird role for him if NZ persist though - domestic top order batsman positioned at 7 for NZ to bowl part-time spin, do a bit of batting and (usually) allow the selection of four seamers.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Uncle Ben seems to have been brainwashed by Supermac already in his batting.

I'm not sure McCullum can take all the credit, pretty sure a lot of it is just Stokes being himself. If anything I'd guess his main role model is Morgan and he's trying to captain the Test team in the same way Morgan does the white ball sides.

Then again, Morgan's main influence was McCullum, so actually yeah, maybe it is on Brendon.

 

[Gremlin]

Hard to know which way it will go today. If Root is out early I can't see England getting parity. NZ would have to force the run rate to give them something to bowl at, they need the win.

Whereas if England get, say, a 50-100 run lead (would be mid afternoon) I can't see anything other than a draw.

But who knows with either side!

 

[cnerd123]

England could definitely win this, which would suck but also be really funny

 

[Meridio]

Well that's an atrocious first 3 balls. Ragged as ****

 

[Meridio]

Lots of talk this morning in the build up almost saying the only team that can win this game is England - getting a longgg way ahead of themselves there. Yeah we've been **** with the ball but could still roll through the tail for another 30, giving a handy lead, then bat well second dig and suddenly England are under pressure again.

That first over not helping proceedings though

 

[Chubb]

Please tell me Joe Root didn’t just reverse paddle the 13th ball of the morning for 6.

 

[StephenZA]

Does anybody think McCullum might start influencing the English batting?

 

[Woodster]

Please tell me Joe Root didn’t just reverse paddle the 13th ball of the morning for 6.

Outrageous shot, so early in the day before he’s got set again.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Please tell me Joe Root didn’t just reverse paddle the 13th ball of the morning for 6.

The second ball he faced.

 

[cnerd123]

the sheer disrespect

can't believe this lot won the WTC.

 

[thierry henry]

Take test status off us

 

[Meridio]

This is atrocious

 

[Groundking]

This is fun.

 

[jcas0167]

Give Bracewell a bowl.

 

[Meridio]

This is utterly brainless stuff. Set a leg side field. Bowl one short and wide, then one full outside off. What the ****

 

[trundler]

Foakes is good, yeah.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

@sledger your boy Foakes has just taken 26 runs off two Southee overs.

 

[_Ed_]

Southee 31-1-152-0

 

[sledger]

@sledger your boy Foakes has just taken 26 runs off two Southee overs.

what do you expect, even India would be scoring runs on this pitch against these feeble men