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

[straw man]

Usually if you're playing a dead rubber it's a chance to bring in a few different/younger players to try to get something out of the series, but extremely unlikely NZ will do anything like that (Tickner and Cleaver the only two in the squad who might fit that bill).

Galling for Wagner to get a game only after the series is gone but I still look forward to seeing what he offers here. Tempting to leave out one of Southee and Henry for Ajaz too, provided that Williamson will bowl him more than 2 overs.

Have a feeling they'll fit Macewell into the side somehow instead of a bowler, but imo if they really want him to play then Nicholls should sit out. Nicholls has been a disappointment in recent times, but still has something to offer imo if he can get back to playing gritty/stubborn innings like he used to.

 

[Moss]

On current form no question, Nicholls should be the one to miss out (if they’re set on playing Macewell as allrounder - though would be a good step if they are prepared to play 7 batsmen and give Mitchell some bowling). Good player but so far hasn’t been able to make the step up to senior pro as well as he could have. Worth remembering that he did score a century against the South Africans three tests ago though.

Harsh to judge on one test after his great showing in the home season but Henry as 3rd/4th seamer just doesn’t work well. Wagner and Patel to round out the attack. Wonder how much more of Wagner we’ll see as I imagine he’s a far from likely starter in the Pakistan tests.

 

[ataraxia]

Can we beat England in a close game plz?

I think a lot of us would rather that sort of win than a hollow thrashing; though at this point, any win would be great.

 

[NZTailender]

Can we beat England in a close game plz?

I think a lot of us would rather that sort of win than a hollow thrashing; though at this point, any win would be great.

I don't want them to win a close game, I want to grind them into the dust. I want Kane, Devon and will young to score double centuries and then Mitchell to score the fastest test century ever for Lols. Then I want each bowler to take 5 wickets each for **** all runs and win by an innings and 900 runs. **** this close entertaining match business, we had that for two tests. I want revenge.

 

[Athlai]

I want Ross Taylor to come back and raise his flaming sword as the Prince who was Promised

 

[Meridio]

Anyone else not able to get Chromecast to work for this? Can open spark app, start casting. Literally any other content works fine. Try and cast this live test and it just goes back to the splash screen. Really cbf chasing spark about this, the fact everything else is working suggests something wrong at their end

 

[Gremlin]

Got to be a bat first morning surely...

 

[straw man]

So neither Henry or Ajaz and our bowling attack is just Southee/Boult/Wagner + Macewell and Mitchell's parttimers.

Weird to stack the batting lineup like that, surely would make more sense to play a frontline bowler in Ajaz instead of Macewell.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

So neither Henry or Ajaz and our bowling attack is just Southee/Boult/Wagner + Macewell and Mitchell's parttimers.

Weird to stack the batting lineup like that, surely would make more sense to play a frontline bowler in Ajaz instead of Macewell.

Hard to see that attack taking 20 wickets.
Very imbalanced looking XI

 

[jcas0167]

Anyone else not able to get Chromecast to work for this? Can open spark app, start casting. Literally any other content works fine. Try and cast this live test and it just goes back to the splash screen. Really cbf chasing spark about this, the fact everything else is working suggests something wrong at their end

Having the same problem. Works on Spark Sport channel 1.

 

[ataraxia]

what the **** is this side? ooh, it's a dead rubber, let's try to injure our quicks

Though it will be an interesting test to compare the batters, and to (hopefully) give Mitchell some overs

 

[Howsie]

I’ve all but given up on this set up and team with Stead and co running things but what in the **** is this bowling attack.

So Michael Bracewell and all of his 10 first class wickets over 10 years is a better bowler than Ajaz Patel now….

Would someone put this drongo out of his misery. He’s completely run this team into the ground just like I thought he would 3 years ago

 

[nzfan]

Love to be proved wrong but are they going with a mindset to draw or lose? We have taken 30 wickets so far and needed more bowlers than batters. We get 3 bowlers and 1 part time bowler.

On a flat deck why do we need 8 batters? This probably is even more a flat deck than the previous one.

The way they're treating Ajaz is unfathomable. Honestly think this should be investigated. Doesn't sound right at all to me.

 

[CricAddict]

Very clear that NZ are going for a draw from the start. Very initial Bangladeshi strategy. That's such a big quick downgrade from the wtc win.

 

[straw man]

I’ve all but given up on this set up and team with Stead and co running things but what in the **** is this bowling attack.

So Michael Bracewell and all of his 10 first class wickets over 10 years is a better bowler than Ajaz Patel now….

Would someone put this drongo out of his misery. He’s completely run this team into the ground just like I thought he would 3 years ago

Howsie rant = fair

 

[nzfan]

It feels like Kane says he wants Southee, Boult and Wagner.

Gary says he definitely wants Nicholls and Henry. If not I'll have Bracewell for Henry instead

Neither wants Ajaz... Shocking.

 

[Jay London]

Any reason NZ don't pick Ravindra? Scored big in the county championship.

 

[nzfan]

Ideally we shouldn't lose this game, 8 batters on this deck means we can bat and bat and bat as long as we want. We have even won the tods. They don't even have Anderson and we have 8 batters.

England will also bat and bat and bat but they may try and do something out of the ordinary like they did the last test. That may play into our hands I'm hoping.

Shows how much we trust our batting order or they don't reckon Bracewell can bat. I think it's the former

 

[trundler]

A stat to console the wounded NZer:

Richard Hadlee still has more fifers than Jimmy Anderson in half as many tests.

 

[nzfan]

Any reason NZ don't pick Ravindra? Scored big in the county championship.

He can't make any black caps squad. They may even take him out of nz A. Probably a scape goat for the bad cricket played by seasoned players vs Bangladesh.