***Official*** England in New Zealand 2018

[Bahnz]

That's if he gets a go. The temptation most be strong to go in with 4 seamers for the day-night test.

 

[straw man]

True, though they'll have De Grandhomme's wobblers available for fourth seamer too. Maybe Tastle will make the XI but bowl a sum total of 4 overs all test, like the last one he played.

 

[theegyptian]

I'd like to see Overton over either Broad or Woakes for the test matches. Need to start moving forward.

 

[Kippax]

Yep, keep getting all this junk out of your system in the matches of no consequence, then proving me wrong in your actual Test play, Raval.

 

[Starfighter]

Broad still pushing the ball in towards the right handers, although perhaps not quite as badly. The less said about that top order performance the better.

 

[straw man]

It's ok the NZ XI has Seifert coming in at number 15 so 30/5 is all good.

 

[Spark]

James Vince is bowling now, so evidently this is a match being played at the highest possible intensity

 

[Starfighter]

Yessss. I was disappointed he didn't bowl in the Ashes.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Lol our test top six minus Williamson and Taylor, decimated to 30/5. This does not bode too well!

 

[Bahnz]

It's not exactly encouraging that our test batting lineup minus KW and Ross managed 20 between them.

 

[Athlai]

It's a clever strategy by Hesson to not give the English a proper chance at bowling.

 

[Bahnz]

Speaking of clever strategies, you've got to laugh at England bringing Vince and Ali on inside the first hour of play in an attempt to drag this innings out for long enough so that they can get some practice batting when it's actually dark out.

 

[Spark]

Speaking of clever strategies, you've got to laugh at England bringing Vince and Ali on inside the first hour of play in an attempt to drag this innings out for long enough so that they can get some practice batting when it's actually dark out.

Maybe this was the genius plan from NZ all along

 

[CM Punk]

Nicols fails again.

Man our batting is literally Kane and Taylor =\

 

[CM Punk]

Santner out for 6-9 months - oof, that's a big blow.

This has the feeling of one of those hospital-pass callups for Astle. Almost like Sinclair and Matthew Bell, who scored millions of domestic runs season after season and then finally got a belated selection into the NZ side, once their form had dipped. I hope Astle goes well, he is certainly deserving of a chance, but having barely played FC cricket this season is going to make it tough. Especially for a legspinner. Good luck to him.

Definitely for the Test series, but we aren't playing any cricket after this series. He should be back by the time we play Pakistan in the UAE.

 

[Daemon]

Speaking of clever strategies, you've got to laugh at England bringing Vince and Ali on inside the first hour of play in an attempt to drag this innings out for long enough so that they can get some practice batting when it's actually dark out.

The best part is they brought Ali on because they knew he probably wouldn't take many wickets

 

[Kippax]

 

[The Hutt Rec]

That's really good from Blundell, even if he did have some easier bowling to get in with ... Anderson and Broad did eventually come back on. Watling at 5 and Blundell keeping must be becoming a consideration, if Nicholls keeps failing.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm interested in theories as to why Ish Sodhi is so resoundingly popular among "casuals". Like every Veitchy follower and RadioSport listener would have him over Astle and probably Santner, yet he really hasn't done that much and hasn't come close to actually earning re-selection in red ball cricket. Purely in terms of bowling style is he even that much more aesthetically pleasing or "talented looking" than Astle? He is seen as someone who really rips it but...does he, really?

Astle's a bit older and Santner bowls finger spin. That's pretty much it I think. Casuals love 'em some young players and wrist spinners.

 

[straw man]

Heh, Jamieson now 80*