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

[Gnske]

The sad thing is for a moment in Melbourne Alastair had rediscovered his footwork.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Gotta have an innings of jammy wickets to balance all the beauties last time

 

[Larwood's_boots]

WHY WOULD YOU EVEN PLAY A SHOT AT THAT? All you have to do is stay in and it's a mile outside of leg stump ffs!

 

[Moss]

Didn't expect to see this scoreline given the kind of form Nicholls showed in the ODIs, but there you have it. Good on him for putting the foot on the opposition throat, something NZ don't often do well enough.

 

[Moss]

Eh Hockley insisting that good bowling brought about that wicket?

 

[Bahnz]

Nicholls averaging 38 in tests. #notterrible

 

[Larwood's_boots]

Eh Hockley insisting that good bowling brought about that wicket?

Wretched bowling, should have been an easy leave in this situation. Been something wrong with cook for a while.

 

[Zinzan]

They'll play till 9:30 tonight. They can play later on day 5 if not all the overs have been bowled, but 10pm is when the lights have to be shut off.

Good that should mean we get up to 105 overs on day 5.

 

[NZTailender]

Eh Hockley insisting that good bowling brought about that wicket?

When you get good bowling in the corridor you want to leave or play cautiously, a filthy ball down leg is a scoring opportunity.

Usually.

 

[NZTailender]

England being AO to two bowlers in the first dig will have lulled them into a false sense of security. Will put a lot of effort into seeing off any potential swing, then Wagner will come on and bounce half the side out.

 

[Bahnz]

Good that should mean we get up to 105 overs on day 5.

Sorry, I mean they can go later if not all of the scheduled 98 haven't been bowled. They only way they'll go over 98 is if they're ahead of schedule.

 

[_Ed_]

England being AO to two bowlers in the first dig will have lulled them into a false sense of security. Will put a lot of effort into seeing off any potential swing, then Wagner will come on and bounce half the side out.

This would be glorious.

 

[Athlai]

Some loose batting here

 

[Bahnz]

England being AO to two bowlers in the first dig will have lulled them into a false sense of security. Will put a lot of effort into seeing off any potential swing, then Wagner will come on and bounce half the side out.

England could score very quickly off Wagner. Aren't going to be too many catches at fine leg on this ground.

 

[Larwood's_boots]

When you get good bowling in the corridor you want to leave or play cautiously, a filthy ball down leg is a scoring opportunity.

Usually.

Could have just left given the situation, he's been playing un-cook like stupid shots since at least India. I was one of those who thought giving up the skippers job would lead to a rebirth but seriously worried at this point, especially given the lack of alternatives for England.

 

[Bahnz]

Boult generally bowling a bit too short this innings.

 

[Larwood's_boots]

Boult generally bowling a bit too short this innings.

Has he ever had a go with the pink ball at this time of day or later? Shouldn't really affect length but understandable if he's still trying to figure it out.

 

[Bahnz]

Yep, played a pink ball test in Australia in pretty much precisely these conditions. Nearly won us a game defending 170. He knows how to bowl with the pink ball, just been a bit off the mark today.

 

[BeeGee]

Southee is bowling beautifully.

 

[Moss]

Southee and Boult could have done with a bit more consistency in that first spell, given both batsmen have been pretty shaky.