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

[The Hutt Rec]

I really don’t see much point in bowling CDG at this point.

 

[straw man]

Me neither, even if he's got the occasional one to nip past the edge. Also agree with Doull - Williamson needs to show a bit of faith in Astle to do what he's selected for.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

It really ****s with you when you just don't get a bowl

 

[straw man]

exactly

 

[vandem]

I really don’t see much point in bowling CDG at this point.

Assume the reason that de Grandhomme has bowled so many overs is that Kane still thinks they will win with Southee + Boult wickets, and with a 116 run lead and 48 overs to go, he wants to keep run rate down so England don't get too far ahead. He doesn't think he needs to gamble with Astle, who may create more chances, but may give away more runs.

Edit, and de Grandhomme beats the bat every 4-5 overs, just often enough to encourage keeping him on.

 

[Larwood's_boots]

Just bought the average back to one wicket lost per hour by my estimate, if they can hold on that they save the draw. Nice going from Ben “chanderpaul” stokes, could be a real nail biter here.

 

[Zinzan]

46 overs to get 4 wickets.

 

[S.Kennedy]

I'm glad I haven't been watching this test (ill with the flu in bed - too ill to even watch). I hear our chaps are stinking out New Zealand?

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Assume the reason that de Grandhomme has bowled so many overs is that Kane still thinks they will win with Southee + Boult wickets, and with a 116 run lead and 48 overs to go, he wants to keep run rate down so England don't get too far ahead. He doesn't think he needs to gamble with Astle, who may create more chances, but may give away more runs.

Edit, and de Grandhomme beats the bat every 4-5 overs, just often enough to encourage keeping him on.

Hmm, I reckon it’s just releasing the pressure valve, knowing you’re not facing anything very threatening at one end. That’s how I’d be looking at it if I was batting, anyway.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Good strategy from stokes to play and miss cdg every so often to bait Kane into bowling him more

 

[Larwood's_boots]

I'm glad I haven't been watching this test (ill with the flu in bed - too ill to even watch). I hear our chaps are stinking out New Zealand?

Worth switching on if your up, Stokes is playing a blinder.

 

[Zinzan]

Yeah, I'm not getting the de Grandhomme spell either. He's useful on a seaming track. This is flat.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, I'm not getting the de Grandhomme spell either. He's useful on a seaming track. This is flat.

Yeah CdG has improved his bowling a lot to the point where he's as good as the frontline bowlers when it's seaming around and can do a job keeping it tight if it's flat too, but keeping it tight really shouldn't be what New Zealand are going for right now. Astle should absolutely be bowling these overs.

 

[vandem]

46 overs to get 4 wickets.

NZ can't use all the overs. England will be ahead in the last half hour, and if they are still there then I assume Stokes or Overton will have a dart, try and hit a few boundaries to make a short chase impossible.

 

[vandem]

... but keeping it tight really shouldn't be what New Zealand are going for right now. Astle should absolutely be bowling these overs.

Kane disagrees. He wants to keep it tight from one end, and is backing Boult + Southee to get the wickets from the other end.

Not pretty. May yet be effective.

(Edit) I'm picking Wags to bowl from here to the break, and de Grandhomme to bowl another 3-4, then replaced by Astle for 2-3 before the break. Then a final Boult + Southee roll of the dice after the break (or pehaps Southee back for a 2-3 before the break if there is a wicket)..

 

[BeeGee]

I really don’t see much point in bowling CDG at this point.

Some of Williamson's decisions are real head scratchers. The lack of Astle is baffling.

 

[straw man]

I realise that runs aren't completely irrelevant - England could potentially make us bat again if this goes right to the end, but the extra chance of Astle taking a wicket is still worth so much more than De Grandhomme's empty overs.

 

[Flem274*]

i am officially concerned

 

[cnerd123]

Why does Kane hate Tastle

 

[BeeGee]

I realise that runs aren't completely irrelevant - England could potentially make us bat again if this goes right to the end, but the extra chance of Astle taking a wicket is still worth so much more than De Grandhomme's empty overs.

Runs are irrelevant. We need four wickets and bowling someone to keep things tight just wastes overs. There's no point planning for what may happen at the end of the game when four wickets will end the game now.