**Official** England in New Zealand 28 Nov-18 Dec 2024 - 3 Tests

[thierry henry]

I dunno, that third innings seems a bit Bazball-ish at over 3s an over and attempting to win the game with an overnight 4th day declaration. I think he would have loved the chase though, chasing 329 (how's my maths) and not got anywhere near it, only six down.

I'm assuming there was some tentative thinking about winning, but they rightfully knuckled down and secured the draw once they lost a few wickets

 

[Bahnz]

200/3 going into tea on the final day, but 3 quick wickets put an end to any dreams of a helter-skelter 4rpo final session.

 

[RMBolton]

Apparently, we're getting a new perpetual trophy this series: Crowe-Thorpe.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

New test series coming up soon, we can pin this (already > 100 posts)

Pin please,

@Red_Ink_Squid @Magrat Garlick @nightprowler10 @Spark

Thanks

 

[Nicky]

I know it's not happening right now but I'd like to see Bethell instead of Pope. It's a lot to ask for a young player, but could he be England's number 3 AND "main" spinner on not-so-spin-friendly pitches. That would make selection easier sometimes. Instead of picking a specialist spinner (Leach, Bashir) for 4th innings mainly. That would offer another seamer, or an allrounder, or a batter instead...

1. Crawley
2. Duckett
3. Bethell
4. Root
5. Brook
6. Smith
7. Stokes
8. Woakes
9. Atkinson
10. Carse
11. Leach/Potts/Stone

From #2 to #6 is pretty strong in batting. #1 & #7 not too reliable, but.......... You then have #8 to #10 as bowling-allrounders.

 

[wpdavid]

I know it's not happening right now but I'd like to see Bethell instead of Pope. It's a lot to ask for a young player, but could he be England's number 3 AND "main" spinner on not-so-spin-friendly pitches. That would make selection easier sometimes. Instead of picking a specialist spinner (Leach, Bashir) for 4th innings mainly. That would offer another seamer, or an allrounder, or a batter instead...

1. Crawley
2. Duckett
3. Bethell
4. Root
5. Brook
6. Smith
7. Stokes
8. Woakes
9. Atkinson
10. Carse
11. Leach/Potts/Stone

From #2 to #6 is pretty strong in batting. #1 & #7 not too reliable, but.......... You then have #8 to #10 as bowling-allrounders.

Smith won't be there will he? Paternity leave, I think.

 

[Nicky]

Oh true..!

 

[Moss]

I'm not so sure Young has changed his spots. He has been scoring awesome 50s on minefields since he was young. His issue is throwing away starts on motorways.

I suspect he would have scored the same if the Indian decks were flat.

Hopefully he has changed, but it's still a risk.

Also in his strange test career so far, he’s tended to do better in conditions that somewhat more subcontinent-like (aside from the obvious India example, he scored two half centuries in the test which Bangladesh won at the Mount).

Otherwise there are a lot of low scores in there, TBF most of them as opener which he is not suited to. In the current lineup he just misses out in home conditions, too bad. Had Rachin not made an immediate impact on his return to the test team the no.4 slot might have been his.

 

[Chin Music]

I know it's not happening right now but I'd like to see Bethell instead of Pope. It's a lot to ask for a young player, but could he be England's number 3 AND "main" spinner on not-so-spin-friendly pitches. That would make selection easier sometimes. Instead of picking a specialist spinner (Leach, Bashir) for 4th innings mainly. That would offer another seamer, or an allrounder, or a batter instead...

1. Crawley
2. Duckett
3. Bethell
4. Root
5. Brook
6. Smith
7. Stokes
8. Woakes
9. Atkinson
10. Carse
11. Leach/Potts/Stone

From #2 to #6 is pretty strong in batting. #1 & #7 not too reliable, but.......... You then have #8 to #10 as bowling-allrounders.

I'm not currently Pope's biggest fan by any stretch. Despite his obvious talent, he's failed to kick on despite some seeming false dawns. Too often, he falls early with no real sign he's worked on his weak defence. However, we are picking Bethell who hasn't played very much first class cricket and doesn't even have a first class century to his name, let alone have played at 3. At least Pope has done relatively well at 3 compared to his record elsewhere in test cricket. However, his record has declined over the last year and disciplined opening bowlers can sort him out, let alone decent and better spinners in spin friendly conditions.

 

[FBU]

I'm not currently Pope's biggest fan by any stretch. Despite his obvious talent, he's failed to kick on despite some seeming false dawns. Too often, he falls early with no real sign he's worked on his weak defence. However, we are picking Bethell who hasn't played very much first class cricket and doesn't even have a first class century to his name, let alone have played at 3. At least Pope has done relatively well at 3 compared to his record elsewhere in test cricket. However, his record has declined over the last year and disciplined opening bowlers can sort him out, let alone decent and better spinners in spin friendly conditions.

I would prefer Bethell at 3 rather than Pope or Cox but then they don't have a keeper. Pope has to stay as the keeper.

 

[altaf]

I think England is a much stronger side this time, especially with Wood's pace and they have a much better track record against Nz.

 

[BazBall21]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...kQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2oTRL5JHu4QYoubQDXU2CC

[/URL]

How good is this. Two absolute legends who were taken far too soon.

 

[FBU]

I think England is a much stronger side this time, especially with Wood's pace and they have a much better track record against Nz.

Wood isn't going to NZ - it will be Carse with the pace.
Woakes, Atkinson and Carse

 

[BazBall21]

England had a better team on their previous NZ tour and blew it. Don't think this series is a write off by any stretches of the imagination but it's a long shot.

 

[Chin Music]

I would prefer Bethell at 3 rather than Pope or Cox but then they don't have a keeper. Pope has to stay as the keeper.

But then, there is no way he should be batting at 3. That is nuts for even a high performing player, let alone one who has had a somewhat mediocre career.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

But then, there is no way he should be batting at 3. That is nuts for even a high performing player, let alone one who has had a somewhat mediocre career.

Cox at 3 would be less insane as he has experience of batting up the order at county level (albeit usually at 4, not sure how often he’s in the top 3), but even that would be a bit mental seeing how he’s struggled in the limited overs games he’s played this winter. I actually don’t mind the Bethell pick in and of itself, he’s a talented player who is basically carrying drinks around, but I think Robinson or Rew can feel aggrieved as we’re basically picking our spare bat who happens to be able to keep and essentially ignoring them for Pope now that Smith isn’t around. As for Pope, you feel most of the time if a player is in this kind of form he’s in, he’d be drinking in the last chance saloon, but considering Lees, Burns and Jennings are out of vogue, does he have a longer rope? How far are the likes of Yates and McKinney from a call-up?

 

[kevinw]

Would Yates be in contention? Very modest FC record. Tom Haines of Sussex might be a good shout if Sussex have a strong season next year. Tom Prest at Hampshire could be a reasonable pick, albeit from a smaller sample of matches. But it's fair that Cox is the next cab, and I wouldn't read too much into his couple of one dayers in the WI.

 

[thierry henry]

England had a better team on their previous NZ tour and blew it. Don't think this series is a write off by any stretches of the imagination but it's a long shot.

It's a very tough series to call in terms of who has momentum. England were right in the early peak of BazBall when they last came here, while NZ were starting to trend down. Really, England dominated the series but managed to **** it up.

This time, BazBall looks a bit wobbly, while NZ are coming off an almost inexplicable upturn in form against a wider backdrop of a prolonged malaise/slump. Who tf knows where either side are at, really.

 

[Bahnz]

The team I'd like to see us play:

Latham, Conway, KW, Rachin, Mitchell, Phillips, Hay/Chu/Cleaver, Santner, Smith, Henry, O'Rourke

My support for Santner is not just based on the Pune test. I actually think he could be a really handy option against the bazballers.

The team I expect we'll see

Latham, Conway, KW, Rachin, Mitchell, Blundell, Phillips, Henry, Southee, Duffy, O'Rourke

 

[Fuller Pilch]

The team I expect we'll see

Latham, Conway, KW, Rachin, Mitchell, Blundell, Phillips, Henry, Southee, Duffy, O'Rourke

Agree, except I think Smith instead of Duffy.
When we've had the chance in recent years (options not out with injury) we've almost always picked batting insurance at 8 (the Bracewells, Kuggleijn, Santner).