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

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Because Foakes showed in India he can't bat with the tail. So hes not suitable for this side and the way they want to play.

Bairstow seems to have just been moved on from in all formats.

As an aside to the Smith not being available part

It’s trendy to bang the drum for Foakes, but it’s justifiable to lose a bit of wicket-keeping ability to chase those extra tail-end runs you’ll get with a Smith in my view. Not so to pick a part-time wickie who is off-form with the bat too, but that’s a discussion for another day!

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

It might have been better planning to include a spare keeper/batter when they chose the squad rather than 3 spinners, but then they were
still thinking that smith was gonna play the 1st test! muddled thinking.

I get England aren’t afraid to make big choices, and picking Hull and Bethell at least make some sense, but 3 spinners and (up until Cox got injured) no full-time wicket-keepers, in addition to one opener in the Sri Lanka series was a bit mad, and it really contrasts with the early Bazball era, which was thrilling, but also included some players in the team who maybe don’t fit the Bazball mould, but fit the specific role in the team

 

[govinda indian fan]

I get England aren’t afraid to make big choices, and picking Hull and Bethell at least make some sense, but 3 spinners and (up until Cox got injured) no full-time wicket-keepers, in addition to one opener in the Sri Lanka series was a bit mad, and it really contrasts with the early Bazball era, which was thrilling, but also included some players in the team who maybe don’t fit the Bazball mould, but fit the specific role in the team

Going with three spinners to nz is bonkers. Anyhow is wood playing mate? Cant wait to see him bowl

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Going with three spinners to nz is bonkers. Anyhow is wood playing mate? Cant wait to see him bowl

Out for the rest of the year, hopefully he'll be there in Pakistan or wherever the CT will be played

 

[mackembhoy]

An interesting lineup to say the least.

You've arguably got better FC batsman at 8-10 than at 3!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1861175591766237531

 

[BazBall21]

Don't think he's ever batted 3 professionally and doesn't have a professional hundred.

 

[grecian]

ITSTL

ah well, used to it by now, so it isn't even a shock.

 

[Flem274*]

Stokes at 7 is kinda bullshit lol

 

[BazBall21]

Stokes at 7 is kinda bullshit lol

Generally not a fan of that idea because he's a slow starter but that problem is reduced by Carse batting at 10 which is insane depth.

I guess Pope has a much better chance at 6 than 3 and he's probably more likely to score than Cox was. But Bethell at 3 is, well, and we really need a proper performance from Stokes.

 

[Chubb]

Picking guys with no FC track record is commonplace for this England era, but statistically Bethell must be the least qualified England batsman selected for tests since, when - the 1940s? Have England capped a batsman without a first class hundred since around that time?

 

[mackembhoy]

Generally not a fan of that idea because he's a slow starter but that problem is reduced by Carse batting at 10 which is insane depth.

I guess Pope has a much better chance at 6 than 3 and he's probably more likely to score than Cox was. But Bethell at 3 is, well, and we really need a proper performance from Stokes.

I think it's appalling that neither Root/Stokes fronted up to bat 3.

Sending a barely 21 year old out who's not even managed well at FC at 5 is really terrible management.

There's trying to give someone their chance to shine and then there's plain stupidity. It already failed with Lawrence and Roy in the past. It's just disrespectful to test cricket, we even saw an ATG in Smith fail trying to do a job he was not suited for.

Adults in the room need to rethink this. They had zero intention of playing Bethell until 2 days ago. Pope would have batted 3 and Cox 7. So stick to that plan with the debutant where they really should be at 7.

I of course don't wish to see Bethell fail and hope he does well. But I honestly don't want McCullum/Stokes to think they can just keep doing this.

 

[hendrix]

I think the current NZ bowling attack might suffer in ability to truly knock over the tail.

Early wickets can and do happen in NZ but once it flattens out you can really make hay with an #engineroom type batting line up which is clearly what McCullum is going for here.

If we had a Jamieson or someone around it might be another story but we don't so England's strategy could work IMO.

 

[vandem]

Picking guys with no FC track record is commonplace for this England era, but statistically Bethell must be the least qualified England batsman selected for tests since, when - the 1940s? Have England capped a batsman without a first class hundred since around that time?

All rounder Geoff Miller batted at #3 in 1st test in NZ 1978. Had scored some useful runs in previous two months in Pakistan, but didn't score a FC century until late in his FC career.

 

[hendrix]

I think it's appalling that neither Root/Stokes fronted up to bat 3.

Sending a barely 21 year old out who's not even managed well at FC at 5 is really terrible management.

There's trying to give someone their chance to shine and then there's plain stupidity. It already failed with Lawrence and Roy in the past. It's just disrespectful to test cricket, we even saw an ATG in Smith fail trying to do a job he was not suited for.

Adults in the room need to rethink this. They had zero intention of playing Bethell until 2 days ago. Pope would have batted 3 and Cox 7. So stick to that plan with the debutant where they really should be at 7.

I of course don't wish to see Bethell fail and hope he does well. But I honestly don't want McCullum/Stokes to think they can just keep doing this.

Sorry mate but you're gonna be stuck with McCullum gambles for about 15 years, even after he's no longer the coach.

NZ is still playing Ish Sodhi in its test side.

Bethell will average about 22 over a 13 year career and every time he comes out the commentators will talk about his talent and how he's just waiting to unleash.

 

[Hungry Llama]

Pope averages 40 at no3 and 29 at no6. If england bat first i'd have pope at 3, if NZ bat first, have pope at 6. Be flexible!
Betel at 3 on debut is a walking wkt. And stokes fitness can only be guessed at as he didnt bowl in the warmup game.

I 've read that teams [usually NZ] bowling first win twice as often as batting first at the Hagley.

 

[Bahnz]

I 've read that teams [usually NZ] bowling first win twice as often as batting first at the Hagley.

It's usually a big advantage. The only time it wasn't that I can remember was the 2nd test v SA in 2022, and that was an unusual case because covid restrictions meant back to back tests at Hagley, so the pitch block was baked under the sun all week running into the second test and started a lot drier and less bouncy than usual.

 

[jcas0167]

Crowe-Thorpe Trophy. https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/crowe-thorpe-trophy-to-recognise-batting-giants/

 

[RMBolton]

A spinner before Christmas at Hagley? What a joke.

In fairness, someone's got to give the quicks a break, but still. Hagley is a spinner's graveyard at the best of times. This time of year, it's even worse. A couple of weeks ago there was a Plunket Shield game there. Of the 31 wickets that fell, 2 were to spin. Both were in the 4th innings & were set bats who were getting aggressive to finish the chase quickly.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I think the current NZ bowling attack might suffer in ability to truly knock over the tail.

Early wickets can and do happen in NZ but once it flattens out you can really make hay with an #engineroom type batting line up which is clearly what McCullum is going for here.

If we had a Jamieson or someone around it might be another story but we don't so England's strategy could work IMO.

The pace of Sears might've been handy against the tail. Keeping O'Rourke fresh might be the key.

 

[TheBrand]

A spinner before Christmas at Hagley? What a joke.

In fairness, someone's got to give the quicks a break, but still. Hagley is a spinner's graveyard at the best of times. This time of year, it's even worse. A couple of weeks ago there was a Plunket Shield game there. Of the 31 wickets that fell, 2 were to spin. Both were in the 4th innings & were set bats who were getting aggressive to finish the chase quickly.

Glenn Phillips has entered the chat.