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

[kevinw]

An even first day, hard to know which team won it,, the crowd were the winners getting to see a great day of test cricket with lots of runs and wickets.

We will know more about which team won the first day when England bat on this pitch.

I'd rather be in NZ's shoes. England will need Root and/or Brook to score since the rest of the top order is unreliable (harsh on Duckett but he has a tendency to get himself out before kicking on). Anyone surprised Woakes was ineffective?

 

[Howsie]

Shocker of a day for NZ. Probably the worst looking attack I’ve seen England send over here and we end up 8 down on a road. Sooo many gifted wickets.

Don’t know why Phillips hasn’t been moved up to 6 at least. How many times does he have to be 40 odd not out batting with the 10/11 before we realise how wasted he is. Blundell is averaging 25 his last 17 test matches, he shouldn’t be here but in no way should he be batting above Phillips.

 

[King Kane]

Phillips still there gives some hope we'll get to 350. 380 would be amazing.

England should be very happy though. Although NZ gifted a heap of wickets, will give Bashir credit for floating the ball up and bowling tempters. If he'd just bowled flat and defensive he wouldn't have had that success.

If we can get to a score of 350 to 380 tomorrow we would be slightly in front, at the moment we have about a par score on this pitch but who knows.

As for Bashir he reminds me of Nathan Lyon, he can bowl some trash and get smacked around but he has good turn and bounce and he takes wickets.

Like Harmison said they are picking him with a view to the Ashes in Australia where he should be more effective than Leach who is cannon fodder there.

 

[hendrix]

If we can get to a score of 350 to 380 tomorrow we would be slightly in front, at the moment we have about a par score on this pitch but who knows.

As for Bashir he reminds me of Nathan Lyon, he can bowl some trash and get smacked around but he has good turn and bounce and he takes wickets.

Like Harmison said they are picking him with a view to the Ashes in Australia where he should be more effective than Leach who is cannon fodder there.

No England won't play in the Ashes. They'll be banned for 2 years for being cheating scum with this pathetic over rate.

 

[Blakey]

After all the good work that was achieved in India, these guys blow it big time on an awesome batting deck at home.

This English bowling line-up is dire. How many of the wickets were because of great bowling vs the batter bottling it?

There's awesome weather for the rest of the test and tomorrow the deck will get even better.

Root will score a bazillion and the new fella at first drop won't really find nicer batting conditions.

 

[hendrix]

After all the good work that was achieved in India, these guys blow it big time on an awesome batting deck at home.

This English bowling line-up is dire. How many of the wickets were because of great bowling vs the batter bottling it?

There's awesome weather for the rest of the test and tomorrow the deck will get even better.

Root will score a bazillion and the new fella at first drop won't really find nicer batting conditions.

Wouldn't go that far.

We have runs on the board and bowler who should understand to bowl fuller than where England bowled.

I'd still rather be in NZ's position. Just frustrating because we should be 320/3 not 320/8.

 

[Blakey]

No England won't play in the Ashes. They'll be banned for 2 years for being cheating scum with this pathetic over rate.

How far behind are they?

Watching some of the coverage today it looked like they were barely interested. Stokes seemed like he was just phoning it in.

Eyes on the Ashes already?

 

[Blakey]

Wouldn't go that far.

We have runs on the board and bowler who should understand to bowl fuller than where England bowled.

I'd still rather be in NZ's position. Just frustrating because we should be 320/3 not 320/8.

The lost 6 for 160-ish on an excellent batting surface.

Stokes is barely able to stay on his feet, Woakes did nothing and their spinner picked up 4 on the first day - in November!

What is most galling is that just a few weeks ago they pulled off the greatest series victory ever (hyperbolic perhaps) and now they've almost **** the bed and as you say, they should only be 3 down not 8.

 

[Blakey]

Shocker of a day for NZ. Probably the worst looking attack I’ve seen England send over here and we end up 8 down on a road. Sooo many gifted wickets.

Don’t know why Phillips hasn’t been moved up to 6 at least. How many times does he have to be 40 odd not out batting with the 10/11 before we realise how wasted he is. Blundell is averaging 25 his last 17 test matches, he shouldn’t be here but in no way should he be batting above Phillips.

Total shocker. Blundell should be gone, but they've done a terrible job at blooding a new keeper. How are you to maintain high standards, when there is no one putting on the pressure?

If this test continues down this path, we'll have squandered a huge opportunity and will look back at this test in several years and go "how the **** did we get beat by that English bowling attack??"

 

[King Kane]

Wouldn't go that far.

We have runs on the board and bowler who should understand to bowl fuller than where England bowled.

I'd still rather be in NZ's position. Just frustrating because we should be 320/3 not 320/8.

We have a competitive total, unless the pitch dries out and becomes a road tomorrow our bowlers will be at least as dangerous as the England bowlers.

England's batting line up is vulnerable, Crawley and Duckett are hit and miss, Bethell on debut at no.3 and Brook, Pope and Stokes aren't in great form.,

Root like Williamson is the key, he is their best batsman in great form, if we can knock him over cheaply we should be able to get a first innings lead.

 

[Blakey]

If we can get to a score of 350 to 380 tomorrow we would be slightly in front, at the moment we have about a par score on this pitch but who knows.

A pipe dream to suggest they'll get near 380.

350 maybe, but I think 20 runs is max they'll get. Southee will revert to slashing across the line and missing a straight one.

Phillips will rotate the strike with O'Rook like he did in India. The fella is like the Phantom Mk 2

 

[govinda indian fan]

How did nz batters end up from looking god like in india to getting out to half volleys at home

 

[govinda indian fan]

England's over rate is appelling. Unfortunately this wasn't the first time nor won't be last time either

 

[Blakey]

How did nz batters end up from looking god like in india to getting out to half volleys at home

Exactly. The team should be mighty pissed off at what's happened today.

 

[Silver Silva]

How did nz batters end up from looking god like in india to getting out to half volleys at home

They weren't God-like in India , they only passed 300 once it was Will Young that showed most degree of consistency in that series .

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Cracking days play. Good hard battle in lovely sunshine.

 

[ImpatientLime]

I'd rather be in NZ's shoes. England will need Root and/or Brook to score since the rest of the top order is unreliable (harsh on Duckett but he has a tendency to get himself out before kicking on). Anyone surprised Woakes was ineffective?

Woakes now averaging more with the ball than Paul Collingwood away from home. only Dolly and Bill Edrich average more than him bowling seam up away from home for England.

 

[Silver Silva]

Woakes now averaging more with the ball than Paul Collingwood away from home. only Dolly and Bill Edrich average more than him bowling seam up away from home for England.

Steve Harmison really was an underachiever in test cricket , a bowler capable of bowling over 90 mph should not be averaging over 35 away from home .

 

[SteveNZ]

Shocker of a day for NZ. Probably the worst looking attack I’ve seen England send over here and we end up 8 down on a road. Sooo many gifted wickets.

Don’t know why Phillips hasn’t been moved up to 6 at least. How many times does he have to be 40 odd not out batting with the 10/11 before we realise how wasted he is. Blundell is averaging 25 his last 17 test matches, he shouldn’t be here but in no way should he be batting above Phillips.

I don't agree with the first paragraph but wholeheartedly do with the 2nd. Phillips is clearly a better batsman than Blundell now and probably always will be. So he needs to bat above him, to maximise his output. Fairly simple.

Mind you, I do also agree we gifted wickets and a bog average spinner taking 4 for at Hagley after being inserted is poor.

 

[andruid]

I have severally tried and failed to upload this as a gif meme. Therefore now make do with a screenshot.