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

[Silver Silva]

Nobody bar Tim Southee has hit 90+ test sixes with less than 5000 test runs

Santner only has 2243 runs, 26% of his career runs have come in sixes!

 

[Skyliner]

Is Santner in competition with GP for the permanent 7 slot now(?)

 

[Bahnz]

Overall feels a pretty similar innings to NZ's first innings in the first test in Christchurch - we were in a good position, but gifted a lot of our wickets. Ironically, given we were 100/0, I think there might be more for the new ball on this wicket than at Hagley. But after that it becomes very nice for batting.

Gotta wait for both sides to bat etc

I don't feel like this is a bad first innings score at all, especially if Santner can slog another 20 or 30 runs tomorrow morning. The problem for NZ is they've only got two bowlers likely to be of any use on this deck tomorrow, so if England make it through the first session only 2 or 3 down NZ are in for a world of hurt.

 

[Silver Silva]

I don't feel like this is a bad first innings score at all, especially if Santner can slog another 20 or 30 runs tomorrow morning. The problem for NZ is they've only got two bowlers likely to be of any use on this deck tomorrow, so if England make it through the first session only 2 or 3 down NZ are in for a world of hurt.

When bowlers score runs usually they bowl well ..Don't be surprised if Southee nips one or two out with the new ball

 

[Bahnz]

Nah, I was thinking today about why Southee has been so ineffective in the past 12 months, and I think a big part of it is to do with the 3/4 ball. That ball was so important to Southee as a bowler, as it not only brought lbw/bowled into play, it also made batsmen much more likely to push at the ball when Southee went wide of the crease. His pace has declined to the point where batsmen can now read it through the air and adjust. As a result Southee's wicket taking options have been drastically reduced.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well that's kinda rescued things a bit. Could've been a bit better if not for England's cheating slow over rates.

Like yours have beencany better all series.

Both sides woeful on that score.

 

[King Kane]

I don't feel like this is a bad first innings score at all, especially if Santner can slog another 20 or 30 runs tomorrow morning. The problem for NZ is they've only got two bowlers likely to be of any use on this deck tomorrow, so if England make it through the first session only 2 or 3 down NZ are in for a world of hurt.

We scored 348 batting first in the first test at Christchurch which looked a competitive score until England blasted past that with a score of close to 500.

I can see the same thing happening here with the pitch getting easier to bat on unless we bowl and catch better than we have done in the series so far.

Nah, I was thinking today about why Southee has been so ineffective in the past 12 months, and I think a big part of it is to do with the 3/4 ball. That ball was so important to Southee as a bowler, as it not only brought lbw/bowled into play, it also made batsmen much more likely to push at the ball when Southee went wide of the crease. His pace has declined to the point where batsmen can now read it through the air and adjust. As a result Southee's wicket taking options have been drastically reduced.

We should probably look at dropping Southee for the next test if he doesn't respond with a better bowling performance in this test.

He did say he would be available for the WTC final if we made it but that is out of the question now so there' isn't much point criticising him now.

Ideally he will take 11 wickets in this test to get 400 and hit two more sixes to get 100 and we get a win, it's been a great test career regardless though.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Is Santner in competition with GP for the permanent 7 slot now(?)

I'd be saying off what I saw this tour that Phillips is good enough for 6 depending who replaces Blundell. Proper technique and stands up regularly, give him more of a chance.

 

[BigBeefy]

England chipped away but with over 300 on the board and 99% certainty of England being 30/2 at some point, id say NZ reasonably happy with that?

There are runs out there but you have to leave well early and not sure England do that haha.

 

[Jarquis]

Good stat - looks like Boult was nearest to doing likewise, but got stuck at 83 T20 wickets. Starc currently has 65 T20 wickets, but can't really see him getting another 35 to join the club. Shakib is 54 Test wickets shy of the club.

No one else on the radar of being close.....although whilst Bumrah has none of these, if he played without injury for 5 years he might do it.

Rabada a chance?

 

[SteveNZ]

I'd be saying off what I saw this tour that Phillips is good enough for 6 depending who replaces Blundell. Proper technique and stands up regularly, give him more of a chance.

Has a couple of flaws, the playing back to spinners got exposed by Bashir once and how he got out today was also an issue picked apart expertly.

But you are right, he needs to be given more responsibility. Should be at 5 once Mitchell goes

 

[Molehill]

Rabada a chance?

Forgot about him.
Needs 43 ODI and 29 T20 so definitely a chance.

 

[kevinw]

Is Santner in competition with GP for the permanent 7 slot now(?)

No, he's only likely to average 25 or so there with the odd fifty. Phillips should bat at six with the new keeper at seven, and NZ go with four seamers when conditions suit or Santner plus three when necessary.

 

[Betterpolo]

I only made it to lunch before the Guinness and wine kicked in (I should maybe clarify I'm on UK time).

I know there was plenty in the wicket for the seamers but still surprised Stokes didn't try Bashir at all. Maybe he thought he wouldn't be able to manage against Santner and Southee in this mood?

 

[Betterpolo]

Potts getting Williamson now in 4 out of 5 efforts. Maybe just the tyranny of small sample sizes but at the very least it's a feather in the cap for Potts. From what I saw he bowled well, he's certainly incredibly committed.

 

[Molehill]

Only 82 overs in the day.... Eng ensuring they don't quite bowl out NZ and have any awkward overs to face tonight.

England bowled 28 overs before lunch when no wickets fell. At that rate they could’ve bowled 90 in the day with the extra half hour. Clearly, the slow over rate is down to NZ batsmen getting out.

Seriously though, I’ve long since been saying that the daily target should be less (say 85) in non spin favoured countries.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

When was the last time NZ lost a home series 3-0? Has it happened since Waugh's Australians toured here in 2000?

I heard them say on radio it has only ever happened twice (0-3 @ home in a 3 test series) that time against the GOAT Aussies, and once to England in the 50s.

 

[vandem]

Is Santner in competition with GP for the permanent 7 slot now(?)

Santner at 7 is possible. It's where he started his test career. But after de Grandhomme had debut success the following year there hasn't really been a starting test spot for Santner on normal NZ pitches, didn't need two holding-bowler all-rounders in the starting XI.

Phillips could be good enough to bat at 5 when Mitchell's career ends, then Hay at 6, Santner at 7, bowling all-rounder at 8 (Nathan Smith / Zac Foulkes) then 3 specialist quicks (including Sears or Fisher who won't need to bowl more than 15 overs a day).

 

[Meridio]

Just caught up on the highlights from the afternoon and evening sessions that I'd largely missed and while it is incredibly frustrating seeing our batsmen getting out in such infuriating ways again, I think in this case there's at least some blame down to the pitch being very two-paced. You play a shot at one ball and it races along the ground to the boundary; get a similar one landing in a different patch of grass and it comes on too slowly and goes in the air. Of course, it would be nice if they were a bit more judicious with their shotmaking but we can guarantee England also won't be and I just hope we bowl consistently enough to test them out. I will be there tomorrow so will let the coaches know my thoughts and an invitation for interview is bound to follow

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I just saw that Baz presented the caps to our playing XI last night!! I don't mind us being good hosts but that is absolutely ridiculous. Be fHe also would've known Santner for Smith was confirmed ahead of the toss. Fraternise after the series, not during.