***Official*** England in New Zealand series 2013

[hendrix]

yeah, each of those were special cases in their own right, people get carried away with these things.

If it's a flat deck, bat first. No brainer, especially with the bowlers having a relatively short turnaround.

I suspect McCullum was trying to bluff Cook.

 

[Bahnz]

McCullum goes full ****** whilst trying to talk up the opposition.

New Zeland v England, 2nd Test, Wellington : Alastair Cook 'as good as anyone, barring Donald Bradman' - Brendon McCullum | Cricket News | New Zealand v England | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Viscount Tom]

I'm just loving read the rage bombs from some people in the comments.

 

[BeeGee]

McCullum goes full ****** whilst trying to talk up the opposition.

New Zeland v England, 2nd Test, Wellington : Alastair Cook 'as good as anyone, barring Donald Bradman' - Brendon McCullum | Cricket News | New Zealand v England | ESPN Cricinfo

Ah, modern journalism. Let's see....

From McCullum:

"Where he is at in his career at the moment, he's as good as anyone who has played the game, probably barring Bradman."

A ridiculous statement, but It's McCullum, so nothing out of the ordinary. Probably thought he'd earned the right to go over the top.

From the article:

...he is as good as anyone who has played after Donald Bradman.

No. That's not what he said.

From the article:

A modest oulook[sic] from a man compared to the immortal Bradman.

McCullum said he was better than anyone who has played the game, probably barring Bradman.

I could say the batting ability of a ******** hamster was not as good as Bradman. Is that comparison a complement to the hamster? No. No it's not.

 

[_Ed_]

McCullum goes full ****** whilst trying to talk up the opposition.

New Zeland v England, 2nd Test, Wellington : Alastair Cook 'as good as anyone, barring Donald Bradman' - Brendon McCullum | Cricket News | New Zealand v England | ESPN Cricinfo

Meanwhile, how's the weather, Wellingtonians?

 

[hendrix]

Today 14 Mar
Fine 21°C High
15°C Overnight
Fine with northerlies.

Tomorrow 15 Mar
Partly cloudy 20°C High
15°C Overnight

Saturday 16 Mar
Partly cloudy 21°C High
16°C Overnight

Sunday 17 Mar
Rain 21°C High
15°C Overnight

Monday 18 Mar
Showers 19°C High
13°C Overnight

 

[hendrix]

been a drought in wellington. I have never heard of a drought in wellington.

so we will almost definitely get rain on day 4 and/or 5

 

[stumpski]

Rain at the other end of the match this time, then. But worth staying up for a while tonight, at least.

 

[BeeGee]

NZ bowling first.

Cook says he would have bowled first, also.

 

[hendrix]

That is a terrible decision IMO.

 

[Гурин]

WI-Zim, NZ-Eng, Ind-Aus which means uninterrupted test cricket for at least 24 hours, more if Zimbabwe can put up a bit of a fight. I've been waiting for this for years, too bad I'll be working all of tomorrow.

McCullum sends England in. Not that it would matter, whatever the order there's no way England is not going to score at least 100 runs more than the kiwis in their 1st innings.

 

[straw man]

McCullum sends England in. Not that it would matter, whatever the order there's no way England is not going to score at least 100 runs more than the kiwis in their 1st innings.

With that sort of optimism you should be an NZ fan . I too am predicting a reversion to type for this match.

Haven't been feeling as much anticipation for this test - perhaps because the two days that I was able to watch in full from the last test were rather dull. Please let this be good cricket. Since we're bowling first we need a good six wickets today or else it'll be one-way traffic for the rest of the match.

 

[stumpski]

Ideally not three wickets down in the first half hour this time.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Has Bahnz raged about McCullum opting to bowl first yet?

 

[L Trumper]

Not sure about the bowl first option tbh!

 

[Meridio]

Ideally not three wickets down in the first half hour this time.

Yeah, four would be better

 

[Гурин]

With that sort of optimism you should be an NZ fan .

****, first post in the thread and I already blew my cover

Nonetheless, I'm serious about England being strong favourites, that's why I don't like to put too much emphasis on the toss. Should England score 500, people will complain that 'we should have batted first', not that maybe the bowlers did a terrible job and that was really the cause for the score being what is is; there's no guarantee that they would have been crap (or really good) have NZ batted first.

A bit less long-winded: let the toss not be an excuse for poor cricket

 

[Meridio]

Hmm, one ball swung very slightly in that over, the rest went dead straight.

Pitch looks to have much decent carry.

 

[L Trumper]

****, first post in the thread and I already blew my cover

Nonetheless, I'm serious about England being strong favourites, that's why I don't like to put too much emphasis on the toss. Should England score 500, people will complain that 'we should have batted first', not that maybe the bowlers did a terrible job and that was really the cause for the score being what is is; there's no guarantee that they would have been crap (or really good) have NZ batted first.

A bit less long-winded: let the toss not be an excuse for poor cricket

I'm more worried about bowlers recovery time. Having said that if NZ batted first and collapsed then their bowlers don't really have a chance to do anything later. So I guess you are right.

 

[Viscount Tom]

May as well keep batting all day. Another 20-30 overs in the field and you've a 50-50 shot at another Kiwi dropping down injured. Win by attrition.

Has Bahnz raged about McCullum opting to bowl first yet?

Pretty sure he's suffered an aneurysm as a result.