**Official** England in New Zealand

[Richard]

Was some knock from Matthew Bell, guy had about three or more reprieves and still scored no runs. Talk about useless, even Papps or Cumming could score more if they had so many lives.

Only 1 real reprieve, IMO. Still fairly convinced that Sidebottom lbw n\o was fair enough either way.

 

[aussie]

How well has Anderson really done, though? He bowled superbly in 9 overs in his first spell of the game, and has been decidedly poor since then. To drop Hoggard for him (and Broad) remains a baffling decision, even if it mercifully doesn't seem to have cost us a vital victory here. Now, OK, he's had to battle the wind and his ankle often in the second-innings, but it's not like I'd have been expecting anything else given his prior form. He's had very short decent spells and bowled crap the rest of a match before now, plenty of times.

Ha, although i agree dropping Hoggard was the worst England test selection since the pre-fletcher era. You are trying very hard (with strong double-standards) as expected to undermined Anderson. Why can't we say i hope this a start of good things for Anderson? No, you all rather to say nonsense like ``i hope he doesn't do well this could be tragic for england`` and this wildness here...

 

[Richard]

I've never once posted saying I hope Anderson doesn't do well, though I won't deny the thought has gone through my head.

I summed-up Anderson's performance this Test as I see it, simple as. His first 9 overs were excellent, since then he's been distinctly poor. There's no double-standards whatsoever. I still very much don't expect him to become a good Test bowler, but that doesn't mean I think it's unthinkable nor that I won't be glad should it happen. And to suggest he is part of a deep well of Test-class seamers at the current time is nothing short of ridiculous.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

HDS: Were you wearing a "Millssmo" (I think that what it said) white tee-shirt yesterday? If so, you were on telly again. I only ask because of your well-documented antipathy for that fellow you have in your avatar & wondered if it was an obscure reference to him.

If not, ignore me.

Nah.Not me. Though that sounds like a great T-shirt. Maybe I could get one with my avatar on it??

 

[JBH001]

One could argue it's a bit misleading, though. He had problems picking up Malinga on his first attempt at Test cricket IIRC and was promptly dropped after a succession of failures against mainly Sri Lanka (obviously) and a game or two against the West Indies. He averages 36.50 in Tests since his last recall though (which admittedly is only two Tests) so he's improving. The jury is very much still out on him as a Test batsman, but I think his technique quite a bit better than the Bells and Cummings of the world.

As far as his First Class career goes, averaging in the low to mid 30s isn't at all uncommon for a New Zealander. The conditions are reportedly seam-friendly or "taccy" at best so batting - and especially opening - isn't particularly easy. Apparently that has changed a bit just recently at some grounds and the scores have been somewhat reflective of that, but the point remains while looking at the context of his entire career. How averaged under 30 last New Zealand First Class season though which is far from acceptable regardless of how you look at it.

Agree with that. He is better than his stats suggest, and better than he looks. In time he should develop into a competent test opening batsman, and prbably end up with an average in the mid 30's. Bell, however, is utter crap, just a really, really useless batsman. It pains me to say this, but Papp or Cumming would do a better job.

 

[Bahnz]

Oh well, here we go. Just figured out the game is live on triangle. I reckon we'll be bowled out for 340. The first half hour will be entertaining, but then mcCullum will take a swipe across the line. Vettori will do his best to marshall the tail, and we'll see a good 20 from Mills, but when he goes the rest will collapse in a couple of overs.

 

[Jamee999]

Gooooone!

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

McCullum has to go bezerk now, the only way for NZ to win.

 

[Athlai]

Sidebottom, youch.

 

[Smudge]

Billy Corgan's at the cricket! Hopefully, McCullum can disarm England today, and display the bat speed of a bullet with butterfly wings, after Vettori, born in 1979, went for zero.


Where's my coat...

 

[NZTailender]

Too far?

Probably. But I enjoyed it.

 

[Athlai]

Mills gone.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Now McCullum has to go bezerk. Mills was the only guy who could really hang in there.

 

[Athlai]

Another high LBW given.

 

[Woodster]

Looked a tough lbw according to Hawkeye, but seemed pretty straight forward in real time.

Rich, think your views on Anderson being distinctly poor since his excellent spell the other day are a touch harsh. Yes he was struggling with his ankle yesterday, but he bowled into a very strong wind, his main weapon - swing - was negated by the wind but he was fairly disciplined and worked hard. Distinctly better than poor.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Another high LBW given.

If you get hit on the pads ten times in twenty minutes then you're gonna get given out sooner rather than later. You have a bat. Use it.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

If you get hit on the pads ten times in twenty minutes then you're gonna get given out sooner rather than later. You have a bat. Use it.

Still doesn't mean that you should be given just because of the quantity. Each decision should be judged on its own, SHOULD.

 

[Athlai]

AWTA, McCullum hopefully will get himself a ton here.

 

[NZTailender]

A double tonne would be nice.

 

[Athlai]

A double tonne would be nice.

Would rather see Martin make 20 and McCullum 196.