**Official** England in New Zealand

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I know he has gone to the ICL and every cricket board is scared of the BCCI, but New Zealand should of kept Andre Adams around or given him the assurance he was in the frame because he did well on his only Test appearence and IIRC he had been taking wickets at a nice average for Auckland as well. Some people might judge him on his ODI performances, but that isn't a big factor for me, as I look to what he had done in his one Test before and there have been worse Test debuts then his (like Shane Warne taking 1/150+).

Good player. He was in Barnesesque form for Auckland last I checked.

 

[Richard]

MP Vaughan has won the toss and has (not surprisingly) elected to bat first. No reason to do anything else I suppose.

Massive score needed here for my money. 500 minumum to give a chance of a result.

England unchanged as expected, of course; New Zealand as expected pick Elliot(t) and Southee. Pitch as expected very flat. Only 1 Test in history on this ground has had a result (there've only been 5 chances for them to do so).

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Avatar challenge on Elliott to fail to get past 40.

 

[Woodster]

Makes me nervous when England are about to bat on a track that everyone is describing as a great deck, and the importance of needing a huge first innings score. Lets hope the boys can apply themselves and make that impressive total. 450 plus I will take now.

 

[Richard]

Avatar challenge on Elliott to fail to get past 40.

ITSTL, never terribly willing to go for anything on players I know approximately sod-all about TBH. Else I might, the prospect of a double B*Witcheding would normally be exceedingly tempting.

 

[Richard]

Martin Crowe makes me As some clips are being shown of Tim Southee in these Twenty20 games that they apparently played earlier this tour, all of which showed Southee bowling nice inswingers at right-hand batsmen, Crowesy talks of Southee's "ability to swing the ball away from the right-hander".

Now, of course, he might very well possess that ability (sounds promising if he does, BTW, 'cos it'd mean he could swing it both ways with a new-ball) but to see someone going-on about it when 5 or 6 clips show him doing the precise opposite is decidedly amusing.

Interestingly, Elliot(t) has only played 38 games, and today is his 29th birthday. I mean, I know he's a SAfrican-turned-Kiwi and that obviously means he'd only have been a bit-part player in his homeland, but there can't be that many (in the last 100 years or so at least) who've made Test debuts at 29 and played just 38 First-Class games.

 

[Woodster]

Interestingly, Elliot(t) has only played 38 games, and today is his 29th birthday. I mean, I know he's a SAfrican-turned-Kiwi and that obviously means he'd only have been a bit-part player in his homeland, but there can't be that many (in the last 100 years or so at least) who've made Test debuts at 29 and played just 38 First-Class games.

Yes saw that stat earlier when I was having a look at his profile. Surprising only that amount of first class games at his age. Anyone know the reason why ? Has he had a real rough trot of injuries or has he simply not been able to break into the team he's been playing for on a regular basis. It may be that he was a late developer and only now are we seeing his full potential.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

but there can't be that many (in the last 100 years or so at least) who've made Test debuts at 29 and played just 38 First-Class games.

Jack Iverson debuted at 35, having played 15 games (six of which for an Australian rep side in New Zealand)

Edit: Ian Bradshaw, aged 32, had 38 games under his belt.

 

[GIMH]

Hmmm haven't been able to tune in yet...hopefully we'll score quite a few today. If this deck is as flat as everyone says it is then obviously time will be an issue so a healthy RR would be nice.

 

[Richard]

Yes saw that stat earlier when I was having a look at his profile. Surprising only that amount of first class games at his age. Anyone know the reason why ? Has he had a real rough trot of injuries or has he simply not been able to break into the team he's been playing for on a regular basis. It may be that he was a late developer and only now are we seeing his full potential.

Well to look at the breakdown shows, interestingly, that he'd played 2 games (neither for a provincial team) before 1999\2000, then played a little that season, a full season the following year, 2 more in 2001\02, 1 more in 2002\03... and then left South Africa. His 1st season in New Zealand was 2005\06 and he's played regularly for Wellington since then, though not done excessively well.

 

[Woodster]

Hmmm haven't been able to tune in yet...hopefully we'll score quite a few today. If this deck is as flat as everyone says it is then obviously time will be an issue so a healthy RR would be nice.

A healthy RR would definitely be nice, without be wreckless I may add. Put pressure staright onto the newcomers (Southee and Elliott) and how we play the spinners again is vital to our scoring of runs. Use our feet more thats what I want to see.

We need to give ourselves as much time as we can to pick up 20 wickets. First things first though, let's get a decent total on the board!

 

[Richard]

Martin starts over-the-wicket, ITSTL. Good bounce in the pitch, undoubtedly.

Can only presume Southee is going to open the bowling with Eliot(t) on first-change. Not exactly ideal.

Jeeyps, don't like this camera-angle either. It's Lord's-esque, where WPT Parc and BR were both nice Edgbaston \ The Oval-esque. High cameras >>>>>>>> low ones.

 

[Richard]

Southee too short in his opening couple of deliveries, needs to sort that out very quickly.

EDIT: and does very well in the last 3, induces false strokes from Vaughan twice.

Dayle Hadlee has aged far worse than his brother! Not at all his old handsome self.

 

[Woodster]

Southee too short in his opening couple of deliveries, needs to sort that out very quickly.

Bloody hell give him chance Rich!
Settled down, his last three were pushed up a yard or two further and the ball swung nicely for him. Got to get through this new ball before we can think about cashing in.

 

[Richard]

Ashamed to say I don't know who Merv Wallace was. Apparently being mourned with black-armbands by the NZ players today. RIP.

 

[Zinzan]

Martin Crowe makes me As some clips are being shown of Tim Southee in these Twenty20 games that they apparently played earlier this tour, all of which showed Southee bowling nice inswingers at right-hand batsmen, Crowesy talks of Southee's "ability to swing the ball away from the right-hander".

QUOTE]

Mind you, If his first over today is anything to go by, Crowe was right

 

[Richard]

Vaughan goooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1st Test wicket for Southee in his 2nd over!

Plumb as they come.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Stupid bloody game.

 

[Richard]

Martin Crowe makes me As some clips are being shown of Tim Southee in these Twenty20 games that they apparently played earlier this tour, all of which showed Southee bowling nice inswingers at right-hand batsmen, Crowesy talks of Southee's "ability to swing the ball away from the right-hander".

Mind you, If his first over today is anything to go by, Crowe was right

FFS.

Now, of course, he might very well possess that ability (sounds promising if he does, BTW, 'cos it'd mean he could swing it both ways with a new-ball) but to see someone going-on about it when 5 or 6 clips show him doing the precise opposite is decidedly amusing.

Don't quote one thing I said whilst ignoring something that means what you said in reply is utterly pointless.

 

[Woodster]

Yes absolutely right decision. Strauss gonna have to be wary of this inswing, footworks got to be spot on. Good start from Southee.