**Official** England in New Zealand

[Richard]

That's a 4th wicket to a nothing ball. Short and smacked straight to mid-wicket.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Ever thought that no-one's that stupid? It's not a question of not thinking, it's a question of not having the ability to put the ball where you're aiming. Anderson can only bowl this well every now and then, he can't do it game after game. He'll spray it more often than not, not because he lacks intelligence, but because he lacks skill.

It truly baffles me how anyone can think that something which is obvious to just about everyone watching (ie: bowling the right lines and lengths is good; bowling the wrong lines and lengths is bad) is not known by the players and the management.

So the suggestion in post #999 that you are right, and the team is wrong, is therefore baseless? You can't have it both ways...

It isn't just me making said point, however: 'twas mentioned in the build up about a lack of a Plan B; a lack of an ability to think on one's feet; a lack of anyone grasping the nettle and calling out, "hold on, this isn't working".

 

[Richard]

So the suggestion in post #999 that you are right, and the team is wrong, is therefore baseless? You can't have it both ways...

Uh? The two posts (#999 and #1000) are completely and totally unconnected. The former was about how predictable it was that 1 good performance would (apparently) solve all the problems and paper over cracks for the 326th time, the latter about how the England bowlers' problems weren't in the mind but in the body (that's putting it a crude way, but you know what I mean).

It isn't just me making said point, however: 'twas mentioned in the build up about a lack of a Plan B; a lack of an ability to think on one's feet; a lack of anyone grasping the nettle and calling out, "hold on, this isn't working".

Well today no-one's needed a Plan B, because they've been capable of using Plan A, something they weren't in the previous game. In any case, I have no reason to suspect they'd be capable of putting a Plan B into practice if they can't put Plan A, the most simple, into.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

What a snorefest.
Surprised you guys are still awake.

 

[Richard]

Well I'm off to bed as Fulton gets one that nips back to remove off. This isn't terribly attractive.

Night all.

 

[Prince EWS]

Geez. I've always been a fan of Fulton, but that technical fault is awful and seems to be repeated each innings. How on earth did he become such a prolific first class batsman? It doesn't look like a fault that'd only be evident against good bowlers..

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Hope Oram can get going. Only thing that will save this match.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

wow Fulton sounded average today.

Pinning hopes on Oram too

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Wow that was close. Maybe pushing down leg.

 

[Mister Wright]

This Broad character has a very good bouncer.

 

[Neil Pickup]

The only things that was missing was off and leg, by approximately the same distance.

I have no idea how that could possibly be not out. I demand that Rauf is removed from all future games involving England.

 

[Prince EWS]

Hope Oram can get going. Only thing that will save this match.

Wow that was close. Maybe pushing down leg.

Serious posts in CC? Surely not?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Serious posts in CC? Surely not?

Pfft. I personally do believe in Chandana's ability to use dance to revive legspin, you'll see.

Another thing that could save this match: Jimmy coming back and taking 3 or 4 wickets in his last 2 overs.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

SImon Doull is a complete idiot.

Paraphrasing:
"If they can hang on in there till the 36-37th over, with about 130 on the board, then they can blast from there"

Ummmmm, to get to 130 they would need to go at 6 an over.
When your run rate is less than 3, I think 6 would be considered blasting.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

What a glorious slog to leg there. Hope he tries to sweep someone and they bounce him and knock his brain out.

 

[steds]

Genuinely shocked. Came in from an hard night of drinking and turned the tv on - saw an English face and the score 71-5. Had to double check, then check again ...then check again when I saw New Zealand where batting.

 

[steds]

Here we go...

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Haha Rauf, wtf is wrong with that idiot.

 

[Smudge]

****ing dire, Rauf.

And that's even worse. ****.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

The Kiwi commentators.