**Official** England in New Zealand

[Richard]

Its not that normal, very short square of the wicket with long straight boundaries.

Yep, see what you mean now that Mustard slams the first boundary of the innings. Remarkable attempt at a catch from Ryder, considering, really.

 

[Richard]

Jeys, CW's quiet today. England-vs-New Zealand you'd expect to be heaving every match.

Incidentally, looks like anything that goes past the infielders square here will be four, extremely quick outfield as well as the madly short boundaries.

 

[Somerset]

If the ball stops swinging England should make 300. Outfield looks great, O'Brien's playing, pitch looks a good one for batting.

Mustard off to a reasonable start with a few nice boundaries, needs to carry on with it now for England.

 

[Somerset]

Jeys, CW's quiet today. England-vs-New Zealand you'd expect to be heaving every match.

Incidentally, looks like anything that goes past the infielders square here will be four, extremely quick outfield as well as the madly short boundaries.

Its only 11am in New Zealand remember.

And its often like that at McLean Park.

 

[Richard]

ITSTL, Hussain comparing Cook to Atherton. Apart from being studious openers and being picked for Tests extremely young, don't see the comparison at all. Atherton was so much more natural-looking than Cook will ever be, much as Cook might end-up being better.

 

[Richard]

Well, no wicketkeeper should ever, ever, ever, ever drop those.

 

[Somerset]

:S McCullum, oh dear. How costly will that be...

 

[Jamee999]

I'd have caught that!

 

[Richard]

So would any wicketkeeper of any remote standard, probably 99 times out of 100.

I honestly cannot believe I've just seen that. I don't think I've ever seen a proper wicketkeeper drop one that easy.

Thank God it wasn't Mustard who was dropped.

 

[Somerset]

I'd have caught that!

Haha...tbh it was as bad as the one he put down in the WC 03 vs India when India were 20-odd for 3...they eventually won by 7 wickets.

Lovely shot from Cook there too.

 

[Neil Pickup]

If Prior/Geraint/Mustard/whoever had spilled that, there would have been murderous intent.

Mustard hitting very unorthodox shots but very cleanly - though he still looks like getting out any moment. Prove me wrong, Philip, and make 50.

 

[Pratters]

Still don't get why New Zealand selected to field on this batting beauty. Might just be handing the game to the English with such a blunder. If England get the runs on the board, which they very well can here, all the pressure will be on the Kiwis.

 

[Richard]

Still don't get why New Zealand selected to field on this batting beauty. Might just be handing the game to the English with such a blunder. If England get the runs on the board, which they very well can here, all the pressure will be on the Kiwis.

Nah, New Zealand at chasing > New Zealand at setting. And England at setting < England at chasing.

'Twas the only choice that made any sense, for mine. New Zealand can and should score every bit as quickly if the bowling is equally poor.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Don't think I've ever seen an easier wicketkeeper chance put down.

 

[Somerset]

Still don't get why New Zealand selected to field on this batting beauty. Might just be handing the game to the English with such a blunder. If England get the runs on the board, which they very well can here, all the pressure will be on the Kiwis.

New Zealand's theory is that they are a better chasing side, no matter what the condition of the pitch (see Chappell-Hadlee series 2006/07). Also I guess they considered that the side chasing had won all three games so far this series.

Still, you certainly wouldn't see Australia making the same choice after winning the toss.

 

[Richard]

If Prior/Geraint/Mustard/whoever had spilled that, there would have been murderous intent.

Mustard hitting very unorthodox shots but very cleanly - though he still looks like getting out any moment. Prove me wrong, Philip, and make 50.

Are you still on half-term?

 

[Neil Pickup]

Are you still on half-term?

Nope. Back now until March 20.

 

[Pratters]

'Twas the only choice that made any sense.

Great way of debating. It makes sense to bat first for the reasons I outlined. So the only choice which makes sense isn't fielding. No point debating with you though when you have such an attitude.

 

[Richard]

Don't think I've ever seen an easier wicketkeeper chance put down.

I've seen crap wicketkeepers like Kamran Akmal and Deep Dasgupta drop them. But I've never seen a good one like McCullum miss something that easy.

You don't get easier chances than that. It's not possible to make a worse error.

 

[Richard]

Great way of debating. It makes sense to bat first for the reasons I outlined. So the only choice which makes sense isn't fielding. No point debating with you though when you have such an attitude.

So don't debate. I think it's the only choice that made any sense. I always prefer chasing to setting, under all bar the most exceptional circumstances, anyway. And under high-scoring circumstances, chasing is even more of an advantage.