Brook's side
International Regular
NoPope-Duckett-Root-Brook-Bairstow-Stokes-Foakes-Woakes-Robinson-Archer-Leach
NoPope-Duckett-Root-Brook-Bairstow-Stokes-Foakes-Woakes-Robinson-Archer-Leach
Why Foakes chased that big shot I don’t know especially with so much time left for just 7 runsThe thing about being 256/10 is that you're only one run away from winning the series. ?
Because the Barmy Army trumpet player (who seemed to be pissed) suddenly started playing the clown tune just as Southee was about to bowl. Was like someone walking in front of the sight screen.Why Foakes chased that big shot I don’t know especially with so much time left for just 7 runs
I’d like to see Burns back in the test side but don’t think popular opinion supports it. Nor, sadly, do the selectors. But Crawley has to go.Crawley has to go, he's had plenty of chances but he simply hasn't got the defensive technique to open the batting.
He can look fantastic at times, he's got some gorgeous shots in the locker but he's not a test class opener.
Who should replace him is a different matter.
Obviously we want Bairstow back in the side but to do that means one of the current batsmen has to step up and there are no obvious candidates.
Pope is still yet to convince as a number 3, nevermind opening. Root was an opener at the start of his career but those days have long gone. Could Stokes do it - he's very defensively sound.
Personally, I'd be tempted to drop both Crawley and Pope. I'd bring Rory Burns back in, he didn't do a whole lot wrong and did well in the last home Ashes.
I'd then move Root to 3, Brook at 4, Bairstow at 5 and Stokes at 6.
I'de prefer sibley to burns if where gonna go back down that route. Burns only made runs last county season after reverting to the technique that got him worked out at test level, sibley actually changed his technique, added some scoring shots and made runs with a new method.I’d like to see Burns back in the test side but don’t think popular opinion supports it. Nor, sadly, do the selectors. But Crawley has to go.
Yeah like that team (assuming you've accidently missed Jimmy off!). Also think it'd be great to get a fast bloke in. Would be awesome if we could play 2 of them but there's just no room!Bleurgh, honestly if it someone who is going to average about 30, I'd keep Crawley.
Stokes to open for me, with a realisation that his Knee means he's just not going to bowl that much.
So
Stokes
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Bairstow
Foakes
Robinson
Broad/ fast bloke
Leach
I do think we need to think of having a Wood, Archer, Mahmood, Stone type just for some variety. Very odd Wood didn't tour here really.
It's ok, we've got Brook.If Stokes is not bowling long term then it really is going to be a problem.
100% a wide They'd been so onto it with wides (although to be fair, some weren't close) then in total keeping with human nature, the one with 2 to win, which was clearly a wide, wasn't called. It was a wrong call, but I get it.Haha, the penultimate ball of the match was totally a wide.
I wouldn't have enforced the follow. I would have batted again and batted NZ out of the game.Wasn't so much hindsight from me as said we shouldn't enforce follow on before NZ batted again because have a bad feeling about them
I think if he's back firing, Woakes has to be right in the running to play - at home he's a world class all rounder.Bleurgh, honestly if it someone who is going to average about 30, I'd keep Crawley.
Stokes to open for me, with a realisation that his Knee means he's just not going to bowl that much.
So
Stokes
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Bairstow
Foakes
Robinson
Broad/ fast bloke
Leach
I do think we need to think of having a Wood, Archer, Mahmood, Stone type just for some variety. Very odd Wood didn't tour here really.
This is why Dylan is my favourite sports writer (also a great bloke). Absolutely nailed it here, with the summary of how epic a sporting contest that was, but also pointing out that it can't be 'a coat of new paint on a leaky home'.Nice piece by Dylan Cleaver who pulls out an interesting stat: sides that enforce the follow on win 79% of the time while those that have the opportunity to but don't enforce it win 85% of the time.
Notes from SH32 (via the Basin)
Final thoughts from a game that should be immediately moved down the road and preserved at Te Papa.dylancleaver.substack.com
All things considered, I'd pick a team of elevenBleurgh, honestly if it someone who is going to average about 30, I'd keep Crawley.
Stokes to open for me, with a realisation that his Knee means he's just not going to bowl that much.
So
Stokes
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Bairstow
Foakes
Robinson
Broad/ fast bloke
Leach
I do think we need to think of having a Wood, Archer, Mahmood, Stone type just for some variety. Very odd Wood didn't tour here really.
It really makes me want to pull my (increasingly thin anyway) hair out. You'd think there must be someone between the two sides, the officials and all their hangers-on that has knowledge of the weather, but I guess not.Cricket struggles to barely even account for a massive storm on the radar barrelling straight for the ground and clearly slated to hit in two hours (witness the farce that was this year's Sydney Test), let alone trying to figure out the weather in two days' time. It seems that, as with many things in cricket, administrators haven't realised it isn't 1970 any more and weather forecasts are genuinely quite reliable 72 hours out.
Not in Wellington they're not. This is a really dynamic maritime climate and an incredibly hard place for the meteorologist. As evidenced by the fact that on the Tuesday and Wednesday, heavy rain was forecast for Thursday, Friday with showers all through the weekend - most of which didn't eventuate. The number of times I had players decide they weren't going to play on the weekend as the forecast on Thursday was for rain all weekend, only for the sun to be shining come game time... well, there was one season that happened pretty much every weekend here.Cricket struggles to barely even account for a massive storm on the radar barrelling straight for the ground and clearly slated to hit in two hours (witness the farce that was this year's Sydney Test), let alone trying to figure out the weather in two days' time. It seems that, as with many things in cricket, administrators haven't realised it isn't 1970 any more and weather forecasts are genuinely quite reliable 72 hours out.
what about the frequent ambulance sirensBecause the Barmy Army trumpet player (who seemed to be pissed) suddenly started playing the clown tune just as Southee was about to bowl. Was like someone walking in front of the sight screen.
Edit: It's not the clown tune, it was the Bullseye theme. @ 22.20 here:
New Zealand v England | 2nd Test, Day Five Highlights | One Of The Greatest Finishes EVER! - YouTube
Stone was in the squad right? Would've been handy to try and blast out some poles on the afternoon of day 3. Still very hard to see how England could've dropped any of their bowlers after the first test. Just one of those things. The truth is they were really missing Stokes both in terms of his extra pace and his ability to share the load. Bloke needs to take a couple months off to try and sort that knee out, the Ashes needs him.Bleurgh, honestly if it someone who is going to average about 30, I'd keep Crawley.
Stokes to open for me, with a realisation that his Knee means he's just not going to bowl that much.
So
Stokes
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Bairstow
Foakes
Robinson
Broad/ fast bloke
Leach
I do think we need to think of having a Wood, Archer, Mahmood, Stone type just for some variety. Very odd Wood didn't tour here really.