*Official* New Zealand in England 2015

[Howe_zat]

much battings. very wow.

 

[Spark]

that's creamed

 

[BeeGee]

That's a hit. Awesome stuff.

 

[greg]

don't think you necessarily need to dangle a carrot in these situations to win, anyway. Just need enough time for one collapse to put the opposition in trouble. 70 overs and 3 early wickets is all you need. Sometimes less! And at this rate England will have a lot more than that! NZ need to get Stokes out VERY soon! He could be on 180 by the close!

 

[Goughy]

That's what I'm afraid of. He needs to be more adventurous than that. If he wants to win this game he needs to give NZ a slim chance if they take risks.

No way he declares at stumps. England were gone in this game and a draw is fine (they are not yet there) and he will just leave enough of an opening for one of the England seamers to go mad and win the game.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

What an innings. Changed the match, just hope he carries on for another 10-15 overs.

 

[Howe_zat]

Ftr 86 balls is the fastest ton by an England player (Botham 81)

 

[Spark]

"partnership" of 117, of which cook has contributed 19

 

[greg]

Test match at one end, IPL at the other

 

[flibbertyjibber]

"partnership" of 117, of which cook has contributed 19

Must be soul destroying though, bloke caning you everywhere and a wall at the other end.

 

[mightymariner]

Surprised they haven't brought on a hairdryer for the ball yet

 

[Moss]

Nah, declaring at stumps gives NZ too much of an opening, while the odds of England getting them out in a day are pretty slim.

Can certainly see NZ going for it if it's around 350 or below, with BMac promoting himself. England were threatening when the conditions suited yesterday (and used the 2nd new ball well) so it wouldn't be the worst declaration.

This reminds me of the Thorpe/Flintoff partnership in the Christchurch test of 2002 (in how the game was just snatched away from NZ)

 

[greg]

Surprised they haven't brought on a hairdryer for the ball yet

Ball didn't get wet - it was sand.

 

[Antihippy]

Surprised they haven't brought on a hairdryer for the ball yet

The pipe had sand or sawdust I think, not water.

 

[Howe_zat]

Test match at one end, IPL at the other

It's actually impossible for an IPL innings to be as good as this one

#context

 

[BeeGee]

How slim is "a slim chance" though. If NZ will go after 5-6 an over then it would be silly to give them a shot at 4 an over. Two test series and all that as well.

Slim is 6 an over.

 

[greg]

Does McCullum do a "get yourself out" option?

 

[indiaholic]

Was too optimistic with my prediction.

 

[greg]

This could be carnage once Stokes gets out of the nervous nineties

 

[greg]

Think he could have got two there