*Official* New Zealand in England 2015

[CaptainGrumpy]

Terrible start by the England top order here. By batting slowly and getting their eyes in, even if they retain wickets they put pressure on the middle order batsmen to keep up with the required run rate.

NZ is playing four current or former international wicket keepers. Is this a record? I suspect Sri Lanka (Sangakarra and Dilshan) and Pakistan (Akmals) may have matched this.

 

[Bahnz]

Southee struggling with his length so far, not a great sign.

 

[Hurricane]

This is going to be a stupid comment, but Lyth doesn't look nervous enough.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Brendon McCullum, arguably our best keeper in history, is probably the 4th choice keeper in today's side.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Nice shot from Lyth to follow a couple of nice leaves.

 

[Howe_zat]

Terrible start by the England top order here. By batting slowly and getting their eyes, even if they retain wickets they put pressure on the middle order batsmen to keep up with the required run rate.

It's a Test match. I can't tell if you're taking the mick

 

[kiwiviktor81]

This is going to be a stupid comment, but Lyth doesn't look nervous enough.

They showed his first class record before. He's got 6,000+ runs at 42+, so I guess he knows what he's doing.

 

[GIMH]

Terrible start by the England top order here. By batting slowly and getting their eyes, even if they retain wickets they put pressure on the middle order batsmen to keep up with the required run rate.

NZ is playing four current or former international wicket keepers. Is this a record? I suspect Sri Lanka (Sangakarra and Dilshan) and Pakistan (Akmals) may have matched this.

What required run rate?

 

[Immenso]

Block for 4. Bats so good these days.

 

[Howe_zat]

This is going to be a stupid comment, but Lyth doesn't look nervous enough.

He is a left handed Vaughan. Looks textbook when he comes off but can't put the drive away when the ball is moving.

Edit: Obviously England would be stoked to have another Vaughan at least for the next few years, I don't actually think he will be that good

 

[Zinzan]

Interested in how Ronchi goes behind the stumps here after his ordinary WC.

 

[Cabinet96]

This is why the "Cook's been found out" narrative was massive hyperbole.

 

[Zinzan]

Couple of plays and misses, slightly more promising.

 

[Howe_zat]

Steady on, the bloke's on 9

 

[Bahnz]

Massive swing. Boult getting it to bend from outside the line of leg to way past off.

 

[Bahnz]

See, this is where I think McCullum gets too clever for his own good. Southee's just bowled by far his best over of the morning, went past the bat and hit a really consistent length, and now McCullum takes him off.

 

[Athlai]

Yeah good move, Southee bowled his worst first spell of the tour. Not a great sign. Hopefully his second spell will be a lot better.

 

[Hurricane]

Henry's wicket to wicket bowling perhaps the most likely to cause problems. Let's hope so anyway.

 

[Zinzan]

Great start Henry. Now keep it there.

 

[Athlai]

See, this is where I think McCullum gets too clever for his own good. Southee's just bowled by far his best over of the morning, went past the bat and hit a really consistent length, and now McCullum takes him off.

Not entirely sold on that IMO. His best over of the day but still looking less threatening than anything Boult is offering. Henry to get 2-3 and then bring Southee on again for either him or Boult.