straw man
Hall of Fame Member
always a risk in Englandits about now i start getting visions of nz 25/5 after an hour
always a risk in Englandits about now i start getting visions of nz 25/5 after an hour
Same, but because we bowled England out for 2.its about now i start getting visions of nz 25/5 after an hour
Looking at our probable side, it's hard to see our last five wickets adding many. Lets hope that our top order doesn't go cheaply, or this may not be pretty.Playing a much stronger side than we did last year though.
Foakes getting injured might be a blessing in disguise then if Bracey scores decent runs at 7. Also gives England another left hander to provide balance bcos with no Stokes, Curran, and Moeen there are a lot of righthanders.Looking at our probable side, it's hard to see our last five wickets adding many. Lets hope that our top order doesn't go cheaply, or this may not be pretty.
Maybe. I'm cautious about expecting too much from a debutant, but obviously I hope Bracey goes well.Foakes getting injured might be a blessing in disguise then if Bracey scores decent runs at 7. Also gives England another left hander to provide balance bcos with no Stokes, Curran, and Moeen there are a lot of righthanders.
The UAE or England? Who knows!The heatwave has already crept into the low 20s.
Think the decision is complicated by Leach not batting to any meaningful degree.Maybe. I'm cautious about expecting too much from a debutant, but obviously I hope Bracey goes well.
The upturn in the weather might make England's selection more complicated. Until this week, picking four quicks and no specialist spinner made sense. But the hot weather makes it more likely that Leach plays and we only play three quicks. Not sure what I think about that.
Yes, that was part of my thinking too. Does Robinson have any serious claims to batsmanship?Think the decision is complicated by Leach not batting to any meaningful degree.
If he was of Giles/Swann/Bess/Salisbury/Emburey level competency I think it'd be a no-brainer, but a 8-11 of
Broad
Leach
Wood/Stone
Anderson
Is almost back to the 99 NZ visit for its rat-like qualities.
'Serious claims' is probably a bit strong, but he does ok at County level. Not allrounder quality but frequently contributes runs at 8 or 9. I think he was primarily a batsmen when coming through the age groups system. After COverton he's probably the next best bat amongst the bowlers in the current squad so could end up batting 8 here, which may flatter him but still better than Broad/Wood/Leach batting that high.Does Robinson have any serious claims to batsmanship?
I'm not convinced about CdG being ready. I know theoretically his dibbly dobblies could be amazing with the duke but at the same time I don't know how match fit he is and equally his batting could turn out less convincing than our tailendersAccording to stuff.co.nz NZ has now cut things to 12 for the first test:
Conway, Latham, Williamson, Taylor, Nicholls, Watling, CDG, Santner, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner, Henry
One out CDG, Santner, and Henry to miss out.
England favourites at the NZ TAB.
Hmmmm, Bracewell and Jamieson maybe, but not really Southee and Wagner.Thing about Henry is, even if you accept the English conditions and Duke might push him up to test level, the same conditions also boost Southee, Jamieson, CDG, Wagner (and his I Can Pitch The Ball Up Too You Know act) and even Mitchell or Bracewell. Making Henry redundant again.
Yes there's no wet air from a warm Pacific aspect to the humid days in London, for example. I think dry air corresponds pretty consistently with warmer temps for them.Does the Duke move more when it is cloudy and cold? The Kookaburra often moves on warm, muggy days such as in Auckland, Hamilton, and Brisbane.
what a weird placeYes there's no wet air from a warm Pacific aspect to the humid days in London, for example. I think dry air corresponds pretty consistently with warmer temps for them.