***Official*** New Zealand in England series 2013

[Bahnz]

Yeah, if Southee and Boult keep consistent it might be very difficult for India to beat us at home.

Although, as always, the batsmen still need to put the runs on the board.

The west indies series will be very interesting.

India are touring New Zealand immediately after they tour South Africa, so I imagine they're batsmen will be fairly battle hardened by the time we play them.

 

[straw man]

Yeah should be an interesting next 12 months.

Despite Bangladesh refusing to improve, I've long thought we risk embarrassing ourselves by losing our next test series in Bangladesh. Runs from Williamson and Taylor essential. Vettori down the order should be handy if he has the form and fitness to be selected.

West Indies are in a similar position to us in that they're threatening to develop into a competitive (but inconsistent) side. Our tour of West Indies last year was probably my single biggest disappointment of the last 18 months, which is really saying something. They're a similar level to us and even though they were boosted by a couple of returning players, we were just ****house and weren't even close to the required standard. Home advantage did play a part in that (particularly with Narine's and even Deonarine's bowling) and I expect home advantage to be similarly important in NZ for the return series. So I expect us to win the series and will be unhappy with any other result.

India are touring New Zealand immediately after they tour South Africa, so I imagine they're batsmen will be fairly battle hardened by the time we play them.

Hopefully they're mentally shot and have lost all confidence in playing the moving ball

Though that would require us to roll out pitches that aren't slow and flat, which seems unlikely if recent years are anything to go by. Doesn't seem like India really want to tour - all to lose and nothing to gain - which may play into our hands.

 

[RxGM]

I know this is off thread topic but...
Does anyone know why we only are due to play two tests against the Bangers, is it Bangladesh Cricket Board call or NZs, considering they pushed us hard last time we were there.
I just don’t think we can complain about only 2 tests vs the Big boys when we only play two tests in Bangladesh.

 

[straw man]

I agree that we should definitely be playing 3 tests vs Bangladesh in Bangladesh. And we can definitely complain about it on this forum even if it's our own board that's pushed for it

Unfortunately though we don't usually get to know whether it was our board or the other board that is responsible for the scheduling of two test series - so it's hard to answer your question.

 

[hendrix]

Even if you're a strong team playing a weak team, a 3 test series presumably offers a chance to do a bit of rotation in the third test if the first two go smoothly.

It would be so much better if teams like England just played the weak teams more rather than insisting upon 3 warmup matches and super long series against India and Australia.

 

[Bahnz]

West Indies are in a similar position to us in that they're threatening to develop into a competitive (but inconsistent) side. Our tour of West Indies last year was probably my single biggest disappointment of the last 18 months, which is really saying something. They're a similar level to us and even though they were boosted by a couple of returning players, we were just ****house and weren't even close to the required standard. Home advantage did play a part in that (particularly with Narine's and even Deonarine's bowling) and I expect home advantage to be similarly important in NZ for the return series. So I expect us to win the series and will be unhappy with any other result.

Nah disagree with this. When we toured WI last year the Windies were clearly a superior side. Although it was a little shakey at times, their batting was obviously better than ours, with Chanders, Gayle and Samuels all in top form. The bowling attacks were more evenly matched, but the Windies clearly had better variety with the pace of Roach and the turn of Narine and Deonarine.

I do expect the return series to be more even. The pitches won't suit their spinners, and will help bring the batting lineups closer together. Further, our bowling attack has greatly improved since then.

 

[RxGM]

I agree that we should definitely be playing 3 tests vs Bangladesh in Bangladesh. And we can definitely complain about it on this forum even if it's our own board that's pushed for it

Unfortunately though we don't usually get to know whether it was our board or the other board that is responsible for the scheduling of two test series - so it's hard to answer your question.

Went and answered my own question, on the future tours program the Bangers series is squashed between the very important champions league and the even more important 3 ODI’s we are playing in Sri Lanka (to help pay for the Hambantota Stadium one pressumes), than it is straight onto the Windies Series.

 

[straw man]

Nah disagree with this. When we toured WI last year the Windies were clearly a superior side. Although it was a little shakey at times, their batting was obviously better than ours, with Chanders, Gayle and Samuels all in top form. The bowling attacks were more evenly matched, but the Windies clearly had better variety with the pace of Roach and the turn of Narine and Deonarine.

The XIs they ended up fielding in that series were indeed stronger than ours, but that's only because they finally managed to get their **** together and field their best side for a change; hardly representative of their 18 months prior to that.

 

[Furball]

Even if you're a strong team playing a weak team, a 3 test series presumably offers a chance to do a bit of rotation in the third test if the first two go smoothly.

It would be so much better if teams like England just played the weak teams more rather than insisting upon 3 warmup matches and super long series against India and Australia.

Nah, 5 Test series are laughably superior to all other series. Give me 5 Tests against South Africa over 3 against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

 

[Kippax]

Poor.

 

[Howe_zat]

Pissing it down in Leeds today. No morning session at least IMO.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Bugger, looks like a regular night's sleep tonight

 

[Zinzan]

Pissing it down in Leeds today. No morning session at least IMO.

A mate from Leeds messaged me predicting a full day 1 wash-out.

 

[Burgey]

My spy in Leeds tells me the weather is anything but set fair.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Good news is we get to see a repeat of Broad running through the NZ batting again.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

My spy in Leeds tells me the weather is anything but set fair.

 

[superkingdave]

Got tickets for Monday so at least the game will still be live then. Next couple of days are supposed to be decent but then rain moving in again monday afternoon.

 

[Pothas]

Bumble really does have remarkable eyebrows.

 

[hendrix]

Swann such a troll

 

[Maximas]

Bumble really does have remarkable eyebrows.

It's the creases that run down his forehead that put me off.