**Official** New Zealand in England

[wpdavid]

The pitch in 2006 (as well as 2004) turned all game, really. The pitch turning and the ball swinging are two different things, though. Completely different.

Well yes, that was my point (resists temptation to insert rolleyes)

 

[Richard]

No real swing for Mills in his opening over, though some movement off the seam. And having just seen a replay of his seam-position, not surprising there was no swing. Really odd, sure I remember Mills having one of the best seam-positions I'd seen last season.

Both openers getting an early boundary.

 

[_Ed_]

Those floodlights look somewhat inadequate.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I just noticed Southee wasnt picked for this Test. I thought it was so obvious he was gonna play i didnt bother checking. I really cant believe they didnt play him, its a must win game after all.

 

[Richard]

Those floodlights look somewhat inadequate.

Almost all floodlights in this country are.

Why is Martin bowling over-the-wicket at the left-handers BTW?

Ah, Ian Botham beats me to it.

 

[Richard]

I just noticed Southee wasnt picked for this Test. I thought it was so obvious he was gonna play i didnt bother checking. I really cant believe they didnt play him, its a must win game after all.

O'Brien having done well enough last game to keep his spot, really, simple as.

 

[wpdavid]

Both openers getting an early boundary.

And both looking pretty loose if cricinfo are to be believed

 

[Richard]

Nah, Strauss has looked pretty good so far (cue him getting out) and Cook has looked neither good nor poor, really.

And finally Mills gets a ball to swing.

 

[_Ed_]

And both looking pretty loose if cricinfo are to be believed

Yeah, but the bowlers aren't really threatening so far, so they're getting away with it.

 

[_Ed_]

Better last couple from Mills.

 

[Leslie1]

I don't think NZ have the bowlers than can consistently bowl sides out twice.

Mills and Martin have the mantle of being our main 'strike bowlers', but they hardly get the crucial wickets when we need them to. I thought our bowlers would have done well this tour, but really, NZ's bowling hasn't been any better than the batting.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

O'Brien having done well enough last game to keep his spot, really, simple as.

Theres other bowlers bar O'Brien. Southee is clearly better than what NZ have. Who do you think England would much rather face? They must be over the moon.

 

[NUFAN]

England to win by 146 runs.

 

[Richard]

Theres other bowlers bar O'Brien. Southee is clearly better than what NZ have. Who do you think England would much rather face? They must be over the moon.

If they'd never seen O'Brien before and presumed he'd bowl like he did at Old Trafford... I'd guess they'd rather face O'Brien than Southee right now.

Poor as Mills has been and unfortuate as Martin has been so far this tour, I don't see any case for either being replaced currently. Southee will simply have to wait his turn.

 

[Blakey]

Bowled em. Inside edge.

 

[_Ed_]

Fantastic ball from Mills.

 

[Richard]

Damn.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Goneskis

Collapse anyone? All out for 20?

 

[Blakey]

Fantastic ball from Mills.

He could have left it.

 

[Richard]

WoWee, what a ball to get first-up.

That's very smart from Mills, now he's starting to get it to swing he's going wide on the crease. Good bowling.

Disappointing that Cook played at that ball TBH.