**Official** New Zealand in England

[Steulen]

Monty on! Probably two overs before tea?

 

[Richard]

Why? England have a history of not playing a spinner for certain games. Its not like it would be anything revolutionary.

For every time they've done it, there's perhaps 4 times they haven't, due to the "you must have variation" crap.

Honestly, I lost count of the number of times Giles played home (and sometimes away) Tests when he shouldn't have. MSP will presumably be the same, and it'll damage both the chances of the team and the prospects of the player as he'll be playing when he shouldn't be and not having a chance to take good figures.

Anway, here as we speak is MSP.

 

[Richard]

Monty on! Probably two overs before tea?

Two fairly close lbws there. Second one almost certainly outside off, but the first closer.

NZ mustn't fall prey to the same thing WI did last year, playing straight balls that were never going to turn as if they were.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Oram and McCullum to both score 80+
Vettori 40+

NZ to get close to 300

 

[Bahnz]

McCullum starting to look edgy. He'll be chipped out shortly after tea.
Oram to continue his poor form with the bat.
Vettori does his best to marshall the tail as he always does, but with little real benefit.
160 ao.

 

[Richard]

Oram and McCullum to both score 80+
Vettori 40+

NZ to get close to 300

I'll be exceptionally surprised if so TBH.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

I'll be exceptionally surprised if so TBH.

Watch, and be exceptionally surprised.

While you are being exceptionally surprised, I will sleep.

 

[Richard]

Vettori does his best to marshall the tail as he always does, but with little real benefit.
160 ao.

"Marshal the tail" isn't it?

Else James Marshall might one day be himselfing the tail.

 

[Richard]

As so often, Sir Michael Jagger is in the crowd. As is Stephen Waugh.

Another four byes here, some difficult takes for Ambrose today which he hasn't managed.

 

[Bahnz]

Marshall: an attempt (usually unsuccesful) to squeeze a lot out of something with limited potential.

 

[Prince EWS]

Marshall: an attempt (usually unsuccesful) to squeeze a lot out of something with limited potential.

Fitting name for James then.

 

[wpdavid]

Why? England have a history of not playing a spinner for certain games. Its not like it would be anything revolutionary.

Been a while since we didn't play a spinner. Has it happened at all since the 2000 WI series?

 

[Richard]

There was 1 game in the 2001 Ashes as well, but I can only think of 1 game since then: Headingley 2003. The fact that the seamers were rubbish there seemed to convince people that a spinner would have done better.

 

[wpdavid]

There was 1 game in the 2001 Ashes as well, but I can only think of 1 game since then: Headingley 2003. The fact that the seamers were rubbish there seemed to convince people that a spinner would have done better.

Not entirely unreasonable, imo. Especially when Zondeki was hanging around forever to help Kirsten resurrect the SA 1st innings.

 

[Bahnz]

Nice fifty from McCullum. A few too many silly shots for my liking, but I suppose that's part of the package. Now wouldn't it be nice if he could go on with it for a change?

 

[wpdavid]

I'll be exceptionally surprised if so TBH (if NZ get close to 300).

It's not out of the question, especially with Sidebottom apparently out of sorts. And if they do manage 275+, NZ will be very handily placed, imo. Anyone out where with much faith in England's top order against Martin & Mills in helpful conditions? Thought not.

 

[Richard]

Not entirely unreasonable, imo. Especially when Zondeki was hanging around forever to help Kirsten resurrect the SA 1st innings.

There is no way in a million years Giles' presence would've helped there. He offered no threat whatsoever in any Test all summer.

And have you forgotten the several million other instances where the exact same thing happened (be it top-order or top-and-tail) with a fingerspinner in the side when the surface did not aid spin?

I really hope not.

 

[Richard]

It's not out of the question, especially with Sidebottom apparently out of sorts. And if they do manage 275+, NZ will be very handily placed, imo. Anyone out where with much faith in England's top order against Martin & Mills in helpful conditions? Thought not.

Question is, how helpful are the conditions going to be? The pitch has virtually stopped seaming, the ball's not really swinging a hell of a lot as it gets older, and NZ's attack could conceivably struggle.

Of course, new ball will be a very different matter, but let's wait and see.

 

[Bahnz]

Well that (thankfully) puts paid to my 160 prediction. Still don't see 300 though.

 

[andruid]

Well that (thankfully) puts paid to my 160 prediction. Still don't see 300 though.

Mcullum to ton up and lead NZ to 354 all out

Also Boycott having a go at the lack of swing bowlers nowadays. Anybody playing Cricinfo' fantasy league. Need league to join.