*Official** New Zealand in England

[Richard]

David Graveney promised after that Oval game that England would "never again" pick three number-elevens in the same game.
Within a year, the nine-ten-eleven was Cork, Caddick, Gough, with First-Class top-scores of 200*, 92 and 121 respectively.
Sadly it didn't last long.

 

[Richard]

I'm just not used to actually batting better than someone, so when I do, I tend to milk it

Which is fair enough.
You just wait until I make a score in a proper game. You never know, it might even happen this season.8D

 

[Richard]

Sounds like your notion of First Chance averages - unreliable.

Nowhere near as unreliable as your "suggestion".
Let-offs are very rarely disagreed upon.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Which is fair enough.
You just wait until I make a score in a proper game. You never know, it might even happen this season.8D

What's your career high?

 

[Richard]

In a proper game (ie more than 20 overs)? 21*. I've reached double-figures 4 times in a career of about 40 games (13, 11 [should have been 12*, was given run-out by their Umpire off last ball of game going for winning run, even their players admitted within 5 minutes that I was beyond the stumps - you'll probably hear more about that next season] and 16 being the others).
In 20-over games I've done slightly better:
1999, 2 innings, 2 runs, 2 not-outs, 4 deliveries faced
2000, 2 innings, 19 off 6 balls and 0 off 2.
2001, played my best 2 innings, almost pulled-off 2 impossible victories, with 24 off 10 balls and 40* off 17 (I reckoned about half of this was thanks to overthrows - I felt unbelievably sick afterwards). I also reached double-figures on 3 other occasions. I batted well, but in my first 2 40-over games I was out 1st ball. A harbinger of what's to come.
I just don't understand why Jeff showed so much faith in my batting. I reckon I could be better but I don't understand how on Earth anyone else could.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I'm looking forward to facing some of these attacks!

I have no idea why anyone would see promise in it either... but as coach/leader one must value each individual as an individual.

 

[Craig]

David Graveney promised after that Oval game that England would "never again" pick three number-elevens in the same game.
Within a year, the nine-ten-eleven was Cork, Caddick, Gough, with First-Class top-scores of 200*, 92 and 121 respectively.
Sadly it didn't last long.

And its a pity they never produced that sort of form in Tests

Mike Atherton, Nassur Hussain would have the best 9,10,11 ever.

 

[Richard]

They didn't need to - Gough, Caddick, Croft and even more so Salisbury played a huge part in the series victories in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
They played some part in the West Indies victory too.
Atherton only captained that team once (Lord's, 2001):
Himself
Trescothick
Butcher
Thorpe
Ramprakash
Stewart
Ward
White
Cork
Caddick
Gough
Still made no impression whatsoever. McGrath, APU. And Warne and Gillespie to a lesser extent.
Hussain had a similar team on 2 occasions, and one with Gough at eleven on quite a few more. Often, though, there were only six batsmen and four other bowlers in front of him.

 

[Richard]

I'm looking forward to facing some of these attacks!

If you're talking the attacks I thrashed in 2001, sorry, I forgot to mention that these games were U15 games.
Hence, most of these bowlers will now be nonenities.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Aww.

 

[Craig]

Re: New Zealand in England disussion thread

This is not the Official tour thread but a thread to discuss the likely results, predictations etc.

I predicate a 2-1 result to either side as IMO both sides are pretty even.

This would be the likely tour squad (one I would pick): Richardson, Fulton, Papps, Fleming, Styris, McMillan, Astle (if fit - then Lou Vincent or Richard Jones), McIntosh, Cairns, Oram, McCullum (back up 'keeper), Hart, Vettori, Hart, Tuffey, Bond (if fit).

The only certaines are: Richardson, Fleming, McMillan, Styris, Astle (if fit), Cairns, Oram, Hart, Vettori, Tuffey, Bond (if fit).

IMO Hart is probably even to Read in keeping ability and in batting ability, but superior to Jones perhaps 'keeping ability but not in batting.

If there is any seam movement, Tuffey will have Trescothick for dinner.

Thinking about this more - McIntosh probably wont make it, and Kyle Mills would probably be under consideration to go.

Michael Mason would be under consideration if Bond isnt fit. Also if Papps or Richardson gets injured, then Fleming can open if need be and so can McCullum.

 

[Richard]

You talking Tests or ODIs?
Either way, I seriously hope Mills has been dropped by the time you tour.
Wasn't convinced about Mason from what happened in Pakistan, either.

 

[Craig]

Tests.

What is wrong with Mills? However he did concede 21 runs off one over.

 

[Mingster]

You talking Tests or ODIs.
Either way, I seriously hope Mills has been dropped by the time you tour.
Wasn't convinced about Mason from what happened in Pakistan, either.

Why Mills been dropped? Mills has a decent ODI track record and would make your England side.

Mason, oh yes great. Let's only judge him on ONE tour and where he played only a couple of matches. Every bowler got smacked on that tour. Mason has been in outstanding form in the State Shield.

I guess Richard doesn't like watching many matches to rate a player then.

 

[cbuts]

the thing i like about mason is after the tour to pak, in the stae shield u could see the vast improvement. he learnt what he can bowl waht he cant, and in the SS - which admitedly is nothign like int. - he came across as very mcgrath ike - doubt he would off barley bowled a wide after that tour.

 

[marc71178]

Why Mills been dropped? Mills has a decent ODI track record and would make your England side.

I beg to differ.

A full strength England attack wouldn't find a spot for him.

 

[Richard]

Why Mills been dropped? Mills has a decent ODI track record and would make your England side.

Mason, oh yes great. Let's only judge him on ONE tour and where he played only a couple of matches. Every bowler got smacked on that tour. Mason has been in outstanding form in the State Shield.

I guess Richard doesn't like watching many matches to rate a player then.

Did the words "the Pakistan tour shows Mason cannot possibly be an ODI-standard bowler" cross my keyboard? No. Will you please stop attempting to exaggerate my words.
Mills, a decent ODI track-record? Yes, when circumstances continually conspired in his favour, he did have, but fortunately that's stopped recently and his record is rapidly degenerating. Personally, I can think of many bowlers I'd much prefer in England and New Zealand ODI-sides.

 

[Mingster]

did you watch the game in Christchurch?

 

[Craig]

I beg to differ.

A full strength England attack wouldn't find a spot for him.

And who would be in the full strength England attack?

 

[Tim]

I don't think recent English bowling efforts have really been good enough for Marc to confidently say that...but he's probably right, but only because England have far more quicks to chose from than NZ do here.