England in New Zealand

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Re: England in New Zealand

What a day of cricket. I gave up watching last night when Jimmy got smashed around by Fleming but I should have stayed up until after lunch. Sidebottom's the most inform bowler in the world other than Lee and Steyn atm. He's fantastic, he's learnt his trade, swings the ball, bowls a flawless line, has immaculate control, he's fantastic. I love Peter Moores for giving him a chance; Saj Mahmood would be on tour if it wasn't for Moores.

Strauss and Pietersen to get hundreds tommorow and put the game beyond the New Zealand batters. I never thought New Zealand should have had a chance of winning this series, only Fleming and How seem to have the ability to grind out an innings. Bell, Sinclair, Taylor, Oram/Elliot, McCullum and Vettori are talented but extremely inconsistent. I can't see England giving this game away from here.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Quite an amazing turnaround by England (not for the first time in this series). The worrying thing is that we are seemingly relying on 2 or 3 players to carry the team through each match - this has to change.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

England in complete control here and a first ton in 16 for Strauss. Bell batting well, lead should be up to around near 500 by the close of play.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Perfect day of cricket tbh, Strauss played beautifully but Bell's innings was the highlight of the day, he played amazingly; but again proved that he only seems to produce when the pressure's off. I can't honestly remember an innings which he has played under pressure for England and scored a hundred. He's a brilliant player, technically one of the better players in the side, but he needs to produce in under pressure situations more. Strauss' 170* a career best is the innings he needed, if he can now build from here with the confidence gained there's every chance he can get back to his best, and go back to opening with Cook; Vaughan looks massively out of touch at the top of the order. We can't lose from here.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

I'm not sure how Strauss played after reaching 3 figures but there were plenty of signs before it that the old problems are still there.

As you said though KP, a long knock like that can do wonders and maybe will help shake it out of him.

Vaughn needs some time back at Yorkshire, get some time in the middle and I'm sure he'll be fine come the first test against NZ.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

He look a little nervy against the new ball but after that short spell once he got passed a hundred he looked as good as ever. He tried to avoid playing the shots that have been getting in trouble, and towards the end of the day he was playing those same shots with authority for four. I really hope this knock gets him back in touch and we have the old Strauss back; he's a great player on form.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Well played to both Bell and Strauss. Bell looked really good out there.

I reckon they should give Strauss the chance to go for the 200 then declare when he gets it, or gets out. An hour or so of extra fielding time won't do the Kiwis any favours.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

why are we batting on? i can understand in giving strauss time to score 200 but he's out so what is the point? a 50 for panesar?
 
Re: England in New Zealand

I could see the point in batting on with Strauss there but once he went then I would have declared. Looks like we may have missed the overcast conditions and the chance to nick one or two out early.

Anderson bowling like a drain again.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Interesting discussion about the way Broad is holding the ball - using the cross seam grip.

Used either when the ball is swinging too much or if the pitch is particularly dead. The idea is that if you can hit the seam it may bounce unexpectedly, giving you a bit more of a chance of a wicket.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

If New Zealand have to chase 552 then they've got the right start for it. But I don't think that going to happen as New Zealand don't have the depth in their batting lineup. I'd like to see their middle order contribute more.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Has the pitch improved or the batsmen started using their brain because the second innings scores have been much better for both teams. After England dropped Harmison they look like a changed side to me. They deserve credit for bouncing back after the pathetic first test.

It was inevitable that England would win after the crossed got a lead in excess of 400. NZ suffered a familiar collapse once Fleming was dismissed. Two good batsmen are batting but there is no chance in hell that they can make the remaining 331 runs.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Pitch has always been good, was a combination of good bowling and bad batting in the first innings. Also, it seems that there is a little period of play in the morning when the sky is overcast which helps the fielding team. Once the sun comes out then batting gets a lot easier.
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Whilst it seems that we should win the match (you never can quite trust England to do the job, can you!), it seems that the NZ tour should be the end for a for players.

I really can't see Harmison coming back in unless he has a rip roaring county season and by that he has to be bowling fast (90 mph+ consistently) and taking a ton of wickets.

It should be also be the end of Anderson as a test player (at least for a couple of years). He'll remain within the OD squad but he is just too inconsistent for the test team. You need someone you can rely on, not someone who might bowl 5 for 40 one game and then go for 6 an over in the next. Maybe a few years back at Lancashire can sort him out.

On the batting front, despite his century I'm still not 100% convinced by Strauss and would want to see how he fares back at Middlesex. Vaughn is also at a crossroads, as there is a ready made captain waiting in the wings (Collingwood, although not my first choice he seems to be the man in possession) and he is no longer able to turn his starts into big scores. Again, lets see what the early part of the county season brings before writing him off though (and in any case, I can see him being there for the NZ tour at least and most probably through the summer).
 
Re: England in New Zealand

Do you reckon the matches that'll be played here in the UK in May will be covered by real tele (BBC or Channel 4 or maybe even Channel 5)?
 
Re: England in New Zealand

You may get a highlights package somewhere but that's about it. Sky has the rights for a few more years yet.

edit: Channel 5 should be showing highlights between 7.15 and 8pm after the end of each days play.
 
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