England v New Zealand 2nd Test

258/7 close.

Honours fairly even I'd say, especially as at one point 220 looked about as good as we could hope for. If we can survive one session tomorrow and the forecasted cloud cover arrives we may still be in with a good shout.
 
Wasn't it a relief after a day of that prolonged dross to have the T20 Blast back?

The second the really boring test match (an England County XI v NZ) finished showing highlights of the six fours hit in the whole day I tuned in for Surrey v Middlesex and had Lancs v Leics on my laptop.

I think within 3 minutes there was twice the entertainment. Thank the Lord for T20.

Fantastic stuff.
 
Wasn't it a relief after a day of that prolonged dross to have the T20 Blast back?

The second the really boring test match (an England County XI v NZ) finished showing highlights of the six fours hit in the whole day I tuned in for Surrey v Middlesex and had Lancs v Leics on my laptop.

I think within 3 minutes there was twice the entertainment. Thank the Lord for T20.

Fantastic stuff.

MAC

I'm not saying your wrong but you never let up on this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The snobs will be along to tell you that "it's just not cricket".
 
Awful mate, truly awful. Only beaten by my snooker as I can't see 3 feet in front of me.
 
We were lucky to grab a draw in the first test saved by a day of rain.

Might not be so lucky in this one need a captains innings and a half here or it’s curtains. . 😳
 
Looking dicey now. How have they managed to move the ball around in the same conditions when we couldn’t. Need Root to put the pedal to the metal and get us out of trouble now.
 
Average county players at test level, they need to get back to picking the best we have, rather messing around with one-day and T20 squads.

Technical ability at the crease is woeful from some of our batsmen. Even if they get in, they struggle to score.
 
Sadly, Bracey has looked like a rabbit in the headlights whenever he gets to the crease
He has in each of his innings, not that his colleagues have done much better in the majority of cases.
As someone has said, why don't we pick our best players when playing against the top team (or is it top 2?)
I realise some players have just returned from IPL duty, but they're mostly playing for their counties, so it doesn't seem to be fatigue related. Oh and wasn't Boult in the IPL?

Sorry all, rant over
 
I tell you what's missing:

Bairstow
Butler
Ali
Stokes
Foakes
Archer

After the tests against New Zealand the top 4 of those will go straight back into the team. The other 2 will return when fit.

Ollie Pope will come good but Sibley, Crawley, Lawrence and Bracey (he really is shit) will all be dropped for the India test matches.
 
Average county players at test level, they need to get back to picking the best we have, rather messing around with one-day and T20 squads.

Technical ability at the crease is woeful from some of our batsmen. Even if they get in, they struggle to score.
Suggestions that our county cricket pitches aren’t helping us - too batsmen friendly
 
I tell you what's missing:

Bairstow
Butler
Ali
Stokes
Foakes
Archer

After the tests against New Zealand the top 4 of those will go straight back into the team. The other 2 will return when fit.

Ollie Pope will come good but Sibley, Crawley, Lawrence and Bracey (he really is shit) will all be dropped for the India test matches.
Who opens though? Burns yes but then who?
Can Stokes open? Maybe Joe Root?
Bairstow shouldn’t be picked again as he’s looked awful for a few years now in red ball.
 
Suggestions that our county cricket pitches aren’t helping us - too batsmen friendly
Not sure about that. It's like an about turn when we were struggling for any decent fast bowlers but had some stoic batsman. We desperately need a couple of openers like Strauss & Cooke but we just haven't got anyone at all.
 
All I will say is that NZ deserve to win this test and the series. The manner in which England opted out of the last match is difficult to shake off. Negativity breeds more negativity.
 
Who opens though? Burns yes but then who?
Can Stokes open? Maybe Joe Root?
Bairstow shouldn’t be picked again as he’s looked awful for a few years now in red ball.
We don't have anyone to open with Burns, that's the problem and I agree about Bairstow, but. he is a 100 times better than the ones I listed as being dropped. The team should be

Burns
(I have no idea!!)
Root
Stokes
Butler (w)
Pope
Bairstow
Ali
Wood
Broad
Anderson
 
Any England player who's name end in EY should not play another test this year.
Most of them do.

Rootey, Broadey, Stokesey etc.
I tell you what's missing:

Bairstow
Butler
Ali
Stokes
Foakes
Archer

After the tests against New Zealand the top 4 of those will go straight back into the team. The other 2 will return when fit.

Ollie Pope will come good but Sibley, Crawley, Lawrence and Bracey (he really is shit) will all be dropped for the India test matches.
Leach.

Their spinner taken 4 for 30 odd.

We didn't pick one. Again.
 
We don't have anyone to open with Burns, that's the problem and I agree about Bairstow, but. he is a 100 times better than the ones I listed as being dropped. The team should be

Burns
(I have no idea!!)
Root
Stokes
Butler (w)
Pope
Bairstow
Ali
Wood
Broad
Anderson
You’re right. As bad as Barstow has been, he could at least at one stage play the red ball well. The new crop look totally lacking in technique
 
Most of them do.

Rootey, Broadey, Stokesey etc.

Leach.

Their spinner taken 4 for 30 odd.

We didn't pick one. Again.
I know, crazy. What about Woakes too he can bat and bowl as can Sam Curran.

Maybe the management needs changing I'm not convinced by Chris Silverwood at all.
 
Their batsmen all have a simple, identical technique. Ours are leaping around and twitching like an epileptic convention with the strobe light on. Who's coaching them?
 
I know, crazy. What about Woakes too he can bat and bowl as can Sam Curran.

Maybe the management needs changing I'm not convinced by Chris Silverwood at all.
I liked him at first cos he seemed to be a nice contrast to "this is the way we play" of the previous regime but the sheer arrogance of picking a reserve team against such a good side and the lack of a balanced attack isn't a good look.
 
Tbh, I generally don't really get that parochial with cricket. I want us to beat the Aussies and then outside of that, I just love the game.

New Zealand have such a good, tight squad and clear idea of how to play.

We're a bloated mess.

Fair play to them. If they beat India that really will be one in the eye of the cricket elite and their attempts to take all the money... !
 
New Zealand deserve the series win, better in all departments but most noticeably in the field and with the bat. I hope they give Kholi's India a good hammering.
 
We don't have anyone to open with Burns, that's the problem and I agree about Bairstow, but. he is a 100 times better than the ones I listed as being dropped. The team should be

Burns
(I have no idea!!)
Root
Stokes
Butler (w)
Pope
Bairstow
Ali
Wood
Broad
Anderson
I'd give Bairstow another opportunity as opener
He's an excellent white ball player, and is experienced against the world's best bowlers.
Yes he wss out of form in the Red ball game, but t's not as if we've got an array of talent at nr 1 or 2.
I think we play Buttler too far down the order as well, I would drop Pope

Oh.... Alex Davies anyone??
 
Back
Top