2nd Test - England v New Zealand (May 29 - June 2)

[Aidan11]

Out to a part-timer as well.

[Aidan11]

For the next hour I'm just going to explode.

[Gingerfinch]

For the next hour I'm just going to explode.

Kenneth!

[yuppie]

There goes Stokes.

Just before lunch as well

[yuppie]

Still 3 recognized bats left, and there must be some rain on the way, surely.

[sussexpob]

If I were a test match coach, I would have all players in situations like this watching Faf du Plessis' innings at Adelaide.... the "how to save a test match 101" lesson for all batsman.

Stokes could have left that. Dumb batting really

[sussexpob]

Stokes contribution in this game. 1/130... 35 runs.

The new Flintoff... just in 2009 when he lost his eye and could barely walk anymore

[yuppie]

Stokes contribution in this game. 1/130... 35 runs.

The new Flintoff... just in 2009 when he lost his eye and could barely walk anymore

Ahh, but he will occasionally win you a test match, and then you can say the new Botham/Flintoff and everyone is happy.

I guess the question from this series is do England need 2 batting all rounders? Perhaps time for Stokes or Ali to make way for a recognized spinner?

[budgetmeansbudget]

I guess you can say that both games have been decided by poor final day batting performances.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Stokes contribution in this game. 1/130... 35 runs.

The new Flintoff... just in 2009 when he lost his eye and could barely walk anymore

Ahh, but he will occasionally win you a test match, and then you can say the new Botham/Flintoff and everyone is happy.

I guess the question from this series is do England need 2 batting all rounders? Perhaps time for Stokes or Ali to make way for a recognized spinner?

There isn't really a good enough spinner out there to make that an option.

There aren't really any outstanding spinners in the test world anymore, probably down to 20 and 50 over cricket.

[sussexpob]

Stokes contribution in this game. 1/130... 35 runs.

The new Flintoff... just in 2009 when he lost his eye and could barely walk anymore

Ahh, but he will occasionally win you a test match, and then you can say the new Botham/Flintoff and everyone is happy.

I guess the question from this series is do England need 2 batting all rounders? Perhaps time for Stokes or Ali to make way for a recognized spinner?

I have said this consistently, both cant be in the same team because you end up wasting one at 8, which means you never get the extra batting, and boths uses as bowlers in the long term is questionable. Personally, the 5th bowler being a spinner suits in more conditions, so I would drop Stokes. But I think I am in a serious minority for that.

I just don't see Stokes as a test bowler, even as a back up.

[sussexpob]

I mean, judging on recent tests and county cricket, most lower orders just need to slog when the last of the batsman are left, and this works as well as having a specialist down there.

[westoelad]

Stokes contribution in this game. 1/130... 35 runs.

The new Flintoff... just in 2009 when he lost his eye and could barely walk anymore

Yes we'll replace him with Jordan who averaged 13 with the bat and 42 with the ball in the West Indies.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Still 3 recognized bats left, and there must be some rain on the way, surely.

Just looked at the forecast, there isn't any sadly.

[yuppie]

Would England loose anything by having Rashid in the team as a spinner?

Root can bowl when control is needed.

Woods dosent look a mug with the bat. Not sure the team would be any worse of. And in the bowling department they would probably be better of.

Now if only England could find a left arm pace bowler for a bit of variety....