NZ Test tour of Eng, June 2-27

[alfie]

And it has been an entertaining match : pitch - and ultra-slick outfield - has aided fast scoring throughout ; but I wouldn't call it a road. Has been a bit there for the pace men with the new ball , and even sometimes with an older one (though it has been hard to keep up with all the ball-changes !). The strange reluctance of both sides to hold onto catches over the first three days has apparently given way to crazy run out mania among the batsmen ; which did a lot to enable 12 wickets to fall in a day after just 15 over the first three : I don't think it really shows that the pitch has suddenly deteriorated.

Suppose if one were picky , the overall quality of the game could be marked down for the fielding blemishes and daft running ; but I'd prefer to focus on some excellent batting from the four centurions , Mitchell and Root in particular. Perhaps both of them may have a huge influence on the last day's action ? We shall see...

[bigfluffylemon]

Seems set up for a great last day...but I wonder if it might actually all fizzle out ? Losing those late wickets means NZ are neither far enough ahead to be looking at a quick close , nor with enough batting left to go ballistic in the morning. They will surely want to push the lead close to 300 ; and if that takes much of the morning the eventual target for England may look a bit too rich even for this McCullum/Stokes inspired "go for it" outfit...

I could see a couple of early wickets causing England to back off a little and ending up with too much to do later in the day - or indeed perhaps losing several and being faced with a struggle for survival . Which would of course make its own bit of drama ...that tail would not be safe to have xposed with evem 15 overs to go !

Speculating anyway - which has rarely been accurate in this match. Maybe both teams are so wedded to attack this is going to a dramatic finish whatever happens ? If so I really believe it could easily go either way. And I guess that is the best way to enter the fifth day of a very entertaining Test Match

Indeed, if NZ can bat most of the first session, that will probably kill the game. Although if England are going to take the attacking mindset, there could be an option to open with, say, Stokes and Bairstow and tell YJB to play like he does opening in an ODI and go for it. If it comes off England could knock 100 off the target in 15 overs, and be well placed for victory. If it doesn't, well, Bairstow wouldn't have scored any runs or helped save the game at 6 anyway, so nothing lost, just bat sensibly for a couple of hours to secure the draw and go into the last test 1-0 up.

[sussexpob]

Of course, it could be a bore day... I am being positive...

[bigfluffylemon]

Root's innings was far from his best ever, given the wicket and match situation, but it was as good as I have seen him bat, if that makes sense. His timing and placement were just sublime. Joy to watch.

The commentators are waxing lyrical about him being England's best ever. That's a big call given some stiff competition (Hammond, Hobbs, Hutton, Barrington anyone?), but it's hard to compare across eras. He's the best I've seen for England in my lifetime.

I might post a few polls about that.

Ok, I did post some polls - asking for the England XI of the last 40 years. Blatant plug, but if it does end up being a bore-draw day and you need a distraction, please head on over to the polls section of the boards and vote:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22245

[bigfluffylemon]

Super take from Foakes, NZ 9 down, target 260.

If the last wicket falls within half an hour, it's going to be a gripping chase.

[sussexpob]

Impossible to pick who is ahead either. England will still have some pressure to score. Maybe 55-45 England

[sussexpob]

10th wicket hurting England here though. These small runs and the time they are taking are really squeezing England chances

Daryl Bradman is still there...

[bigfluffylemon]

10th wicket hurting England here though. These small runs and the time they are taking are really squeezing England chances

Daryl Bradman is still there...

Oh FFS stop trying to bounce the tail and bowl at the damn stumps. Stokes just bowled six bouncers in a row at Boult and conceded 14. Not a single delivery anywhere near the stumps.

Why do England always do this?

[sussexpob]

England get a new cherry, so they have to end Boult quick

[bigfluffylemon]

Betting odds now have NZ win slightly favoured. Winviz reckons all three results about equally likely (excluding the tie, obv).

[sussexpob]

Mitchell slogging even with the field back. 35 for the last partnership, England are getting to dig in territory now.

[bigfluffylemon]

Last few overs feel as though it's just got away from England.

[sussexpob]

Letting Boult get a single straight away

[sussexpob]

He;s back on strike 2 balls later, and Ando ends it....

298 the lead. DO England go for this now?

[bigfluffylemon]

He;s back on strike 2 balls later, and Ando ends it....

298 the lead. DO England go for this now?

Take the new ball, give it to Jimmy, target stumps, job done.

Why did Stokes delay doing that and bowl short?