England v New Zealand Test Series 2026

[sussexpob]

The last two balls have numbed what was going to be an absolutely epic rant, but I am still just dumbstruck by some of the choices this side make. England have shown they have zero trust in Bashir, they dropped him as late as last week on a flat pitch, they didn't once call on him during a disaster tour of Australia. And yet here he is, bowling filth in a series decider. But all this pales in comparison to Archer's selection. If there is a time when you hand a fast bowler the ball and ask him to whip up a storm, its somewhere between 100-0 and 320-0; Archer bowled 6 overs in 70 odd overs bowled in that time. SIX !!!

Unless Archer refused to bowl, and he didn't appear to nor was he injured or left the field, I can only assume that the team leadership knew that he is currently incapable of higher workloads, and yet decided that it was worth picking him even in the event that he hardly bowled. When England needed desperately to make a partnership, and 200 runs after also, he was nowhere to be seen.

But hey ho.... if we get thrashed by day 5, at least this will be the last batsh*t decision these bunch of useless chancers get to make.