Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Not much of a rest for these boys but England will be fired up after Lord's.


I think barring injury they'll stick with the same XI.

Will the Kiwi's stick with the same XI? An extra full time bowler may be their need.

Understand there are injury concerns for NZ ...Watling and Anderson both in some doubt.

They have plenty of keepers . But if Anderson is ruled out they are scratching for options : either have to make do with four bowlers ( not that Anderson bowled much at Lord's) or go with a very long tail.

Can't see any reason for England to make a change.

the way craig bowled NZ may as well just pick another seamer

alfie wrote:Understand there are injury concerns for NZ ...Watling and Anderson both in some doubt.

They have plenty of keepers . But if Anderson is ruled out they are scratching for options : either have to make do with four bowlers ( not that Anderson bowled much at Lord's) or go with a very long tail.

Can't see any reason for England to make a change.

or bring Jimmy Neesham in at 6/7?

Neesham isn't in the squad. They have Wagner, Rutherford, Bracewell and Ronchi to choose from.

I'd guess they'll pick the same team. They played pretty well for four days of the first Test.

The injuries to McCullum, Watling and Anderson will be ones to keep an eye on I feel.

If I were in charge I'd rest Jimmy Anderson and pick Plunkett. Home turf, and give Jimmy time off to get ready for the Ashes.

I hear Anderson was too injured to bowl much in the first game. So maybe he'll be picked on batting in the second.

The shape of things to come...

England dressing room first day:

Cook - G'day mates
Lyth - Hi Skippy
Ballance - Raring to go possums?
Bell Yep - all fair dinkum
Root - Some nice Sheilas in the stands
Stokes - You little Tassy devil you.
Buttler Thought they were koalas
Ali - More like wombats
Broad - Who cares -I'm on the Fosters tonight
Anderson - I couldn't give a Castlemaine xxxx...

Minds might not be on the job then?

Anyone going to the game, I got ticket for day 4 just for 5 pounds.

Looks like rain is going to have a major say in this match.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6695619

With rain up to about the schedule start time tomorrow morning then showers until lunch it'll be a "bowl first" option for the captains, but dries up in the afternoon.

Sunday and Monday look as though they may be distinctly iffy.

Raining already.

Most likely a delayed start at best.

A field first day, when they take the field.