NZ Test tour of Eng, June 2-27

[bigfluffylemon]

Most runs ever scored in a test in England

Third most in any five day test.

[bigfluffylemon]

He's bloody done it!

Extraordinary.

NZ's 553 is the highest losing innings score in England, and 4th highest of all time.

[Arthur Crabtree]

More positives than negatives for England...

[Durhamfootman]

Most boundaries in any test, apparently.

in test history.... extraordinary

[Durhamfootman]

well I didn't know for certain that England had won it until I watched the highlights (I like a bit of jeopardy when watching them), but I had a good feeling about it

So, Engalnd came out for the final session of the test match needing 160 runs to win, which is a very tall order indeed. Yet an hour later they needed 27 runs. Astonishing!

Between them these two teams have taken an awfully batsmen friendly pitch with nothing there for the bowlers and turned it into a fantastic and thrilling test match. At several points in innings 3 and 4 either team could have taken their foot off the throttle and turned this game into a dull drab draw, yet neither team did and cricket was so much better for it.

Stokes seems much less cautious a captain than his two predecessors and doubtless he'll come a cropper in the future, but this is just a fantastic advert for the game in general and test cricket in particular. It takes two though and NZ played their part.

Mitchell looks like the most improved player in the world atm.

[Durhamfootman]

and before I forget.... after 12 balls faced YJB was on 4; after 25 he was on 13. Suddenly he's on 102 after 77 balls

the 5th wicket partnership... they went from 50 to 100 in 19 balls..... 19 balls

NZ had all those fielders back on the ropes for short pitched bowling hoping for a mistimed hook or pull, and according to YJB, Stokes walked down to him and said 'don't you dare hit the ball down'

mayhem; madness; carnage; entertainment; brilliant

the next time England try this, they'll probably fall in a heap and look stupid, but this was glorious.

And free, of course, so there's a lot of credit to be handed out

[alfie]

Please can we drop Crawley and Bairstow, regardless of result?

I'd be quite happy with that

Some comments don't age too well

[alfie]

Quite a game , eh ? First 4 days were full of entertainment but yesterday eclipsed it all...

Frankly even my optimism was just about squashed when Root got out. Obvious from Lees' attitude they were going for it ; and there probably would have been little point in trying to block it out once Root was gone : whatever one thinks of Bairstow and Stokes , neither are really built for long rearguard defensive actions. Actually getting those runs at 4 plus per over just seemed impossible...

That they actually got them at ten per over after tea

The new management did say they were going to play with intent at all times. Looks like they weren't kidding. The two ginger lads might even have exceeded McCullum's expectations with that performance. Perhaps even the regular Bairstow-bashers will lay off him for a game or two now ? You know Who You Are

Of course it won't come off every time ; but it is probably going to be fun to watch.

Commiserations to NZ - especially Mitchell and Boult - for ending up on the losing side after all that. As I said yesterday , the match contained plenty of flawed efforts as well as brilliance ; but I think overall both sides deserve praise for producing the sort of Test Match that keeps the format viable in this modern age... and all praise to Notts for letting a crowd in free

[Durhamfootman]

England docked test champ points for slow over rates and fined 40% of their match fee

[bigfluffylemon]

NZ's over rate wasn't much better. They were short on day 3 and behind the rate on day 5 (although presumably if you don't bowl to the end of the day it doesn't count). Why weren't they punished too?

I'm glad action is being taken on over rates, but it should be applied evenly.

[Durhamfootman]

Jamieson ruled out of the 3rd test

[Durhamfootman]

and now Bracewell has tested positive for covid

[Arthur Crabtree]

Next Test is over a week off though.

[Durhamfootman]

people can still feel ill with it though

and spread it around the dressing room to people who may also end up feeling unwell

[bigfluffylemon]

people can still feel ill with it though

and spread it around the dressing room to people who may also end up feeling unwell

Indeed. If he tested positive today, he was almost certainly infectious yesterday, probably Monday too. There could be more positive tests on both sides.