NZ Test tour of Eng, June 2-27

[bigfluffylemon]

58 runs in 8 overs, 50 partnership in 39 balls...

It's been more than a little chancey, but knocked off more than half the runs left and still 7 wickets. I guess they reckon that if they knock them off fast then even if they lose a couple there will be so few to get that the lower order can easily do it.

[bigfluffylemon]

Bairstow's SR is so ridiculous that Root might not make it to 100 even if he is still there at the end...

[bigfluffylemon]

Bairstow second fastest 50 of all time for England. 30 balls.

Ridiculous.

[sussexpob]

Jonny would walk into an all time ODI XI ..... he's finally realised if he just pretends test matches are 50 overs long, he's world class.

Of course, this sort of approach might not last longer term, but why not have a whack... he whacks it as well as anyone. RIP Jonny Bairstow, arise Jonny Sehwag...

[sussexpob]

And I really do not want to see tactical substitutions infiltrating the Test Match scene. I do admit I am a dinosaur , of course

I agree. My preference is 11 men and thats it, if someone cant do their job tough luck.... I'd make an exception for 12th men fielding, but they should never be allowed to keep wicket or be in a designated close catching position.

The worst situation is this hybrid nonsense where you get one team having a man advantage all series because they got the "right type" of injuries while the other didnt.

Either allow subs for everything, or allow them for nothing....

[bigfluffylemon]

The worst situation is this hybrid nonsense where you get one team having a man advantage all series because they got the "right type" of injuries while the other didnt.

Either allow subs for everything, or allow them for nothing....

Agree with that for sure.

[bigfluffylemon]

How have we chased over 270 three times in a row against the world test champions?

Tbf they were a bowler down twice, but 250 should be plenty on a fifth day wicket in England with England's flaky batting.

Bracewell is rubbish and NZ should have picked Patel, but NZ beat us home and away 12 months ago and England were 1 from 17 coming in to this series. Now we've whitewashed them. That should not have happened.

Well played boys.

[bigfluffylemon]

Got to wonder if Southee is getting past it. That was as bad a series as he's ever had.

NZ's bowling, Boult excepted, was disappointing. Injuries didn't help, but you have to wonder how much was because England got after them and they weren't able to adapt. They also got selection wrong: should have picked Wagner at TB and Patel at Headingley.

Boult, Blundell and Mitchell did not deserve to be on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat, but the rest of NZ were not up to their usual standard.

[bigfluffylemon]

Team of the series picks itself, apart from the second opener (no one was good)

Lee's
??? (Young?)
Pope
Root
Bairstow
Mitchell
Blundell
Potts
Leach
Boult
Anderson

[Arthur Crabtree]

JB1 ruins the game again.

[sussexpob]

My pre-series target for England was for some positive trends in the batting, and maybe one bowler stepping up from the reserves and making a case (which would have been positive even in a lost series).... Bairstow had a wonder series, Pope made two big contributions, Lees made over 100 runs in one test, Foakes had a few sticky innings and kept well, and Root was a rock.... and Potts has won the right to be considered a first team player for the foreseeable.

So on those points, 10/10 for me.

Of course, the next stage is for everyone to prove this wasnt a fluke... and we dont know that answer. But on what we can judge the series on in the shortest of terms, my only really complaint is Zak Crawley, who has to make way, or if he doesnt, needs the minimum of a 100 in his next test or he's done.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Team of the series picks itself, apart from the second opener (no one was good)

Looks about right.

[Arthur Crabtree]

India next week. Underpreped I expect.

[sussexpob]

India next week. Underpreped I expect.

Just one test isnt it? Another one for the bean counters

[bigfluffylemon]

India next week. Underpreped I expect.

Just one test isnt it? Another one for the bean counters

The cancelled one from last year.