First Test: England v New Zealand, May 21-25.

[Making_Splinters]

Still time to pick up a couple more.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sort of feel Southee hasn't been in the wickets in Tests lately. Been relying on Boult.

[SaintPowelly]

This has a big score from Bell written all over it

[Dr Cricket]

Poor shot again from Ballance. No foot movement.

gonna be a big year for him, Disagree with Botham though can see him struggling in Australia and South africa as well because of the pace and bounce as well.

[Making_Splinters]

Ballance takes too long to get his feet moving in an innings. If the ball is doing ought I can't see him getting many.

[yuppie]

So far what is the Verdict.

Are New Zealand better at bowling at the top order than England, or is the New Zealand top order better at batting then England's?

Or Both....

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cook looks like getting out every third ball.

[greyblazer]

Ballance's footwork against top quality bowling? I don't know what to say. Cook isn't looking any better.

[Making_Splinters]

Cook has never looked particularly good. It took teams a suprisingly long time to work him out.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If McCullum was reckless, could not the same be said of Bell, who's premeditatedly driving the ball in the air through the ring?

[yorker_129-7]

So far what is the Verdict.

Are New Zealand better at bowling at the top order than England, or is the New Zealand top order better at batting then England's?

Or Both....

New Zealand have used every new ball in this test to their advantage (cleaning up top and lower order on Day 1/2) while England have consistently wasted it. It's not just this test either, England haven't used it well for a few years now.

What is really worrying is England have been out-bowled by the opposition at Headingley in every test for the last 5/6 years. It could get really messy there.

[yorker_129-7]

Cook has never looked particularly good. It took teams a suprisingly long time to work him out.

To be fair, he looked a lot better before England tried to crow-bar him into the ODI set-up, that really screwed his game up as although his technique is not good his patience was up there with the best, he bored bowlers into bowling dross which he put away. He lost this in the heat of white-ball strike-rates and is struggling to get it back (though I think he will).

[Aidan11]

We need to be no more than 3 down when we wipe off the deficit.

Two ideally but that's a big ask.

[Aidan11]

At least we've bettered the 30/4 this time.

[Aidan11]

Not that Cook will be bothered.

His mate has made sure he's captain for the whole summer.