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

[Aidan11]

If NZ are 100-0 at lunch start panicking.

[sussexpob]

Betfair odds:

Draw - 1/5
England - 5/1
New Zealand - 10/1

I wouldnt say England are favourites over New Zealand, but draw is the run away favourite

[pompeymeowth]

All out 263, they can Jimmy with it.

[Aidan11]

Will Anderson try too hard to get his 400th wicket.

[m@tt]

This wound me up this morning:

Silent majority have spoken. Standing ovation for Cook's 162.

Such nonsense. Since when has any player ever not been given a standing ovation for a century?

And besides, of course the majority want England and their individual players to do well. But it doesn't mean the majority think that (a) Cook should be captain, (b) KP should have been sacked, and (c) the ECB has acted properly or in the best interests of the team and fans.

[SaintPowelly]

4.58 an over required...... I will be surprised if New Zealand attempt it

There would be no harm in Brendon opening and having a go, and if he falls Kane can shut up shop.

I think the sensible thing is to let the openers stick for 10-20 overs, build a platform, and then play some shots.

Maybe, but I think if NZ get off to a fast start (40-0 off 7 ) England will panic

[yuppie]

More than enough for England.

Its not one day cricket with all the help given to the Batsman.

England will have to really bowl bad for NZ to get close.

[bigfluffylemon]

Probably the only way we were going to see a result in the game is for England to have been bowled out, so that's good. Draw is still hot favourite, but 4.5 an over for NZ is just enough for them to fancy a chance.

[yuppie]

4.58 an over required...... I will be surprised if New Zealand attempt it

There would be no harm in Brendon opening and having a go, and if he falls Kane can shut up shop.

I think the sensible thing is to let the openers stick for 10-20 overs, build a platform, and then play some shots.

Maybe, but I think if NZ get off to a fast start (40-0 off 7 ) England will panic

Will just put in defensive fields, and bowl defensivly.

[m@tt]

I wanted England to bat for an hour. They've done that, scoring 49 runs off 10 overs before that double wicket maiden at the end. 345 is a good target to set.

Probably not enough time to win the Test, but who knows. They had no right as of yesterday morning to be in this position.

[sussexpob]

Probably the only way we were going to see a result in the game is for England to have been bowled out, so that's good. Draw is still hot favourite, but 4.5 an over for NZ is just enough for them to fancy a chance.

For once, I dont think England have tactically got this wrong.... the target is far enough to be very challenging, but obtainable.

England have made New Zealand come out their shell and take some risks to win, whiich is what England want them to do, and even then NZ would have to bat very well to win.

I dont think 300 was sensible. The pitch is way too good to leave 80-90 overs for someone to do that?

[SaintPowelly]

Predictable

[dan08]

Maybe not then.

[ianp1970]

What a start

[pompeymeowth]

All out 263, they can Jimmy with it.

I thenk yew!