2nd Test - England v New Zealand (May 29 - June 2)

[budgetmeansbudget]

Nothing like a poor day for England to increase the posting on this thread!

You'd almost believe that most of the people on here want England to lose!

I think a lot can be said of how many people bothered to turn up at the ground today.... at times, it felt like a Championship match.

Forecast wasn't great and at the start of play the ground looked pretty cold and uninviting, a day to watch it on the telly.

[Aidan11]

Nothing like a poor day for England to increase the posting on this thread!

You'd almost believe that most of the people on here want England to lose!

I think a lot can be said of how many people bothered to turn up at the ground today.... at times, it felt like a Championship match.

The weather didn't help. A strong wind made it feel perishing cold.

Bumble made a comment to those who stayed all day..."They'll 'ave hypothermia".

[sussexpob]

Nothing like a poor day for England to increase the posting on this thread!

You'd almost believe that most of the people on here want England to lose!

I think a lot can be said of how many people bothered to turn up at the ground today.... at times, it felt like a Championship match.

The weather didn't help. A strong wind made it feel perishing cold.

Bumble made a comment to those who stayed all day..."They'll 'ave hypothermia".

Would have expected more advance ticket sales for a start. I think it cant be denied that the amount of people there is indicative of the level of support the general public are willing to give.

Day 3, great test, in the balance.... I have seen more people at championship games

[budgetmeansbudget]

14,000 came to Lords on the final day so the support is there.

[sussexpob]

Two days left, and 4 wickets in hand. The Kiwi's must be big favourites. Not sure of the weather forecast, mind?

Think New Zealand would certainly be the happier at present.

Yeah, I cant see England getting much past 300...another 50 runs would seal it, weather not included. Pitch has showed signs of some irrational bounce. Not "a la Hove v Warwickshire" but enough off a decent length to snaffle a few batters. On Ali ball on a length ended at Watling's ears, and still a decent amount of movement from the air and seam.

New Zealand did get slightly lucky today, batsman played very well but a few edges going into gaps. Thought Wood could have caught Watling (or was it McCullum) early, but didnt seem to pick the ball up until it was at him. Was hit hard though.

Generally I think the bowlers bowled too short. At one point Cook went with an all offside field, but with no protection it had the effect of forcing Wood, Stokes and Broad to bowl a tad shorter because the New Zealanders were crashing anything over pitched into empty gaps, and when the RR was soaring they needed more men in run stopping positions, if anything to encourage a fuller length from less cautious bowlers.

And I still for the life of me cant understand why Anderson wasnt on after tea until the game was already sliding. Came up with a wicket first over too..

[meninblue]

NZL's match imo. England can win only if the quote "Cricket is a funny game and anything can happen" comes true. # Miracle time

[Durhamfootman]

Agreed. Hard to see England getting back into this.

Criticising Cook for setting fields that were too attacking, seems a bit surreal. The sort of thing you might find on the Twilight Zone

Interesting that the England bowlers have consistently gone for 4, 5 and even 6 an over throughout the match, yet the NZ bowlers only went for 2 and 3 an over. I've lost track of the number of times that Boycs has pointed out the folly of bowling short at Headingley.

Still........... both sides have played entertaining cricket across the 2 games, so a series draw would probably be a fair result

[Durhamfootman]

Has Woody done enough to get an ashes slot?

[sussexpob]

Agreed. Hard to see England getting back into this. Criticising Cook for setting fields that were too attacking, seems a bit surreal. The sort of thing you might find on the Twilight Zone Interesting that the England bowlers have consistently gone for 4, 5 and even 6 an over throughout the match, yet the NZ bowlers only went for 2 and 3 an over. I've lost track of the number of times that Boycs has pointed out the folly of bowling short at Headingley.

It did seem today that Cook struggled to find a balance in the field, at one point he had a deep fine leg, one man in the covers, and nine behind square catching. It means that you take edges, but also give runs away quicker becuase every shot is cash in time. On a pitch with swing and a bit of seam, defending with those fields means you gonna get one soon enough, so New Zealand played aggressive and won the day.

It is encouraging that Cook is willing to take a risk, but with scores level and 6 people in the slips on a lowish batting surface, you do think he needs to learn a bit of flexibility? There is setting fields to bad bowling, and there is setting fields to protect your bowlers and encourage them to be aggressive...today we saw suicidal fields that bowlers responded to with defensive lines, and due to the field they still couldnt keep the runs down.

Bowling changes were also poor. Ive criticised Stokes, but today England were in a situation where they needed to throw the ball to him and tell him to be aggessive..... he got 3 overs, in two spells, while Ali at one point bowled 12 overs at about 5 an over, looking utterly unthreatening, and Stokes was replaced by Root.

I also found it amusing that at one point, they took three men from the offside and put them all behind square on leg..... then proceeded to bowl bouncers for 2-3 overs.... I am sure the batsman was very surprised

A bit more finesse needed from this fielding unit at times.

[sussexpob]

Has Woody done enough to get an ashes slot?

Undoubtedly. He is a bit of a luxury, because he gives a few away, but you can live with it when he takes wickets. I do feel, however, that a more controlled partner for him is needed as Stokes and him bowling in tandem can go for a few.

[alfie]

Has Woody done enough to get an ashes slot?

Undoubtedly. He is a bit of a luxury, because he gives a few away, but you can live with it when he takes wickets. I do feel, however, that a more controlled partner for him is needed as Stokes and him bowling in tandem can go for a few.

That is a bit of a problem for England. And it may be one without a solution at the moment.

These fellows have a good deal of potential. And they attack - which is what we want to see. But when you combine them with Moeen Ali , who has been quite unable to contain since he returned from injury , you are looking at dangerous opposition run rates ...

Five bowlers is essential with the attack options available. So one serious all rounder is required (obviously Stokes) and the spinner has to be able to bat a bit too. Not sure Rashid is the control type either (though I admit I've not seen him bowl recently ) and if you go back to Tredwell that tail is looking a bit thin.

Certainly you must play Wood. Reckon they'll just have to work on their control ; and England will have to live with it for now.

[alfie]

Has been another good Test Match. Looks as if NZ have taken it away from England now though. Would have fancied a chase for , say , 320 , assuming the pitch remained basically true ; but it appears the target will be closer to 420 and I think that looks beyond them.
Unless a fair bit of rain arrives I can't see much chance of batting out for a draw so they may as well go after it anyway ; someone is going to chase 450 successfully one day I suppose. That second new ball has been what has cut short all England's innings in this series ; and it looks like a barrier to any chase of that magnitude here ; but you have to hope...

[Dr Cricket]

Can't wait going to the game today.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good for you Bhaves. Not too cold I hope.

[Dr Cricket]

Good for you Bhaves. Not too cold I hope.

hopefully not should only get 30-40 overs though not really gonna complain since only paying a fiver.