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

[yorker_129-7]

That hissing sound is the post-Lord's feel-good bubble deflating.

Don't get why England are still bowling their front-line bowlers here, wasting them for the Ashes now. Stick Root and Ballance on and everyone fields on the boundary. Declaration stuff.

[sussexpob]

Southee gone, declaration?

[Gingerfinch]

Cook would have been slaughtered if England were still batting.

[yorker_129-7]

You would think that there is now no point of NZ batting on past lunch....maybe even get England batting 15 minutes before if they stay in. 400 should be a 100 over what they realistically need.

Do England, given 5 sessions and some rain about, go for the win or look to play defensive for a draw?

If they declare before (I believe) 75 overs are left today they get three new balls to use against England.

I think they would have to go for the win, the pitch doesn't appear to contain too many horrors, it's all about the clouds.

[dan08]

I'd declare at 450.

[Aidan11]

We could be in for a rough summer.

[Aidan11]

This must be one of those "Everybody gets a six" tests.

[Aidan11]

In fact it's now a world record that 8 batsmen have hit sixes in this innings.

[backfootpunch]

the worst thing about cooks captaincy has been the outrageous amount of runs the tail end score every test match

they never just bowl line and length, they always try and bounce them out and it never works

[yorker_129-7]

This is the sixth test England have played at Headingley since the start of the 2008 summer, and they've only won one of those games (ironically enough against New Zealand when Swann ripped them apart). One of those was the draw when Pietersen played an incredible innings against South Africa to save what looked a certain defeat there too.

Do any of the other "decent" teams have a record this poor at a supposedly "home" ground?

[Aidan11]

Declared.

455 to win.

Piece of cake.

[Gingerfinch]

the worst thing about cooks captaincy has been the outrageous amount of runs the tail end score every test match

they never just bowl line and length, they always try and bounce them out and it never works

I'm starting to sound like Botham, but the yorker seems to have been outlawed.

[Aidan11]

Not bowling enough at the stumps is going to cost us.

[backfootpunch]

the worst thing about cooks captaincy has been the outrageous amount of runs the tail end score every test match

they never just bowl line and length, they always try and bounce them out and it never works

I'm starting to sound like Botham, but the yorker seems to have been outlawed.

you could see from the look on broads face he didnt think bouncing henry was going to go well

i doubt his mood got any better as two sixes sailed into the crowd

full straight out, should be our motto to tail enders

not short wide six

[backfootpunch]

the only way we have any chance of saving or winning this match is if there is a 100+ partnership for one of the first two wickets

mccullum will always have attacking fields so runs will always be there for the taking

somebody has a chance here to make 150 and go down in the history of test cricket