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

[sussexpob]

Bit nervous from NZ to start with.

[yuppie]

Declared.

455 to win.

Piece of cake.

NZ have showed that when there's not cloud cover its pretty easy to bat.

Seems way to big a score to chase, but imagine if England did. Tails would be up for the summer.

Started well enough so far

[sussexpob]

Declared.

455 to win.

Piece of cake.

NZ have showed that when there's not cloud cover its pretty easy to bat.

Seems way to big a score to chase, but imagine if England did. Tails would be up for the summer.

Started well enough so far

Evidence yesterday afternoon suggested some erratic bounce, bit of swing this morning and some turn.... not sure its easy

[yuppie]

Declared.

455 to win.

Piece of cake.

NZ have showed that when there's not cloud cover its pretty easy to bat.

Seems way to big a score to chase, but imagine if England did. Tails would be up for the summer.

Started well enough so far

Evidence yesterday afternoon suggested some erratic bounce, bit of swing this morning and some turn.... not sure its easy

Easy might be a touch unfair, but NZ have scored 455 runs on it.

[budgetmeansbudget]

NZ have shown that this pitch is still perfectly playable having registered easily the highest score in the thirds innings of the match. The trouble is the pitch could be as flat as a pancake and the sun could be blazing but all the pressure that a fourth innings chase entails means the target is extremely difficult.

[sussexpob]

NZ have shown that this pitch is still perfectly playable having registered easily the highest score in the thirds innings of the match. The trouble is the pitch could be as flat as a pancake and the sun could be blazing but all the pressure that a fourth innings chase entails means the target is extremely difficult.

Indeed. A couple of wickets at the top and everyone bats with the knowledge that a few mistakes losses the match.

[sussexpob]

Easy might be a touch unfair, but NZ have scored 455 runs on it.

I think its a pitch were bad balls are being punished, but decent bowling can be rewarded. BJ Watling copped a totally unplayable ball today, swing, seam and a ball that really took off and reared up on him. Even a guy in the nick he was had no chance. Southee also edge a ball just over the slips that really swung and seamed, so the ball will do things if they put it in the right areas.

I know it sounds dumb, but its a pitch where your bowling is getting the value it deserves, and where you have to be prepared to be hit a few times to generate chances. So far, it seems the more negative the bowling, the more negative the result.

[The Waugh Twins]

Just awoke to see NZ were not bowled out. Also a very generous declaration by yet another captain that seems a little clueless. Even Steve Waugh wasn't that generous unless it was a dead rubber, although I do seem to remember him making one tiny error in the West Indies against Lara's men.

If history was ever going to be made, this is the perfect stage. Everyone's guessing about what the pitch may or may not do, and I'm not there but I think this is very gettable.

[sussexpob]

Just awoke to see NZ were not bowled out. Also a very generous declaration by yet another captain that seems a little clueless. Even Steve Waugh wasn't that generous unless it was a dead rubber, although I do seem to remember him making one tiny error in the West Indies against Lara's men.

If history was ever going to be made, this is the perfect stage. Everyone's guessing about what the pitch may or may not do, and I'm not there but I think this is very gettable.

I would have tried to add another 30-50 runs myself.

[The Waugh Twins]

I think it's fair to say despite the bogus ICC test ranking England are a better test team than NZ. England's bowling attack is better and yet it yielded a comfortable 455 runs against an OK batting side. This all comes down to what the pitch may do this arvo.

[The Waugh Twins]

Just awoke to see NZ were not bowled out. Also a very generous declaration by yet another captain that seems a little clueless. Even Steve Waugh wasn't that generous unless it was a dead rubber, although I do seem to remember him making one tiny error in the West Indies against Lara's men.

If history was ever going to be made, this is the perfect stage. Everyone's guessing about what the pitch may or may not do, and I'm not there but I think this is very gettable.

I would have tried to add another 30-50 runs myself.

Yep I think 50 would have been about right. Oh well makes for great cricket, and part of me hopes England get close too the target, though that won't set well for the Ashes.

[The Waugh Twins]

OK so the weather is a factor there. I should probably google that before I'm too critical of McCullum.

[sussexpob]

OK so the weather is a factor there. I should probably google that before I'm too critical of McCullum.

Rain was supposed to come after play today... and a little tomorrow, but not a lot

[Arthur Crabtree]

Should be a few breaks here and there, but a substantial amount of play should be possible.

I think Brendan declared a bit early (given the fields he will set), before lunch on day four! Fourth innings scores to win are going to be rewritten over the next few years. Very attacking declaration, which is what you'd expect, and what England have forced through winning at Lord's. But the Kiwis favourites of course.

[The Waugh Twins]

Interesting what Warne, Atherton, and Smith had to say about captaincy.