Second Test: New Zealand v England. March 30-April 3

[alfie]

AP's suggested tactics make sense.

Reckon it's going to be hard work taking ten wickets though. Unless two or three fall early tomorrow morning .

Leach was getting some spin and bounce so if he gets in a rhythm ...maybe. Not enough overs left for NZ to threaten 340 , you'd think.

Have heard the weather might be a bit dodgy ? Would be a pity if an interesting match were washed away.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe England could have declared a bit earlier here?

[Durhamfootman]

we know that England couldn't bat a day to save a test match, but can NZ?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Suspect they'll just want to bat out the day. Or bat until tea then re-evaluate.

[alfie]

Maybe England could have declared a bit earlier here?

Difficult. NZ kept taking wickets , runs didn't come quite quickly enough ...in fact YJB and Leach only added twenty or so in a rush in the last couple of overs ; so a declaration significantly earlier would have left NZ (theoretically) 140 overs to get under 350 .

Bit of a risk on a good batting pitch . Joe's already been bitten once...

Can't really predict the light and weather : I don't think they expected to lose quite as much play as they did.

In any case they should get ninety or so overs tomorrow with any luck. If they can't bowl them out in those they probably weren't going to anyway.

[sussexpob]

The declaration is pretty sound, but from a personal level id have probably been a bit more aggressive and be happy to have fallen 30-40 runs shorter and bought 10 overs. Just have a feeling teams are easier to bowl out with targets they can achieve. Think asking New Zealand to go for a 340 in a day is a bit much. Attainable, but no point risking a series win for. As AC suggests, they will probably bat a session and a half out and see if they are in a position to challenge.

Having said that, 115 overs should be enough for England to challenge for a win.

[bigfluffylemon]

The declaration is pretty sound, but from a personal level id have probably been a bit more aggressive and be happy to have fallen 30-40 runs shorter and bought 10 overs. Just have a feeling teams are easier to bowl out with targets they can achieve. Think asking New Zealand to go for a 340 in a day is a bit much. Attainable, but no point risking a series win for. As AC suggests, they will probably bat a session and a half out and see if they are in a position to challenge.

Having said that, 115 overs should be enough for England to challenge for a win.

Let's hope so. Given the light, NZ will initially just be looking to survive until tea.

[Red Devil]

Wicket off the first ball - what a start!

NZ will be sick - half volley on leg stump from Broad gets a wicket.

Wow - Williamson gone first ball!!!

Broad on a hat-trick...

[sussexpob]

Cant get a better start than this haha

[Red Devil]

Eng must be massive favourites from here now

[bigfluffylemon]

Broad takes two wickets in the first two balls of the day, including Williamson

Whatever he did to work on his action, it's worked a treat. 8 wickets in the match and counting.

I was pessimistic about England's chances today after no wickets last night and the gloom, but with Kane back in the hutch in the first over, it's game on.

[GarlicJam]

Cant get a better start than this haha

impossible to - unless it kept going, of course.

Wow, first two balls make such a difference to the day/match.

[sussexpob]

Wonder has that happened before... two wickets in two balls to start a day? Or maybe even a hattrick?

[bigfluffylemon]

From the commentary, sounds like an absolute jaffa to get Williamson, too.

[sussexpob]

No debate about NZ intentions now. They will go fully into shells now.