England in New Zealand 2019

[nutsaboutamber]

Well three days in and is Root trying to lose the captaincy deliberately? And we have a former bowler as our head coach. WTF?

[imp566]

Promising first day, with a different mindset to batting has very quickly evaporated by bowlers not being able to work out tactics to move stubborn batsmen. It's like watching the Ashes again, when Smith and Labuschagne were totally dominant. How much of that is down to the captain and coach? We all talked last summer about having no variety, that Sam Curran should have played; now he has, I see no real difference.

It's going to take a hell of an effort to take this game beyond tea tomorrow.

[Tom Shaw's Fist of Rage]

I'm not sure why we use a man capable of bowling 90+ mph spells as a 80mph seam bowler ten a penny in the county circuit.

[jonmacartney]

We'll see how we go tonight. The 3 wickets at the end of yesterday sounded all needless so we'll see if the rest can preserve theirs better.

Not sure I agree re the 1st day. In many ways sounded better than a lot of recent year's efforts in terms of deliberation etc but so many players getting in but not making big scores - put into context by NZ's double and maiden centurys - smacks to me of not getting enough.

That said The TMS stat about innings scores in NZ more or less being the opposite of everywhere else with average scores bigger in 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings than 1st was curious and interesting.

[imp566]

Headlines today should be "England Cricket, nothing if not predictable!"

[nutsaboutamber]

Or simply, “Piss poor.”

[cambsno]

Shocking!

I watched a fair bit of this, and totally outplayed by NZ! When they came in to bat on Sat night, 4th day, Watling and Satner (who both had got off to good starts) played themselves in. There was probably 10 runs in the first 8/10 overs, lots of maidens and lots of balls left or blocked. They wore out Broad and Archer, then once the eye was in, scored heavily. Textbook test cricket.

You then have Burns who, knowing we need to just bat and hold on, plays a silly attacking shot with 2 overs left on day 4! Why are we STILL playing like its a 50 over match!

Root is a poor captain - too predictable, too safe, and his batting has suffered lots! Replace asap. Ideally Stokes although cant afford for him to struggle so maybe Buttler or Broad?

[nutsaboutamber]

Curious line up for this second test. No authentic spinner and Stokes soon gets f ucked. Big day for Root on this day three.

[imp566]

Nov 30, 2019 22:03:42 GMT nutsaboutamber said:

Curious line up for this second test. No authentic spinner and Stokes soon gets f ucked. Big day for Root on this day three.

Calculated risk with the line up I think. They would have known that Stokes was struggling with his knee, so wanted the security of an extra seamer, with Root and Denley able to offer some part time spin. With Leach being taken to hospital with gastroenteritis, we seem to have got away with this! If he had played, we would be two bowlers down now.

[nutsaboutamber]

I don’t think we are going to win this, do you?

[imp566]

Sadly, the weather will win.

[nutsaboutamber]

Thank heavens the Proteas are in turmoil. Should be a tight contest between two average sides.

[dincey99]

R.I.P. Bob Willis.Legend.




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