New Zealand v England, 2nd Test, Wellington, 14-18 March, 2013

skully wrote:Chef already looks assured and set for a big'un.

F*CK OFF SKULLY!!!!!!

Just for drspin, Compton looking very solid.

skully wrote:Just for drspin, Compton looking very solid.

I'll have to stop watching if you carry on like this. Counter your jinxing.

Meh, I'm neutral. Just reporting it how I see it. Good cricket is what I want.

Pitch looks pretty flat. England will be disappointed with anything less than 400.

Compton and Trott settling in for the afternoon.

What else is on tele?

Brass Monkey wrote:

Growler wrote:hey cheesey one - time this was rikkied ?

Gorblimey! Says the man who is barely ever here? Have you just had a shave because there's some bald-faced cheek coming from your direction

There's only one cheeky young pup around here me laddo, and it's not me .

I've been looking in, but just haven't seen anything giving me a great urge to write.

Anyhoo, it looks like our top order are - thus far - making a better fist of posting a decent score first up. It will mean our attack can concentrate on their primary task rather than digging us out of the poo.

Do you remember the equivalent of this match on the '08 tour? "Jimmykins" had played 20 tests over 5 years, had taken a not that impressive 62 wickets at an even less impressive average of 39, and to howls of outrage was picked ahead of Matthew Hoggard.

Five years, fifty eight tests and 230 wickets @ 28 later, he needs only 8 more to become just the 26th member of the 300 club. This ground will have happy memories .......... will he do it in this match, or do you think he'll have to wait ?

Two heart-of-oak English batsmen flying the flag.

Brass Monkey wrote:Oh, and I see McCullum has lost the plot: "Cook best after Bradman". I reckon he made a bet with his mates that he could get that one out without laughing.

If it put's Pup's nose out of joint, then job done.

Compo showing he's not just a stodgy blocker. Anyone who watches Somerset knows he has quite a few shots in his locker.

Kiwis have conned a change of ball

So, the decision to bowl first looks a cracker. I suppose they did get Chef, otherwise it might have been 0-130.

NZ looked fooked from here. But I have been known to be wrong.

Pitch looks flat though, and England have t bowled a team out on tour yet.

Draw.

This McCullum fellow actually won the toss? Auto sodomy.

Looking all very 2010/11 Ashes. England fold in the first innings of the series and then the opposition struggle to dismiss the top 3 for the rest of the summer.

Didn't someone suggest last week that Compton's place is under threat.

JGK wrote:Looking all very 2010/11 Ashes. England fold in the first innings of the series and then the opposition struggle to dismiss the top 3 for the rest of the summer.

Perzackerly my thoughts when I looked at the score just now. Trott seems to be in a 200+ mood.

Hundred and out, Joe Root in there right now.

Growler wrote:Do you remember the equivalent of this match on the '08 tour? "Jimmykins" had played 20 tests over 5 years, had taken a not that impressive 62 wickets at an even less impressive average of 39, and to howls of outrage was picked ahead of Matthew Hoggard.

Five years, fifty eight tests and 230 wickets @ 28 later, he needs only 8 more to become just the 26th member of the 300 club. This ground will have happy memories .......... will he do it in this match, or do you think he'll have to wait ?

Aye, I do remember although it didn't mean that Hoggs didn't have to play.

Must admit, I never thought Jimbo would go this far - fair play to him. He's only really gone missing in a couple of series which is testament to his ability. He won't be the worst 300-clubber. Don't think he'll get there in this game though.

Henry wrote:Compo showing he's not just a stodgy blocker. Anyone who watches Somerset knows he has quite a few shots in his locker.

Hey, far out, you, like, rhymed man *clicks fingers*

Anyway, glad for Compton - he's got to get the runs in before he's dropped for not scoring runs.

Having just seen Compo's innings, I've had an idea - how about Joe Root opens and we can, say, get Jonny Bairstow in at six?

Compo is from the Cook and Trott school of batting- Just loves being out there and grinding things out. He's been playing first class cricket for 11 years now. Working on his game, scoring runs, improving, waiting for his chance. Don't expect him to let another person take his spot without a serious fight.

Well played, again, Compton. His most impressive innings in an England shirt.

Ironically, it's the innings that has convinced me he's not going to make it in international cricket long-term: he unfurled a bunch of attacking strokes that were pretty ropy in their execution. A lot of balls hit in the air on the off side that on another day would've been snaffled, some very flappy hooks.

You can't argue with the results. I was left questioning his overall quality, though.

Good luck to him.

Trott's knock was all class, mind. Best he's looked in ages. Chanceless, total control, easy pickings.

Stick a pony on him to get a daddy tomorrow*.

*is what a punter might say, in their own retarded language.