New Zealand v England, 1st T20, Auckland, 5th Feb

So, it's almost upon us. If England are to have any chance in the 2009 Ashes, they need to start building their momentum right now.

Likely England team-

Mustard+
Shah
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood(c)
Wright
Mascharenhas
Swann
Broad
Sidebottom
Anderson

Doesn't look great on paper, to be honest.

Yes, a T20 against the Shaggers is the perfect preparation for an Ashes series, you're spot on there, Mudgiekins.

It's all about momentum you Australian cretin. This tour of New Zealand is where England need to start putting it all together otherwise we are farked in 2009.

No, don't worry, Mudgiewudgie - that 'what a beating' ad is going to have our lads creaming their pants. The '09 Ashes are already yours.

New Zealand have called up Jessie Ryder to their T20 squad. Wasn't it only 12 months ago that he was a drunken, overweight show pony who was in England playing league cricket and saying how he should be in the New Zealand team because he is the greatest cricketer on earth?

How can they ban Bond but pick this guy?

Ban Bond?

Has Bond been Banned for being a bad bowler?

Henry wrote:So, it's almost upon us. If England are to have any chance in the 2009 Ashes, they need to start building their momentum right now.

PMSL...

Nice quokkas, Zim.

Righto. For starters, Trv has just repeated the first page of another thread. Seconds, it's such a non-event but it's absolutely brilliant to not be talking about India and Australia(the two biggest sets of c*nts in the cricketing world) and lastly, there's too many Aussies on this thread. Disperse, you c*nts.

Will there be any interest atall in this game?

Only if us ozzie ****** keep posting about it ...

Well England's build up to 2009 Ashes has begun with 13-a-side muckabout win over Canterbury with Wright hitting 40 odd off 15 balls.

The highlight of the game was some bloke called 'Frauenstein' lining up for Canterbury. Believe the name translates as "Women Stone". Cool.

Our bowling looks shockingly bad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/fds/hi/statistics/cricket/scorecards/2008/2/14978/html/scorecard.stm

Bowlers don't really extend themseleves in these pointless knockabouts, they're far more likely to get injured then the batsmen.

That's not to say they won't be shockingly bad come the 'proper' stuff mind you.

Eric Air Emu wrote:Well England's build up to 2009 Ashes has begun with 13-a-side muckabout win over Canterbury with Wright hitting 40 odd off 15 balls.

The highlight of the game was some bloke called 'Frauenstein' lining up for Canterbury. Believe the name translates as "Women Stone". Cool.

Possible nickname - Medusa

Isn't Frauenstein a town near Freiberg? I seem to recall it in my days at Freiberg uni . . .

Henry wrote:It's all about momentum you Australian cretin. This tour of New Zealand is where England need to start putting it all together otherwise we are farked in 2009.

As much as it pains me to agree with Tailender, I think she's right on this one. The 20/20 games are a bit of a frolic nothing more.

Anyway, let's not get obsessed with the Ashes just yet - they're 18 months away. We've got plenty of hard games before then.

Every game is a hard game for us at the moment it seems!

registered a fantasy team on cricinfo, mainly the lure of a ipod touch. man this is gonna be such a dull series

What? They give away actual prizes for winning?

Ash wrote: man this is gonna be such a dull series

You know you'll be riveted by the prospect of Jacob Oram bowling to Paul Collingwood. You know it!

doremi wrote:What? They give away actual prizes for winning?

yeah- mainly ipods, psps. they have prizes for overall winner, and 2 runner ups and for the cb series top scorer for each game

JKLever wrote:

Ash wrote: man this is gonna be such a dull series

You know you'll be riveted by the prospect of Jacob Oram bowling to Paul Collingwood. You know it!

all it needs now is KP pulling out. i picked all the best players and still had 5500 left to spend!

A tidy win for England in the latest warm-up. Luke Wright looks to be playing himself into contention - 3 wickets today.

Broad's form is a concern - I make that 15 - 0 - 89 - 0 !