England v New Zealand, 1st Test, Lord's, 21-25 May 2015

The Snoozers take on... the exciting and much improved New Zealand side. Can Strauss and Cook's men bore them into submission?

Two potential England debuts, and Jimmy looking for number 400... but it will be a player not present at Lord's who will continue to overshadow proceedings.

Yay - Test cricket!!

Well, I don't know.

Lyth should be an improvement. (Can't be much worse.)

But bowling attack calls "wet paper bag" to mind. Jimmy will probably have to get gutsy.


And right, NZ are a quite different proposition these days. Along with Hadlee's generation 30 yrs ago (Crowes, Reid, Coney etc.), their best ever.

Drawn series. NZ are a decent side these days, but still chocked full of New Zealand genes. They'll find a way not to win.

"...but it will be a player not present at Lord's who will continue to overshadow proceedings."

At some point we're all just going to have to move on from Amjad Khan.

Saj Mahmood?

skully wrote:Saj Mahmood?

well done Mr S...Saj is my fave pom player of the modern era....How I miss the big MahMoo

Dello wrote:Drawn series. NZ are a decent side these days, but still chocked full of New Zealand genes. They'll find a way not to win.

"...but it will be a player not present at Lord's who will continue to overshadow proceedings."

At some point we're all just going to have to move on from Amjad Khan.

Oh yeah, Noey Khan't, the star of our previous Caribbean capitulation, whatever happened to the Great Dane?

Playing for a village second XI with Roofer Pattinson and Lewis FFS probably. That would be some Triumvirate of Gash...

OOOH! It'th ekthiting. I can't wait to thee how poor Alathtair getth on after all thith nathtineth.

Well, if we can't beat them this week - when Boult, Southee and McCullum have only stepped off a plane from the IPL (having not played any long-form cricket in England) then the summer is going to be extremely painful.

Starting tomorrow? Blimey, this one snuck up on me a bit. I see there's no Milne in the NZ squad, is he injured? Was looking forward to seeing how he'd go in proper cricket. Hopefully we get a look at Henry though.

Milne seems to pick up little injuries every other ODI - not sure he's built to last in long form cricket.

Well, Shane Bond has been coaching him. Whadda youa expectadada??

NZ elect to field.

First test of English summer and nary a Pom in sight.

Nadir of English cricket?

Only an English player could be 27 but look 40 (Lyth)

Typically electrifying start from England's openers....

OUT!

25/3??? Well, I'm shocked that the likes of Cook and Balance can't hack the new ball. Lyth too, who's loose outside off. We're gonna get destroyed.

30/4 Bell must be on borrowed time.

Ronnie not up to it? I'm exceptionally surprised. Oh sorry, is this not a flat track and easy situation? Oh.

What a shambles!

All of England's top six are back foot Charlies. The Kiwis and Aussies will bowl half volleys at us all Summer, and England's batsmen will keep nicking them to the slips.

Henry wrote:What a shambles!

All of England's top six are back foot Charlies. The Kiwis and Aussies will bowl half volleys at us all Summer, and England's batsmen will keep nicking them to the slips.

Are there no aggressive English middle order bats that can take the fight to the opposition?

Warne making some sage points on commentary about the makeup of England's batting order and holes in Cook's technique. Gower having none of it. Has he always been annoying and I'm only just starting to notice?

Winkle Spinner wrote:Warne making some sage points on commentary about the makeup of England's batting order and holes in Cook's technique. Gower having none of it. Has he always been annoying and I'm only just starting to notice?

Always. He talks shit. He just happens to be good at anchoring. When it comes to commentary, he seems to blither and none of it is pertinent

taipan wrote:30/4 Bell must be on borrowed time.

Wait, what? No. Like Cook he can fail all summer with impunity. A dead rubber ton at 4-0 down against Aus will save him for the winter tour.