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

by horace Mon 25 May 2015, 06:40

yep...expect they will play for the draw and then claim they were unlucky

by taipan Mon 25 May 2015, 06:40

WideWally wrote:
Henry wrote:Fox Sports in Australia are an absolute disgrace. Suddenly, around tea time in the cricket, they cut off the cricket and showed channel to channel premier league, despite having five channels and red button options. It was an astonishing pack of respect shown to cricket fans living in Australia. And I was f*cking livid.

I think it is important for Fox Sports to show as many games of EPL as possible. There are hundreds of thousands of fans here who enjoy their football especially Liverpool supporters who like nothing better than watching their team ~~playing the beautiful game~~ get farked 6-1.

I was surprised that they didn't have it available through the red button.

by Merlin Mon 25 May 2015, 08:21

Brilliant two days cricket at Mecca.
Great spirit from BOTH teams.
Standing in the Pavilion watching the Kiwi's file out onto the field Sunday morning you could sense
anticipation in their chatter, broad smiles, animated exchanges and banter with the Members.
A good bunch of guys these ...

Yesterday was perfectly set up for Chef - and wow did he take it by the scruff ....
I really don't give a toss what's said on here about the guy, but he notched up a few racks in my opinion ....
you could see and sense his absolute determination on the occasions he passed through the pavilion....
gutsy and ballsy - Chef led from the front and he was back to near his best again.
Good to witness.

Stokes on the other hand was a sheer delight to watch.
Reminded me of Botham back in '81 taking the Aussies apart with hooks and pulls and sheer muscle power.
Bludgeoned his way to his well deserved ton ... a shame he couldn't go on though ...
Great knock from him ...

Cricket over this past day and a bit has been great from England.... and indeed from New Zealand.
But now it's up to the bowlers to defend the 300 plus on the last day ... and Macca will go for it, rest assured.

Off for another adrenalin shoot up at NW1- tarra.

PS - Belf's had a poor match and maybe, just maybe, the writing's on the wall for him.

by Basil Mon 25 May 2015, 08:42

So, what happens now? My guess is that England will try to set NZ something like 350 of 70 overs, which is distinctly doable if McCullum kicks off, but it gives England a sniff.

On the other hand, having come back from 30/4 in the first innings and 74/3 in the second, AND it's a two-match series, are England really going to give them a sniff?

by Big Dog Mon 25 May 2015, 08:49

Watched the first session yesterday & thought NZ would give themselves a comfortable chase on the last day. Only just caught up with the score. Looks like they dropped their bundle allowing Cook to capitalize. Stokes could be the 'new Botham' if he keeps going although his bowling will need to improve.
Still could be a close finish if the snoozers clean up the tail quickly.

by Red Mon 25 May 2015, 09:47

The Stokes performance makes his lack of selection in the WC even more ridiculous, especially as he had done well in our conditions during the last Ashes tour.

So much for KP being the only exciting player for England. Stokes was eminently watchable down-under and he's continued that form in this series.

I agree about the red button option. I was disappointed it wasn't on too. Even in our news bulletins though, the EPL seems to get a disproportionate coverage to the merit of the competition or to the putative interest.

by tricycle Mon 25 May 2015, 09:52

Funny, only 2 of those matches were meaningful.

by taipan Mon 25 May 2015, 10:46

Red wrote:The Stokes performance makes his lack of selection in the WC even more ridiculous, especially as he had done well in our conditions during the last Ashes tour.

So much for KP being the only exciting player for England. Stokes was eminently watchable down-under and he's continued that form in this series.

I agree about the red button option. I was disappointed it wasn't on too. Even in our news bulletins though, the EPL seems to get a disproportionate coverage to the merit of the competition or to the putative interest.

If the networks were not making money on the EPL they would not be showing it.

by Lindsay no.2 Mon 25 May 2015, 10:49

It was a rare occasion yesterday - the commentators put forward a bit of analysis that was genuinely insightful. Indeed there were maybe 2 instances.

Primary one was Hussain talking about Cook not playing ODI stuff and therefore enabling him to return to his original style of play - i.e. don't touch anything outside off and wait for the bowling to come to him. Sounded like a very plausible argument for Cook's apparent return to form. He crabbed it out for his first 20-30 runs and then gradually the bowling came to him. Will be interesting to see if it is a temporary blip or a real re-discovery of his test game. Oz will be the acid test of that.

The 2nd point, again I think it was Nasser, highlighted Boult's release points and how those impacted on Cook's approach. When releasing tight to the stumps Cook was able to work out his off stump and consequently leave him with ease, but when he went a bit wider it forced Cook to playt a lot more at the off stump/just outside ball. He managed to get through that - but I guess Mitch and co will look at that and with their extra 10mph that could be a big factor.

Cook's declaration today then? I think he'll be very worried about Stokes and Wood being marmalised. In ordinary test situations Stokes seems to go at a min of 4 rpo so in this scenario he could easily go 6-7. And in Wood's first test it would be tough to put him under the pump - only so far that if he fooks it up the ECB will probably drop him for good :-)

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 10:57

I sort of hope it's taken out of his hands. I don't want to hate him more for a 390-lead declaration, with the opposition finishing 201/9..........

by Lindsay no.2 Mon 25 May 2015, 11:07

I guess it'll be a draw. I'd love us to win - but my desire for that outcome is tinged by the prospect of victory making Strauss feel so self-righteous and smug as to be even more unbearable than he is now.

Hard to imagine I know.

by Basil Mon 25 May 2015, 11:11

According to Bumble, there's a strong rumour that Trevor Bayliss is going to be offered the post of coach.

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 11:22

Lindsay no.2 wrote:I guess it'll be a draw. I'd love us to win - but my desire for that outcome is tinged by the prospect of victory making Strauss feel so self-righteous and smug as to be even more unbearable than he is now.

Hard to imagine I know.

I expect so - the pitch hasn't changed at all overnight

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 11:23

Basil wrote:According to Bumble, there's a strong rumour that Trevor Bayliss is going to be offered the post of coach.

So I said in the other thread

by Red Mon 25 May 2015, 11:23

So an Aussie at any rate.

by Red Mon 25 May 2015, 11:24

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/11628091/England-poised-to-appoint-Trevor-Bayliss-as-new-coach.html

Yep it is him.

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 11:27

Well Cook's out. Great knock. Almost a throwback to simpler, non-twatty times.

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 11:38

Poor old Sturat - he was the subject on Third Man, highlighting his short ball - full ball problem and he goes and gets gated after the same combo

by PeterCS Mon 25 May 2015, 11:51

Lindsay no.2 wrote:I guess it'll be a draw. I'd love us to win - but my desire for that outcome is tinged by the prospect of victory making Strauss feel so self-righteous and smug as to be even more unbearable than he is now.

Hard to imagine I know.

Personally, I wouldn't begrudge Strauss a crow if he has made some right decisions. He has never struck me as especially profound (sometimes a big understatement), but - Kevgate apart - it seems some decent first steps have been made out of the utter shambles.

But but but England still need a frontline left-arm spinner or leggie from somewhere. And I am so far uncertain if Wood is the answer as Seamer 3 (well, it has only been one innings).

And as for Bell, he should be offered #3 (swap with Ballance) or a swap with someone outside the team.

by PeterCS Mon 25 May 2015, 11:52

So that's that.

I hope McCullum doesn't promote himself to open.

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 11:53

Brilliant bowling from Boult. On the honours board and deservedly so. 9 wickets in the match. Totally ripped us out. It makes a game of it then. They need 345

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 12:04

That's more like it Jimothy.

by Lindsay no.2 Mon 25 May 2015, 12:07

Agree with you Monkey.

Boult had it going nicely - and glad NZ got us out as it took any declaration by Cook out of the equation. And we all know he would have erred on the side of caution.

And if Jimmy keeps pitching it up this could be fun.

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 12:10

That's more like it Sturat

by Lindsay no.2 Mon 25 May 2015, 12:10

Urrgghh.

Horrible shot by Latham.

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