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

Cook with inspired bowling changes - perhaps it was Moores all along that was the problem. Cook is a natural ;-)

Good caught and bowled by Maureen.

Why does Cook keep looking down his jumper? Has he got instructions on what do written on the inside?

He's just seeing whether his jaw still fits through it

Good catch by Moeen, great win by England. Very good Test match indeed

Really enjoyed watching this, credit to both teams.

Putting aside the fact that it's disgracefully taken me 30 years to get to a test match in England and also that I did technically say I was going to be supporting New Zealand, I picked a pretty marvellous day for a first trip to Lords.

Being picky I would have liked to have seen Jimmy's 400th wicket but can't really argue with 14 wickets in a day and a win in the closing stages.

Thank god England got bowled out, felt like Cook was going to bat until lunch. Being picky again, would have liked England to have been all out yesterday evening to have set New Zealand a chaseable target.

But really... What a marvellous day. Great test.

Nice. Remember when Ben Stokes wasn't good enough for the World Cup squad?

I don't know if anyone's mentioned that yet.

Decent debut for Mark Wood as well, I thought, although it's worrying that pretty much every ex-bowler has taken one look at his run-up and action and declared him a stress-fracture in waiting.

Good game, good game.

Oh and also, the bloke in front of me went mental when Cook put Ali at 3rd man, said it was ridiculous and he didn't know what he was doing. 2 balls later...

vilkrang wrote:Putting aside the fact that it's disgracefully taken me 30 years to get to a test match in England and also that I did technically say I was going to be supporting New Zealand, I picked a pretty marvellous day for a first trip to Lords.

Lucky charm. You realise you now have to attend every single England game from this day forth, otherwise you'll be the first port of call in defeat when a goat requires scaping.

I hadn't thought about that, but you are right. Every day that I've ever seen England play they have won the test match they were playing.

I'll hand in my notice at work tomorrow.

vilkrang wrote:Oh and also, the bloke in front of me went mental when Cook put Ali at 3rd man, said it was ridiculous and he didn't know what he was doing. 2 balls later...

He can still not know what he's doing and be a jazzy bastard.

He didn't know what he was doing in the previous over when he kept moving Stokes out of the catching position that the following delivery plopped up into.

So it goes. I give credit to the beard that's feared for not integrating enough with the nice boys to be allowed within sixty feet of them. Who says multiculturalism doesn't work?

vilkrang wrote:I hadn't thought about that, but you are right. Every day that I've ever seen England play they have won the test match they were playing.

I'll hand in my notice at work tomorrow.

Or at least knock up some new business cards: "Mr. V. Ilkistan - Victory Ensurer. And high class prostitute."

The other thing was supposed to be our little secret.

Oh and a nice little stat:

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;ground=10;orderby=runs;template=results;type=aggregate;view=match

Highest aggregate runs scored at Lords.

vilkrang wrote:I hadn't thought about that, but you are right. Every day that I've ever seen England play they have won the test match they were playing.

I'll hand in my notice at work tomorrow.

Your first England test then?

Lindsay no.2 wrote:
Maybe one day you'll agree with something I write. Maybe not. :-)

I can't recall with accuracy our tendencies re: positions and outcomes in games over the last few years although I suspect you're right that when behind we tend to fold more often than not.

Again, you're quite right that in this match we've seemingly overcome that tendency - but is that as much to do with an oppo whose key players are coming straight in from IPLville or down to our boys having a fresh sense of purpose now that they're free of the Moores murderer? The rest of the summer may well prove instructive.

Aa, aa. Debate is just part of life's rich tapestry, Mr L. And you as a good contrarian no doubt take that in your stride.

I wouldn't say I always disagree witcha. And I know I am certainly far from regularly right. It's not about that. It's about fair fcuks.

Again, Australia is a different story (I thought I had indicated as much.) Indeed, I am not even predicting an England victory in this two-match non-series.

All I have tried to suggest is that England look - quite suddenly - purposive and competitive as a side again. After looking as if they were unable to knock the skin off a stale rice pudding of late. And for this, much thanks. Whether Strauss has had a (literally) game-changing effect on England - or whether it's more a first licking into something like shape - or whether it's another good start and false dawn a la Sven-Goran Eriksson, Germany 1 England 5 - all remains to be seen. I'm just glad of the difference evident in this match, tbph.

taipan wrote:

vilkrang wrote:I hadn't thought about that, but you are right. Every day that I've ever seen England play they have won the test match they were playing.

I'll hand in my notice at work tomorrow.

Your first England test then?

Aye, saw Australia and South Africa last year. The correct team won on that occasion also although I saw the slightly drab first day.

Vilkarango - your sig now becomes clear. You never lost the faith.

@ vilks  - where were you seated?  Tavern?

Great day again at Lord's ... AND a full house !
Three excellent days cricket - Chef earned his spurs finally.
Great captaincy, bowling changes and tight fielding... Moeen's catch as an example (10/15 yards from where I was sitting) -  would've put money on him not making up the ground ... but wow ... brilliant!
The Kiwis played their part - throughout except for the last 2 sessions ...
Excellent win from England ... now going to lie down ... exhausted!

And so to this little gem posted last night ...

Shambles of a pitch, though, as per usual. I wouldn't feel safe with a 400 lead.
Disgraceful that Lord's can keep on producing such shirt fronts without reproach and
they get TWO Tests per year. Absolute qunts.

The wicket had pace, even bounce, turn (swing at times) ...played perfectly!
1,610 runs scored over 5 days...
40 wickets taken....
Excellent outfield conditions....
A result with 9 overs remaining.

WTF more were you expecting from those guys you so glibly call 'qunts', Brassy Monkeh ?!

FFS

Merlin wrote:@ vilks  - where were you seated?  Tavern?

Aye Merls, also very near to where Ali took that catch. I was sat behind the bloke with ridiculous hair on the front row on the left. Must have only been a few metres away from you!

Merlin wrote:
The wicket had pace, even bounce, turn (swing at times) ...played perfectly!
1,610 runs scored over 5 days...
40 wickets taken....
Excellent outfield conditions....
A result with 9 overs remaining.

WTF more were you expecting from those guys you so glibly call 'qunts', Brassy Monkeh ?!

FFS

We're all just very lucky that there was plenty of cloud cover. That's all I'm saying.

vilkrang wrote:

Merlin wrote:@ vilks  - where were you seated?  Tavern?

Aye Merls, also very near to where Ali took that catch.  I was sat behind the bloke with ridiculous hair on the front row on the left. Must have only been a few metres away from you!

Good ruse, gents. You've both sure fooled us.





The post-sex shame is awash in both of you. Deal with your urges.

Brass Monkey wrote:

Merlin wrote:
The wicket had pace, even bounce, turn (swing at times) ...played perfectly!
1,610 runs scored over 5 days...
40 wickets taken....
Excellent outfield conditions....
A result with 9 overs remaining.

WTF more were you expecting from those guys you so glibly call 'qunts', Brassy Monkeh ?!

FFS

We're all just very lucky that there was plenty of cloud cover. That's all I'm saying.

Quite. Would've been the same runs for 20 less wickets and no result.

Oh and also, I can confirm that even with cloud cover, sun cream is advisable. I am f*cking red as a lobster.

vilkrang wrote:

Merlin wrote:@ vilks  - where were you seated?  Tavern?

Aye Merls, also very near to where Ali took that catch.  I was sat behind the bloke with ridiculous hair on the front row on the left. Must have only been a few metres away from you!

Bloody hell ... so close ... perhaps meet up for the 2nd Ashes Test 17-21 July?

I was 2 rows behind the guy with the MCC blazer, cap, underpants, socks, kerchief and tie !!
Ridiculous how some members go OTT just to get their 15 seconds on TV!

Anyway - great atmosphere - fantastic crowd for a final day ... brilliant cricket match!