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

by Merlin Mon 25 May 2015, 20:19

Brass Monkey wrote:
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.

by taipan Mon 25 May 2015, 20:19

So An England team straight off a test series against WI beat a NZ team straight off months of one day cricket and some reckon it's a new dawn under Strauss the magnificent.

I reckon we might revisit this after the next six tests.

by Guest Mon 25 May 2015, 20:21

Merlin wrote:
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!

Hah, yep I saw that bloke!

Would love to although ticket is an issue. Do they do a similar 5th day thing with the Ashes or are they sold beforehand? If it lasts until the 5th day would definitely get up early and queue, only took me 20 minutes to walk home, am even closer than I thought to the ground.

by Guest Mon 25 May 2015, 20:23

taipan wrote:So An England team straight off a test series against WI beat a NZ team straight off months of one day cricket and some reckon it's a new dawn under Strauss the magnificent.

I reckon we might revisit this after the next six tests.

No new dawn, just enjoying what could possibly be the only bright spot of the whole summer. Am still as pessimistic as ever about the Ashes.

by Merlin Mon 25 May 2015, 20:23

Dello wrote:
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.

By my reckoning - only 5 possibly 6 wickets were down to appreciable swing (cloud cover)-
the first 4 English wickets on Day 1.
1 NZ wicket wicket after tea Day2
Bell on the morning of Day 4

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 20:26

taipan wrote:So An England team straight off a test series against WI beat a NZ team straight off months of one day cricket and some reckon it's a new dawn under Strauss the magnificent.

I reckon we might revisit this after the next six tests.

Aye - two-Test mug jobs are a dangerous thing - I think such 'series' were contributory to India's demise as a Test force. Credit to some of the performances however - you don't get many Test victories like this

by Guest Mon 25 May 2015, 20:27

This was my view for today just to give an indication of where I was sat:

England v New Zealand, 1st Test, Lord's, 21-25 May 2015 - Page 11 IMG_1018

I am tall enough to see over his head thankfully although it was a rather repugnant sight.

by Brass Monkey Mon 25 May 2015, 20:28

vilkrang wrote:This was my view for today just to give an indication of where I was sat:

I am tall enough to see over his head thankfully although it was a rather repugnant sight.

...now post the pic of Merlin noshing you off

by Merlin Mon 25 May 2015, 20:30

vilkrang wrote:
Hah, yep I saw that bloke!

Would love to although ticket is an issue. Do they do a similar 5th day thing with the Ashes or are they sold beforehand? If it lasts until the 5th day would definitely get up early and queue, only took me 20 minutes to walk home, am even closer than I thought to the ground.

No. The normal procedure is to sell the first 4 days ...
They normally knock out 5th day tickets from 2 months before the Test start date.
I know that Members Rovers tickets were still available up until last week... though
I can see them selling out based on the England performance in this match.

You won't lose anything by phoning the ticket line soon on 0207 432 1000 and asking them about availabilities.
The first 4 days are a definite sell out.

by Guest Mon 25 May 2015, 20:34

Cheers.

by taipan Mon 25 May 2015, 20:40

Brass Monkey wrote:
taipan wrote:So An England team straight off a test series against WI beat a NZ team straight off months of one day cricket and some reckon it's a new dawn under Strauss the magnificent.

I reckon we might revisit this after the next six tests.

Aye - two-Test mug jobs are a dangerous thing - I think such 'series' were contributory to India's demise as a Test force. Credit to some of the performances however - you don't get many Test victories like this

Yeah, a good test match. The underlying weaknesses in both teams were both highlighted though.

by Merlin Mon 25 May 2015, 20:41

vilkrang wrote:This was my view for today just to give an indication of where I was sat:

I am tall enough to see over his head thankfully although it was a rather repugnant sight.

Holy sh*t !
A repugnant sight ... and then some!
How the hell did you stay focused on the cricket with that bonce in the foreground!

by Guest Mon 25 May 2015, 20:44

Thankfully it was a decent match so I just blocked it out. I may have nightmares tonight when it all comes flooding back.

by beamer Mon 25 May 2015, 21:38

It doesn't prove the corner has been turned or that things are magically right at the top of English cricket - but a classic Test with some great individual showings is as good as we could have hoped for to start the season.

Stokes has shown he can be a box office game changer in the Flintoff mould. Root continued to prove he's one of the top three young batsmen in world cricket, and Cook was back to what he did best. Ali had a good all-round game and Buttler continued his development as a dynamic cricketer. Wood looked lively on debut and Broad was back to something approaching his best with the ball.

There's still weaknesses the Aussies will exploit, an uncertain top order and a bowling attack that can run out of ideas at times among them, but it's a big step up from the Caribbean. Win the series and confidence will grow, which is a big factor at this level.

by skully Mon 25 May 2015, 21:59

Nice work by Engulund to convert the fast 3 wicket start. Young Stokes, ay? England's new superstar, ay?

by beamer Mon 25 May 2015, 22:08

Well, we can't expect too much, he's still rough around the edges, too soon to expect something special on a regular basis.

What he has proved though is that he belongs at this level, and has the ability and confidence to make things happen with bat or ball. He's the sort of player who will sell tickets and empty the bars. Exactly what English cricket needs to win back the public.

by Lindsay no.2 Mon 25 May 2015, 22:16

PeterCS wrote:
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.

Heehee - I do indeed.

The Sven thing makes me shudder.

I live near Ulrika so if I see Strauss anywhere nearby or a pair of mens shoes outside the front of her house I'll let you know that the dawn will most probably be short-lived.

by Lindsay no.2 Mon 25 May 2015, 22:19

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!

Great day for you to have witnessed firsthand Vilks.

I just read subsequent posts but for a moment after reading your one above I thought 'Oops, what if Merlin is the bloke with the ridiculous hair. This could get awkward.' :-)

by Lindsay no.2 Mon 25 May 2015, 22:32

Merlin wrote:@ 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

Awww Merlin.

And there we were all getting along nicely and kind of basking in the afterglow of a lovely and surprisingly good start to the summer. It's like we just had wonderful sex and were all unguarded, happy and snuggly and then you went and brought up the fact that we still haven't creosoted the garden fence.

You just wouldn't let it lie would you. Eh? Eh? :-)

The trust has gone now. It'll take a lot to re-build it but if we all try then we can do it. How about we offer you the position of consultant onto the titling of the threads on the forum. It's the only way we can re-build the trust. You know - trust, it's a two way thing. I'm not saying it's all your fault, 'cos others are responsible too. But I'm mainly saying it's your fault. I'd like to trust you again - but I don't know if I can. I don't want to be hurt again.

Yours trustingly,

A.Strauss (henceforth to be known as The Real Special One).

by Henry Mon 25 May 2015, 23:06

England will no doubt have their ups and downs over the next few months, but if they can use this test as a template of how they should play, I'll keep watching them.

I just hope they don't play Stokes into the ground.

by horace Tue 26 May 2015, 00:27

great test...

by horace Tue 26 May 2015, 00:45

...and congrats to the Poms

I rest my case on my long term support of Stokes...scrinch up your undies Mudge, Danny et al

by horace Tue 26 May 2015, 01:46

taipan wrote:
Brass Monkey wrote:
taipan wrote:So An England team straight off a test series against WI beat a NZ team straight off months of one day cricket and some reckon it's a new dawn under Strauss the magnificent.

I reckon we might revisit this after the next six tests.

Aye - two-Test mug jobs are a dangerous thing - I think such 'series' were contributory to India's demise as a Test force. Credit to some of the performances however - you don't get many Test victories like this

Yeah, a good test match. The underlying weaknesses in both teams were both highlighted though.

Taipan can always be relied on to put the "hurl" into the churlish.

This was a damned good match between two highly competitive teams.

Who cares if they both have faults? What test team does not?

Perhaps Taipan is convinced that both teams have been weakened by some invisible quota sytem

by taipan Tue 26 May 2015, 04:22

horace wrote:
taipan wrote:
Brass Monkey wrote:
taipan wrote:So An England team straight off a test series against WI beat a NZ team straight off months of one day cricket and some reckon it's a new dawn under Strauss the magnificent.

I reckon we might revisit this after the next six tests.

Aye - two-Test mug jobs are a dangerous thing - I think such 'series' were contributory to India's demise as a Test force. Credit to some of the performances however - you don't get many Test victories like this

Yeah, a good test match. The underlying weaknesses in both teams were both highlighted though.

Taipan can always be relied on to put the "hurl" into the churlish.

This was a damned good match between two highly competitive teams.

Who cares if they both have faults? What test team does not?

Perhaps Taipan is convinced that both teams have been weakened by some invisible quota sytem

by Merlin Tue 26 May 2015, 07:26

Lindsay no.2 wrote:

I live near Ulrika so if I see Strauss anywhere nearby or a pair of mens shoes outside the front of her house I'll let you know that the dawn will most probably be short-lived.

I too have that misfortune ... though it was not always so!
T'was a time w hen several pairs of men shoes occupied her front door
Ulrika has sadly "lost it" ...
And Strausser isn't too far away either ... but he's on the "wrong side" of the river -
so n'er the twain (hopefully) shall meet!

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