England v New Zealand 2nd Test

There will definitely be a result now. I still think England won't get 300. It's harder for middle order/tail enders starting again against a fresh attack the next morning. Their mind has drifted to getting out and having a bowl. If we can take 10 wickets today into tomorrow morning we'll have a chance. That said our batting has been abysmal for a while now. The same players fail. Sibley plods to 35 or 40 and takes too long long doing so. I actually think he bogs down other players such as Burns with lack of strike rotation. Crawley doesn't look good enough. Pope is another who flatters to deceive. Root is our best player. He's hot and cold. Lawrence looks to be another stroke player that will get you a 40 or a 50 to 100. A bit like Denly, Hales or Vince. I prefer him over a plodder like Sibley who can't get it off the square. At least Lawrence moves the scoreboard on. Until he came to the crease we were staring down the barrel of a score under 200. I'd rather have ten players get 30's than stick around for ten overs and score 11 or 12.

 

Wood out for 41 289/8 quick fire 25 this morning.

 

Wood to open the batting in the next test

 

Shout out for Ebony - she is excellent.

 

Good start by Broad. Usually tell when he gets an lbw because he doesn't appeal. When he does appeal its usually nowhere near!

 

Conway already on 50, piece of for this batting in England!

 

England haven't bowled too badly either.

 

I hope England realise having Root bowl at just 89-1 is a sign of a selection error, again.

 

I thought it was out myself. But once the umpire gave a not out soft signal, the foreshortening of the camera was never going to give an angle to give it out. It's a shame really, and I don't know how you can change it, but it was proven years ago that valid catches look not out from TV camera angles.

 

It's a sign they're still more than 200 behind and the bowling unit are doing well they just need a breakthrough. There's always a few ways to look at things mate

 

A breakthrough always changes things, but we don't look too likely to at the moment, fingers crossed that changes. Root is getting a bit of assistance, but he's not a full time spinner and it shows.

 

looked not out on the replay they've just shown?

 

its a problem of balancing the team because we don’t have world class all rounder Ben Stokes

 

Think our fielding could be better tbh.

 

If you watch his hands, his fingers don't move, if the ball bumped into your hand from the ground, you'd see his fingers readjust. If the ball landed just before it tends to hit your finger into your hand and it hurts, a lot.

It was a long while ago, but Sky showed the effect of the camera lens. Think it was Botham who sat his hand in the grass with the ball on top. From the angle it looked like the ball was just on the grass, you couldn't see his hand at all.

Though the video evidence may dispute it, I think all those players know it was a fair catch, but it just couldn't be proven.

 

I loved Doulls come back when showing how rank bad our teams batting averages were. Don't think he's that impressed with him either. ;-)

 

I do like Doull, speaking a lot of sense and without the hyperbole that often creeps into some commentators narrative. I've high praise for New Zealanders generally and I'd like them to win a tournament soon. Hard working, under rated and play fair. Hard to knock them.

 

Not sure why Leach isn't an automatic pick to be honest. Can understand on a green seamer of a pitch, but you need a spinner more often than not.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a rule in England that any spinner must be able to bat. Panesar would've played 100 tests for most countries.

 

facts eh

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/56750141