England vs New Zealand, First Test at Lords

First topic message reminder :

England: Cook (c), Compton, Trott, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Finn.
NZ: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum (c), BJ Watling, Southee, Wagner, Boult, Martin

England win the toss and will bat first

Not really enough shown by Bairstow in his tests so far, need to get Taylor in there.

If Bopara plays I might cry

Are England seriously under a Bopara threat for the next match? Bell only has a fever, shouldn't keep him out for all that long? For me, James Taylor should be ahead of Ravi in the pecking order.

msp83 wrote:Are England seriously under a Bopara threat for the next match? Bell only has a fever, shouldn't keep him out for all that long? For me, James Taylor should be ahead of Ravi in the pecking order.

The fact he's in the squad at all worries me.

Surely his time has passed. He failed miserably

Certainly a matter of worry!. I hope Ian B will be fit and firing for the next game!.

Saw higlights again of a ferenetic days play marked by medicore batting and bowling friendly conditions:

--NZ could have gotten even less had England not bowled as many shorter stuff that they did.
While Finn is an excellent "hit the deck hard" type bowler....bowler for pitches that bounce such as in Aus and SA...or the flatter wkts of subcontinet...where is 90+ speed makes a difrence...on such a pitch as this one at Lords...England might be served better with a kiss the top..pitch it up type " english seamer"

--Southee's flashing style of hitting on the rise throuhg the line is the way to go for the established batters....and England's superior batting were horribly inept against the pitched up bolwing.

Root looks so competent with his feet movement......his backfoot play and movement across the crease reminds me of Steve Waugh in shades....while Compton in contrast has looked leaden footed.

If I had the say...and if Bairstow and Compton continue to be leaden footed in this series.....I would put Root to open the batting........and put KP and Morgan in the middle order....that is when KP is back......and leave the other leaden footed Bairstow out.

--as I noted yesterday...copuple from Swann turned right across as did Williamson today.
NZ need to have some more depth to their batting somehow....either get Mccullum to keep wkts and add a batsman or drop Martin and bring in a seam bowling allrounder...letting Williamson do the little spin required on these pitches.

--Broad and Swann need to bat like Southee did......trying and get 20 runs each and Bell needs to bat throuhg.....and whatever Finn gets is a bonus.

275 lead would be game half in pocket........250 is the minimum I'd expect Eng to be up by......and even then they would be favorites given the spin that the pitch is taking

Bopara won't play... Taylor definitely ahead, and Bell will almost certainly be fit in any case.

I would deffo think about moving root to no.2!

and and taylor for the last couple at the expence of brompton.

Now this may be unfair on him. But I cant see any x factor from him.

Compton definately needs a good next test to establish some faith back in him.

I still think he'll open in the Ashes, but at the moment I'm not confident in him at the moment

It's a stuffing, well done NZ in the match now, Taylor in one day mode will stuff England I fear.

What a batting shambles.

I dont watch enough county to know the range brompton has shown before.

But I am a firm beliver in having one opener that can play all the shots but has a head game to be able to play to the game at hand.. Root seems to have this.

Come on England, 70 more runs today is the minimum requirement. Oh shoot, Finn's gone.

England have been poor with these collapses but what a match this is! Very rare to get a Test match that is so close throughout. Win or lose we should savour it (would prefer the win though!)

Very good bowling from NZ. Bell gone. Another stupid batting collapse from England.

Swing the chuffing bat now! This test may be all over today.

No surprise to see the jellyfish out early. Time to get rid of Bell I think. Bairstow has not been very good but would rather see Bell discarded when KP returns.

By taking out Steven Finn and Ian Bell today, Tim Southee has found himself a place on the Lord's board. Broad swinging his bat and so far it has been effective. He's on 22, and England 208-8

I thought overnight NZ were just ahead on points , given the way England's tail folded first time round. But the much maligned Broad has ensured NZ will need the highest score of the match in the fourth innings , and the ball continues to swing...

Pretty even still I reckon.

Didn't expect Bell to hang around to be honest.

Thought Swann would crack a quick 30-40.

Broad going nicely, but Anderson has gone for a duck and England are all out for 213...a lead of 238.

Nowhere near as much as I'd have liked. Reckon NZ are favourites for the win. They've bowled well to restrict England's lead.

NZ need 239 to win.

Its going to be a nail biting finish. But i recon either side can easily win. One thing is for sure, someone is going to win this 1st test match.

238 is a steep target given the conditions and bowlers they face. If they bowl well, they should close this out.

well that batting line up are a bit of a joke at the moment. Collapse after collapse.

The coaches need some serious rethinks.

NZ have got this easily with their line up and the proper hitters in their team that we lack.

the ashes are going to be a mess I fear.

Dump Bairstow and give Taylor a go in the 2nd test I feel. Solidify the middle order.

not a bad call GSC. Bairstow is a bit poor at the moment.

What about Compton? good enough?

Alternatives?

Think we have to stick there and hope he rises to the occasions.

Poor today from England. Still 239 won't be easy ...NZ need a decent start which will require skillful batting against Anderson : if they get through the early overs unscathed they'll be favourites.

If England can get a couple of early wickets I fancy them to win , though Taylor and McCullum will still be a threat. Swann could have a big part to play.

And can we ease up on the rubbishing of Bell ? The man has been sick for two days and batting in a Test match is not an easy job for a fully fit player...

Yeah, considering Bell was in bed with Flu most of yesterday and was a only bat if required situation, I'll forgive him 1 bad test.

I don't think a chase of 239 will be easy for New Zealand. They have to make the highest score of the match. The ball is turning, and there is some swing available as well. If Swann and Anderson manage to be at their best, it will be very difficult for New Zealand. But then, if they manage one big partnership up front, then there will be that much confidence, and Cook won't be able to maintain attacking fields all the time. So for the 2nd consecutive game, NZ, the number 8 side, has a good chance to win against one of the big boys. 50-50 it is at the moment in my view.

I agree with Alfie that it's pretty even with England possibly narrowly ahead - making the highest score of the match in the 4th innings is always very difficult. But what a fascinating game! Proves once again that you don't need a lot of runs for excitement.

Massive credit to New Zealand whatever unfolds from now. They are not the most naturally brilliant side but are probably the best role model for many 606v2 players and coaches.

While we talk about the collapse of the England batting lineup and the poor efforts of Ian Bell and the likes, we should give a great deal of credit to Tim Southee. He has really turned this match around with an inspired spell. He picked up 6 wickets in the 2nd innings, and ends up with 10 for the match.

Aye, Southee delivering on that promise he showed a few years back. Really dragged NZ back into this test. That 22 from Broad might be more than handy though.

true that. He has been the picked of their bowlers. maybe of all the bowlers.

Bairstow won't be pleased with his game , but apart from Root and Trott who would be ? I think he will get the second match to try and stake his claim , though he is still favourite to make way for a hopefully fit KP.

Compton has done no worse than the other openers in this match...still yet to be proven , but will surely hold his job for now : the Ashes series will decide his future.

Far from over but a great comeback from NZ to get back into the game after England were slipping away from them.

The NZ openers must try to negotiate the new ball and score at the same time to put pressure on England who don't have many runs to play with. Have a feeling this could go down to the wire.

Broad strikes, Fulton plays at a ball that he didn't have to, and edges behind for Prior to take a good catch.

Perfect start for England, Fulton gone for 1, bowled Broad, caught Prior. Nice one Stewie!

Yes well bowled Southee indeed! He looked good from day one although he didn't get early rewards....earned his ten.

Great start for Broad and England !

Perfect time for enghland to end there innings. We can get a result today so tommorows washout wont matter!


NZ with a tough challenge- but what ,akes it exiting is they have a shot at holding on!


If i was kiwi i would say just play one day style.

Protecting hasnt not been effective on this pitch

My worry is that if the sun gets out and the pitch becomes more batting friendly, NZ could rattle along to their target and England's bowlers could suddenly look a bit toothless.

dyrewolfe wrote:My worry is that if the sun gets out and the pitch becomes more batting friendly, NZ could rattle along to their target and England's bowlers could suddenly look a bit toothless.

If it stops swinging, and the sun does come out as you say, get Swann into the attack.

There is rough there for him to work with

dyrewolfe wrote:My worry is that if the sun gets out and the pitch becomes more batting friendly, NZ could rattle along to their target and England's bowlers could suddenly look a bit toothless.

True dyrewolfe - batting looked a bit easier when Trott and Root were playing in sunshine for a while yesterday. Not sure this pitch will become too friendly though ...will be spin anyway.

Must be unusual for a cricket fan in England :[/i]Not [i] wanting the sun to appear...

The 22 today morning seems to have done Broad some good, he has cleaned up Rutherford. NZ 16-2.

What a ball by Broad! Come on England!

Taylor gone now, NZ are falling apart all so quickly!. Broad again, with a massive wicket.

Broad strikes again ! Is this a good time to collect some posts from the last three days and make a few snide references to knee jerk comments ?

And again ! Three now

Reckon Son of Chris is safe for a few games.

Fulton played bad shots in both innings, Rutherford got couple of corkers.

He's big, he's bad, he's better than his dad, Stuart Broad! Stuart Broad! Massive wicket for England, Taylor gone. 16/3, England in the ascendancy, Broad right back in form.

Broad seems to be in the mood here. Looks like the makings of one of those unplayable spells. NZ 20-3.

Not looking easy for batting at the moment....How England would love to get McCullum in - and hopefully out - before lunch ! While he is still in reserve NZ still have a chance.
Looking good for England right now though.

Okay...looks like England aren't going to give the weather chance to affect the pitch.

Broad's on fire at the moment! Keep it up lad and get your five-for.

Every ball bowled by Broad is laced with menace, so difficult out there for the Kiwis.