England vs New Zealand, 2nd test at Headingly

First topic message reminder :

Thread for the build up & match


New from the NZ camp is that BJ Watling's knee has ruled him out, meaning he'll join Bruce Martin on the sidelones. Brendon McCullum will keep wicket, while Martin Guptill will return to the side and bat #6.

Daniel Vettori trained well yesterday, so is expected to play in place of Martin

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/8706188/Watling-ruled-out-Vettori-likely-for-second-test
Likely NZ XI:
Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlee, Guptill, McCullum, Vettori or Bracewell, Southee, Wagner, Boult

I see Prior and Swann did a fine job in the late overs and somewhat undid the good early work for NZ with he new ball...337/7 is a healthy enough total for the day.
The loss of three wickets , which has probably reduced England's eventual total from well over 400 to something like 370-380 , has perhaps done the game , and even England , a favour. With a day already lost , a big England total would have killed the contest , put NZ right on the defensive , and made a bore draw more likely.
A frisky 40 or 50 this morning and set Jimmy and his mates in action seems like the best plan...

Numbers 7 and 9, KPF, the number 8 is struggling a bit with the bat these days, although a half-decent outing with the bat could often be a prelude to one of those match-winning spells.

alfie wrote:I see Prior and Swann did a fine job in the late overs and somewhat undid the good early work for NZ with he new ball...337/7 is a healthy enough total for the day.
The loss of three wickets , which has probably reduced England's eventual total from well over 400 to something like 370-380 , has perhaps done the game , and even England , a favour. With a day already lost , a big England total would have killed the contest , put NZ right on the defensive , and made a bore draw more likely.
A frisky 40 or 50 this morning and set Jimmy and his mates in action seems like the best plan...

Yep totally agree. TBH for the games sake I want England to just get a quick 50 and get bolwed out! If we bat past lunch this is a odds on draw!!

It is still an odds on draw with the weather. But it will give us more chance

alfie wrote:I see Prior and Swann did a fine job in the late overs and somewhat undid the good early work for NZ with he new ball...337/7 is a healthy enough total for the day.
The loss of three wickets , which has probably reduced England's eventual total from well over 400 to something like 370-380 , has perhaps done the game , and even England , a favour. With a day already lost , a big England total would have killed the contest , put NZ right on the defensive , and made a bore draw more likely.
A frisky 40 or 50 this morning and set Jimmy and his mates in action seems like the best plan...

Totally agree. That 50 plus unbroken partnership between Prior and Swann following the loss of three quick wickets has significantly influenced the look of yesterday and probably the match.

I quite like New Zealand as a bowling side. Yes, they have limitations but they bowl as a unit and stick at it. They are also well supported by the keeper (whichever one it appears!) and slips. When Swann went to the wicket, they must have had hopes of getting us all out in the day for not much more than 300. That would have made it their day. Not to be - they probably lack that killer instinct which belongs so much more to great or near great sides.

It is to England's credit that we have largely overcome yesterday's wobbles (the two wickets just before lunch as well as the three heralding Swann's arrival) although some might think we shouldn't be wobbling so much to begin with ....

Prior had a chance yesterday, of Bracewell. Had it been taken, perhaps NZ would have been able to bowl England out, although that means they have to breach The Wall of England Steven Finn!.
Think Swanny and Prior will stay positive today, if they somehow manage to add another 40-50 runs, England can almost take out them losing, from the possible results.

England still not quite on top form but yesterday's more aggressive style probably helped them in what is now a four-day match.

Today's plan will be for Prior to keep going for the first session ideally and then to get bowling.

I have just bailed out on a family do. for sport,

Cricket, Golf and F1

Yumm..

Lots of swing about this morning and Prior is gone early.

Wouldnt be a bad thing to get bowling this morning quickly now..

englands traditional horrible start to the day right there.

400 looks out of sight now but i'd honestly say that par is a very strong position given the way the scores tend to crumble in later innings here.

Finn gets England passed 350.

And gets cleaned up soon after. England 354-9, and now make it 10, Boult's got Anderson to hit a return catch he takes 5, and England are allout for 354.

Good from the kiwis but I do wonder if the smiles will hide a few concerns about the movement that did for the England tail.

They will have to apply themselves. England fell just short of par.

Personally I was happy to see NZ getting wickets in those conditions because it means we get to bowl now.

The ball is doing things in the morning, and facing up to Anderson and co will be a very demanding task for the New Zealand batsmen. The openers both had a pretty poor first test, and the team as such would be underconfident from the aftereffects of that 68 allout. New Zealand's only chance is in scoring at least 450 and hope for an England collapse in the 2nd innings.

If they manage to get that far past second innings par they will deserve it msp.

It is due to be a nice day so they have a chance.

Given England's overnight position I think they will feel they've failed a bit, up near 400 was on. But the conditions are interesting. It will get nice later but will the pitch flatten?

Agreed...best thing to have happened. The way the ball was moving around I rather think Jimmy at least was quite happy to make a quick duck and get on with his real job...

NZ staring very well. Making it look pretty easy unlike our tail.

They look pretty good for a good days matching us, lead well by tomorrow tea and put us in for a quick bowl out. Easy.

They have started well. Leaving outside off and dealing well with balls on the middle stump line.
Wait until the lacquer wears off...

They can't lose Alfie. Best batting line up these isles have seen.

Just getting that in, in case they do great.

Agnew says the follow on is reduced to 150 runs if you lose a day, so NZ need 205 rather 155.

Slightly surprised. Ball not doing much so far , both batsmen looking comfortable.

Much to Nasser's amusement Jimmy has made the first complaint to the umpires that the ball is "out of shape"

Think they'll be waiting a while to get it changed...ah , time for Finn , try for some bounce...

Well NZ win the first round this morning.

They have gotta bat without fear.........and come close to English total today.......their strikers Taylor and Mcculum have to fire with atleast big 50s and one guz has to anchor and hold the inning together

354 is a decent enough score.

Prior did his job well and kept the innings ticking over, after the Yorkshire lads left the crease.

NZ batsman looking very good early on. There in the driving seat ATM.

However i can't look past a draw.

Well today England's bowlers have been outplayed by the outstanding kiwis.

Bbc mentioning eng have found nothing whilst they moved it with ease.

The NZ openers have put together a decent partnership here. 49 without loss. Good start, the ball is not swinging for the England bowlers, even after the ball change.

A wicket! Fulton goes caught and bowled by Finn!

Finn gets the breakthrough, Fulton gone. NZ 55-1.

Needed that.

Finn gets another, Rutherford's gone, Just before lunch, England are back in control. NZ 62-2.

Good spell from Finn this, just what was needed. Both openers gone, can have a real go at the middle order after some lunch now

Never really a good time to get out, but that's possibly the worst. Poor shot.

Ross Taylor has a tricky little period to deal with before lunch. Taylor is a bit of a shaky starter, England need to get him before he gets going. If he gets going, that scoreboard will keep moving quickly.

Looked like one more over coming up, but not to be eventually. So NZ go to lunch at an uncomfortable 62-2.

Finn ones again showing he should be an automatic choice. He's not at the peak of his game, yet he keeps striking crucial blows. He's a strike bowler, and his pace and the ability to get bounce, makes him an interesting proposition even on a not too helpful track.

msp83 wrote:Finn ones again showing he should be an automatic choice. He's not at the peak of his game, yet he keeps striking crucial blows. He's a strike bowler, and his pace and the ability to get bounce, makes him an interesting proposition even on a not too helpful track.

i agree to that....theres shouldn't even be a discussion on his position.

That's what I like about Finn. Even when he's not bowling well he has that something extra that makes him dangerous. The only trouble with him and Broad in the same attack is that they can both be a bit streaky, when they are bowling well together it is brilliant but if they go off the boil together then it puts a lot of pressure on Swann and Anderson.

Well done finny!

Good stuff. All 3 seamers producing the goods this series!

Finn with his extra bounce doing the job on a day when there has been a surprising lack of movement for Anderson and Broad early in this innings. He brings a different dimension to the team , and I agree he should be a regular selection...though a fit again Tremlett - if we are fortunate enough ever to see one - would be serious competition.
Sometimes Finn will leak runs rapidly , and criticism will ensue ; but today is a good illustration of his value to the team.

Ita all about timely wickets and keeping the pressure on.

SO far so good for England.

NZ need 1 or 2 partnerships..

Swann into the attack.

With The Traditional 1st over wicket !

A beauty

hehe. Classic spin from swann. Cant beat a wicket like that

Everytime I switch over to the Grand Prix we get a wicket!

NZ in a heap of trouble here. Four down for not many and Swann with his tail up ...likely to be hungry after having little to do last week.
Sharp spin there for the remaining batsmen to worry about.

God that was an ugly shot by Brownlie, awful defensive stroke

follow on is 205!!

England have a shot at that

If England grab one of these quickly NZ might struggle to get 150 never mind 205.

...and : they do

Swann!

sweet bowling this by England..

What a lovely delivery!

Lovely bowling from Swann.

The downside of employing left arm pace bowlers extensively when you bowl first...

McCullum will presumably hit out , but I think NZ are already doomed , weather permitting.

Review successful ! Swann strikes again !