New Zealand vs England

Shite in the field, but still in a strong position.
N.Z 244-6 at close of play. Them Losing Oram right at the end should of won it for us.
 
New ball and pitch wearing,still doing stuff should make it too tough for new zealand to come back from here.Would take a very bad cock up or bowling display from england imo to not win.
 
Good win.
Sets it up for Napier.
Which is normally flat, and a draw!
 
New Zealand without Kyle Mills (injured), Mark Gillespie (dropped despite 6-142 in the last test) and crucially Jacob Oram (injured). England unchanged, have to be favourites to win the decider now
 
Favourites certainly, but the pitch is often flat, so bowlers will have to perform as a unit.
Oram had batted really poorly in this test series thus far anyway. but had probably been their best bowler.
 
Selection dilemma for England if Colly isn't fit.

Under normal circumstances with a fully firing batting order I rekon they possibly would have gone for an extra spinner, but in this case I rekon they would bring in Shah.

Looking forward to this one, the ball has definitely been over the bat in the first 2 tests and apparently this is a road with short boundaries. If the ODI track is anything to go by it should be good watching.

C'mon KP entertain me!
 
It's about time he did give us something to shout about!
He's been worrying me recently, he seems to want to play in a more controlled and orthadox style/manner, therefore losing the uniqueness we picked him on. For example, when was the last time we saw the 'flamingo shot'.
We need to get both sides of the game working in tandem with him, as then he'd be by far the best batsman in world cricket, if you consider Ponting and Tendulkar are nearing the end of their careers.
Sha should certainly come in ahead of Swann if Colly is'nt fit.
 
Utd heap said:
It's about time he did give us something to shout about!
He's been worrying me recently, he seems to want to play in a more controlled and orthadox style/manner, therefore losing the uniqueness we picked him on. For example, when was the last time we saw the 'flamingo shot'.
We need to get both sides of the game working in tandem with him, as then he'd be by far the best batsman in world cricket, if you consider Ponting and Tendulkar are nearing the end of their careers.
Shah should certainly come in ahead of Swann if Colly is'nt fit.
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Yeah, I suppose he knows he's been in a bad trot over the past 12 months or so and is trying to build an innings carefully. I think he's the type of player that needs to play his way back into form, if he gets out he gets out. Im sure he'd get stick if he tried taking one from outside off and got out.

Like I said I think they'd go for Shah, if it was the aussies they'd be picking two spinners because you can bet they will make a good total on a good track.
 
Utd heap said:
It's about time he did give us something to shout about!
He's been worrying me recently, he seems to want to play in a more controlled and orthadox style/manner, therefore losing the uniqueness we picked him on. For example, when was the last time we saw the 'flamingo shot'.
We need to get both sides of the game working in tandem with him, as then he'd be by far the best batsman in world cricket, if you consider Ponting and Tendulkar are nearing the end of their careers.
Sha should certainly come in ahead of Swann if Colly is'nt fit.
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Is a nonsense isn't it. Reminds me of Andy Cole. He was a 30+ a season striker, nearing a goal a game, but 'improved' to become a better all round player. To which point he became a 20 a season striker. You might be that bit more rounded mate, but give me the 30+ poacher any day

With Pieterson, I guess the fear is that bowling attacks figure you out. But I haven't seen any signs of that. Has to play his natural game, and that involves going after each bowler. Hopefully this is just a phase. I back him to score a decent innings this game
 
Brad Cantona said:
Is a nonsense isn't it. Reminds me of Andy Cole. He was a 30+ a season striker, nearing a goal a game, but 'improved' to become a better all round player. To which point he became a 20 a season striker. You might be that bit more rounded mate, but give me the 30+ poacher any day

With Pieterson, I guess the fear is that bowling attacks figure you out. But I haven't seen any signs of that. Has to play his natural game, and that involves going after each bowler. Hopefully this is just a phase. I back him to score a decent innings this game
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I don't think it's a conscious effort to change his game. I'm sure he'd love to go out there and take it to the opposition.
For me it's a combination of poor results, poor form, & and the top order gettingus in the sh*t. If anything I think he's trying to take on more responsibility for the team. There have been a few occasions where he's got beyond 30, looking to push on, then got himself out.
 
redender said:
I don't think it's a conscious effort to change his game. I'm sure he'd love to go out there and take it to the opposition.
For me it's a combination of poor results, poor form, & and the top order gettingus in the sh*t. If anything I think he's trying to take on more responsibility for the team. There have been a few occasions where he's got beyond 30, looking to push on, then got himself out.
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I think you're probably right, however...

In the first test in which we were set 300 to win the game, in a manageable amount of overs, with the pitch being flat and docile despite it being the fifth day, our top order again faltered and we found ourselves 25-2, in need of a rearguard.

Pietersen came to the crease, and i thought to myself, go on really take the game by the scruff of the neck (cliche!), and worry 'em. But what he actually did was try and play responsibly, which i don't think he's very good at doing, and was eventually out leaving a ball that nipped back a touch for less than 10, handing all the momentum NZ needed, as they had just seen the back of Englands match-winner.

Harping back a year or two, we were 120-5, on the last day of the Ashes, shitting it at the prospect of throwing the series away. Pietersen was dominant and smashed 6's in the most tense moments against the most mentally tough opposition and bowler in world cricket at that time.

That's the Pietersen i'd love to return, but i don't think he's allowing it. Maybe it's Moore's who has had a word,and told him to adapt more to the longer format of the game, as oppose to Fletcher, who maybe let him express himself a touch more.
Admittedly, a quick 40, is alot less use than a two session grind for 60, but we have other players in our team who can perform that role, better than KP.

I'm shattered so apologies if that rambled on a bit!
 
Utd heap said:
I think you're probably right, however...

In the first test in which we were set 300 to win the game, in a manageable amount of overs, with the pitch being flat and docile despite it being the fifth day, our top order again faltered and we found ourselves 25-2, in need of a rearguard.

Maybe it's Moore's who has had a word,and told him to adapt more to the longer format of the game, as oppose to Fletcher, who maybe let him express himself a touch more.
Admittedly, a quick 40, is alot less use than a two session grind for 60, but we have other players in our team who can perform that role, better than KP.

I'm shattered so apologies if that rambled on a bit!
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That 5th day track was far from flat, don't forget we lost Vaughan, Cook in not time, so it's only natural you would want to play yourself in! Naturally you will point to the Ashes Oval test where he twatted it to all parts, but you forget that he got dropped a few times. Like I said previously he's probably trying to play with more maturity and responsibility.

I don't think you can point to Moores as the catalyst for Pietersen's form, the last few months of Fletcher Pietersen was playing in much the same manner.
 
redender said:
That 5th day track was far from flat, don't forget we lost Vaughan, Cook in not time, so it's only natural you would want to play yourself in! Naturally you will point to the Ashes Oval test where he twatted it to all parts, but you forget that he got dropped a few times. Like I said previously he's probably trying to play with more maturity and responsibility.

I don't think you can point to Moores as the catalyst for Pietersen's form, the last few months of Fletcher Pietersen was playing in much the same manner.
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It was as flat a fifth day pitch as you are ever likely to find.
I just objected to Pietersen getting out in such a feeble manner, he'd of been better off getting caught at fine leg mis-hooking, atleast we would of lost fighting. Instead we got one of the most pathetic battting performances i've seen from England, and there have been many!
I was'nt blaming Moore's at all, just looking in to the possiblities as to why he's recently had a change of tempo.
If we win the toss, i imagine we'll see him in action tonight, so lets wait and see.
 
Utd heap said:
It was as flat a fifth day pitch as you are ever likely to find.
I just objected to Pietersen getting out in such a feeble manner, he'd of been better off getting caught at fine leg mis-hooking, atleast we would of lost fighting. Instead we got one of the most pathetic battting performances i've seen from England, and there have been many!
I was'nt blaming Moore's at all, just looking in to the possiblities as to why he's recently had a change of tempo.
If we win the toss, i imagine we'll see him in action tonight, so lets wait and see.
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To be fair it was doing all sorts off the seam. If I remember rightly Pietersen got out padding up to one that nipped back miles. I'm not gonna slate him for batting with his brain rather than his ego. 70odd overs needing 270 having just lost 2 quick wickets, I'd be doing the same!!! (I do that at 200-1 though!) :lol:

I hope we don't see him to be honest! I desperately want to see Bell get a big ton because I think he is absolute class. Technically, for me, he's as good as Kallis on his day. But, I feel that pressure is mounting on him.

I also fear for Strauss, if he doesn't get a ton in this test, I think it will be the last we see of him on the international scene.
 
redender said:
To be fair it was doing all sorts off the seam. If I remember rightly Pietersen got out padding up to one that nipped back miles. I'm not gonna slate him for batting with his brain rather than his ego. 70odd overs needing 270 having just lost 2 quick wickets, I'd be doing the same!!! (I do that at 200-1 though!) :lol:

I hope we don't see him to be honest! I desperately want to see Bell get a big ton because I think he is absolute class. Technically, for me, he's as good as Kallis on his day. But, I feel that pressure is mounting on him.

I also fear for Strauss, if he doesn't get a ton in this test, I think it will be the last we see of him on the international scene.
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Strauss is a strange one, as for the first year he was immense, scoring century after century, but as of late, he's looked increasingly scratchy at the crease, and i think it will only be a matter of time before he is dropped. I hope i'm wrong though, as we need a settled side.

Totally agree with your Bell comment. He has all the assets to be a top test batsmen, really frustrating how he has'nt pushed on many of his starts, his conversion rate must be atrocious. Personally i don't think he should be in the one day side, as i think it has a negative effect on his test batting, where he often chucks his wicket needlessly away.
 
Don't necessarily agree that he shouldn't be in the ODI team. Good players should be able to adapt between formats of the game. He's shown in both that he is more than capable.

Alastair Cook seems to be getting found out prodding outside off stump, but I think he's young enough and good enough to correct this.

I'm absolutely gutted Old Trafford hasn't got a SA test match. There's not too many England games I go to just to watch the opposition, but seeing Kallis & Gibbs is a must.
 
Never rated Gibbs in the same bracket as Kallis, but he can certainly be an exciting plaer to watch.
I've managed to get tickets for the Lords test match of both series...should be good.
Cook will have a quality test career, the temprament he has at his age is brilliant. Perfect opener, not sure if Vaughan's the right partner, i prefer him at 3.
 
Utd heap said:
Never rated Gibbs in the same bracket as Kallis, but he can certainly be an exciting plaer to watch.
I've managed to get tickets for the Lords test match of both series...should be good.
Cook will have a quality test career, the temprament he has at his age is brilliant. Perfect opener, not sure if Vaughan's the right partner, i prefer him at 3.
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I'm very jealous!

I'm surprised they didn't let Strauss open with Cook when he first came back in. Would certainly have given Strauss more opportunity. Vaughan is more than capable of doing the same job at 3.

Maybe they just prefer the left/right partnership.
 
Err what is going on!?

England 4-3 v New Zealand

2159 - WICKET - Cook b Martin 2 (Eng 4-3)
AND ANOTHER! Good grief, this is all a little bit embarrassing. Cook plays all round a straight one and plays on. Not sure what Cook was playing at there, there was a gap about the width of Pietersen's ego between bat and pad. We now have Pietersen and Bell at the crease, and thet have the mother of all patch-ups on their hands. Bell is off the mark with a turn into leg-side and Pietersen gets off the dreaded duck with a flick to mid-on for two. Unfortunately, Sir Boycs wasn't on air when those wickets went down, although word reaches me that he's repeatedly smashing his own fingers in a car door.

2155 - WICKET - Strauss c How b Southee 0 (Eng 4-2)
Deary, deary me, Straussy is in some diabolical nick - he drives and edges and How takes a good catch diving low to his left in the gully. What a debut for the 19-year-old, England in tatters.

2143 - WICKET- Vaughan lbw b Southee 2 (Eng 4-1)
Six balls right in the slot from Martin, but no gremlins for the left-handed Cook. But Southee does for Vaughan with his 11th ball in Test cricket, trapping the England skipper plumb in front with a straight one that Vaughan just played all round. Umpire Koertzen took an age to raise his arm, he's like a human JCB. Strauss survives the final ball of the over, but that's a pony old start for the tourists.
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That Ben Dirs on BBC ain't too happy.

2210 - 8-3
What a load of old rubbish this is. A quick flick through the television schedules reveals I could be watching River Walks With Charlie Dimmock. I wonder if she still eschews a bra? Bell picks up an easy single with a drop into the covers. That has to be it for Strauss for now, barring a 30-ball match-winning ton in the second innings.
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Utd heap said:
Well Redender, Bell and KP are at the crease!
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Utd heap said:
Classic England.
To be fair, we're never boring.
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Hmmmm not to plan! Vaughan & Cook out playing the wrong line. Strauss just loose. Cook fell for the old three card trick, expecting it to swing away and played away from his pad. Needs to work on that.

Yeah, the positive thing is our two best players are at the crease.

It's got to be said Martin & Southee have bowled quite beautifully so far. England need to regroup for 10 overs and get the shine off the ball. Bob Willis is a fecking cnut by the way, i'm sure is only purpose working for Sky is to piss me off.
 
Bob Willis is a right cock, realised that a long time back.
The bowling has been good, but nothing unbelieveable for the first few overs on a first day, you just have to get through the first hour, and generally you can crack on for 350+.
Lets hope these two bat until tea time...atleast.
 
Utd heap said:
Bob Willis is a right cock, realised that a long time back.
The bowling has been good, but nothing unbelieveable for the first few overs on a first day, you just have to get through the first hour, and generally you can crack on for 350+.
Lets hope these two bat until tea time...atleast.
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It's done a bit, but I think England have been lulled by the modern trend to be scoring from the off. Almost as if to think if they were 10-0 off 10 overs it would be some disaster!

There's no doubt to Englands talents with the bat, but the truth is just too many of them are looking off colour. Not a particularly daunting bowling attack either.
 
17 runs of 15 overs.
feck off Boycott, bringing up the Roses match in Dubai.
Whisper it quietly, but Lancs lost...:(
 
Why are you a fan of Kyle Hogg?
Or am i missing something...
 
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