Cricket International Series & General Chat

[7by7]

New Zealand only have two tests in England this summer, the 1st Test at Lords begins on 21st May, the second at Headingley begins 29th May.

They then play England in 5 ODIs followed by a T20 in June.

With all due respect to New Zealand, the real business of the summer then begins with the first Ashes Test in Cardiff starting on 12th July.

Full schedule for both tourists can bee seen here.

[7by7]

England's best bowler? Anderson? Botham? Underwood? Or...

This is interesting; a statistical method to determine England's best bowler by awarding points based on the career average of the batsmen they dismissed.

A batsman with an average of 55 or more would be worth 11 points, between 50 and 55 would be 10 points, and so on down to a batsman with a career average of 0-5, worth only one point. Those numerical ratings were added up and divided by the number of wickets taken.

Bet you'll be as surprised about the winner as he was himself when interviewed about it on TMS!

[Will27]

Boycs, tips a huge bucket on Cook.

Geoff Boycott slams England Test captain Alastair Cook

Former England cricketer Geoff Boycott has slammed Test captain Alastair Cook, saying he is "up his own arse" and "living in cloud cuckoo land" about his captaincy.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/geoff-boycott-slams-england-test-captain-alastair-cook-20150505-gguhsd.html

[7by7]

Well the first England/New Zealand test at Lords has finished; and what a magnificent game it was.

It all looked horribly familiar when England were 30 for 4 on the first morning, but 98 from Root and 92 from Stokes, aided by 67 from Buttler and 58 from Moen, got England to a respectable 389.

Then it seemed we English were in for the usual tale of woe as Williamson's 132 helped New Zealand to a first innings total of 523 on day 3.

With England 25 for 2 before the close, and then, early on the following morning, 74 for 3 it seemed doubtful that they would post a lead large enough for them to stand any chance of winning.

However, 162 from Cook, 84 from Root and 101 from Stokes (scoring his 100 from just 85 balls, the fastest ever test 100 at Lords) saw England all out for 478 this morning (day 5) leaving New Zealand with a target of 345 from 77 overs.

With run rates of both teams around 4 an over throughout the match and New Zealand having big hitters like McCullum, all three results were still possible.

Even after New Zealand were 0 for 2 after just 7 balls!

But it was England who came out the winners, dismissing New Zealand for 220 with 9.3 overs left to win by 124 runs.

A thrilling game with the advantage constantly moving from one side to the other; a real advert of all that is best in the finest form of the game.

If the rest of the English summer lives up to this opener, we are in for a real treat.

England beat New Zealand by 124 runs in thrilling first Test at Lord's

[BookMan]

Some big scores and fast scoring going on there

[7by7]

After rain delayed the start of the second England/New Zealand test for over two hours at Headingly yesterday (Friday), Cook won the toss and put New Zealand in.

This decision seemed to have worked perfectly when in the first over Anderson took his 400th test wicket to dismiss Guptill for 0 and then did the same to Williamson in the third over to reduce New Zealand to 2 for 2.

However, thanks to a steady performance from Latham and big hitting from others, New Zealand rallied and looked to be in complete control; helped by some wayward English bowling and dropped catches, Latham was dropped three times on his way to 84! .

McCullum was going well, scoring 41 from 28 balls, until he failed to concentrate after the tea break and soon after provided some catching practice for Wood off Stokes without adding to his score.

34 year old debutante Luke Ronchi, not considered good enough for test cricket by Australia, scored 88 from 70 in a 120 run partnership with Latham.

However, late wickets provided some relief for England, and New Zealand ended a day shortened by rain to 65 overs on 297 for 8.

England v New Zealand: Hosts respond to Luke Ronchi rally

England took the last two wickets this morning, but not before Craig and Boult had added 40 for the 10th wicket to take New Zealand to 350 from just 72.1 overs.

Lyth and Cook are being a more cautious in their batting, and at lunch England are 54 for 0 off 20 overs.

[7by7]

Earlier on, a tremendous ovation for Cook as he passed Gooch's record of 8900 test runs for England.

At 30 years of age, he should move quite a way up the all time list; but can he catch Dravid, Kallis or Ponting, let alone Tendulker?

After being stuck on 47 for while, and a drinks break, Yorkshireman Lyth then receives an even louder one on reaching his maiden test 50 on his home ground. How loud will it be if he converts his 50 into a ton?

England 104 for 0.

[7by7]

At tea, England 163 for 0; Lyth 80, Cook 71.

You could argue that the New Zealand bowlers are successfully keeping the run rate down; even though it has improved since lunch.

But they haven't really looked like taking a wicket.

England are 187 behind.

With the extra overs due this evening to make up for those lost yesterday, both Cook and Lyth being well set and considering who's to come should a wicket fall; I wont be surprised if England are in front by the close tonight.

[7by7]

It was all going so well, even when Cook was out lbw Craig for 75.

Lyth got his ton, and the roar from his home crowd was deafening.

Then a dodgy call from his fellow Yorkie Ballance and a stupendous pick up and throw from Boult saw him run out for 107.

This singled the wheels coming off England's wagon!

Five wickets falling for just 32 runs leaves England at the close on 253 for 5.

All things considered, honours even for the day, I reckon.

England v New Zealand: Adam Lyth hits century but NZ fight back

[BookMan]

It was all going so well, even when Cook was out lbw Craig for 75.

Lyth got his ton, and the roar from his home crowd was deafening.

Then a dodgy call from his fellow Yorkie Ballance and a stupendous pick up and throw from Boult saw him run out for 107.

This singled the wheels coming off England's wagon!

Five wickets falling for just 32 runs leaves England at the close on 253 for 5.

All things considered, honours even for the day, I reckon.

England v New Zealand: Adam Lyth hits century but NZ fight back

I'm quite impressed with the New Zealand scoring rate in this test match..i think it was similar the first test match.

NZ, 4.84 RPO 1st innings

NZ 4.5 RPO 2nd innings currently

[ripstanley]

In the 1st hour of play on day 4 England have taken 1 wicket and NZ have added 94 runs. One Broad over went for 20. Its like watch a one day game.

[BookMan]

In the 1st hour of play on day 4 England have taken 1 wicket and NZ have added 94 runs. One Broad over went for 20. Its like watch a one day game.

Wow. That's real T20 type stuff

[ripstanley]

NZ have declared at 454 for 8 . NZ only faced 91 overs. Run rate was 4.98. Last man in was Henry who scored 12 off 2 scoring shots

[7by7]

For a day three report, see England v New Zealand: BJ Watling century gives NZ control

To win, England will need to set a new world record.

Highest successful fourth-innings run chases in Test history:

•418-7 - West Indies v Australia, Antigua, 2003 (NB both teams scored the same in the first innings - 240)
•414-4 - South Africa v Australia, Perth, 2008
•406-4 - India v West Indies, Trinidad, 1976
•404-3 - Australia v England, Headingley, 1948
•387-4 - India v England, Chennai, 2008

Unfortunately, rain is forecast in Leeds for late afternoon/early evening today and more tomorrow.

[Will27]

A great article and photograph on the 2005 Edgbaston Ashes test.

'It's 1-1, you Aussie bastard'

Ten years ago, one of cricket's all-time great matches played itself out in Birmingham

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/881539.html

[7by7]

With most of yesterday lost to rain, England resumed this morning on 44 for 0.

A scheduled 98 overs today, weather permitting, plus the possibility of an extra half hour if a result seems likely.

Will England go for it? They say they will, but the loss of Lyth (c Ronchi b Boult 24) in the fourth over this morning is ominous.

Can England snatch a famous, record braking victory, or will New Zealand bowl them out for a well deserved win?

I think it will be ne or the other; I can't see England successfully blocking all day for a draw. Unless the weather intervens, but at the moment the forcast, although very windy, is dry.

Very windy, with gusts up to 50 mph blowing down the ground, will make it difficult for the seamers. At the moment Craig is bowling into the wind, but even he is having problems; one ball in his first over just missing the square leg umpire!

Edited June 2, 2015 by 7by7

[BookMan]

What is the pitch like?

[7by7]

A reminder, though I doubt that our Aussie members need it, of which pair of twins celebrate their birthdays today.

Waugh, huh yeah
What were they good for?
Lovely, lovely cricket oh hoh, oh
Waugh, huh yeah
What were they good for?
Lovely, lovely cricket oh hoh, oh say it agin y'all
Waugh huh good God
What were they good for?
Lovely, lovely cricket , listen to me

(With apologies to Edwin Starr.)

[7by7]

What is the pitch like?

Still good, but with crumbly foot holes for Craig to pitch it in for the left handers; of which England have seven!

Despite his earlier wayward ball, he's been producing some real Jaffas.

But it's Boult whose taken his second wicket, bowling Balance for 6.

England 61 for 2; time for Bell to rediscover his form.

[ripstanley]

Now 4 for 64. Bell and Root failed. A great catch to dismiss Root

[Will27]

Now 4 for 64. Bell and Root failed. A great catch to dismiss Root

Are you streaming it mate?

[ripstanley]

Now 4 for 64. Bell and Root failed. A great catch to dismiss Root

Are you streaming it mate?

Yes I am. Wait for the add to close and the make full screen.

http://cricket-365.nl/watch/2015/england-vs-newzealand-live.html

[ripstanley]

The original link was posted by Bookman.

. http://cricket-365.nl/

Lunch England 5 for 102. Well done the Kiwis

[ripstanley]

Cook out. England 6 for 145

[ripstanley]

England now 7 for 153

[ripstanley]

9 for 230. Only 1 more wicket required to get a great win.

[BookMan]

9 for 230. Only 1 more wicket required to get a great win.

gee...leave us hanging mate.

All out 255.

Interesting looking at the fall of wickets.

8/188

9/230

all out 255

Hearts and minds are one thing but what New Zealand really wanted to win was this Test. At Headingley, the ground where they first claimed a Test victory in England more than 30 years ago, they had to battle the weather, which took almost a day out of the game, and an England side still swaggering from their heroics at Lord's last week.

They overcame both with time to spare, having scored 804 runs at almost five an over and twice rattled through England with pace, swing and, on the final day, spin. Every member of the side contributed to their victory in the second Investec Test, one which levelled the series and preserved a two-year unbeaten run. In 54 Tests against England in England, it was only New Zealand's fifth victory and their first of the 21st century.

Mark Craig followed some lower-order slugging and immaculate slip catching with three wickets on a wearing surface, finishing England's resistance by having Jos Buttler lbw without playing a shot. Kane Williamson also picked up three-for with his part-time offspin, after Trent Boult, the joint-leading wicket-taker on either side, had struck twice early on to set New Zealand on their way.

That England extended the game into the final session was chiefly down to dogged half-centuries from Buttler and Alastair Cook. Obdurate crease occupation is Cook's greatest strength and he absorbed 171 balls in making 56, bowing his head over the bat like a monk at prayer. Buttler showed a different side to his game by playing with admirable restraint during his lengthiest Test innings, in terms of balls faced.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-new-zealand-2015/content/story/883525.html

Edited June 3, 2015 by BookMan

[ripstanley]

9 for 230. Only 1 more wicket required to get a great win.

gee...leave us hanging mate.

All out 255.

Interesting looking at the fall of wickets.

8/188

9/230

all out 255

Hearts and minds are one thing but what New Zealand really wanted to win was this Test. At Headingley, the ground where they first claimed a Test victory in England more than 30 years ago, they had to battle the weather, which took almost a day out of the game, and an England side still swaggering from their heroics at Lord's last week.

They overcame both with time to spare, having scored 804 runs at almost five an over and twice rattled through England with pace, swing and, on the final day, spin. Every member of the side contributed to their victory in the second Investec Test, one which levelled the series and preserved a two-year unbeaten run. In 54 Tests against England in England, it was only New Zealand's fifth victory and their first of the 21st century.

Mark Craig followed some lower-order slugging and immaculate slip catching with three wickets on a wearing surface, finishing England's resistance by having Jos Buttler lbw without playing a shot. Kane Williamson also picked up three-for with his part-time offspin, after Trent Boult, the joint-leading wicket-taker on either side, had struck twice early on to set New Zealand on their way.

That England extended the game into the final session was chiefly down to dogged half-centuries from Buttler and Alastair Cook. Obdurate crease occupation is Cook's greatest strength and he absorbed 171 balls in making 56, bowing his head over the bat like a monk at prayer. Buttler showed a different side to his game by playing with admirable restraint during his lengthiest Test innings, in terms of balls faced.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-new-zealand-2015/content/story/883525.html

Sleep was required and went to bed before the end.

Good win though. They replayed the wickets on TVNZ news this morning.

[7by7]

Congratulations to the Kiwis on a well deserved win.

It's such a shame that there will not be a series decider.

They now spend June playing each other in ODIs and a T20; surely a coup[le of those games could have been sacrificed for a third test?

Big worries for England, England v New Zealand: Problems England must solve for Ashes

[BookMan]

Congratulations to the Kiwis on a well deserved win.

It's such a shame that there will not be a series decider.

They now spend June playing each other in ODIs and a T20; surely a coup[le of those games could have been sacrificed for a third test?

Big worries for England, England v New Zealand: Problems England must solve for Ashes

Interesting article.

Can't see Bayliss making any difference to the England team in a month. Maybe change their brand of still water or organic cucumbers in the sandwiches.

This comment from Aggers says a lot. The players had it right. try for a win before you surrender.

"The problem England have got with finding consistency is that they repeatedly speak of playing in a positive manner. Positivity and consistency are tough to marry together.

The fourth evening of the second Test was a good example, when Joe Root proclaimed that England would be looking to chase 455 on the final day. I would have much rather heard about their commitment to saving the game.