***Official*** England in New Zealand series 2013

[Zinzan]

FFS, this is uncanny, I'm cursed. First ball I sit down to watch yesterday & Rutherford gets out and now first ball this morning Williamson falls.

 

[straw man]

**** sake Kane

He and Brownlie were our two batsmen I had the most faith in in this situation. Watling and McCullum can also contribute but looking unlikely we'll make the follow on here now.

 

[Meridio]

****, ****, ****ing **** ****.

Soft dismissal. Pitch looking flat this morning, England bowling looking pretty average, and Kane's just punched one in the air. ****.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Just the start we wanted. Now get McCullum early and make them follow on.

 

[Woodster]

Excellent return catch from Broady!Was just thinking he's looking a little ineffective so far this morning, and then he gets one, seemingly out of nothing. Important wicket.

 

[straw man]

Great ball

 

[Zinzan]

Wow, Brownlie playing that off the backfoot?

 

[Meridio]

Crap. Ball swung out of nowhere. We're going to be following on.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

This start is almost as good as the treble I backed at Cheltenham today.

 

[Stapel]

Anderson not looking good, not great body language, seems to have a problem...., bla bla...., wicket by a good delivery.

What should we make of that?

 

[Woodster]

Good inducker from Jimmy, touch of reverse there and he's got it swinging a reasonable amount now!

 

[TT Boy]

Wow, they are getting the ball to move. Was gun barrel when coming out of the Kiwi hands.

 

[Furball]

Time to hit the mute button, Botham's going to moan about the slips.

 

[straw man]

Geez that was a waft from Watling, reverse swing or no.

 

[Zinzan]

Time to hit the mute button, Botham's going to moan about the slips.

And rightly so to be fair. NZ are 100/5 (still 165 from the follow-on) and both batsmen are new to the crease. Criminal not having a 3rd slip.

 

[hendrix]

Wow, they are getting the ball to move. Was gun barrel when coming out of the Kiwi hands.

the pitch has hardened up and it's not as fine as it was on the first day.

There was a bit of movement for Southee and Boult on day 2 as well.

 

[Stapel]

Time to hit the mute button, Botham's going to moan about the slips.

Well, I was just going to moan about the lack of slips....

Why not have three slips AND a gully? NZ are basically minus 350 for 5, and Broad and Jimmy are making the ball move!

 

[Cabinet96]

And rightly so to be fair. NZ are 100/5 (still 165 from the follow-on) and both batsmen are new to the crease. Criminal not having a 3rd slip.

Botham wants five slips but still wants protection in front of the wicket though. And a third man would be good too.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

3 slips and a gully is what we should have. At least until McCullum is in and starts going crazy anyway. Cook is even more defensive than Strauss was.

 

[Furball]

And rightly so to be fair. NZ are 100/5 (still 165 from the follow-on) and both batsmen are new to the crease. Criminal not having a 3rd slip.

Botham generally wants 15 fielders when he starts moaning.