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

[theegyptian]

I'm fine with not enforcing the followon. More important than winning the game is winning the series. Enforcing the followon actually gives NZ a chance of winning especially on a quick scoring ground like headingley. Chances are if England enforced the followon they win easily but it does greatly increase the chances of NZ winning. Bat 80 overs, let the wicket wear a bit more and keep the bowlers fresh. If it rains it rains.

Journalists and fans tend not to like this because they like to see the game moving forward. And all the journos prefer a spare day to play golf or whatever.

 

[superkingdave]

While I have a ticket for tomorrow and money on the draw, that really was a terrible decision. Now we get to watch us crawl along at 2 an over till the rain

 

[BeeGee]

Why is "defensive" an ugly word? It may be a bit boring to watch at times but that doesn't mean it doesn't make sense.

England are massively on top, why would you be defensive in that situation? What are they afraid of, FFS? If they had enforced the follow on they probably wouldn't have had to bat again. All they've done is give NZ a chance to draw the test.

 

[grecian]

People forgetting the big picture, if we'd won tomorrow, Joe Root could have played for Yorkshire, and got his 1000 runs before the end of May, evil Cook.

 

[Furball]

Amazing. Who would have thought that teams with a 200+ run lead at the end of the first innings go on to win the match the vast majority of the time?

 

[TT Boy]

Champions Trophy practice for Cook.

Wagner's last test? Just bleeds runs.

 

[Howe_zat]

Simon: "How come the balls seem to be going "out of shape" after only 10 or so overs, yet the replacements which presumably are of a similar age happily last the next 70? Seems to be that if it doesn't swing, then change it..."

If that were the case I doubt I'd have any problem with it tbh

 

[straw man]

Went to bed just after Fulton got out and thought we were doing ok, today would be the day for Taylor to re-find form. Now WTF, why are England batting?

So we've done our 'bat like the ****ing useless brigade' routine again. Taylor keeps finding ways to get out, the middle order can't play spin for **** and as if 174 isn't bad enough, looks like we were lucky to slog our way there from 122/8. Great to see Guptill and Bracewell added some steel to that lower middle order too .

 

[BeeGee]

Good knock from Cook. Nice to see him push the pace.

 

[Howe_zat]

Knee jerkers to note that we're now 250 ahead and there's still at least 90 minutes left tonight.

Batting isn't the same thing as being defensive, even if you're deciding that what you'd like to see is always what the side should do.

Granted, it seems Compton may not have got the memo.

 

[Prince EWS]

Kane is God.

 

[Jarquis]

Painful.

 

[Daemon]

Wow, he's averaging under 35 now. WAC.

 

[Howe_zat]

Would not miss Compton at all. This is not a situation where you're supposed to struggle, and he's managed 7 off 45.

 

[Daemon]

Would not miss Compton at all. This is not a situation where you're supposed to struggle, and he's managed 7 off 45.

Who would open?

 

[MW1304]

He doesn't have a release shot. Soon enough Kane was going to turn one into him and take the edge when all he was doing was prodding forward.

 

[MW1304]

Who would open?

Need you even ask, why the golden boy of course!

 

[BoyBrumby]

Like Ramprakash without the talent.

All bristling intensity and determination to succeed but forgets to play any actual shots.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Who would open?

Everyone seems to want Root to open in the ashes with Bairstow at 6 for the ashes.

They're not going to move Root up to open untried for the start of the ashes.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Thing is though Root regularly opens for Yorkshire, pretty sure Compton only occasionally opened for Somerset up until England selected him, until that point he was batting at 3.