[Cricket] 2nd Test Eng v NZ @ Headingly

[Willow]

Come on Kiwi's, wrap this up. Totally deserving of the win.

 

[Titanic]

England all out, New Zealand win by 199 runs.

An entertaining and pretty evenly matched 'series' ends 1-1

Both matches were won in the last session on the 5th day. What more could you want from Test Match cricket?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Should have been a third game in the series really. Good series with each win deserved.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Fair outcome but to be leading two series in a row going into the final test and losing them both is a concern. Not as big a concern as how the fvck we're going to deal with Mitchell Johnson, but a concern nonetheless.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Drop Bell, reshuffle the order with Moeen further up, get another spinner in. Hope and pray Cook retains his form, Lyth grows and Ballance remembers how he averaged 60 odd!

 

[BensGrandad]

Questions should be asked about Bell and the inability of our batsmen to capitalise on a good opening stand. We desperately need a solid batsmen to come in at 4 or 5 and hold the team together. Is Moeen good enough to do that?

 

[Pavilionaire]

The choice re The Ashes seems to be:

a) Ignore Pietersen, pray for a major miracle that we might compete with them in the forthcoming series, or
b) Pick Pietersen, at least be competitive in the series but Cooky and Straussy lose face.

It seems that they've already gone with Option A.

However, what we've learned in the West Indies and NZ series is that Bell and Ballance are woefully out of form, and how Lyth will play is anyone's guess. I don't see that the introduction of Pietersen is going to upset an already well-oiled machine because it's not functioning that well without him.

I predict that we'll ignore Pietersen, we'll lose the Ashes 3-1 and Gary Ballance's international career will be over before the last test.

 

[Triggaaar]

Fair outcome but to be leading two series in a row going into the final test and losing them both is a concern.

But we didn't lose this series.

 

[Pavilionaire]

But we didn't lose this series.

I didn't say we did, I said we lost both final tests.

 

[KZNSeagull]

I agree with the first part, but a kick up the arse? Surely they got that went losing the final test to the West Indies?

What this series has shown is that there's not much difference between England and New Zealand - we suspected as much before it started. If England don't make personnel changes it stands to reason they will lose the Ashes series to Australia.

We need a proper spinner and a reliable top order batsman who is up for it.

English cricket can never have enough kicks up the arse!

 

[Triggaaar]

I didn't say we did, I said we lost both final tests.

Your English needs work.

 

[spring hall convert]

Not as big a concern as how the fvck we're going to deal with Mitchell Johnson, but a concern nonetheless.

Basically we have to hope the shit Mitchell Johnson turns up.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Basically we have to hope the shit Mitchell Johnson turns up.

Or he twists his ankle on a stray ball!

 

[Bold Seagull]

I didn't say we did, I said we lost both final tests.

Don't worry, most people would have read what you intended.

 

[Hampster Gull]

Kiwis are a good team, lucky for england that they only gave them two matches as this was only going one way