[Cricket] Cricket- New Zealand v England Test Series- November 27-December 13 2024

[um bongo molongo]

I've a soft spot for the really genuinely fast bowlers who seem to be made of glass.

Bond definitely fit in that category. Mark Wood as well nowadays. I liked Cummins when he took a load of wickets on debut and then immediatly disappeared with back fractures for about 2years, he's ruined it since.

Watching them there's that fantastic sense of something incredibly primal and fearsome and yet incredibly fragile. Also, the genuinely quick bowlers pretty much always seem to be lovely people.

Also (and this is an aside really), it's worth remembering that it's much harder, skill wise, to bowl faster than it is to bowl the same deliveries at a lower speed. Partly because everything's moving faster, but also because the trajectory being flatter means you're literally aiming for a smaller target. There's a bit in that book I can't remember the name of by the England team statisticians where they talk about a difference of a foot (might even be a yard) in length for a fast bowler being equivalent, at the point of release, to the width of the bullseye for a darts player. It's mental.

I sat behind the bowlers arm at pitch level at the Oval last summer, not normally a position I’d choose to sit, but Wood’s pace from that angle was utterly terrifying

 

[Change at Barnham]

 

[Eeyore]

Another splendid setting. Has the feel of a shire county ground. An upgraded Worcester, perhaps

 

[Triggaaar]

Tough start

 

[Eeyore]

Felt really sorry for Williamson there. Don't often groan when I see an opposition batsman dismissed

 

[Pevenseagull]

Would like this to go to the last day.

 

[Eeyore]

Interesting question for folks (I'll probably be asleep when you see it). Only two Test teams have there longest present unbeaten runs on a ground away from home. Sri Lanka's is Harare with 9 matches. Where is England's with 12 ?

 

[Pevenseagull]

That batting has got to hurt.

plenty getting in

 

[Pevenseagull]

On good grief.... Look at it there ... Loafing on a grass bank watching good test cricket in the sunshine.


Heaven.

 

[Terry Connor]

On good grief.... Look at it there ... Loafing on a grass bank watching good test cricket in the sunshine.


Heaven.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Lovely


great day of cricket that

 

[dazzer6666]

Honours more or less even, proper day of compelling test cricket by the look of things

 

[CHAPPERS]

Merits of picking your non batting spinner and him not getting a go in the first innings?

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Merits of picking your non batting spinner and him not getting a go in the first innings?

I'd only have a particular issue with it if he was picked with the explicit intention of not bowling him at any stage of the match.

I've only seen some highlights and read the reports this morning, was there any indication that he/a spinner should have been given a bowl?

 

[CHAPPERS]

I'd only have a particular issue with it if he was picked with the explicit intention of not bowling him at any stage of the match.

I've only seen some highlights and read the reports this morning, was there any indication that he/a spinner should have been given a bowl?

Not seen much either and I’m not really arguing against picking him, necessarily. Bit of a green top though. Maybe it’s long term thinking and letting him know he’s now a first team player.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Not seen much either and I’m not really arguing against picking him, necessarily. Bit of a green top though. Maybe it’s long term thinking and letting him know he’s now a first team player.

I'd always want a spinner in the team, even if on the face of it the conditions should lead to the seamers doing all or most of the bowling. You never know how things will turn out and if the first 4 seamers haven't done the job it seems unlikely that having another one available will help the situation.

Obviously, in an ideal world he'd be a better batter or a notably good fielder or something to contribute when he's not bowling. I'd rather he focused on improving his bowling before he starts worrying about that though.

I am surprised that Stokes didn't give him a bowl at all, just because it seems unusual for him rather than that I think he should have done.

 

[Eeyore]

I'd only have a particular issue with it if he was picked with the explicit intention of not bowling him at any stage of the match.

I've only seen some highlights and read the reports this morning, was there any indication that he/a spinner should have been given a bowl?

I watched much of it. There was plenty of movement off the pitch and the ball seemed to retain a shine as far as the 60th over. I would think a spinner may have a role in the second innings, perhaps. The bounce has been a bit sharp sometimes and I wonder that Bashir could cause some issues there.

England started to take wickets at the point I was thinking they needed something different, so I think they were right to continue as was.

 

[Eeyore]

Who's on the NSC sofa tonight ?

 

[LamieRobertson]

Still havnt broken this last wicket stand….ball still doing a bit…my bet would be on NZ taking a first innings lead

 

[Eeyore]

Still havnt broken this last wicket stand….ball still doing a bit…my bet would be on NZ taking a first innings lead

Ooohhhh, interesting call. I'm Evens on that at the moment