England v New Zealand, Headingley 29th May to 2nd June

First topic message reminder :

After an England win that for much of the first four days looked unlikely we move up to Leeds for round 2.

England have added Plunkett to the squad either as cover for Wood, who has a poor fitness record, or maybe because the senior seamers may be a touch tired. Very much doubt we will see any changes to the starting XI however. Selectors will be hoping that Adam Lyth can get some runs at his home ground as lord alone knows where they go next. Lyth and Ballance will both be hoping to be in the runs - and England need them to as you cannot keep losing 3 or 4 cheap top order wickets.

New Zealand have their own issues. Anderson and Watling have caused the physios some concern, Craig did not look like an internationalk spinner and with Anderson's issues the 3 main seamers were perhaps overbowled.

LivinginItaly wrote:We all know the reasons for not picking kp,

Not sure about that. In fact, that is the major reason why the saga goes on, there is absolutely no clarity as to why he was sacked after the last Ashes.

msp83 wrote:

LivinginItaly wrote:We all know the reasons for not picking kp,

Not sure about that. In fact, that is the major reason why the saga goes on, there is absolutely no clarity as to why he was sacked after the last Ashes.

Blame Pietersens lawyers for imposing a gagging clause.

any way I am still not sure that the CURRENT Pietersen is good enough. Certainly most of what he has done since his last test would suggest his standards had continued to slide. Poor T20 campaigns in IPL, England and Caribbean - offset by a decent Big Bash. Really poor first 3 games in County championship offset by the triple hundred - though even then he was dropped a handful of times before making a ton. At his best a very talented batsmen who relied on a good eye - has been falling from that best for a long time now.

all relevant as he is injured.

The toss:

England win and bowl

as expected no changes for England

and for New Zealand - Luke Ronchi replaces Corey Anderson, with Watling as a batsman only.

Not quite like the look of the New Zealand lineup, I have to say.

England unchanged

LondonTiger wrote:

msp83 wrote:

LivinginItaly wrote:We all know the reasons for not picking kp,

Not sure about that. In fact, that is the major reason why the saga goes on, there is absolutely no clarity as to why he was sacked after the last Ashes.

Blame Pietersens lawyers for imposing a gagging clause.

any way I am still not sure that the CURRENT Pietersen is good enough. Certainly most of what he has done since his last test would suggest his standards had continued to slide. Poor T20 campaigns in IPL, England and Caribbean - offset by a decent Big Bash. Really poor first 3 games in County championship offset by the triple hundred - though even then he was dropped a handful of times before making a ton. At his best a very talented batsmen who relied on a good eye - has been falling from that best for a long time now.

all relevant as he is injured.

.
Did the gag come from the ECB or Pietersen's side? Anyways it would have lasted only till the end of his contract, and the ECB had some many opportunities to clear the air after that.
Yes he had a poor time in T-20s last year before the BBL. But since then he has been up and running. Yes he didn't score tons in the first couple of county games, but had a few starts and an unbeaten 50, that is not exactly very poor even by his own high standards. That would last you a year in the England side!
He did get injured after that triple but I understand is fit and available for the next round of CC games.

Lets just agree msp that we will never agree on this. I feel he is over the hill, you do not.


any way putting my phone away and off to my seat

Fairly easy decision to bowl given conditions. Also really limiting for NZ, as to take the 20 wickets they need in a likely to be curtailed game, they really needed to bowl first and start making inroads

Will be a tough test for Guptill and Latham to come out and open in these conditions. With the overhead conditions expected to assist the bowling side.

Corker of a first over from Anderson.

There certainly is some serious movement out there for James Anderson.

Playing and the Sun is out !

I'd been led to believe it was pratically underwater...a pleasant surprise.

Good movement for Jimmy first over. But with the sun shining and a rather dry pitch sending them in might not have been such an automatic choice as you'd think - if they don't get early wickets England could come to regret it. Though I don't suppose they are terribly worried about Craig bowling to them on a deteriorating pitch.

The rain's on the way. What a shame.......

Sunshine didn't last !

Jimmy 400 !

Wicket number 400 for James Anderson in tests as Guptill edges behind without score.

No real surprise to see Guptill out early - he's not someone you would ever want opening in swinging conditions

Short session . Good for Jimmy and England...not so good for poor Guptill and NZ

Appropriate that Anderson got his 400th with a trademark outswinger.

And nice to see Ian Bell hanging on to it

Well done Jimmy.

Short bursts may aid England. Clouds stay around and the bowlers can keep going.

Hopefully they won't be off for too long........

Am I the only one thoroughly bored of the KP saga.

Delighted to see Jimmy get that milestone so quickly. However I do feel a bit sorry for NZ (especially Guptill)
Having to bat or ten minutes , then knowing you're all going to be off the pitch any moment ...and gone ! Seconds before it hoses down again...
Openers on a hiding to nothing in that situation.

Cleared quickly...let's hope it stays fine.

Now Williamson gone !

2nd for Anderson, Williamson goes for a duck

First Englishman to hit 400 and he doesn't stay there for long!

GSC wrote:Am I the only one thoroughly bored of the KP saga.

You are definitely not alone , GSC.

They are back on...... Kane Williamson has to come out much earlier than he would have liked. And he has to go back after 2 balls!. Anderson strikes again, KW gone caught behind.

NZ could do with a score from Taylor here

Latham seems to be seeing it well.

Latham successfully appeals a gloved catch behind

Wonder if a Wood burst might pay off

A horrendouso nfield call reversed on Latham's review!!!

DRS ...correctly ...saves Latham from being given caught behind.

Pretty clear. Confident appeal fooled the umpire.

Justice done.

That's what the system should be used for, the genuine howlers

GSC wrote:Wonder if a Wood burst might pay off

About to find out...

Good move I think...want to rotate the quicks here , keep the pressure on , keep them fresh.

LondonTiger wrote:

msp83 wrote:

LivinginItaly wrote:We all know the reasons for not picking kp,

Not sure about that. In fact, that is the major reason why the saga goes on, there is absolutely no clarity as to why he was sacked after the last Ashes.

Blame Pietersens lawyers for imposing a gagging clause.

any way I am still not sure that the CURRENT Pietersen is good enough. Certainly most of what he has done since his last test would suggest his standards had continued to slide. Poor T20 campaigns in IPL, England and Caribbean - offset by a decent Big Bash. Really poor first 3 games in County championship offset by the triple hundred - though even then he was dropped a handful of times before making a ton. At his best a very talented batsmen who relied on a good eye - has been falling from that best for a long time now.

all relevant as he is injured.

It's with disappointment that I continue the Pietersen saga on this current Test thread but I feel even more that if comments are to be made about him (or any individual for that matter) they should be correct.

Pietersen has played three CC matches this season. In the third match he scored an unbeaten triple ton in the first innings and didn't bat in the second. That gives him a current CC average of 233.5 this season. Ignoring that last match and concentrating on just the first two, he still has an average of 56.0, albeit aided by 2 not outs. I can't equate any of that with ''Really poor first 3 games in County Championship''.

I note you have referred more than once to Pietersen being ''dropped a handful of times before making a ton''. Where do you get that from? Were you at the Oval? I was and only saw Pietersen dropped once before making three figures, a hard low caught and bowled chance to Naik when in the 90s. Furthermore, none of the reports I've read mention any chance other than this one before he completed his first century.

Pietersen is expected to play in the CC match against Lancs starting on Sunday.

None of the above should be interpreted as a loud scream for Pietersen to be recalled to the Test side. However, untruths and inaccuracies will only continue to fuel the fire. Any discussion needs to be balanced and I do not think that is met by a poster having an equally massive chip on each shoulder.

Stat attack - New Zealand's 2nd wicket partnerships this series have been:
0
0
and
0

Can I suggest a KP thread be set up.

Any poster mentioning KP outside that thread will receive a 24 hour suspension

GSC wrote:Can I suggest a KP thread be set up.

Any poster mentioning KP outside that thread will receive a 24 hour suspension

Happy to go along with that and do a day in the sin bin provided those mentioning him with factual inaccuracies serve longer!

Positive or negative references.

Truly bored of it derailing countless threads with the same suspects (not you!) providing the same arguments.

Ah well, back in the member's pavilion. Could be a long one looking at the skies.

Guildford, many thanks for the insult - never been accused of that before. Would respond to the direct accusation re drops - but I see we are banned from discussing the matter - plus unable to copy links on my phone from the report by the Radio guy.

https://www.606v2.com/t58961-kp-of-the-overflow-continued

'tis the place for all discussion of 35 year olds not in the team

dummy_half wrote:Stat attack - New Zealand's 2nd wicket partnerships this series have been:
0
0
and
0

That's a good stat. Room for improvement I would say!

any one watching on TV?

Wood's over looked pretty pedestrian from the stand - what was the speed gun like?

Meanwhile, many congrats to Jimmy on getting 1 closer to 500! Possible? Highly unlikely would be my answer but I'm sure Duty already has a tenner on it and I'm in no position to give him gambling tips after the first Test!

Glad also that my punt on putting the opposition in is paying off so far.

Massive congratulations must go to Anderson on becoming the first England bowler to take 400 test wickets. Then the crucial wicket of Williamson to put New Zealand in some early bother.

I would too join the cry that KP discussions (including suggestions of moving Bell/Buttler/Moeen/Root/Anderson/David Gower's vintage champagne to open to accommodate him) be kept to the roughly 493 threads already dealing with the topic.

I don't know , guildford ...Jimmy is a very fit man ; gets his wickets more from skill than brute force these days - and seems keen to continue.
Injury coud easily derail him at some point I suppose : but another two years at his current rate would just about see him to 500.

Decent chance , I'd think...would be a great achievement if he could make it ; but I wouldn't be betting against it either.

Averaging just under 4 wickets per test over his career, woudl take a while.

Not 100% sure we will actually see the game restart in 15 minutes as scheduled. hope I am wrong.

LondonTiger wrote:any one watching on TV?

Wood's over looked pretty pedestrian from the stand - what was the speed gun like?

84/85mph