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.

Mat wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:any one watching on TV?

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

84/85mph

OK so 7/8 mph slower than Lords, but not pedestrian.

thanks.

oops, gotta go hope this period lasts longer

alfie wrote: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.

Hmmm. I thought it was worth throwing the question out there. Like Tiger, I feel it might just take too long. Also, maybe injuries more likely and harder to recover from them as time moves on (although you appear to show the opposite! ) Suspect we'll have more of a pointer after the forthcoming Ashes series, a series I'm still not too optimistic about.

England play 27 Tests including the current one up to the end of 2016. I would say Jimmy will still be going then if he wants to. But could he, for example, retire at the end of the current Ashes?

(An aside is, whoever arranged that schedule wants shooting)

LondonTiger wrote:
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Guildford, many thanks for the insult - never been accused of that before ...

Tiger - my pleasure. Think nothing of it.

Not too bothered about Wood's pace today...just needs to get his radar correct.
If he makes them play he will be in with a chance. Not quite getting it right yet.

Now, I would be among the top ranks of the 'usual suspects list' on Pietersen. I hope we haven't got some ECB clown to moderate this forum. Yes, wherever I feel it relevant, I would continue to bring up Pietersen. Don't think I initiated anything on KP here in this thread, only responded....... Any fan of #strausslogic is welcomed to ban me!!

Anyways so long as England play good cricket, we can stay focused on that. Hopefully the likes of young Stokes and young Joe would turn out to be the next generation global superstars who would demand positive attention from the followers of the game through their cricket.
And hopefully the stupid weather can behave.......

I think most of us are thoroughly bored of the KP debates derailing threads that have very little to do with him. Regardless of whether you defend or attack him.

Less chance of the weather in Leeds behaving than there is of keeping this thread a Pietersen- free zone

Hopefully enough clear breaks to play some cricket.

Few too many shorter deliveries since they resumed ; NZ bats helping themselves to a number of boundaries with the field up...

Better over then from Wood.

Wood not consistently bowling the length needed on this track in these conditions

Broad's back on and starts with a short one that Taylor duely put away for 4.

Taylor goes, Broad gets him LBW playing no stroke!

Beautiful bowling from Broad ! Traps Taylor not playing a shot

I love it when a plan comes together...

Will McCullum come out and take on the bowlers or will Watling come in with a calming influence?

Cook opts against a review vs Latham

Oops, the Taylor replay indicates it was rather marginal. Impact outside and hitting umpire's call. Would have stayed out even if he had reviewed and it was a poor leave, but.......

McCullum not holding back at all!!!

Impact doesn't matter if he didn't play

msp83 wrote:Oops, the Taylor replay indicates it was rather marginal. Impact outside and hitting umpire's call. Would have stayed out even if he had reviewed and it was a poor leave, but.......

But what ? Yes he could have been given not out on field and duly survived...but that looked out live - and was : I'd have been shocked if that had been turned down.

McCullum starts brightly , you might say

GSC wrote:Cook opts against a review vs Latham

Smart call it was.......

I've been quite impressed with Latham today. Not looking too anxious even with the ball zipping around early - and not missing out on scoring opportunities.

Now with McCullum clearly looking to fight fire with fire this could be a very lively passage of play !

And here comes Stokes...

alfie wrote:

msp83 wrote:Oops, the Taylor replay indicates it was rather marginal. Impact outside and hitting umpire's call. Would have stayed out even if he had reviewed and it was a poor leave, but.......

But what ?  Yes he could have been given not out on field and duly survived...but that looked out live - and was : I'd have been shocked if that had been turned down.

McCullum starts brightly , you might say

Certainly did look dead live, but but turned out to be 50-50 on replay.
Stokes on.......

Buzzers !

Worth the try ,I think - though Broad would probably prefer not have a five against him

Scoring rate resembles an ODI.

I think NZ are doing the right thing here. There's likely to be a load of time lost in this game so they have to go for it to have any chance of winning

That's the 50 up for Tom Latham!. Very good knock from him so far, but his job has only started.......

Not to be picky , msp ; but I don't think "umpires call" equates to "fifty-fifty"
Just means there is an element of doubt in the accuracy of the ball tracking so a not out decision will not be overturned. From the graphic displayed I think that one was quite close to being deemed "hitting"
And I don't think anyone would really think it was anything other than out.

alfie wrote:Buzzers !

Worth the try ,I think - though Broad would probably prefer not have a five against him

Well, he better not demand an apology!

A good fifty for Latham

McCullum riding his luck a bit here...

The fast scoring means if NZ can get a partnership going they might yet turn this awful start into a decent score ; but another wicket or two now and they'd be back in big trouble.
The next two wicket keepers can bat , and the pitch itself seems fine for batting ; so I think England need to strike again soonish if they're to justify sending NZ in.

kingraf wrote:

alfie wrote:Buzzers !

Worth the try ,I think - though Broad would probably prefer not have a five against him

Well, he better not demand an apology!

Fielders do that when I'm bowling I usually settle for a beer at close of play

alfie wrote:A good fifty for Latham

McCullum riding his luck a bit here...

The fast scoring means if NZ can get a partnership going they might yet turn this awful start into a decent score ; but another wicket or two now and they'd be back in big trouble.
The next two wicket keepers can bat , and the pitch itself seems fine for batting ; so I think England need to strike again soonish if they're to justify sending NZ in.

Whatever the outcome the game is moving along at a rate of knots!!

alfie wrote:

kingraf wrote:

alfie wrote:Buzzers !

Worth the try ,I think - though Broad would probably prefer not have a five against him

Well, he better not demand an apology!

Fielders do that when I'm bowling I usually settle for a beer at close of play

Ja but you don't make them scared of fielding

Bazza is onto a rocket start. If he's still there after 70 deliveries, today's lost time may be nullified somewhat.

Few balls flying past or over ...Stokes nearly had Latham there.

Plenty happening . Either going to be a breakthrough soon or a very fast hundred partnership...

Wood back. Hope he's got his radar working better.

McCullum living dangerously out there, but he's still there and he's making it count. The game's flying along!

Perhaps its time for Cook to bring Anderson for an over or 3.......

McCullum seems to have decided he'll defend the last over before tea.......

Reasonably even session. Good fight back from NZ

So New Zealand go to tea at 123-3. Would call it just about even.......

Well since the restart after the second rain break , I'd say NZ won that session.

Great counterattack so the scoreboard looks neutral again.

Last session to determine whether the decision to bowl first is successful (as opposed to "a reasonable choice ")

If the pace of the game - which seems to have continued on from Lord's - is maintained , we are likely to see a result here despite the threat of weather interruptions .

McCullum goes first ball

Agh ...late back from a cup of tea break and missed it ...what happened ?
Stokes making BMc his bunny ?

Wood having a horror day. Too much short rubbish giving free boundaries ...can't bowl like that with all those close catchers.

Then he produces a couple of fine balls as I type...but ends with more rubbish. I'd get him off. Time for Jimmy again.

McCullum is a horrific test batsmen.

alfie wrote:Wood having a horror day.  Too much short rubbish giving free boundaries ...can't bowl like that with all those close catchers.

Then he produces a couple of fine balls as I type...but ends with more rubbish.  I'd get him off.  Time for Jimmy again.

Are we allowed to mention Jordan?

Just let wood bowl out and out pace, accept he'll go for runs but might get you breakthroughs. Let him test his limits and eventually you'll get a very good pace bowler.

Wood struggling here, maybe time for a spell from Jimmy..

5 down, Wood gets in on the act

Just like that lads, just like that

Glad Cook didn't take my advice

Wood bowls Watling ...good lad

Captain's faith rewarded .

Almost got Ronchi first ball with an absolute peach. Outside edge goes over slip for four.