Cricket

[ainsworth74]

Hold on!!!! Cook's only gone and won the toss, were bowling, tinge in wicket, mixed cloud cover.

Test him for drugs now! He's clearly on performance enhancing pills.

 

[Cab2Cab]

Test him for drugs now! He's clearly on performance enhancing pills.

LOL Even cook looked surprised,

Is it April 1st?! Are you pulling my chain?!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---




Johnny Bairstow has got to pull it off this game to be considered for the ashes i think............

Anderson looks a bit slow but Broady is steamin in

 

[Ferret]

Anderson is getting the ball to talk from where I'm sitting. I wouldn't fancy facing either right now...

Edit - as soon as I type that, Jimmy serves up a juicy half volley! That's better though, past the edge...

 

[andrew bell]

Not sure if anyone has heard this but this season you will be able to listen to EVERY ball bowled in the County game, as well as England Internationals on BBC. The County matches will be available via the BBC website and apps for mobiles, and will be available worldwide

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/21880927

 

[Ferret]

One of those mornings where the good balls miss the edge so far. Finn replacing Broad now...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looked in at 0254 our time....

New Zealand...186 - 1 (65.2 overs)

Fulton 105no (15x4/3x6)

 

[Ferret]

It didn't get any better Paul! And it all looked so promising when Anderson and Broad were finding swing and seam movement...

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Not a good day for England...as some are reporting Cooks decision to bowl first is reminiscent of Nasser Hussain in Brisbane ten years ago.
Does anyone look at the bowling speed gun? I thought that Finn was way short of his normal speed in the first session, in fact overall England's bowlers seemed a bit down on speed (not that speed is everything!)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The posting of an end of play score of 250-1 by New Zealand is yet another day in this test series where only one wicket was lost in a day's play.

Fulton with 124no and Williamson 83no have certainly given New Zealand the best possible start in this final test match and have certainly given England something to think about for the remainder of this match.

 

[Phirstman]

Test him for drugs now! He's clearly on performance enhancing pills.

I don't think so, he should've said BAT not BOWL!

Getting a bit fed up of these flat tracks NZ have prepared and the Kookaburra ball is rubbish.

Little swing, seam or spin and ridiculously small boundaries makes for a poor contest with bat too dominant over ball.

Looking forward to the Home Series now with a decent Cricket ball and pitches!

 

[ainsworth74]

In other (and better!) news the county game is getting a lift with every county match getting ball-by-ball commentary on the BBC. See here:

BBC to offer commentaries on every county match this summer

The BBC Sport website will broadcast live commentary of every county match this summer under a new agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The new deal covers all games in both divisions of the LV County Championship and the FL t20 and YB40 competitions.

The commentaries will stream online, but there will also be increased coverage on Radio 5 live sports extra.
"There is a big appetite for county cricket coverage," said head of radio sport and sports news Richard Burgess.

"This broadcast partnership between the BBC and the ECB means that the entire season will now be available to audiences.

"The BBC has a long-standing commitment to cricket commentary, and this is a great opportunity to further raise the profile of the sport and promote the game at county level through BBC Sport's multi-platform capabilities."

The new agreement comes into force for the opening day of the County Championship on 10 April, but there will also be full commentary of the four-day game between defending champions Warwickshire and an MCC XI, which starts in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, available on the BBC Sport website.

As in previous years, there will be regularly updated scorecards for every game on the BBC site, which will also carry the latest news and local radio interviews from around the county circuit.

ECB chief executive David Collier said the new deal was a "fantastic boost" for county cricket.

He added: "With a new domestic playing schedule due to start in 2014, we are keen to promote the county game to the widest possible audience and are delighted that the BBC will be providing such comprehensive coverage of all our county competitions, and seeking to recruit a new generation of broadcasting talent.

"This is great news for all followers of county cricket nationwide, and for the 18 first-class counties who will undoubtedly benefit from wider levels of media exposure."

Meanwhile, BBC Test Match Special will be providing full coverage of this summer's international fixtures, featuring the Ashes Tests against Australia, on Radio 4 LW and 5 live sports extra.

Cricinfo also have an interesting take on it here.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looked in at 0330 our time...

New Zealand (1st innings)...443 all out
Finn 6-125

England (1st innings)...12-1 (3 overs)
Cook out for 4

 

[Searle]

Yeah, Cook got out cheaply, trying to flick it down leg side and got caught behind. Really good bowling from Finn at the end of the NZ innings with 6 wickets, and some cracking catches too. A really good display from England today, hopefully we can keep it up in the batting and get a decent total, and quickly.

 

[Cab2Cab]

Ooops!! 5 down, oh dear :cry:

 

[flymo]

England will be following on at this rate, they need another 160-odd just to avoid that with only 5 wickets left.

Also just noticed 4 of the 5 dismissals are from LBW calls. Either NZ are getting their balls in order so to speak or England just haven't got a clue how to use the bat.

Added:
Well 204 all out. I guess as NZ have not asked England to follow on that might actually be good news for England. That is if they can get NZ out for a reasonable score ~200 or so and then bat through to day 5.

I know I'm dreaming....

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well 204 all out. I guess as NZ have not asked England to follow on that might actually be good news for England. That is if they can get NZ out for a reasonable score ~200 or so and then bat through to day 5.

Precedent has been set already for the final two days being survived through determined batting or by the weather in this short Test Match series and New Zealand having dismissed the England team still had time to have bowled 20 overs at England in an enforced follow-on, whilst the pitch was still assisting their bowlers, but for some strange reason chose not to do so.

The England bowlers then exploited the wicket in the 23 overs they had left to them and had New Zealand at 8-3 with three of the top-order New Zealand batsmen succumbing at one time, before recovering to end the day at 35-3.

 

[andrew bell]

Well 204 all out. I guess as NZ have not asked England to follow on that might actually be good news for England. That is if they can get NZ out for a reasonable score ~200 or so and then bat through to day 5.

I know I'm dreaming....

The reason why NZ did not enforce the follow on was their bowling unit was a bit jaded and wanted a rest, if there was only 10 overs left in the day I feel the follow on would of been enforced. The morning session tonight is crucial, England need to have NZ at worst 100-6 to have any chance of getting anything from the match

 

[furryfeet]

What do people on here suggest what the "plan of action" for Broad is, once this series is over ?
Thinking particularly of his batting, which is almost a village no. 10, rather than a test no. 8
Would it be worth him having an extended spell in the county championship, even at the expense of missing the home series against New Zealand in May ?

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

What do people on here suggest what the "plan of action" for Broad is, once this series is over ?
Thinking particularly of his batting, which is almost a village no. 10, rather than a test no. 8
Would it be worth him having an extended spell in the county championship, even at the expense of missing the home series against New Zealand in May ?

quite simply - yes!

A number 11 who can slog 10-15 runs might be an asset, but I do feel that a number 8 should contribute more with the bat, as he used to do. Personally, I don't mind 9 10 & 11 not contributing to the batting...but number 8....yes.

....and look at my favourite Australian, Peter Siddle, doesn't (usually) give his wicket away and managed to top score in Delhi with a half-century in both innings, first time it has been done at number 9...perhaps Broad should watch how he does it!

 

[Cab2Cab]

What do people on here suggest what the "plan of action" for Broad is, once this series is over ?
Thinking particularly of his batting, which is almost a village no. 10, rather than a test no. 8
Would it be worth him having an extended spell in the county championship, even at the expense of missing the home series against New Zealand in May ?

Yeah, i agree, i think broad has a attitude problem.

I watched the highlights today and got very upset when he gave his wicket away, Root was set, all Broad had to do was to keep ticking over with Root taking most of the strike with Root knowing somebody at the other could at least hold a bat and try and get us past the follow on point. I was surprised that NZ batted.

He also does alot of teapotting and pulling faces.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Update at 0028 our time.

Finn has just had Fulton caught by Root after making 110.

New Zealand now 199 - 5.

 

[Searle]

New Zealand went on to get 241 - 6 before declaring, putting England back into bat, who are now on 75-2 with about 50 minutes of day 4 to go. Very little chance of an England win now, just playing for the draw I'd imagine

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

End of the day disaster for England as 90-2 suddenly became 90-4 at stumps, with Cook, Compton, Trott and Finn now all departed.

 

[Ferret]

End of the day disaster for England as 90-2 suddenly became 90-4 at stumps, with Cook, Compton, Trott and Finn now all departed.

The disaster was on day 1.......

 

[Phirstman]

No way we should be 294-14 in our combined innings on this pitch.

Should have been a draw written all over it but even that is looking unlikely now...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

No way we should be 294-14 in our combined innings on this pitch.

.....especially when you recall that when New Zealand had reached that same score of 294 in their first innings, they had only lost three wickets..

 

[Cab2Cab]

Let's see how long Broad can last tonight without giving his wicket away, just keep putting them up there and he'll go for one!!!..............................he got the bag on yesterday again!!!!!!, it's a shame Onions does not do better with the bat, and i think Tredwell could contribute more than Monty at the mo (Bat'n'Ball), (i think Monty has lost his confidence).

Fingers crossed for tonight, let's hope Boult sprains an ankle.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Let's see how long Broad can last tonight without giving his wicket away, just keep putting them up there and he'll go for one!!!..............................he got the bag on yesterday again!!!!!!, it's a shame Onions does not do better with the bat, and i think Tredwell could contribute more than Monty at the mo (Bat'n'Ball), (i think Monty has lost his confidence).

Fingers crossed for tonight, let's hope Boult sprains an ankle.

Can't see England pulling this one out of the hat...fair play to New Zealand tho', they have proved all the pundits wrong and if they win this test they will have thoroughly deserved to. England looked ragged in the field yesterday, and someone really does need to have a word with Broad, I thought at one stage he had got over his tantrums but they have reappeared.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looked in 2318 our time....

England (2nd innings)....150 - 5

Root has just been dismissed lbw to Boult for 29, with 62 overs still left to play.

******************************************************************

Update at 0022 our time

Bairstow c Taylor b Southee 6

Now 159-6, with 58 overs still left to play.
******************************************************************

Update at 0211 our time

Disaster in the last over before tea, after such a good recovery was in progress..:cry:...Bell c Southee b Wagner 73.

Now 237 - 7, with only Broad, Anderson and Panesar to bat out the final session. Now is the time for Broad to prove that he has the batting ability to adapt to the post-tea final session.

 

[Searle]

This is ridiculously tense, one ball and it could go either way. I really can't draw my eyes off it, I'm taking this time to plan a couple more journeys while I wait for the result :P