Cricket

[75A]

Think the Black Caps need to take the 8 wickets today as the forecast for tomorrows final day (4day Test) looks wet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 May 2026 ==

A rain shower brought lunch forward by 10 minutes with Ireland 5-131, although I'd think really for 6 as Curtis Campher was struck on the hand by a vicious ball from Blair Tickner who really looked good this morning taking 4-47.
Nathan Smith took his 7th in the game with 6 of his 11 overs being maidens.

New Zealand finished off Ireland for 232 just after 15-30, giving them a victory by a innings and 79 runs.
Certainly the standout performance for me today was by Blair Tickner playing his first Test outside his home country, his bowling was very aggressive and his figures of 5-76 don't tell the story.
Ireland will learn a lot from this their first Test Match against New Zealand who's next game is at Lords on Thursday.
Player of the match was the Kiwi Wicket Keeper Tom Blundell for his career best Test score of 186 + 2 catches.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Finished with Ireland bowled out for 232 in their second innings, with Campher retired out. Gives New Zealand a win by an innings and 79 runs.

Tickner 17.2 - 3 - 76 - 5

 

[Harvester]

Should the score card have read Ireland 232-9, with Campher retired hurt, not retired out! Thus he could have returned to the crease, if he so desired.

 

[Haywain]

Should the score card have read Ireland 232-9, with Campher retired hurt, not retired out! Thus he could have returned to the crease, if he so desired.

No, because in not returning he was deemed to be out.

 

[SuspectUsual]

No, because in not returning he was deemed to be out.

Sort of. He is out for the purposes of the match (ie he isn’t returning and the game is over) but he is shown as retired hurt in the scorebook and it won’t count as a dismissal for his average

 

[Haywain]

Sort of. He is out for the purposes of the match (ie he isn’t returning and the game is over) but he is shown as retired hurt in the scorebook and it won’t count as a dismissal for his average

The scorecard on Cricbuzz says retired out, and that's good enough for me.

 

[SuspectUsual]

The scorecard on Cricbuzz says retired out, and that's good enough for me.

MCC Laws of the Game; Law 25.4.2

If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his/her innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired - not out’.

 

[Haywain]

MCC Laws of the Game; Law 25.4.2

Whatever. Innings over, match lost. I'm just reporting what the scorecard I read says. If you disagree I am sure that Cricbuzz will have some sort of contact details.

 

[3rd rail land]

Normal service from England men. 118-9.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Normal service from England men. 118-9.

But NZ 2/3 in reply, Robinson triple wicket maiden

That’s not so normal

 

[Harvester]

New Zealand are now 12-4. England’s 140 is beginning to look like a decent score!

 

[Haywain]

New Zealand are now 12-4. England’s 140 is beginning to look like a decent score!

Anyone fancy a day 5 ticket?

 

[Purple Train]

31-6 as I type this. This is madness.

Well done to them for getting some play on on what's been a fairly grey day in spells. Looks like I'll need a lot of humble pie tonight with regard to Robinson.

 

[Bald Rick]

I turned down a freebie today, drinks included.

 

[Haywain]

I turned down a freebie today, drinks included.

You fool!

 

[Bald Rick]

You fool!

Ah, the railway doesn’t run itself…

(Swings and roundabouts, the last one I turned down was Day 2 in Perth…)

 

[Jimini]

I turned down a freebie today, drinks included.

Ouch!

 

[75A]

6-61 @ the close with Robinson taking 4-10.

As a neutral and a very retired bowler i'd say it's one of the best days of Test Cricket i've seen in decades.
Let's hope there's more of the same tomorrow.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Lords hire the MCG curator for this game?

A day 4 ticket is in serious peril.

 

[ainsworth74]

A day 4 ticket is in serious peril.

Ah so you're an optimist!

 

[Bald Rick]

Lords hire the MCG curator for this game?

A day 4 ticket is in serious peril.

Day 3 is in peril!

They should get a full day in tomorrow, but Saturday looks like rain most of the day. So if it’s not done by tomorrow, then there is likely to be play on Day 4.

 

[Trackman]

Day 3 is in peril!

They should get a full day in tomorrow, but Saturday looks like rain most of the day. So if it’s not done by tomorrow, then there is likely to be play on Day 4.

Thought it was forecasted rain for Friday

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Day 2.... New Zealand (1st innings)...113 all out (29.5 overs)

Robinson 10.5 - 3 - 39 - 5.

At the tea interval, England (2nd innings) were 166-6 (42 overs)

Gay 57

 

[Purple Train]

New Zealand 36-3 at the close, requiring 218 more to win. Call me weird, but I love seeing matches played on difficult pitches - far more entertaining watching a tricky low-scoring game that ebbs and flows than endless centuries on a completely flat track. Sadly the ECB seem to have a fascination with high-scoring draws.

Stokes' form with the bat is beginning to concern me.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

33 wickets falling in the first two days of a Test Match involving the England team. Makes me think of some of the recent Ashes Tests in Australia.

 

[Mikey C]

A terrible pitch doesn't help though. Way too difficult to be a fair cricket pitch, the Bethell pearoller yesterday was embarrassing for the MCC.

 

[Harvester]

Rain delayed play until 13:00 today. New Zealand have moved on to 54-5, so need 200 to win with 5 wickets remaining.

 

[Trackman]

They have been on and off since 13:00.
Strong winds are helping.
Now they are off again! (14:10)

 

[Harvester]

Play abandoned for the day due to rain, with New Zealand on 55-5. They need another 199 to win with two days left, although England must be favourites to take the 5 wickets!

 

[3rd rail land]

No rain forecast tommorow. We'll see a result one way or another.