England tour of New Zealand (3 Tests, winter 2024)

[wasteyouryouth]

Seeing talk that this 2nd inns proves Woakes can be effective outside England. I’d say it proves he’s more ineffective than anything - we will have much more sunny conditions like day 1 in Aus than the overcast conditions he exploited this inns

I don't think he'll go to Australia. I say this as a huge Woakes fan, but if younger and/or quicker bowlers are fit they'll probably be picked ahead of him. His pace is down and his batting is not as strong as it used to be.

If they're fit, I could see Wood, Archer, Carse, Atkinson, Tongue, Stone, Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Josh Hull and Matt Potts all being preferred in Australia. Even if half aren't fit I'm still not sure if he'll be selected.

He'll be approaching 37 this time next year, I could see him maybe getting a farewell at Edgbaston v India or perhaps playing out that series but beyond that I think a lot depends on his wanting to continue and what Stokes and McCullum want in the long term.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Classy little finish from Bethell. Wonder what they'll do for the next test.

 

[blockerdave]

Lovely stuff.

Definitely didn’t have a Bethell unbeaten 50 on my bingo card.

 

[Aislabie]

So I recently saw a take posted online that affected me deeply so now you all have to see it as well:

Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley will be the last two players ever to play in 150 Test matches.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

So I recently saw a take posted online that affected me deeply so now you all have to see it as well:

Crawley might break Smith's record for most matches as captain in tests.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Well my meds should kick in soon and I'll not be awake to see any more of this

 

[Aislabie]

I would say I've never seen anything quite like this, if not for the fact that I've been watching the last three years of England Tests

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Brain woke me at 4am on the dot. Missed another Brook 100 though

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Was worried the no ball wicket would be costly but it hasn't been too much. Really impressive bowling so far from England.

 

[Aislabie]

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Great start to the day

 

[wasteyouryouth]

What an incredible morning. Gus Atkinson's year just gets better.

 

[Aislabie]

Gus Atkinson

Man was made for Test cricket

 

[blockerdave]

great stuff that.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Matt Henry owns Crawley again