New Zealand in England May - June 2013

[War]

NZ's skit looked sort of dark navy today instead of the traditional black.

Also i know aukland's ground dimensions have always had that weird look & some good games have been played their over the years. But sometimes i do wonder if it should host cricket (especially odis & t20s) because its pretty unfair to the bowlers when batsman start hitting out.

 

[ferg512]

Does anyone else think Andrew Ellis chucks?

Yep, hes so crap though that no opponent is really going to complain. He really shouldn't be anywhere near the team, can't bat and can't bowl. Those Eden Park boundaries are an embarrassment, can't believe they are going to have a test there

 

[CG123]

fearsome tweak I was disappointing last night. That was easily the biggest crowd that they'll get all summer, and they bowl and field like crap. After England's innings we should've been able to leave and get a refund. Sure the straight boundaries are as short as it gets, but you don't help yourself when you bowl Ellis and Franklin who specialise in 120 km/h half-volleys and full-tosses. Obviously hindsight's a great thing, but playing two specialist spinners there was definitely not the way to go, hence we ended up being a pace bowler short. England had the initiative to work out that spin wasn't working, and only bowled their two for four overs between them.

 

[bigred]

England really seem to be putting together a consistent T20 eleven. Might be trick for KP and Swann to get a look in if the batters and Tredwell continue to prerform. There does seem to be a bit of a lack of T20 pace bowlers though. After Broad and Finn, I don't see anything that threatening. Is there anyone out there that should be playing ahead of the likes of Woakes and Dernbach? Don't what enough of this format to have an opinion.

 

[puddleduck]

Dernbach can get away with playing 20-20 to be fair to him. His complete mix of bowling actually stands a chance of coming off over 4 overs. He pretty much has the same economy rate in 20-20 as he does in ODI

 

[Haarithan]

Does anyone else think Andrew Ellis chucks?

+1.

Was really surprised by New Zealand's fielding efforts yesterday. By far the worst I've witnessed from them.

Also can we please have Joe Root in place of Samit Patel? The latter's so useless that it's tragic. Joe can bowl as well..

 

[MUFC1987]

Cricinfo are saying that Morgan might be injured, so Root might come in for him. I understand why Root is there to gain experience and such like, but surely we should be taking someone else like Stokes even, as our backup for the batsmen. With the greatest respect to Root, he's not going to be popping the ball over even 50 yard boundaries like the other guys are.

Also, KP in for Lumb with Wright opening and that top 6 of ours has got potential. I'd personally swap Bairstow for the guy who got dropped recently, but it's close enough how it is. I'd like to see Woakes or even Harris getting a go in place of Patel though, especially if we play on more short boundaries, which there seems to be a supply of in New Zealand, if I remember recent tours.

 

[CG123]

I'd like to see Woakes or even Harris getting a go in place of Patel though, especially if we play on more short boundaries, which there seems to be a supply of in New Zealand, if I remember recent tours.

Despite our short boundaries spinners are more successful in our domestic T20 competition, although our averageness at playing spin would have something to do with that.

 

[MUFC1987]

Well looking at the first game, most people would disagree. 4 Expensive overs between them. With Tredwell being a decent spinner going at 12s or something? Mishits go over the ropes, rather than to the fielders, that's the problem.

 

[bigred]

Cricinfo are saying that Morgan might be injured, so Root might come in for him. I understand why Root is there to gain experience and such like, but surely we should be taking someone else like Stokes even, as our backup for the batsmen. With the greatest respect to Root, he's not going to be popping the ball over even 50 yard boundaries like the other guys are.

I think they are doing the right thing sending ballance and stokes to Australia to be honest. i think the pair of them will be in England's next world cup squad so get them ready out there. Also, Australia A's attack will be far more testing than the new Zealand first choice.

 

[CG123]

That innings from McCullum was one of the best that I've seen him play, considering all the pressure that was on him. I thought we were going to be well short of a good total, but he played the last five overs to near perfection. Guptill and Rutherford both looked at ease as well, and they both did alright up here in Auckland as well. Taylor's had a couple of poor innings, so him being due if pretty dangerous for England.

I'm not really sure on Elliott in T20Is. I actually like him in the ODI team, but I just can't really see what his role is in the team. Yes I know he's there as a batting all-rounder, but he's going to be coming in to bat at 5/6 as a worker of the ball, which doesn't really make much sense.

Bowling wise we got the ball into the right areas, and just doing that made a huge difference. If we can get England's hitters in there early on again, then we should be able to strangle them again. Butler was just superb at that, I think he bowled nine or the straight dot balls to Morgan. I said above we were a pace bowler short in Auckland, and that extra one just made a huge difference.

 

[War]

I haven't always been a fan of Lumb since he was recalled, but he has grown on me. However i still think Shah & Trego could further beef up the potency and depth of the T20 set-up even if they are not starting players.

When KP & Swann return, the best T20 XI & squad IMO should be:

Lumb
Hales
Trego
KP
Morgan
Buttler
Wright
Broad
Swann
Finn
Dernbach

Bairstow, Patel/Root, Woakes, Meaker

 

[puddleduck]

Your obsession with Trego is strange

 

[War]

Ha ye maybe, but i reckon he is better bits & pieces all-rounder than Wright. I recall even cricinfo's george dobell rated him as the best county all-rounder in all-formats last season - Countyscape : George Dobell's 2012 county cricket awards | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

And sometimes i think England are a bowler short in T20s, which unlike ODI's i think can hurt you at international level. More bowling options the better. Having Trego in the top 7, would give ENG a competent hitter and more solid 5th/6th bowling option than we tend to have when Patel or Root plays.

 

[Haarithan]

Lumb is so one dimensional that he's frustrating to watch. Purely legside player. Will never be in my best England T20 playing XI. Nor will Trego (Luke Wright ftw ).