New Zealand tour of England - May/June 2015

[cooks1st100]

Traditionally your best batsman should be playing at 3. So maybe England should be looking at Root for this spot?

 

[richowebbo]

We overreact so much as a group of supporters. It's no wonder we don't have consistency in selection, because the very minute a player isn't scoring hundreds or taking 5 wickets, some of us are saying that he's done at this level, or not good enough. Ballance has had a bad test. But, you know what? It happens. He's not going to score 50 every single innings. Facing the new ball in England is difficult and he's doing far too much of it, because we consistently have one opener being fired out early doors. I still back him to score runs and I'd still want him in the side, even if he has another poor Test in the next match. The guy can play.

On Buttler, he's just not a natural wicket keeper. He's forever been a decent backup, who could do the job in One Day cricket. This is why he left Somerset, because we picked Kieswetter over him, because he's better. Saying that though, I think he will get better, but just like with anyone, he has his bad days and his good days. Some of those byes were harsh though, because they were close to the batsman before swinging a mile after it went past him. The amount of Leg byes has been insane, but we can't blame anybody for that.

My issue is not that he isn't a good player, its that I don't have faith in him yet, and he's not shrouded himself in Glory this Test. As a Yorkshire fan, I've been watching Ballance for a few years and he is a good player. I just think he's not quite ready to be our saviour at three yet.[DOUBLEPOST=1432468920][/DOUBLEPOST]

Traditionally your best batsman should be playing at 3. So maybe England should be looking at Root for this spot?

I said this on Friday!

 

[richowebbo]

I'm really hoping Cook turns this into a ton. It'd be so good for England if he can recapture his form before he was captain. We miss the old Cook so much. I hope Lyth gets the summer to prove he can make runs. He's had a lack of game time due to being away in the Caribbean and not playing. He really should have been given those Tests to get used to playing for England. Trott was never going to be a long term option for Opener.

 

[MUFC1987]

Traditionally your best batsman should be playing at 3. So maybe England should be looking at Root for this spot?

The problem with this is, with a lack of opening partner for Cook, the number 3 has been coming in and essentially opening the innings. When Root opened, he looked out of his depth against the new ball. He didn't have the technique to deal with it when it was really moving about, hence why he got put back down the order.

 

[Aalay]

This is why England need Ben Stokes in all the formats. Very exciting player and has all the qualities needed to become a world class all-rounder.

 

[Dutch]

This is why England need Ben Stokes in all the formats. Very exciting player and has all the qualities needed to become a world class all-rounder.

I love his emotion, his anger, his raw power......such a great thing for a side that generally is too nice...................

 

[cooks1st100]

The problem with this is, with a lack of opening partner for Cook, the number 3 has been coming in and essentially opening the innings. When Root opened, he looked out of his depth against the new ball. He didn't have the technique to deal with it when it was really moving about, hence why he got put back down the order.

I know what your saying, but lets not write Lyth off just yet. What an innings from Stokes he's taken the Kiwi attack apart.

So what should England aim to score before declaring? Think we will have to bat for an hour tomorrow so will be hard pushed to get a victory on this wicket, thats even if we last that long.

 

[swacker]

I know what your saying, but lets not write Lyth off just yet.

Lyth just needs a score for his own confidence. I don't really fancy England going in to the Ashes with an opening bat with no form at all. IF he went through this whole series with no score, it might be just tempting to take a gamble on someone new.

 

[Markkkkk]

Well we know that someone isnt Alex Hales...

 

[MUFC1987]

I wasn't writing off Lyth by the way, He deserves a fair crack. I'm just saying that Root wasn't up to opening, so putting him at 3, without a solid opening partnership is essentially the same thing as opening.

 

[cooks1st100]

I wasn't writing off Lyth by the way, He deserves a fair crack. I'm just saying that Root wasn't up to opening, so putting him at 3, without a solid opening partnership is essentially the same thing as opening.

Like I said man, I see what your saying in regards to Root, and yeah he is obviously doing a fantastic job batting at five but I won't be surprised if he ends up batting higher up in the future. Obviously the two concerning areas battingwise at the moment are an opening partner for Cook, 3 and possibly Bell at 4. I think England really need to stick with the current line up until at least after the first Ashes match just to keep things settled.
Two tests against the Kiwis is far too few especially given their ranking.

Anyhow what a fantastic four days we have had. England have been under the cosh for pretty much all of it, and despite yesterdays heroics from Cook, Root and Stokes, an early morning collapse could see the pressure firmly back on England. I honestly think England required another 50 runs to put New Zealand under pressure and then they are going to have to use the new ball far better than they have.

Two well matched teams and the Kiwis appear to have similar weaknesses to England in the bowling department. Fantastic sportsmanship from them also, they are a wonderful example of how the game should be played to any youngsters watching the game. Maybe missing a bit of aggression when required though.

Today should be a corker, whoever is championing reducing test matches to four days is obviously mental! I do find it strange that tickets at Lords today can only be purchased with cash, sounds a tad shady to me!

 

[SpitfiresKent]

I do find it strange that tickets at Lords today can only be purchased with cash, sounds a tad shady to me!

I know right, I turned up at Lord's this morning with a load of bottle caps but was turned away, absolutely fuming!

 

[cooks1st100]

I know right, I turned up at Lord's this morning with a load of bottle caps but was turned away, absolutely fuming!

All joking aside, why are they not accepting credit/ debit cards?

 

[_Sam_]

All joking aside, why are they not accepting credit/ debit cards?

Never been to a lords 5th day but attempting to sell tickets to what appears to currently be already around 15,000 people between 9am and 11am do they perhaps set up temporary ticket booths where card sales can't be registered as a result?

 

[_Sam_]

Not too bad a start here .