i'm pleased, especially after losing against that other lot (who have conveniently lost their latest game). pity we've been rubbish collecting bonus points though.
Like my test cricket - don’t mind the Kiwis - almost English - far better sports than the Aussies !!It's a fairly inexperienced lineup and NZ really bowled well. I think the Root dismissal was pivotal. Can't see anything other than a draw though (famous last words...).
Well, better sports than us! We should have gone for a win today.Like my test cricket - don’t mind the Kiwis - almost English - far better sports than the Aussies !!
I understand about grinding out an innings being a valuable skill but isn't chasing a score an equally valuable skill! If the result in the match actually meant anything, like WTC points or a trophy maybe, I'd agree with playing for the draw but this 2-match series could easily be played out to try new players and also entertain the paying public who haven't seen live cricket for a year. Games ending like this play into the hands of those who say test cricket is dead, should be 4 days etc. NZ surprised everyone by declaring when they did, they wanted to take the risk and go for the win, we should have had the grace and spirit to go with it.Personally, I think doing what they did rather than try to go for the win was the right thing to do. Firstly, it's risky going for the win, as NZ has a very good bowling attack. Secondly, to get into the mindset that sometimes you have to grind out an innings is a good habit to get into.
NZ, on the whole, was the better side in this test, and England a bit fortunate to get the one day of rain, but nevertheless, NZ is a very good test side, and England did have a few newcomers in the line-up and only Robinson did his chances of playing against no harm, other than this historical social media incident which has got him a ban. With England's full team on the pitch then I think there would be very little between the 2 teams.
Looking forward to the 2nd one.
I understand about grinding out an innings being a valuable skill but isn't chasing a score an equally valuable skill! If the result in the match actually meant anything, like WTC points or a trophy maybe, I'd agree with playing for the draw but this 2-match series could easily be played out to try new players and also entertain the paying public who haven't seen live cricket for a year. Games ending like this play into the hands of those who say test cricket is dead, should be 4 days etc. NZ surprised everyone by declaring when they did, they wanted to take the risk and go for the win, we should have had the grace and spirit to go with it.
Also re grinding out an innings, Root, Burns and Sibley have surely played enough tests to know how to do that? And what does it does it say to the other players, we don't trust you enough to get a score?
As you can tell I'm a bit pissed off about yesterday.![]()
Sure, don't disagree with any of that but I still think in that particular match we should have had a go. I can't think why anyone would have criticised them for that.the fourth innings of a test is notoriously difficult to get a decent score in.often there's a deteriorating pitch that's a spinners' paradise and there's clearly a psychological hurdle. it took approximately a hundred years of test cricket before any player reached a career total of a thousand fourth innings test runs.
You're spinning a yarn ! Didn't realize they could play so long. All those centenarian Gerry Hat-trick bowlers must have been knackered too. Seams impossible, beyond the boundary of possibility.the fourth innings of a test is notoriously difficult to get a decent score in.often there's a deteriorating pitch that's a spinners' paradise and there's clearly a psychological hurdle. it took approximately a hundred years of test cricket before any player reached a career total of a thousand fourth innings test runs.
I understand about grinding out an innings being a valuable skill but isn't chasing a score an equally valuable skill! If the result in the match actually meant anything, like WTC points or a trophy maybe, I'd agree with playing for the draw but this 2-match series could easily be played out to try new players and also entertain the paying public who haven't seen live cricket for a year. Games ending like this play into the hands of those who say test cricket is dead, should be 4 days etc. NZ surprised everyone by declaring when they did, they wanted to take the risk and go for the win, we should have had the grace and spirit to go with it.
Also re grinding out an innings, Root, Burns and Sibley have surely played enough tests to know how to do that? And what does it does it say to the other players, we don't trust you enough to get a score?
As you can tell I'm a bit pissed off about yesterday.![]()
I didn't think we needed to be too gung ho to aim for 270 in 75 overs even on a last day pitch. But I think we need to agree to disagree, there's another one to argue about starting tomorrowI think one of England's big failings in recent times has been this gung ho approach when often they have played rash shots and got out cheaply. I just feel they need to dig in at times and grind out a result, which is good going into an Ashes year.
Maybe, they could have been a bit busier as Michael Vaughan put it, but the ball was keeping low at times and rearing up on occasions, so on balance, I feel they did the right thing ensuring they go into the 2nd test level.
I didn't think we needed to be too gung ho to aim for 270 in 75 overs even on a last day pitch. But I think we need to agree to disagree, there's another one to argue about starting tomorrow![]()
Yes, 350 would put us in the game but it's a big ask with 7 down and the ball only 10 overs old, fingers crossed...I guess a mixed day, a good opening partnership between Burn's and Sibley, then NZ took the 2nd session with Crawley/Root/etc, but a good knock by Lawrence brought a bit of respectability to the proceedings. The first hour today will be crucial, we need to build and get to 350+ if at all possible.
I just listened to the TMS podcast, and Dennis Amiss was on, telling the story of facing bowlers without wearing a helmet, and why he was one of the first player to decide to don one. He said he still has a dent in his skull from where Michael Holding hit him, which is an inch away from the area where Phil Hughes was hit and died from.