I don't think we'd have beaten India either on today's showing - too many under-par performances. I'd take NZ to beat either of the other semi-finalists, though. Don't write off the Ashes before we even get out there. Stokes is a big boost. Gatting's team won in 1986-87 after cricket writer Martin Johnson wrote before the first test, “There are only three things wrong with this England team: they can’t bat, they can’t bowl and they can’t field.” Some funny lines from Johnson here... Martin Johnson dies aged 71: Former cricket journalist’s best lines remembered including infamous England quip (inews.co.uk)
It's our top order that is the problem, has been ever since the Strauss and Cook partnership. Too many with iffy techniques that just aren't up to Test standard. We also seem to struggle against any decent spin bowlers ( probably cos we're facing Bess in the nets). The other big concern on Aussie wickets is our lack of pace, Wood can't play in every test , his body just can't cope. If he gets injured were screwed as Archer seems like his elbow problems aren't ever gonna be solved. As good as they are Anderson and Broad have seemed pretty ineffective on those wickets on the past. If you add in our lack of a quality spinner then we are really up against it. But you never know, sport can always surprise you. I'm full of hopeful optimism at least until the first session of the first test is over !
Sportsmanship again to the fore as Black Caps make T20 World Cup final Ian Anderson10:40, Nov 11 2021 28 Man of the match turns down an easy run at a vital stage of T20 World Cup semifinal. Chalk up another meritorious moment for ‘the nice guys’ of world cricket. As Daryl Mitchell was warming up for his late assault on England’s bowling in the Twenty20 World Cup semifinal, the Black Caps batter refused to run a single when he felt he’d got in the way of Adil Rashid, who was trying to field off his own bowling. Jimmy Neesham struck the first ball of the 18th over back down the off-side of the pitch to where Mitchell was at the non-striker’s end. Mitchell moved back towards his crease to avoid the chance of being run out and Rashid ran into him, with the ball going past both. please log in to view this image DAVID GRAY/PHOTOSPORT Daryl Mitchell shares a smile with team-mate Devon Conway during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semifinal between New Zealand and England in Abu Dhabi. Neesham came down the wicket seeking the single, gesturing to his batting partner, but Mitchell let him know that he wasn’t interested. READ MORE: * 'Such a good team' - international media hail Black Caps * Black Caps vs England live: Twenty20 World Cup semifinal from Abu Dhabi Mitchell, who made an unbeaten 72 off 47 balls to help push New Zealand into the final to be played on Monday morning (NZ time), said he didn’t want to create controversy by taking a run. ADVERTISEMENT Advertise with Stuff “I felt I probably got in the way of Rashid a little bit. “I didn’t want to be that guy that caused a bit of controversy. We all play the game in good spirit and I just felt like probably it was my fault. “As opposed to taking the run, it was probably best to start again and carry on and lucky that it didn’t make a difference.” please log in to view this image DAVID GRAY/PHOTOSPORT Daryl Mitchell, centre, of New Zealand reacts with team-mate Mitchell Santner after hitting the winning runs as Chris Woakes of England watches. It may have been a case of karma being replayed immediately, as Neesham – who wouldn’t have been on strike had the single been taken – hit the next ball for six as the Black Caps charged to victory late. Under the initial leadership of first Brendon McCullum, and Kane Williamson since, the Black Caps have been widely regarded as a team which best upholds ‘the spirit of cricket’. They were roundly praised for how they handled their 2019 one-day World Cup final misfortune in the loss to England on a boundary countback, when the hosts at Lord’s were the benefits in the final over of normal play of a flukey overthrow deflection which was incorrectly scored by the umpires. This week, former international umpire Bruce Oxenford described the team as “amazing”. “They could be world champions in all three formats had it not been for an incorrect call on an overthrow in the 50-over World Cup. And that day they just got on with it. Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham guided the Black Caps to a memorable win over England in their T20 World Cup semifinal. “They can get a 50-50 call against them and they say 'oh well, that is what happens.' If you get a call against them wrong very often they will come up to you and say ‘it wasn't right but I would have called it that way too’. “It's incredible. It gives umpires confidence the way to umpires the way you think you should. They genuinely wish you well before and during the game. It is nice to be treated like an equal rather than an enemy on the field,” the Australian said. ADVERTISEMENT “I think it started when Brendon McCullum took over as captain. He took a lead off the All Blacks and giving respect to the opposition. “Kane Williamson is a ripper. Martin Guptill is a cracker. Their fast bowlers – Trent Boult and Tim Southee are brilliant.” please log in to view this image ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT Martin Guptill is consoled by NZ team-mate Jimmy Neesham after the one-day World Cup final loss to England at Lord's in 2019. Former NZ wicketkeeper/batter Ian Smith, who commentated on the 2019 World Cup final loss, wondered at the time of Mitchell’s moment of sportsmanship what would come from it. “I thought, well, this could either go two ways. We could tie, we could lose by one and be regarded as the nice guys all over again, or Mitchell could win it. And he did – he won it.” Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain, commentating on Sky Sport, felt the incident summed up how NZ play the game. “That is so New Zealand, it really is. So easy to take a run there, and the non-striker said ‘no, I got in the way of Adil. “If anything sums up New Zealand cricket, it was that.”
I was gonna say earlier that that moment was my highlight of the game but I was too disappointed at the time to recall it ! There aren't many players or teams that would've turned down that run at that particular moment in the heat of the battle. It's kudos to him and the way the Kiwi's play whenever I see them, an unassuming bunch who others wrongly take far too lightly . These are spirited warriors who use every ounce of talent and nous at their disposal , but who always do so in a fair and sporting manner. The way all sport should be contested, but very rarely is these days. I couldn't help thinking back to the World Cup Final 2 years ago and that moment when Stokes dived for his ground and Guptill's throw ricocheted off the bat and went for 4 overthrows and 6 in total . Without that happening I'm fairly convinced we wouldn't have won that famous day and it would've been the Kiwi's holding aloft the trophy. It was what happened immediately afterwards that stuck with me, yes they complained about it to the umpire fir about 20 seconds but then in disbelief swallowed the decision and finished the match. There wasn't any mention of it from Williamson in the post match interviews, saying it wasn't tge reason they hadn't won. Now can you imagine if that had been Kohli and India or Paine and Australia, dare I say even our lot. There would've been all sorts of shannanigans going on towards the umpires and rebukes aplenty. No its fair to say that even though we lost today, we lost to a side who are a great team. Not only with their feats but even more importantly the way they go about achieving them ! Bravo New Zealand
Just like to add, what a shame it is that I couldn't hear Bob Willis talking about those final 3 overs on The Verdict lol. Could you imagine ? He'd have Jordan, Rashid and Woakes in the stocks for life
I think we’ve had this discussion before, I was in Australia for the 86/87 Ashes, went to the Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney Tests, plus the day night one dayer at the SCG when Lamb smashed the last over. It’s a shame there will be restricted travel for this tour, it’s one of the great sporting experiences (if you like cricket, and are English/Aussie…). I’m tempted to say the series should have been delayed until it could be held under normal conditions, but I suppose the money making machine has to roll on and the schedules are now so crowded it’s hard to reorganise. Though it seems we can fit in the ‘missing’ test v India next year…… Yeah, we could surprise ourselves, I don’t think it’s an especially scary Aussie team, but we have not been great in Tests for a long time now. I just hope Warner and Smith are humiliated on a regular basis.
From 143/1 after 17.1 overs to 176/4 at close and that was because of 2 sixes in last 3 balls......... Pakistan slightly under scored and Australia pulled the game back a bit at the end........
Australia 89/3 at halfway.....Warner looking ominous not out on 49....... As tight as yesterday's game........ super over anyone?
Why didn’t he review it? Phil Tufnell “I tell you what, I was unlucky when I bowled. Nobody walked off after not hitting it for me, not once in 20 years.”
Aussies cruised it with 6 balls to spare, just like New Zealand yesterday...... On Sunday we all becoming Kiwi's for the day.......
Some stat this.... Wade scored 10 runs from his first 10 balls........ then scored 31 from the next 7...........
Eric, I didn't want the Aussies to peak before the Ashes ............ but you can't hold a good team down. I was just wondering who we have in the team to do a 'Trevor Chappell' for us if things go down to the wire? All jokes aside, just hope its a good, fair game.
