I was surprised at the time that Stokes chose to bowl, but Williamson said he would have had a bowl too. They were both wrong.
So Parkinson has done well in County cricket on flat wickets. He's played one Test, give him a chance.
I've already said I'll give him a chance, but no your wrong. Old Trafford is a great wicket for English spinners especially over the last 15 years, our spinners have a higher strike rate there than any other ground. The wickets for their county games are specifically laid out to spin heavily on days 3 and 4 after being good for batting on the first 2 days according to Atherton. So Parkinson should be taking plenty of wickets in home games at least. I hope he comes good as we desperately need a decent spinner who can at the very least hold up an end !
Whatever, you'll read into it what you like. The crux is that county stats are misleading and most of the time the players are well off Test standard. All our spinners at the moment are complete **** at this standard but I'll wait for you to disagree. Its what you do best !
Well that could have been a lot worse at the close, NZ catching as good as England's........ The decision at the toss is up there with Nasser Huusain at the Gabba all those years ago......... The only silver lining is that the 3rd day is often the best day to bat at Trent Bridge, mind 325 runs plundered today for only 7 wickets....... and the NZ skipper said he would've bowled first as well!!!!!!!!!!
Big chance for these two to secure their places with big scores. No reason England shouldn't get close to the NZ score.
A very good century for Ollie Pope and 50 for Joe Root in no time sees England on 228-2 not long after lunch. Going nicely.
Superb again from Root, a hundred off 116 balls. 36 overs left today - England could be within a hundred of NZ's massive score by the end of the day.
I’m In Pub in The Park in Warwick but enjoying a proper Test match too. Sophie Ellis Bextor is great fun.
Been busy all day but saw the last over!!!!!!! Great innings from both Pope and Root........ Lees did the hard work last night and rewarded with a half century.... Stokes with a wonderful attacking cameo to take the game to NZ and put them under a bit of pressure..... Could be an interesting last 2 days, if England can bat until tea tomorrow and lead by 200+ it gives them 4 sessions to bowl them out on a 5th day pitch.......
Good to see Pope make the most of his let off and cash in, hopefully he can go on and stay as England's number 3 for a long time. Just has to stop fiddling outside off stump and move the back foot further across. Root is simply in the form of his life, finally going on and making ton after ton after missing out so often between 50-100. He looks imperious at the moment without the burden of being captain, if only he'd stepped down a year earlier. Stokes was trying to put us in a position to win the game so can forgive his dismissal, although when he has the power to hit straight sixes so easily one has to question why he tries to slog over midwicket against a spinner who imparts alot of top spin ? Just a word on their bedutant spinner who I though looked really good and actually imparts some spin on the ball, if only our guys could watch and learn how he bowled ! Shaping up to be a very interesting last 2 days and hopefully Leach can do something on a wicket that is now taking spin.
Alternatively England could get bowled out quickly adding only 60 odd and then set about bowling out NZ to set up a run chase on the last day........ Viva 5 day Test Matches........
Could be a brilliant day tomorrow, with all four results possible. England slight favourites for me, but who knows when the next batting collapse might happen? Free entry, too!
Mitchell looks an outstanding player it has to be said, we don't seem able to get him out before he scores a ton ! 2 key things tomorrow will be Boult with the new ball and Bracewell who unlike our spinners actually seems capable of turning the ball and with flight and guile ! Crawley and Bairstow due a big knock, could be an exhilarating ride !
