Happy birthday stroller, as bob willis said 55 runs in 75 mins & take couple wickets before lunch & we are on our way.
Regards from Oz, stroller. Hope you guys are polishing up on your cricket and all that .............. The Aussies are lurking.
Cheers Jeff. Our spinners are going to have to bowl better than theirs did, but I think we could win from here.
Batting on a 5th day wicket with no bowling or field restrictions is a significant disadvantage to NZ, if Cook really trusted his bowlers to deliver he'd set a tempting target and be confident he could get a result. This is where we really miss a world-class spinner like Swann. It won't surprise me if we bat for an hour and set 350 which I'm sure McCullum will have a go at until 3 or 4 wickets go down but NZ will not want to throw it away after such a first innings lead...
You're right, but with no decent spinners to exploit the bounce in this pitch and any 5th day wear, Cook is relying on a good burst with the new ball and that means he will be ultra cautious in his declaration. But McCullum probably won't see any target as being beyond his team - they can comfortably manage a run a ball for a sustained period with the hitters they have on a pitch where the ball is flying to the boundary if you middle it.. 330-340 off 75-80 overs would at least ensure some interest - for a while at least. Any greater total off fewer overs and I can't see England having enough time to bowl them out unless they play recklessly.
Happy birthday Stroller. I wouldn't mind going either, I haven't been to Lords for quite a few years. I think a draw is the most likely outcome.
Thanks Nines. Last year I was celebrating my birthday the day after we won at Wembley. This year I want to forget about QPR and just focus on the cricket.
Happy birthday Strolls. What's the weather like down there? If it's decent I'd expect Lord's to be rammed on a Bank Holiday with a potentially exciting day of cricket on the cards. Check before you go!
Thanks Stan. The weather is looking good, if slightly overcast. I'm not actually going to be able to get to Lords as my day is planned otherwise, but will see most of it on TV. Should be a good day.
Ah well Plan B worked....all out 478 setting NZ 345 to win in something like 70 odd overs.....nicely set up for a positive result one way or the other....
Great start! Guptill goes with the first ball of the innings, bowled by Anderson caught in the slips by Ballance. Anderson now has 399 test wickets.
