NZ's day without a doubt, bowled England out early on, then batted steadily and better than we did. Anderson and especially Broad bowled pretty well but it was hard work, then Dan Lawrence pops up with a wicket last ball of the day! Have to say Wood and Stone never looked like taking a wicket (apart from Root dropping a dolly off Stone). Closed on 229/3.
Most definitely NZ day as you say, Root missing that chance was a real setback, and if taken it could have been a different story. Without Stokes and Buttler we are struggling against a good side like NZ. I'm pleased for Lawrence after a shaky start battered well.
Familiar story. NZ tail score runs freely, we have a deficit of 85 runs. Our second innings starts and both openers are out in less than 5 overs. 17 -2. I fear the worst.
4 down and still 30-odd behind. Embarrassing, NZ making us look amateurish. edit: sorry 5 down now. No sooner do I post but another one goes down!
We've needed a decent top 3 for some time .. the openers aren't good enough .. we've traditionally struggled for a no.3 for some time .. Root for me isn't a good captain and should be in the team for his batting and occasional spin .. let him concentrate on that .. we have good players coming back in Archer Stokes and Buttler but we need to find a decent spinner .. 9 down for 121 on a pretty much flat wicket is embarassing
The worst England batting line up we have seen in a long time playing test cricket as though it is a limited overs match.
NZ and India have made a real game out of this WTC final even after all the lost time. NZ have just bowled India out, they now need 138 off 52 overs to win and the weather's set fair. Should be a great afternoon.
Yesterday, I was trying to juggle three cricket matches and four Euro games yesterday afternoon! Nothing to watch at all today!
Another good win yesterday in the ODI for this England white ball team against a poorish Sri Lanka side. But great to see the 2 Yorkshire boys score the lion's share of the runs.
It was Shame there was a few of us on here (at least me, @askewshair and @FER ARK ) sulking because we had tickets to it but didn't make it into the 25% crowd They'll rue that decision when they look at their bar takings!
