Anything could happen yet. Any lead is better than chasing if the pitch goes. It's hero or zero stuff anyway. Swing away and trust to luck a bit.
Average last innings score at headingly is 254 I think they showed. Highest at any international ground. So easier to chase there in theory.
Well it's all kicked off again The conventional hold and what approach paying dividends until a wicket goes and the the next one in is tentative and its a run of wickets. Good lead though right now for nz with 9 down So it'll be all or nothing hackery from England next. Anything could happen.
If the top 3 or 4 can set a foundation of 100 or so, should have form players in middle order who can chase it down. Should be a good chase though. plenty of time to do it if they can apply themselves.
Also nice to see Leach get 10. been badly treated at times over last couple years by just being thrown the ball an over before lunch then nothing else. Be nice if can continue and develop now
Terribly treated esp by root. Nobody can develop as a spinner if the management and captain fear losing runs so much they refuse to even give the ball or take it right off them. England has a long history to treating spinners like ****. 10 wickets and 2 5 for is good
Anyway fatalistic approach. They'll just swing away and see. Lees is alright Crawley can't play that game. Pope no. Root. Just needs to get in first. Stokes blinds pot. Will go like it's t20. Bairstow looms like he will do the same. 90/6? Anything could happen
Crawley looked very dodgy but now has thrown bat at it and is scoring a few. All or nothing approach here.
Crawley must be running out of chances. At least all the others have shown some improvements in at least 1 innings, Crawley done very little in this series.
The main thing here is getting through the first 10 overs or so tomorrow. At least that before trying to be t20 cricketers. This game can be won without undue risk if they see themselves in and get into the day. England and absolutely get runt enough here if they let nz in.
Would just say, whilst its great England suddenly look like world beaters, playing and winning in England has never really been the problem. Lets just wait till they have to go play in Oz or India to judge the new style.
Yeah, it's just a bit of excitement but in reality nz have a few issues just like us this time and have been short of stability in batting, probably in second line bowling too. England on another day swing thst bat like say pope raid on 46 and chop on or nick it and look fools. But it is belief, confidence or whatever At least they are trying.
I wouldn’t read too much into this series. Our bowling hasn’t exactly blown the opposition away and our openers have been poor. Decent middle order but against an average bowling attack. A nice start; lots of work to do…
It's a lot of very attacking batting where they are middling it/getting away with it. You are right that another nz team could be winning this 3-0 but in the end its a different approach which is better than losing with head down. Windies tour was a complete shocker. They have been dross for years and the heads down bad attitude let them take us apart. Better to be winning swinging at getting luck than meekly waiting for a ball to knock them off
