1st Test D/N: New Zealand v England @ Mount Maunganui Feb 16-20, 2023

[JJ]

But they've committed themselves to playing for New Zealand. Boult has indicated he only wants to play for New Zealand on his terms.

Even the greats on bigger pay packets in bigger team sports around the world don't get the luxury to pick and choose. Boult is good but he ain't indispensable.

He kind of is when Jamieson and Henry are out, Ferguson perhaps too and we’re picking these plods…. Not even sure they have central contracts….
Henry back for next one, remember we have the depth of a puddle, the puddle is the deepest it’s ever been, but these two are not close to international standard

 

[JJ]

With Henry back it would be a one off, and they will pick Boult for World Cups, so they seem (imo) to be disrespectful of test cricket…. Again if it was someone young with potential I’d be ok with it, and I fully understand your perspective but I want to win tests

 

[JJ]

Is Brook a modern day Viv, or riding luck and some terrible bowling/bowlers?

 

[AlwaysGreen]

He kind of is when Jamieson and Henry are out, Ferguson perhaps too and we’re picking these plods…. Not even sure they have central contracts….
Henry back for next one, remember we have the depth of a puddle, the puddle is the deepest it’s ever been, but these two are not close to international standard

That's the thing. You've got the depth of a puddle and that depth is shallower when Boult chooses when he's unavailable.

We all have our differences of opinion, and its your national side. Personally i would rather support a committed plodder than a not fully committed very good player.

 

[TheParraboy]

Terrific Tickner

Amazing what a good length can do, Brooks is half hearted what to do

5/225

 

[JJ]

Terrific Tickner

Amazing what a good length can do, Brooks is half hearted what to do

5/225

even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes...


But yeah, Southee much tighter of course - he can bowl a line and length, that's never been Wagner's go with his medium pace bumpers

 

[JJ]

Think I said it in the first innings, Joe Root is too good to be doing this... he's the one player there that has never needed to change

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Holy hammers, Wagner's figures

 

[JJ]

Holy hammers, Wagner's figures

He hasn’t been battered like that since Wadey took him on

 

[Meth]

Amazingly, this game is still in the balance. Root's wicket is massive. If we can get 4 wickets relatively cheaply, we'll have all the time in the world to chase.

 

[Meth]

This is a definitive session.

It has all look so easy for England and so difficult for us, but somehow we're still in it.

 

[JJ]

Cricinfo suggesting Wagner’s performance might have beaten Bryce McGain for shittiest 11 overs

 

[Meth]

There hasn't been a lot of cricket at the Bay Oval, but the highest 4th innings total on this ground is 271

 

[simmo1]

The Boult non selection is tricky. NZ could well be winning this test if he plays, but what happens if 4 or 5 other players follow his lead and only play when it suits. Makes it very difficult to build a team.

Still not convinced by this Bazball stuff. Its obviously working for England, but they have had the best of the conditions against a poor attack and are only just ahead of the game.

 

[JJ]

There hasn't been a lot of cricket at the Bay Oval, but the highest 4th innings total on this ground is 271

Pink ball and only day 3 so I don’t think there’s any line on this…. Really about minimising damage in evening, suits Bazball I guess

 

[Meth]

I think Bazball will backfire sometimes and spectacularly work other times and it might be a wash. But I suppose its about how you want to play your cricket. Looks to be work for guys like Pope and Brooks.

 

[Meth]

The Boult non selection is tricky. NZ could well be winning this test if he plays, but what happens if 4 or 5 other players follow his lead and only play when it suits. Makes it very difficult to build a team.

Still not convinced by this Bazball stuff. Its obviously working for England, but they have had the best of the conditions against a poor attack and are only just ahead of the game.

I've moved on from Boult, with no bitterness. Good luck to him

 

[JJ]

I think Bazball will backfire sometimes and spectacularly work other times and it might be a wash. But I suppose its about how you want to play your cricket. Looks to be work for guys like Pope and Brooks.

But does Root really need to play that way

 

[JJ]

Still not convinced by this Bazball stuff. Its obviously working for England, but they have had the best of the conditions against a poor attack and are only just ahead of the game.

that's a good point - they've had it all fall their way, and their approach guarantees a result, but they're hardly dominating (that could change, but hasn't been the reality so far)

 

[Meth]

But does Root really need to play that way

No, he doesn't and conventional cricket thinking would say that there's merit in one batsman playing more conservatively while others are teeing off. He seems to have sped up and I wouldn't say it's working as well for him. If it wasn't broke, why fix it?