3 Game T20I series New Zealand v England 2013

[Iafeta]

Like the look of Munro and Rutherford. Good, natural timers of a cricket ball.

Bowling was what let New Zealand down. Mitchell McClenaghan was about 500k's ahead of the others in using his brain. At the end there, Buttler, before Ellis bowled, put his back leg on leg stump and opened up, clearly loading up for a baseball tonk off a full ball, so Ellis bowled him a ball on a good length and promptly watched it being dispatched for 6. They weren't changing their pace, and they didn't adapt to the short straight boundaries by dragging their lengths back. Ellis looks barely a club cricketer TBF. The other advantage McClenaghan had over the others was his height, so he could access a good length and his bounce would make it difficult to tonk straight.

Fielding was also terrible, not sure what was going on there, but some of the dropped catches wouldn't be dropped in high school third XI cricket.

 

[beefstew]

Like the look of Munro and Rutherford. Good, natural timers of a cricket ball.

Bowling was what let New Zealand down. Mitchell McClenaghan was about 500k's ahead of the others in using his brain. At the end there, Buttler, before Ellis bowled, put his back leg on leg stump and opened up, clearly loading up for a baseball tonk off a full ball, so Ellis bowled him a ball on a good length and promptly watched it being dispatched for 6. They weren't changing their pace, and they didn't adapt to the short straight boundaries by dragging their lengths back. Ellis looks barely a club cricketer TBF. The other advantage McClenaghan had over the others was his height, so he could access a good length and his bounce would make it difficult to tonk straight.

Fielding was also terrible, not sure what was going on there, but some of the dropped catches wouldn't be dropped in high school third XI cricket.

The thing McClenagan has over the other bowlers is where he releases the ball from...the great seam bowlers release the ball from almost over the stumps...Hadlee, McGrath, even Philander from South Africa is tearing teams apart at 125-30k by bowling a true wicket to wicket line. The reason a lot more bowlers dont do it is their inability to get off the wicket before they stand in the danger zone. As for the so called spin bowlers, you'd think they never watch the Indian league or Big Bash....the reason the spinners in those comps do so well is the length they bowl, it's almost a yorker length as their stock ball, with a slower good length ball as a variation.

I dont know what NZ's coaches are doing, but it isn't coaching.

 

[vvvrulz]

Second match kicks off at 7pm tonight. Should be raining sixes again in the tiny Seddon Park, it was a bit silly to see English chip shots flying over the fence.

 

[Iafeta]

Was reigning sixes. Again Rutherford looks a natural fit at the top of the order. McCullum's innings was terrific. A lot will depend on how New Zealand go bowling in the first six overs, this is another postage stamp ground.

 

[Iafeta]

What a delivery from McClenaghan. Good length, pitches on leg, seams and takes off stump.

 

[Horrie Is God]

He's on fire..

 

[Iafeta]

McClenaghan on a hat-trick. Excellent delivery to Wright.

 

[Iafeta]

No hat-trick. Interesting thing with McClenaghan is he's come from nowhere. His first class bowling average is around 40 per wicket, but unbelievably has a best of 8/23 in that.

Boult also bowling some good swinging deliveries here. The New Zealanders bowling a whole lot fuller than the Poms, and its working beautifully here.

 

[Iafeta]

Bumble "He's swinging like a suburban key party from the 80s"

 

[African Monkey]

No hat-trick. Interesting thing with McClenaghan is he's come from nowhere. His first class bowling average is around 40 per wicket, but unbelievably has a best of 8/23 in that.

Boult also bowling some good swinging deliveries here. The New Zealanders bowling a whole lot fuller than the Poms, and its working beautifully here.

He was only playing Auckland club cricket last year along with Bruce Martin. A year on and they're in NZ sides.

 

[IanG]

Listening online.

 

[Iafeta]

There must be some temptation to have Southee, Boult, McClenaghan as the pace trio for the first test. Bracewell will need to impress for CD.

 

[Iafeta]

Welcome back Ian Butler. What a great story, his cricket career was basically over 5-6 years with a shocking back injury.

 

[IanG]

Bairstow gone.

 

[Iafeta]

He was only playing Auckland club cricket last year along with Bruce Martin. A year on and they're in NZ sides.

With all this in mind, do we, begrudgingly, give some credit to the lawn bowler selector dude from Australia? Hell of a ballsy call to pick him, and he's repaying them in spades.

 

[IanG]

LOL Pimp my lawn

 

[Iafeta]

Lumb wouldn't know where the middle of his bat is. He's swinging like a rusty gate.

 

[IanG]

Or like a dunny door?

 

[Iafeta]

He's certainly wafting.

 

[Iafeta]

Outstanding over Butler. 5 dot balls in a row. He's hitting some great pace here.