3rd Test: New Zealand v England at Auckland Mar 22-26, 2013

[TheParraboy]

series still alive

kiwis a chance but poms should be too strong in the end

tests starts the same day as 4th test ind v aust

 

[JJ]

we have shown some grit with the bat, and a huge amount with the ball... as long as we compte hard and don't get smashed most Kiwis will be happy...

Williamson due a score, and Southee and Boult have bowled better than the numbers suggest... and Bruce Martin has been very good... Been drizzly in Auckland yesterday and today, so let's hope the fine weather returns and we get a winner - 0-0 is fair, could just have easily been 1-1

 

[vvvrulz]

we have shown some grit with the bat, and a huge amount with the ball... as long as we compte hard and don't get smashed most Kiwis will be happy..

We're fighting admirably but I can't help but feel England are just about ready to click, they seem to be one step ahead of us. I'm calling a heavy loss unless rain saves us.

 

[IanG]

First time in a few years that Eden Park has hosted a test and the first since the revamp there. Looks like a similar set now to ANZ Stadium is in cricket mode. Short boundaries down the ground. Wonder how it will play in test mode. Plus the drop in wicket

 

[JJ]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/625888.html

Pieterson out... even though he's not been right, as a Kiwi I'd much rather Bairstow in the side in a winner take all test... Anderson looked uncomfortable at times in Wellington... and Doug Bracewell is fit, I think I'd play him ahead of Wagner...

We're a rough chance... McCullum is in the form of his life, Williamson looks in great touch too... With Watling at 7 we have depth, and Bruce Martin looks like Dan Vetorri but he actually turns the ball...

Meh, I suspect we'll lose, but we've been better in the tests that I thought we would be...

 

[vvvrulz]

New Zealand put in to bat here, that's a bad toss to lose.

They're going in unchanged and I'm actually happy with that, nice to see some consistency and I don't believe Bracewell is an automatic selection until one of these three proves themselves not up to it.

 

[JJ]

interesting they're opening the bowling with Broad not Finn...

I haven't seen the wicket, but I am not sure batting first is a terrible thing... they just have to bat well

 

[Meth]

We'd rather have been bowling, that's for sure.

But so far, so good. Rutherford looking good and Fulton showing some more resolve.

 

[JJ]

drinks without a wicket... a small victory, and at a guess not common for us in recent years

 

[JJ]

what a poor finish to the session by Rutherford... really disappointing...

still, only one down at lunch having been sent in so not bad - just should be 79/0

 

[vvvrulz]

Comes down to inexperience really, this is a good effort from us so far but I don't think we'll sustain it for five days.

 

[JJ]

good start after lunch too...

It was 2 balls in a row by Rutherford... just bad decisions

 

[Panther_Daz]

At work so I can't see the match. Roughly how many are in the crowd today? Expecting more over the weekend obviously.

This series has had healthy attendances. Great for Test Cricket.

 

[JJ]

123/1

 

[hineyrulz]

Kiwi's going along well, shame about Rutherford throwing away his dig but hopefully he will learn from that.

 

[vvvrulz]

Fulton carving up now and is onto 83, this is great stuff from him.

 

[JJ]

two-metre-Peter doing a great job on 83*... I am not sold on him, and he has rather profound technical issues outside off... but IMO he's a better test opener than Guppy atm

 

[Meth]

two-metre-Peter doing a great job on 83*... I am not sold on him, and he has rather profound technical issues outside off... but IMO he's a better test opener than Guppy atm

ditto

this is probably as good as I've seen him

 

[vvvrulz]

Flat pitch or not this is a solid effort in terms of concentration.
Didn't expect it at all.

 

[Kiwi]

one over to go 250/1, here is hoping they both survive the final over and top of a great day.