chocolate cake

Yeah bad decision and weak decision from Strauss and the ECB, the former clearly unable to divorce his own personal issues with Pieterson. He's been badly let down by the ECB this year after been through a carrot to play county cricket.

At the mo, England have a settled 3,4,5 so if they're insistent on playing an all rounder at 6 (which is mistake unless there's one good enough and Stokes clearly isn't at the mo), then in the intermediate term he should have been kept as standby at the very least in the tests, with a definite return in the ODIs.

It's clear that was one of the reasons why Vaughan didn't want the job with disagreeing with dispensing with Pieterson, believing that you should play your best players.

So from the winter's disaster, we have Downton and Moores both gone, with it seems Cook guaranteed to see out the Ashes as captain, a mistake. He's good enough to open still, but he's a poor, poor captain.

Tom H

Thank goodness for Joe Root and Ben Stokes this morning. I stayed up to watch the play till lunch and was shocked to see Yorkshire failings. Thought Lyth and Ballance would do well on that pitch

England will be delighted with the recovery from being 30/4 against a very good bowling attack. Shame Buttler was out on the last ball of the day as he was batting very well. Hopefully they can get into the 400s to put pressure on the New Zealand team. Be interesting to see their mindset

Shame we're only playing 2 tests against them. I'd prefer to have 3 tests in preparation for the Australia humiliation that we're more than likely to suffer.

On a personal note, I hope Tom Latham has a very good innings when he bats.

chocolate cake

Yeah, I think Lyth received a decent one, I turned in with England 4 down fearing the worse last night, so certainly a surprise to see us 350 odd for 7.
Certainly makes for an interesting game, though England haven't much batting left now with only the walking wicket and Anderson to come in after the next down.

Gordon Barlow

Here in Cayman we're not getting any TV or radio commentary, so I'm "watching" it on Cricinfo. Interesting so far. I'm not writing England off yet. NZ is being over-hyped a bit at the moment. At #3 in the rankings, they're punching above their weight.

Charismatic

I see little chance of a win now but they might be able to draw if they can bat on long enough?

The English are playing much the same way they have for the last few years.

Tom H

Well played Canterburys Ben Stokes, some class batting from himself, Captain Cook and Joe Root

Get a lead of around 380 to 400 by lunch and then bowl them out. Be an exciting final days play tonight. See if they go with their whack everything approach or bat the day out. I'd prefer to give the Kiwis a chaseable target if they decide to go for it, in the 400s. They'll think its doable, opening them up to playing whacky shots with the chance of a slice or a mishit for an easy catch.

Bad news is that Jason Gillespie is interested. Stay with Yorkshire, please!!!!!!!!

chocolate cake

Yeah, cracking 4th day overnight, leaves things very up in the air with all 3 outcomes possible tomorrow. England need a few more yet, and have little batting after the next down, with Broad whether he comes in 9,10 or 11 won't be getting many.
I doubt NZ will collapse quite like 3 years ago, s=when skittled out for well less than hundred in the 4th innings.

Re: Stokes, ridiculous NZ claiming him as one of their own (...NZ born Ben Stokes, how often do we see Korean born Lydia Ko in the NZ press?) it's hardily like a Kevin Pieterson example, moving to England when he was already established player. Certainly he's got a Cumbrian accent for sure, and learnt his game at Durham.

Yep, seems highly likely Gillespie will be offered the England job, which will be no bad thing, though a few selection decisions are already out of his hands... no Pieterson, Cook & Morgan capt for Tests and ODIs for the remainder of the summer.

chocolate cake

Seems like I may have spoke too early there in the last paragraph, with rumours swirling on TMS another Aussie Trevor Bayliss a former Sri Lankan coach is set to be offered the job, maybe Gillespie wasn't too keen to have his decisions already made for him.

chocolate cake

OK, no surprise to see the last few knocked over, sad that Broad has become no. 11 this last year. Excellent bowling from Trent Boult, 9 wickets.

So game on, NZ need 345 to win, England I guess favourites but if NZ get off to a decent start, it's possible with 4 1/2 an over needed.

Blade Down Under

Started to hope at 61/5. Just need one of these batsman to go and it's very much game on.

Blade Down Under

Andersen out

174/7

Oh this will make my work day so sweet. Come on England

Blade Down Under

Won by 124 runs

What a result!!!!

Didn't expect that after seeing them score 500+ in the first innings

Well done England. Well bottled New Zealand. More of the same in the next test please.

Everywhere we go
The people want to know
Who we are
Where we come from!

Tom H

Superb bowling from England today. I applaud Stuart Broad in this as I've been one fierce critic of his over the past year.


I agree about Stokes. It was all Christchurch born Ben Stokes defeats NZ,,,, so no mention of Alastair Cook and Joe Root who hugely contributed. They're almost getting on par with Australian media who always hype a foreigner winning a cricket game for England. Luckily this is cricket and not rugby union


Here's the winning catch


We definitely needed this win after the dreadful world cup and the disappointing tour to the West Indies. We've beaten a side on the up, convincingly and smashed their bowler Southee over the park. That makes up for the wicket gifting session at Wellington. As mentioned before, it's a shame that we're not having at least 3 tests against New Zealand as they're a much better side now than previous.


A great example to Test Cricket. Plenty of highs and lows throughout the match.

Charismatic

Good game .

chocolate cake

A cracking win, NZ's chance had gone in the first over and at 12-3 they were always up against it. A strange decision to send Watling in above McCullum, though the former's a very decent batsmen and will be missed if not fit as wicket keeper for the next test.

England definitely needed the win after the disappointing WI tour, 20 years ago and more 1-1 there would have been a decent effort, not so now. Good to see Cook hit some form with the bat, still think he shouldn't be captain, but it's proved very good if belated decision to drop him in that role in the ODIs.

Does it make up for the appalling world cup, not yet, but an Ashes win would do.

Looking to the Ashes, Bell needs to show some form, and would be good to see Lyth get some runs too.