1st Test between England (275 & 170/3) and New Zealand (378 & 169/6) ends in a draw

[Rajdeep]

Can Eng win here?

 

[Mamoon]

This should feel like a loss for New Zealand. They batted first on a very good surface and in spite of their debutant scoring a herculean 200, they could not score enough runs to put England on the ropes.

They should have scored 450-500 and England out of the game.

Maybe if Williamson was not such an overrated batsman against good bowling lineups in their conditions, New Zealand would probably have won this match.

Can’t for the New Zealand home season so that he can score his usual 235* at Basin Reserve and Hagley Oval against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh etc.

 

[Space Cat]

Everybody is going through the motions but Neil Wagner still steaming in.

 

[Space Cat]

This should feel like a loss for New Zealand. They batted first on a very good surface and in spite of their debutant scoring a herculean 200, they could not score enough runs to put England on the ropes.

They should have scored 450-500 and England out of the game.

Maybe if Williamson was not such an overrated batsman against good bowling lineups in their conditions, New Zealand would probably have won this match.

Can’t for the New Zealand home season so that he can score his usual 235* at Basin Reserve and Hagley Oval against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh etc.

A draw will feel like a draw.

 

[sindhiboy]

if butler and stokes were playing , eng would have fancied a chance to chase this down

 

[Rafa]

If Butler and Stokes were playing, NZ won't even bother with a declaration.

 

[Space Cat]

I dont want to see Santner near this test side again. A spinner shouldnt be pickex because he can field and bat a little bit.

 

[Ab Fan]

If Butler and Stokes were playing, NZ won't even bother with a declaration.

Trent Boult is also missing. NZ will probably have Boult, Southee and Jamieson in the WTC final.

 

[Rafa]

Trent Boult is also missing. NZ will probably have Boult, Southee and Jamieson in the WTC final.

I hope the pitch for the finals is a better one. This one behaved like a flat road during the first innings.

 

[Mamoon]

Matches like these give credence to the argument that Test cricket should be timeless. This would have been a perfectly fine and interesting game of cricket without the time constraint.

Nevertheless, it is obviously not possible because of commercial and marketing reasons.

However, I would still love to see a special, one-off timeless Test series between two top teams on flat pitches.

 

[Ahmed216]

This should feel like a loss for New Zealand. They batted first on a very good surface and in spite of their debutant scoring a herculean 200, they could not score enough runs to put England on the ropes.

They should have scored 450-500 and England out of the game.

Maybe if Williamson was not such an overrated batsman against good bowling lineups in their conditions, New Zealand would probably have won this match.

Can’t for the New Zealand home season so that he can score his usual 235* at Basin Reserve and Hagley Oval against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh etc.

New Zealand have dominated this game throughout. They aren't winning this because 3rd day was a washout. If Ashwin can be ATG without ever picking a fifer in SENA then I think Williamson should also not be judged on his relatively weak performances away from home

 

[Ahmed216]

if butler and stokes were playing , eng would have fancied a chance to chase this down

If buttler and stokes were playing m sure NZ would not have declared so early

 

[Last Monetarist]

They are into the last hour, and I'm surprised to see New Zealand not agreeing to shake hands and call it a draw.

 

[Space Cat]

NZ still trying to win.

 

[King_Kohli]

Trent Boult is also missing. NZ will probably have Boult, Southee and Jamieson in the WTC final.

What about Wagner, will he get a chance in final XI?
They might not play with 4 pacers.

 

[Ahmed216]

I dont want to see Santner near this test side again. A spinner shouldnt be pickex because he can field and bat a little bit.

Pak's LOI sides these days are packed with such players. They'll never win a game with either bat or ball

 

[King_Kohli]

New Zealand have dominated this game throughout

No they didn't.
Actually both teams played well.
NZ batted first under better conditions compared to England first innings.

 

[Ahmed216]

No they didn't.
Actually both teams played well.
NZ batted first under better conditions compared to England first innings.

I dont think england played well in first innings. Their centurion took at least 3 lives to score a hundred.
The conditions have been almost same on all 4 days. This pitch has not misbehaved in any way. No variable pace or bounce or considerable spin was seen as the game progressed

 

[Space Cat]

What about Wagner, will he get a chance in final XI?
They might not play with 4 pacers.

Wagner has got to play. He makes up for the lack of spinner with how effective he can be on day 4 and 5.

We might look at ravindra as a spinning allrounder option. Cant be any worse than santner and 3 times the batsman.

 

[King_Kohli]

Wagner has got to play. He makes up for the lack of spinner with how effective he can be on day 4 and 5.

We might look at ravindra as a spinning allrounder option. Cant be any worse than santner and 3 times the batsman.

Agree.

 

[Mamoon]

New Zealand have dominated this game throughout. They aren't winning this because 3rd day was a washout. If Ashwin can be ATG without ever picking a fifer in SENA then I think Williamson should also not be judged on his relatively weak performances away from home

Domination is a stretch, considering an English team without Stokes, Archer and Buttler are 123 runs behind New Zealand’s target and have 7 wickets in hand.

Moreover, there is no point in juxtaposing Williamson and Ashwin. It is an apples-oranges comparison.

It is much harder for a spinner to take 5-fers in non-Asian conditions than it is for a batsman to score runs in different countries.

Williamson has an embarrassing track-record in several countries, and he has faced almost twice as many minnow attacks as Kohli, Smith and Root.

 

[Justcrazy]

England not going for win here

 

[James]

The issue for England here is not the intent. I’m sure they want to win.

The issue, which is much harder to fix than intent, is unfortunately their capability — and, more specifically, their lack of capability when the task at hand is to score quickly on a relatively difficult pitch.

When considering England’s Test lineup in these conditions, it is only Root, Stokes, and Buttler who would have the capability to chase down this target in the allowed time window, and two of them are being rested from the squad.

Hence the borefest that we have seen this afternoon.

 

[Ahmed216]

Domination is a stretch, considering an English team without Stokes, Archer and Buttler are 123 runs behind New Zealand’s target and have 7 wickets in hand.

Moreover, there is no point in juxtaposing Williamson and Ashwin. It is an apples-oranges comparison.

It is much harder for a spinner to take 5-fers in non-Asian conditions than it is for a batsman to score runs in different countries.

Williamson has an embarrassing track-record in several countries, and he has faced almost twice as many minnow attacks as Kohli, Smith and Root.

U said this should feel like a loss to NZ that was also a strech.they declared their second innings. Had this been a 5 day game they would have given England a target of around 350 and won this game.

Why is it hard for an ATG spinner to take 5 wickets in difficult conditions. Murali did that several.times.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

New Zealand have declared on 169/6, setting England a target of 273

The issue for England here is not the intent. I’m sure they want to win.

The issue, which is much harder to fix than intent, is unfortunately their capability — and, more specifically, their lack of capability when the task at hand is to score quickly on a relatively difficult pitch.

When considering England’s Test lineup in these conditions, it is only Root, Stokes, and Buttler who would have the capability to chase down this target in the allowed time window, and two of them are being rested from the squad.

Hence the borefest that we have seen this afternoon.

Actually, 273 runs at the required run rate has been done in a 4th innings chase only 6 times in Test cricket history. Attempting such a chase would have played into Williamson's hands . I think drawing this test was the right approach.

 

[Rafa]

Williamson showing what a tough guy he is who still wants to win. Won't be surprised if he turns into a kitten against India.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Sibley is proving to be an excellent old fashioned opener who can blunt the new ball and wear an attack down. England should persist with him.

 

[Space Cat]

Williamson showing what a tough guy he is who still wants to win. Won't be surprised if he turns into a kitten against India.

Hes not going to want to win against India?

 

[King_Kohli]

Sibley completed 200 balls.

 

[Space Cat]

I feel like Kane is going through this all just to mess with Pope and Lawrence.

Probably time to end it now.

 

[MenInG]

Over 70 - England 170-3 (Pope 20, Sibley 60) - TARGET 273

That's your lot. Kane Williamson has shaken hands with the England batsmen - the game ends in a draw.

 

[Mamoon]

U said this should feel like a loss to NZ that was also a strech.they declared their second innings. Had this been a 5 day game they would have given England a target of around 350 and won this game.

Why is it hard for an ATG spinner to take 5 wickets in difficult conditions. Murali did that several.times.

Muralitharan was a chucker so I do not recognize his record. Ashwin is the greatest off-spinner in history, and probably the greatest spinner in history after the unrivaled Shane Warne.

 

[Saj]

£70 or £80 for the ticket, plus food, drink, transport costs.

What a waste of money for those that paid that today.

My sympathies with them.

 

[James]

Lord’s can cost over 100 notes for some of the best seats. Certainly was not worth forking out that kind of money for today’s dirge!

Much prefer Headingley and £30 each for the party stand, lol.

 

[Saj]

Nasser Hussain has criticised England for showing "no intent at all" by declining to attempt a run chase on the final day of the drawn first Test against New Zealand.

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson offered England a generous declaration at Lord's, setting them a 273 target in a possible 75 overs - but the home side started slowly and never accelerated.

Opener Dom Sibley spent more than five hours at the crease for his undefeated 60 and Williamson eventually agreed to call off the contest just after 7pm, with England on 170-3 from 70 overs.

But Sky Sports pundit Hussain felt the batsmen should initially at least have made a greater effort to press for victory - particularly as the match gave spectators their first opportunity to watch Test cricket in England in person since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"There only seemed to be one side that were keen to win it and that's why Kane Williamson stayed on, even at the end.

"He could have shaken hands at 15 overs to go but he didn't because he was the one playing the positive cricket.

"I understand why England didn't go for it - you have to put it into context. They lost their last three Test matches, there's no Jos Buttler, no Ben Stokes.

"If they were playing, I think there would have been more intent. They're trying to occupy the crease and bat long, that's what they've asked Dom Sibley to do and that's what he did do.

"They find themselves 20-3 far too often in Test cricket, so you do have to look at the bigger picture of where this England team are and where they're trying to get to.

"But I think at least try to go at it hard, show some intent and if you get four or five down, then you can block, then you can say 'no, we're not going any further'.

"It's very easy for us, outside the dressing room, to say 'look after the fans', we've waited for the fans to come back in and what about the TV viewers?

"In that dressing room, they will feel their job is to become a better side, they want to go down this road and they want a change of mindset.

"They got criticised a lot for playing aggressive cricket, now they play defensive cricket - it doesn't have to be one or the other.

"In 70-odd overs, you can go the other way and then if you get in a bit of trouble you can drag it back in.

"I just didn't like the way for 70 overs, there was no intent at all and it was only New Zealand trying to win the game. I didn't think that was good enough and I think the fans here deserve better than that."

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/n...n-test-run-chase-against-new-zealand-at-lords

 

[Mamoon]

Test cricket is an archaic, illogical format. If you are lashing money on it, you should be mentally prepared for such days and sessions.

Test cricket can produce the best as well as the worst level of cricket that can be played in international cricket.

 

[asadee]

England are such an overrated side

 

[James]

Nasser’s comments are very fair.

 

[James]

England are such an overrated side

By who? I don’t know many people who particularly rate this England team. They are a slightly above-average side, all things considered. Nobody has really called them great.

 

[Hasan123]

This is an England C side. NZ should be kicking themselves if they don't win the next test. England badly need Buttler,Stokes,and Archer back in this team.

 

[MenInG]

New Zealand's effort to force a result was deferred by England batters who successfully negotiated a draw with Dom Sibley's 60* and Joe Root's 40.

Scorecard

The visitors had laid down a target of 273 for England to chase down in the final two sessions. However, England brokered a draw as time ran out. The hosts managed to score 170 for the loss of three wickets in their second innings in 70 overs.

The message for the morning session was clear from the New Zealand camp which resonated with Ross Taylor’s attacking prowess. The visitors came out with the plan to expand on their lead of 165 and make England bat for the final two sessions while pushing for a result.

On nightwatchman duties, the previous day, Neil Wagner (10) became Ollie Robinson’s third wicket of the innings with a bouncer caught by 'keeper James Bracey.

Then, opener Tom Latham was trapped by Stuart Broad leg-before for a steady 99-ball 36. Thereafter, Taylor smashed a quick-fire 33 from 35 balls with contributions of 23 from Henry Nicholls and 15* from BJ Watling that helped the visitors stretch their lead to 272.

Ahead of the afternoon session, New Zealand declared their innings at 169/6, setting a target of 273, with two sessions to go. In response, England openers showed caution and hinted at the hosts' resolve to settle for a draw.

The final day pitch at Lord’s saw an uneven bounce off length ball deliveries that disconcerted Burns to edge one on to the slip cordon off Wagner. Then, Southee came back in his third spell and struck immediately with the wicket of Zak Crawley for 2.

Sibley and Root stitched together a formidable third-wicket partnership of 80 from 153 balls. As soon as Root was looking to get the foot on the accelerator, Wagner pressed the brakes with a peach of a delivery to dismiss Root leg-before on 40.

England opener Sibley starred with the bat as he registered his fifth Test half-century to help the hosts negotiate a draw successfully. His unbeaten knock of 60* came in 207* balls while his partner Ollie Pope scored 20* off 41.

The Player of the Match was awarded to Devon Conway for his historic double century on his debut that became the second-highest innings score by a New Zealand cricketer on Test debut.

ICC

 

[Colorblind Genius]

The way the ball was swinging today, oh man! If the Indian batsmen are to face this kinda bowling in England then I think their chances of winning the Test WC could be slim.

 

[redmaverik84]

That Dom Sibley looks like he is holding a toothpick while batting. He should be swatting the ball to all corners with ease like KP used to but he happens to be the most boring international cricketer to watch at the moment.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Disappointed at the negative approach from England y’day as they never even contemplated chasing down a very getable total. A huge opportunity missed on how to chase on the 5th day, plus exciting for spectators, viewers & test cricket ! <a href="https://twitter.com/robkey612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@robkey612</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nassercricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nassercricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MichaelVaughan</a></p>— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneWarne/status/1401778683442909187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ab Fan]

What about Wagner, will he get a chance in final XI?
They might not play with 4 pacers.

I don't think even they have an answer for this. Wagner is good enough for a place in NZ XI but they might drop him to have right balance as they need some batting at no 7 and a spinner also.

 

[Ab Fan]

This is an England C side. NZ should be kicking themselves if they don't win the next test. England badly need Buttler,Stokes,and <B>Archer</B> back in this team.

In these conditions, they need Woakes above all. But Robinson did a good job though.

Btw, NZ were also missing Trent Boult.

 

[Hasan123]

In these conditions, they need Woakes above all. But Robinson did a good job though.

Btw, NZ were also missing Trent Boult.

NZ were missing 1 player, England were missing 5/6. The top 6 was the youngest they have fielded in a game in England.

 

[Ab Fan]

NZ were missing 1 player, England were missing 5/6. The top 6 was the youngest they have fielded in a game in England.

They are playing at home, so there shouldn't be any excuse. Also, it was the replacement player Robinson, who was their best performer in first test. New Zealand beat England when they played against them last time in NZ, so it's on England to beat NZ if they really care.

 

[sindhiboy]

This is an England C side. NZ should be kicking themselves if they don't win the next test. England badly need Buttler,Stokes,and Archer back in this team.

Robinson and wood were England's best bowlers.
Engs main bowlers, Broad and anderson, only took 2 wickets.

Archer has been average after the ashes. Wood is not too far from him.
Robinson has performed as well as woakes this match. Or even better than him.
Stokes and butler are englands main loss. However even butler can be pretty inconsistent.

So you can't really call this an eng c team

 

[James]

They are playing at home, so there shouldn't be any excuse. Also, it was the replacement player Robinson, who was their best performer in first test. New Zealand beat England when they played against them last time in NZ, so it's on England to beat NZ if they really care.

Stokes is our best player and MVP, and both our 1st and 2nd choice wicketkeeper-batters (rested and injury) were out as well. Stokes is a world-class player in Test cricket and RE the situation yesterday, Buttler has the highest strike rate in the squad.

This would be like Williamson and Watling not playing for NZ, as well as Boult.

Therefore, could it be a bit on the harsh side to say ‘England are playing at home so it’s no excuse’?

As I said above, the main issue for England yesterday was the lack of capability in the squad to chase this target. There was “some” lack of intent, but really they just weren’t “good” enough to chase the runs quickly enough in the end.

This weakened England team requires 3 longer sessions of Test cricket to score 280 — as opposed to 2 or 2.5 longer sessions, which is what the full strength XI would need.

 

[wrongun]

Wagner has got to play. He makes up for the lack of spinner with how effective he can be on day 4 and 5.

We might look at ravindra as a spinning allrounder option. Cant be any worse than santner and 3 times the batsman.

Yeah he's actually a variation. Not much in world cricket like facing him, different enough to be a genuine point of difference in an attack and exploits that uneven day 4-5 bounce in his own unique fashion.

 

[wrongun]

Stokes is our best player and MVP, and both our 1st and 2nd choice wicketkeeper-batters (rested and injury) were out as well. Stokes is a world-class player in Test cricket and RE the situation yesterday, Buttler has the highest strike rate in the squad.

This would be like Williamson and Watling not playing for NZ, as well as Boult.

Therefore, could it be a bit on the harsh side to say ‘England are playing at home so it’s no excuse’?

As I said above, the main issue for England yesterday was the lack of capability in the squad to chase this target. There was “some” lack of intent, but really they just weren’t “good” enough to chase the runs quickly enough in the end.

This weakened England team requires 3 longer sessions of Test cricket to score 280 — as opposed to 2 or 2.5 longer sessions, which is what the full strength XI would need.

Mate they missed it by 100. There was no intent. Similar to Dhoni in the Caribbean.

 

[MenInG]

England have been fined 40 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s

Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Joe Root’s side was ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Root pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Michael Gough and Richard Kettleborough, third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire Mike Burns leveled the charge.

 

[Hasan123]

Robinson and wood were England's best bowlers.
Engs main bowlers, Broad and anderson, only took 2 wickets.

Archer has been average after the ashes. Wood is not too far from him.
Robinson has performed as well as woakes this match. Or even better than him.
Stokes and butler are englands main loss. However even butler can be pretty inconsistent.

So you can't really call this an eng c team

No matter what you think Buttler,Stokes , and Archer they are first choice players for England. Even Woakes,Ali, and Curran were a blow as England had no 5th bowler option which they like.

It was the youngest batting line up England have fielded in a home test. It's definitely at England B or C side. New Zealand should be kicking themselves if they don't win the series.