1st Test, Lord's : England beat New Zealand by 124 runs

[Robert]

Is it just me or did he seem to bat a lot better when KP was also in the lineup to take some of that burden off him?

I'd say he often bats better when someone higher than him scores a ton first, be that Strauss, Cook, Trott or KP. I'd push Root up to #4. Or drop Bell and get Taylor.

 

[Robert]

Boooooooo. Dragged to victory by another import. Try growing your own.

Sour grapes, RA. He's been here since age 12 so we did grow him. All his cricket development has come from the Durham system. So boo to you.

 

[Neferpitou]

"Emotionally our guys are really steady and that's allowed us to be able to play some good cricket so that will be the message, no knee jerk reaction to a performance like this because we were pretty good for most of it." McCullum

If clarke came out with a line like that when we **** away a crucial ashes test i would want to wring his neck.

Kiwis had the best of conditions multiple great positions(almost can't lose positions) and choked on it they shouldn't be scrounging around looking for the positives.

It's a young team, the more confidence they're given the better.

 

[trogger]

Or you could look at it the other way, young men need to learn from their mistakes but they can't do that if their leaders are in denial about the major mistakes being made.

 

[trogger]

Added to that this isn't the old plucky little underdog nz team, they want to be taken seriously as a force in world cricket well fair enough but that comes with extra pressure and scrutiny, they stuffed up badly in the match and don't deserve praise for simply staying in the contest for 5 days.

 

[Random Aussie]

Sour grapes, RA. He's been here since age 12 so we did grow him. All his cricket development has come from the Durham system. So boo to you.

No, booo to you sir!

 

[James]

Tbf we are down to 1 or 2 imports now which is more comparable with other teams, policy has changed it seems

 

[Varun]

Trust New Zealand to mess it up in the third/fourth innings as always.

 

[Robert]

No, booo to you sir!

Dear dear. Cook back on form, Stokes coming on strong, a decent fast attack.... not worried about your grip on the Ashes are you?

 

[Robert]

Tbf we are down to 1 or 2 imports now which is more comparable with other teams, policy has changed it seems

An English and not African coach is the reason for that IMO.

 

[Random Aussie]

Dear dear. Cook back on form, Stokes coming on strong, a decent fast attack.... not worried about your grip on the Ashes are you?

Have always thought it was 50:50, our batting is quite weak. Just taking the opportunity to sledge the English celebrating their Kiwis game winning performance against the Kiwis.

 

[Robert]

Have always thought it was 50:50, our batting is quite weak. Just taking the opportunity to sledge the English celebrating their Kiwis game winning performance against the Kiwis.

Fair go.