New Zealand v England 3rd test - Commentary thread

[12thMan]

Pietersen or Sidebottom for MOM? Both saved England in first innings but I think Sidebottom for 7 wickets. Sidebottom probably Player of series too. I think he got 20+ wickets in the series

 

[Raul Madrid]

Pietersen or Sidebottom for MOM? Both saved England in first innings but I think Sidebottom for 7 wickets. Sidebottom probably Player of series too. I think he got 20+ wickets in the series

They announced that it was Sidebottom - before lunch

 

[12thMan]

They announced that it was Sidebottom - before lunch

man I hate it when they ruin the surprise and anticipation

 

[PlanetPakistan]

I would have given it to KP but Sidebottom is ok choice too.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

BTW Southee was only 3 sixes away from equaling Wasim Akram's record

 

[pakistanbest]

BTW Southee was only 3 sixes away from equaling Wasim Akram's record

record of what?

 

[PlanetPakistan]

record of what?

Most sixes in an innings
http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283126.html

 

[12thMan]

record of what?

could be adjusting the equipment or taking the helmet off to run fingers through the hair.

 

[James]

Entertaining series, and a good win. I know 'it's only New Zealand', but they can bee quite difficult to beat at home if you look at past results. The performance in the 1st test, however, reminded us that we can still be the worst team ever on any given day, and that is a tag we have to lose permanently.

Last summer I set England a target of winning the tests and one dayers against both Windies and India, 4 series wins, and they managed 2 wins and 2 losses. This summer I want to win all 4 series again - this should always be the target when England play at home.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Really good series which was a real ding dong battle. Chasing huge totals in last two tests Kiwis certainly gave it a go getting 400+ chasing 500 is no mean feat batting last.

Sidebottom was man of series by far, Ambrose had a good debut series and KP and broad looked good as well.

Finally good to see Monty do well after a dry spell.. 100 test wickets not to far away.

 

[Robert]

The performance in the 1st test, however, reminded us that we can still be the worst team ever on any given day, and that is a tag we have to lose permanently.

That was with two of the four bowlers absolutely haemorrhaging runs though, whereas when three of four were firing as in the second and third tests, NZ crumpled up.

England will look better when Fred comes back at #6, and Hoggard recovers his place from Jimmy.

 

[James]

Will Fred ever come back in the long-term though? Nobody knows.

There is no excuse for the 1st test performance, it wasn't even the bowling that was so bad as you say. The batting in both innings was pathetic, for different reasons. 1st innings too slow, 2nd innings simply clueless. Neither innings were anything near test standard.

The series showed us glimpses that we might, one day, be a consistently good test side again. Like I said, need to win all the series at home in the summer and then we can talk some more.

 

[Amjid Javed]

An intresting summer ahead for England i expect them to dispatch the kiwis in 1st half of the summer but the real test will be against an ever improving S.A side. i think on the flintoff note if he does comeback how do england set their balance of the team? is ambrose good enough to bat 6 with maybe fred 7 and ambrose at 8?

 

[Robert]

is ambrose good enough to bat 6 with maybe fred 7 and ambrose at 8?

I think Amrose is a good prospect but it's not fair to let him have two bats per innings.

 

[Amjid Javed]

I think Amrose is a good prospect but it's not fair to let him have two bats per innings.

) i meant broad at 8.

 

[Robert]

I'd sooner see Fred back at 6, Ambrose at 7 and Broad at 8, with five main bowlers.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

Flintoff at 6? may be in 2005-06.

I think it will be a better idea to play him at #7 and have Ambrose come in at #8 because currently ENG have a solid # 6 player(Collingwood) so if Freddie wants that spot back then he will first need to score a few centuries in 1st class to show that he is as good a bat as he was in 05.