New Zealand vs England | 23/2/2013 | 3rd ODI | Auckland

[Ruri]

I came on for the opening spell, then left and now am not surprised.

18/3 after 10 overs of Finn and Anderson.

then 42/0 in 11.4 overs of Broad/Woakes/Swann.

Come on, could you be less useful Broad and Swanny?

 

[James]

What a scorecard to wake up to!

Anderson and Finn are in gun form at the moment, can't wait to see them opening the bowling in the Tests.

Looks like after the NZ fans hyped up their LOI capabilities, it's going to be 2 England series wins out of 2 on this tour.

 

[Ruri]

What a scorecard to wake up to!

Anderson and Finn are in gun form at the moment, can't wait to see them opening the bowling in the Tests.

Looks like after the NZ fans hyped up their LOI capabilities, it's going to be 2 England series wins out of 2 on this tour.

Can't wait for the Tests. Proper swing and seam bowling with the red ball courtesy of Anderson and Finn. Should be great to watch.

And the Kiwi bowlers are no mugs either, should be testing stuff to see if our lads have the mettle, especially the newer ones.

 

[Ruri]

Will there be MoS selections for this? No MoM, but series perhaps?

Who would it be? McCullum for most runs and fighting stands? Root for delivering victory and nearly there in runs and for highest batting average? Anderson for most wickets at lowest average by some margin and econ?

 

[James]

I would give MoS to McCullum. We would have won all three of the games by the late afternoon had he not featured.

The Tests might just be worth living unsocial hours for. I'm so happy for Finn, I hope he continues to improve and cements a place.

 

[Ruri]

I would give MoS to McCullum. We would have won all three of the games by the late afternoon had he not featured.

The Tests might just be worth living unsocial hours for. I'm so happy for Finn, I hope he continues to improve and cements a place.

Lucky for me these are perfect timings. I can watch the entire day before bed.

Our opening bowling is looking seriously good. I would want to take a punt and go for Onions over Broad.

 

[James]

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bairstow
Prior
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Onions

I think it's a 10pm to 5pm deal for us lol. And I work 9-5 in the AM Monday to Friday. Hmm....

 

[Aman]

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bairstow
Prior
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Onions

I think it's a 10pm to 5pm deal for us lol. And I work 9-5 in the AM Monday to Friday. Hmm....

Did Broad finally get dropped?

 

[Aman]

No MOTM or MOTS awards

 

[James]

Did Broad finally get dropped?

Well, he got dropped in India for being in rubbish form.

And he just got dropped again. For being perennially rubbish. By me.

(That was my prospective Test lineup)

 

[James]

A quality 10 overs from Southee. 3/48. I rate him.

 

[Ruri]

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bairstow
Prior
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Onions

I think it's a 10pm to 5pm deal for us lol. And I work 9-5 in the AM Monday to Friday. Hmm....

Your Yorkshire bias shining through. Play Root at 6 where he did well. Retain Compton for a fair chance on better pitches. Not like Jonny set the world on fire with his Test matches.

 

[James]

I don't see much point in the Compton experiment. He is too old to be blooded and moulded and doesn't seem to have any outstanding qualities.

 

[James]

BTW I don't mind a bit of Yorkshire bias. Yorkshire is one of the counties which has given the most to English cricket over a long period. Meanwhile the main reason Compton is being supported is because he is a Saffer.

 

[Ruri]

BTW I don't mind a bit of Yorkshire bias. Yorkshire is one of the counties which has given the most to English cricket over a long period. Meanwhile the main reason Compton is being supported is because he is a Saffer.

If you're going to kick him out, at least name a better player than Bairstow to replace him. Both of them were mediocre, and at least Compton has the weight of the most recent FC runs to fall back on.

 

[Robert]

Well, that was easy!

The probability is that these Kiwis are minnows now. I shall be unsatisfied with anything less than 2-0 to England in the tests (one match will be rained off). Anderson- Finn-Onions will rip them up on their own tracks.

BTW I am also inclined to put Root in to open with Chef, because he seems to have more about him than Compo and is a lot younger, but as James says the Saffer bias may keep him out.

 

[James]

If you're going to kick him out, at least name a better player than Bairstow to replace him. Both of them were mediocre, and at least Compton has the weight of the most recent FC runs to fall back on.

Before Compton replaced him for dubious reasons and scratched his way through a series in India, Bairstow confidently scored a 90 and a 50 in his one Test against South Africa, who have by far the best bowling attack at the moment. If that's mediocre, I'd like to see what impressive is. Moreover he is young and can be built into something even better. That's enough potential to justify some middle order faith.

 

[Ruri]

Before Compton replaced him for dubious reasons and scratched his way through a series in India, Bairstow confidently scored a 90 and a 50 in his one Test against South Africa, who have by far the best bowling attack at the moment. If that's mediocre, I'd like to see what impressive is. Moreover he is young and can be built into something even better. That's enough potential to justify some middle order faith.

He was magnificently useless against the Windies at home. And scored 9 in Mumbai. So, there was nothing for him beyond the one good game against the Saffas.