England's Winter

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New Zealand

T20 Internationals

Friday November 1st - Christchurch
Sunday November 3rd - Wellington
Tuesday November 5th - Nelson
Friday November 8th - Napier
Sunday November 10th - Auckland

Squad
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) captain
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Tom Banton (Somerset)
Sam Billings (Kent)
Pat Brown (Worcestershire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Tom Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Lewis Gregory (Somerset)
Chris Jordan (Sussex)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Matt Parkinson (Lancashire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
James Vince (Hampshire)


Tests

Wednesday November 20th - Tauranga
Thursday November 28th - Hamilton

Squad
Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Dominic Sibley (Warwickshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)



South Africa

Tests

Thursday 26th December - Centurion
Friday January 3rd - Cape Town
Thursday January 16th - Port Elizabeth
Friday January 24th - Johannesburg

Squad
TBC


ODI
Tuesday 4th February - Cape Town
Friday 7th February - Durban
Sunday 9th February - Johannesburg

Squad
TBC



T20 Internationals

Wednesday 12th February - East London
Friday 14th February - Durban
Sunday 16th February - Centurion


Sri Lanka

March 7th - Warm up 1, Katunayake (3 day)
March 12th - Warm up 2, Colombo (3 day)
March 19th - 1st Test, Galle
March 27th - 2nd Test, Colombo

Leach in hospital with gastroenteritis now

Hes not the only one sick of England

Watched most of the early stuff today. England weren't rubbish , kept the runs down etc , but really don't look totally switched on to me...glad they could eventually get the Kiwis out for under 400 but remains to be seen if this experimental - if deep - batting lineup can respond.
Sibley not having a great start to Test Cricket. Only three innings in but you have to wonder if he's going to be able to make the step up ? No questions about his temperament but not sure about the skill level...
Stokes was bowling despite all the injury stuff. Brave or crazy ? Second innings might prove no spinner to be a poor choice as Root & Denly probably won't destroy NZ

What is up with Archer ? Supposed to be the Key to Unlock Overseas Kookaburra Flat Pitches ...so far just a fast medium hack in NZ. Is he injured ? Tired ? Just not revved up ? Hope he's up for SA ...

Good opportunity tomorrow for Burns - who is apparently on a lucky streak - and Root to play long innings . They'd better. Draw and 0-1 would be better than two smashings ...and who knows ? achieve parity or better and a win isn't out of the question.

Not holding my breath

It should be a draw looking ahead to the weather forecast, with the rain for day five looking pretty heavy and set in. Time for some of England’s batters to find some form ahead of the South African series - Burns should be pretty optimistic given how fortune favoured him yesterday!

Duty281 wrote:It should be a draw looking ahead to the weather forecast, with the rain for day five looking pretty heavy and set in. Time for some of England’s batters to find some form ahead of the South African series - Burns should be pretty optimistic given how fortune favoured him yesterday!

Yeah, draw seems extremely likely with that forecast. Although England will probably be too embarrassed to voice it, their first target today will be to get to 176 and avoid the follow on. Doing that should ensure we don't lose although that's a pretty dispiriting aim in all the circumstances.

I gather - in fact have seen on replay - that Burns was Mr Lucky last night...but I've quite liked what I've seen from him this morning. Not just hanging in but playing very positively ; he and Joe Root compiling a welcome century stand and setting up a platform for Stokes and the new boys to potentially do what NZ did in the first match and take advantage of good batting conditions and tiring bowlers...

Of course a couple of quick wickets would change that so they need to go on a lot longer yet. But a good start

Root grateful for drs after overturning a leg side catch decision...For a moment there it looked like yet another handy start being cut off at 47.
Really hope he can go on with this innings after lunch. I am sure his problems are primarily relating to confidence and a big score here would go a long way to putting that right.

Brings up his fifty - from a cautious 145 balls . Seven minutes to lunch...142/2

Well, much better stuff from Burns and Root. Solid and purposeful. Over 100 runs scored in the (admittedly extended) session without loss.

I scoffed at Broad's ''bat once, bat big comments'' and we could still concede a first innings deficit but we've at least allayed fears of facing the follow on and are currently holding our own.

As Alfie says, Burns had luck going his way late yesterday. However, as an old school report might say, he's making slow but steady progress as a Test opener. Now averaging in the early 30s. Far from staggeringly good but heading up and in the right direction.

So 269/5 at the (early) close. Was out so didn't see the post-lunch stuff ; but doesn't seem to have been total disaster. Hundred for Burns before he's managed to get run out ; and Root still there with a long overdue century under his belt. Pity Stokes got out cheap.

Think Pope and the all rounders ought to be able to help the skipper up to 400 from here ? No guarantees of course...but that would leave some hopes of pressuring NZ on days 4/5...

Looks like a draw , to be honest - especially with rain forecast . But not a dead match yet.

Good day for england - looks like weather will deny either side a positive result, but good to see Root back with a big score and Burns take advantage of his early luck too. Shame for Crawley, let’s hope this isn’t his one and only test knock...

guildfordbat wrote:

As Alfie says, Burns had luck going his way late yesterday. However, as an old school report might say, he's making slow but steady progress as a Test opener. Now averaging in the early 30s. Far from staggeringly good but heading up and in the right direction.

Its the best average for an England opener for over 20 years since cooks debut isnt it? ...so staggeringly good has some level of relativism to it!

Big opportunity for Pope to deliver, the edge taken off the new ball, partnering a senior bat then the tail to shepherd. Really could do with a 50 from a personal perspective to start looking like a test player that backs up his county reputation as a run monster.

Reckoned Root would get a big one today. Certainly due. There was never any chance of his losing the captaincy as there is no one at present in a position to take over.

But it's always nice for a skipper to lead from the front. With no Bairstow this is about the weakest/least experienced batting line-up that England have sent out in ages.

Looks like some of England‘s batters did find form. Hopefully the catalyst for Root to get some monster scores in South Africa and Sri Lanka!

Shame about the rain as the test is well poised, with the Kiwis slightly ahead.

Duty281 wrote:Looks like some of England‘s batters did find form. Hopefully the catalyst for Root to get some monster scores in South Africa and Sri Lanka!

Shame about the rain as the test is well poised, with the Kiwis slightly ahead.

The England scorecard currently makes for slightly odd reading with only one of the batsmen being dismissed in double figures. Anyway, good and sound performances from Root and Burns although disappointing that the latter's dismissal was idiotic, especially as he had already got away with a run out scare in the mid 80s.

With not much time left to force a result and provided (quite a significant proviso) we don't get rolled over quickly in the first session, it'll be interesting to see what England's batting tactics are today. Two and a half hours again in the opening session. Soak it up and just go after any bad stuff in the first 90 minutes? Then start to put the foot on the gas in the last hour up to lunch and immediately afterwards? Leading to us being all out or even declaring with a small lead of, say, between 30 and 60? Wishful thinking? Certainly although I've posted worse.

I think a small lead of up to 50 in a brisk fashion, declaring/getting bowled out, then trying to take 10 wickets inside two and a half sessions is England’s only (and very remote) hope.

But I think the dead track and overhead rain will curtail this one. One weather forecast even reckons that most of today will be washed out.

Duty - yeah, hoping against hope that we could do that and, even if so, the weather will allow it.

I gave up trying to predict what the England lower order will do a while ago. All capable of scoring a run a ball 50, but just as likely to score a run a ball 4!

Id be surprised if England have an eye on the forecast, they will look to score as many as they can rather than looking at the time it takes. The lower order is naturally attacking though, regardless of the game situation youd expect to see Curran Woakes and Archer chuck the bat around a bit.
I hope Pope gets himself in enough to feel he can play his strokes too, hes a natural run scorer.

Goose - yeah but regardless of the forecast, England only have a maximum of 2 days to overcome a 100 run deficit as of now, take 10 NZ wickets and compile the winning total. They therefore can't hang back too much with the bat today - that was behind the suggested approach and timings (not all gung ho from the off) in my earlier post.

Btw, re your earlier post about Cook and Burns exceeding other England openers in the last 20 years - don't forget Strauss.

I meant debuts.

In terms of the game position england generally ignore the weather and the chances of forcing a victory are ridiculously slim and a long long way off at this point. Honestly for the cricketers out there and the teams mental state it makes much more sense to just play a tes innings and get some confidence. Pope in particular does need the opportunity to play a proper innings and accumulate runs.
They will though gun fairly hard down the order, because that's the sort of players they are and the best way for them to get to a total that will give some confidence back.

A victory of course would be great, but I cant imagine england are deluded enough to think that trying to force one is realistic. They arent very good.

Pope 29 off 107 balls... Get on with it or get out!

Surely we need to be more aggressive here, get a 80 run lead or so and have a go at them.

Pretty sedate stuff. NZ have been tight and accurate and not let England get away. No real threat with the ball, but the occasional uneven bounce making life tricky for the batsman.

I think England will try and bat until tea, maybe just after, and declare.

Root on for a proper big un. Apparently his 150 was the second slowest in English cricket history.

Good session for england - got the lead now, can push on for a session try and build that lead to 120-150ish if possible, and then have a pop at them with the ball (albeit the pitch is dead as a dodo bar one or two occasional deliveries, so doubt they make any real inroads anyways)

Gonna need to bowl NZ out in around 50-70 overs if they’re to win the game really

110 and no wickets down in a session with a batsman whos never made a start in test cricket before and he we are picking at them after spending the entire bayliss era complaining about batsmen chucking their wickets away with loose shots.

Pope couldve had a lot more if he wasnt aiming at fielders instead of gaps but theres been precious few wicketless sessions for England in the past two years so how about some positivity. Silverwoods been quite clear that the priority for the team is learning to value their wickets, they were never going to try and chase a 200 hundred lead by tea or anything unrealistic like that.

If the rain is as bad as feared then really theres not a lot England could do to force a result that isnt more likely to get them in trouble. Some stability and confidence and continuing to learn to bat like test cricketers was always going to be the priority. Once Pope passes his 50 we may see some more attack minded play, and the lower order really arent suited to anything other than stroke playing but they still arent going to go like Morgan vs Afghanistan

Pope perishes for 75, after him and Root get the lead upto 80 with some much more proactive batting after lunch. Figure Woakes/Curran come in and give it a bosh too until tea

Pope falls for a very "test" 75 as England extend their lead over 75. Root on 224 with England on 455-6.

Curran in now. If he gets his eye in...

Root goes shortly after, wafting high and a comfortable catch to bring an end to a fantastic innings. Fell victim to the desire to step on it. 226 for Joe and a return to his best

I'll have it noted that I turned on the cricket today and first ball was Pope out. Not a good five/ten minutes

Woakes adds zero to the scorecard

476 all out. Wagner ends on 5 by cleaning up the tail. Lead of 101

The rest perish quickly having a swing, lead over 100.

Now to see if the bowlers can extract anything from this fairly lifeless looking pitch

Curran gets Raval for 0

Neil Wagner has got a five-wicket haul in each of his past four Test matches.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Curran gets Raval for 0

Massive inside edge, not reviewed

Comes about with Curran and Broad sharing the new ball. Big call

Woakes removed Latham for about 18. The game is on, definitely. Currently 36/2

They’ve broken Jofra already

New Zealand finish on 96-2, trailing England by just five runs.

Good score in the end if a bit disappointing the tail got blown away but shows root and Pope went about things the right way. They both badly needed those scores.

Itll take a miracle with the ball to win this and whilst by all accounts they might've had some better luck England havent shown any signs of bowling NZ out in a session tomorrow.

Doesn't look possible to win, but at least won't lose. Is that progress/the team learning? Or just a really poor showing in the first Test. Who knows eh.

Criticism of Pope is ridiculous, a young guy trying to make an impact. Let him play how he wants and get a feel for being out there. Smashing it around didn't go too well for Curran etc

Pope showing an ability to grind it out and get a score is more important than him looking pretty for 20 or 30. His ability isn't in question but his mentality is and that innings will do him well for the future.

Well that innings will paper over some cracks for Root.

Glad to see Root get the big score ...will do a lot for his confidence , and the team's.  Pope too having a decent knock: OK sounds as if he was a bit slow but he needed a proper Test innings after a fairly underwhelming first few Tests. Can only do him good for the future. A pity Crawley missed out.
Not bothered about the tail folding - surely was hit out or get out at that point and time as important as runs.
In truth chances of forcing a win are slim even if the weather isn't as bad as feared ; but a couple of early wickets could give the hosts some anxious overs. Think England probably went about it sensibly enough given the overnight position , and have given themselves the best chance they could have reasonably expected.  A honorable draw in any case will be way preferable to another loss !

This series was always (at least for England ) more about development than results , as was obvious from squad selection and comments before the tour. I don't personally agree with that approach but it is clearly what they set out for and I guess we can judge the merits better in a year or two. (Given NZ are number two for a reason and very hard to beat especially at home I suspect a home win was likely in any case so no big deal but I do find too much banging on about the next Ashes Series in the lead up to this trip to be just a little disrespectful to the game and the opposition - and perhaps subtly unhelpful to the job in hand? Probably just me being old fashioned and grumpy

Seems that Fidel Edwards didn't like Root's innings. You can't really get more of an endorsement than that short of KP getting on your case. This is a man who averaged 38 with the ball in Tests, and had no plan other than bowl it as fast as he could.

VTR wrote:Seems that Fidel Edwards didn't like Root's innings. You can't really get more of an endorsement than that short of KP getting on your case. This is a man who averaged 38 with the ball in Tests, and had no plan other than bowl it as fast as he could.

What did Fidel have to say?

He said the innings was too slow and was "well bored" by it or something. Think he was looking for some popcorn entertainment, maybe switch over to a T20 next time, or "highlights" of Windies vs Afghanistan

They can't really win. They play quickly, get out and they get criticised for trying to play one day cricket in the test arena.

Now they play an old style test innings and it's called boring.

Rome wasn't built in a day, so this to me is a really good first step to building a strong team. I hope they stick with these new boys now. Whilst they might not have scored runs (i.e, Sibley), the team feels better balanced than the Ashes one, and feels more worth persevering with.

It was a good innings from Root, no complaints from me or most. Hopefully he’s turned a corner, if we’re being optimistic.

Longest england test innings since 2015 and highest total since 2017 apparently, even bigger step forward than I realised flat track or not.
Ok they picked 7 batsmen ( four openers) and three all rounders to get there but they've had similar depth in most tests during the Bayliss era and Cook for some of them.

As Alfie says the key for this series was to address englands shortcomings.
Theres some progress with the bat evident. It's not quite a revolution yet but a step. With the ball though, very disappointing really. They had the Express magic bowler and hes had zero impact. I guess Woakes has shown an improvement this test over his previous away trips, so maybe a sign hes maturing.

Tomorrow still exists and we might see one of those random days where stuart broad remembers hes brilliant or stokes just do what Stokes does when you think he looks flat. But likely a limp end.

The target of world number 1 is still laughable really. 4 is the achievable one. For now India Aus and NZ look well ahead of England. SA series will be a big test of how much they can build on the small green shoots from this lost series

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Neil Wagner has got a five-wicket haul in each of his past four Test matches.

Wagner giving Archer and Broad send offs with 470 on the board was... something.