England's Summer of Cricket 2021

First topic message reminder :

2nd June-14th June: Two tests v New Zealand

23rd June-26th June: Three T20s v Sri Lanka
29th June-4th July: Three ODIs v Sri Lanka

8th July-13th July: Three ODIs v Pakistan
16th July-20th July: Three T20s V Pakistan

4th August-14th September: Five Tests v India

Wood fires up ! Nabs Watling as well...neat catch for Sibley.

No good for my tipping competition entry but England will be delighted.

Soul has a future as a motivational coach...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Thankfully we don't have to put up with watching BJ Watling bat again

Soul, fancy saying Sibley/Burns/Crawley/Root/Pope/Lawrence are all crap as well?

Without doubt the worst top six in world cricket including that flat track bully Joe Root. I reckon we'd be better of getting Boycs nan playing with that legendary stick of rhubarb.

Hello everyone,
Its good long test cricket time, and time to come back here.
Its been a very tough month and a half in India with the COVID 2nd wave. Test cricket hopefully, will give some relief.
But an unexciting pitch to start the season, a serious letdown. English pitches had lost it long time back in limited overs, now are we going to see the same with test cricket? At least the weather will be there of and on, but stupid flat pitch with no seam and no spin to such an anticipated contest.
Anyways, fine effort from New Zealand so far. Conway with an unforgettable debut. Regardless of failures from their top 2 guns KW and Rosco, New Zealand batting managing to dominate England. Hopefully, BJ Watling, one of my favorite players of the era, will have a fine series to remember...

Watling will have to do it with the gloves, and then later on with the bat in the series.

Think Mitchell would have been a better choice than Colin de Grandhomme for that all-rounder spot when you consider they needed to bat them in the top 7. But Colin is a better bowler, and with Santner in and with no Boult available, guess they opted for CDG. Perhaps a 5th bowler combination of Williamson and Mitchell would have been better...

But for all that, if de Grandhomme gets going, runs should come quickly... Don't think he's much good at defense, and with Santner and the bowlers who can bat to come in, CDG should do what he's good at...

msp83 wrote:Hello everyone,
Its good long test cricket time, and time to come back here.
Its been a very tough month and a half in India with the COVID 2nd wave. Test cricket hopefully, will give some relief.
But an unexciting pitch to start the season, a serious letdown. English pitches had lost it long time back in limited overs, now are we going to see the same with test cricket? At least the weather will be there of and on, but stupid flat pitch with no seam and no spin to such an anticipated contest.
Anyways, fine effort from New Zealand so far. Conway with an unforgettable debut. Regardless of failures from their top 2 guns KW and Rosco, New Zealand batting managing to dominate England. Hopefully, BJ Watling, one of my favorite players of the era, will have a fine series to remember...

That was an excellent jinx , msp !

Good to see you back...as you say has been very tough time in India : I do hope you and yours are well ?

Hopefully the later pitches will offer the bowlers a bit more. Most seasons in England produce a good share of results so I wouldn't be too concerned that this one is heralding an irreversible trend.

Good review ! Robinson strikes and NZ are losing the plot...

293/6

Was thinking Wood's pace was down today, Sky just showing no ball he's bowled today has been above 90MPH.

On the pitch, Lord's is usually a good batting track, and the sunshine is helping that.

Think Robinson's got one here...yes he has! England suddenly on top. Three wickets for five runs.

England not going in with a spinner is not a very smart call. Though kind of understandable with the kind of quality or the lack of it that they have in that department. After watching all these English spinners of recent times and all the experiments that they have been forced to do in that department, I have come to the conclusion that despite his inconsistencies, Moeen Ali remains their best bet. They should play him always in a 5 man attack that usually shouldn't be a problem with Stokes in, and they should take whatever runs that he scores as bonus.

6 down for 293.

That 450 and north of it as spoken about earlier looking some way off as NZ's Ansari comes to the wicket ...

Excellent review by England, and some top bowling by Wood and Robinson have England back in the game. Plugged away nicely this morning

New Zealand doing an England, collapsing in a heap from a position of dominance.
Mitchell Santner should consider himself lucky to have made it to the playing 11 for this game, and time he justifies the call...

In the last few overs, the score has been static while the wickets have kept falling.

guildfordbat wrote:6 down for 293.

That 450 and north of it as spoken about earlier looking some way off as NZ's Ansari comes to the wicket ...

What a glowing comparison!

Will be a challenge for Santner to face up to Wood early in his innings.

alfie wrote:

msp83 wrote:Hello everyone,
Its good long test cricket time, and time to come back here.
Its been a very tough month and a half in India with the COVID 2nd wave. Test cricket hopefully, will give some relief.
But an unexciting pitch to start the season, a serious letdown. English pitches had lost it long time back in limited overs, now are we going to see the same with test cricket? At least the weather will be there of and on, but stupid flat pitch with no seam and no spin to such an anticipated contest.
Anyways, fine effort from New Zealand so far. Conway with an unforgettable debut. Regardless of failures from their top 2 guns KW and Rosco, New Zealand batting managing to dominate England. Hopefully, BJ Watling, one of my favorite players of the era, will have a fine series to remember...

That was an excellent jinx , msp !

Good to see you back...as you say has been very tough time in India  : I do hope you and yours are well ?

Hopefully the later pitches will offer the bowlers a bit more. Most seasons in England produce a good share of results so I wouldn't be too concerned that this one is heralding an irreversible trend.

All good alfie, though me and family got it. Recovered now.

And I hope you are right regarding the pitches.

msp83 wrote:England not going in with a spinner is not a very smart call. Though kind of understandable with the kind of quality or the lack of it that they have in that department. After watching all these English spinners of recent times and all the experiments that they have been forced to do in that department, I have come to the conclusion that despite his inconsistencies, Moeen Ali remains their best bet. They should play him always in a 5 man attack that usually shouldn't be a problem with Stokes in, and they should take whatever runs that he scores as bonus.

Moeen is not good enough for the test team any more, Leach is a far better bowler while in reality there's little between their batting.

And now Wood does for Santner ...NZ collapsing just when you'd have thought they'd be kicking on.
Two ducks in a row.
294/7. I'm giving up on predictions ...

This is a calamity for New Zealand. 288/3 to 294/7 on a flat pitch. Wood with a corker of a spell.

Still plenty of time for him in this game of course, but the Santner selection which has baffled me and many, not exactly off to a roaring start...

Santner had no luck v Wood. All will be down to Southee doing his impression of Shahid Afridi. Try to smash everything, and New Zealand will hope that today will be the day he connects a few.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:6 down for 293.

That 450 and north of it as spoken about earlier looking some way off as NZ's Ansari comes to the wicket ...

What a glowing comparison!

Yeah, Olly, that was for you!

Soul Requiem wrote:

msp83 wrote:England not going in with a spinner is not a very smart call. Though kind of understandable with the kind of quality or the lack of it that they have in that department. After watching all these English spinners of recent times and all the experiments that they have been forced to do in that department, I have come to the conclusion that despite his inconsistencies, Moeen Ali remains their best bet. They should play him always in a 5 man attack that usually shouldn't be a problem with Stokes in, and they should take whatever runs that he scores as bonus.

Moeen is not good enough for the test team any more, Leach is a far better bowler while in reality there's little between their batting.

Leach offers neither control nor wickets in the first innings. Ali has always been a wicket taker. And even when he got dropped, it was not for him not being able to take wickets.
If England is forced to bench Leach on a flat track because he's usable only in a 2nd innings role and that Root is better than him first up, then that says everything.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Still plenty of time for him in this game of course, but the Santner selection which has baffled me and many, not exactly off to a roaring start...

Careful , Olly...

It seems everything any of us say in this match is starting to work as a jinx so you might be setting him up to destroy England with the ball...remember Roston Chase

Moeen has played one test in 22 months, and that was in spin-friendly India. He is no longer an option for England in tests outside the sub-continent, and is probably not someone they'll return to the next time they have a test tour of a sub-continent nation.

Signs of Jamieson trying to instigate a counter-attack. Probably wise, Kiwis have been in slow motion this session.

Strange old session. After about 30 minutes you'd have thought NZ were going to cruise to 450. Then a quality spell from both Wood and Robinson led to a quick flurry of wickets; not much resistance put up by Watling/De Grandhomme/Santner.

Not a morning for Anderson or Broad, and hopefully Wood only went off to replace his footwear. Still reckon NZ can get to 400 here, as numbers 9, 10 and 11 all like to attack, and Conway will remain steadfast at the other end.

Game definitely on.

(Just 24 overs in that session!)

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Still plenty of time for him in this game of course, but the Santner selection which has baffled me and many, not exactly off to a roaring start...

Careful , Olly...

It seems everything any of us say in this match is starting to work as a jinx so you might be setting him up to destroy England with the ball...remember Roston Chase

I'm not Trebell - I'm going to remain confident that a guy who's never taken a first class 5 wicket haul, and a test best of 3 wickets in an innings, won't be any good!

314/7 at lunch...remarkable turnaround after NZ appeared in no difficulty , having weathered the early overs without alarm.

Conway of course still hasn't had any difficulty ; but his partners haven't contributed since Nicholls departed. Wood bowled an excellent aggressive spell , well supported by Robinson : the two of them have upstaged the old timers today. Lot to like in Robinson's policy of constantly attacking the stumps : you don't want to miss him.

Jamieson is no mug - and Southee can give it a whack , so job not done yet. But England are back in the game after that last hour.

Lord knows what will happen on the resumption. But I think the 500 is off the table...

Gets better for England...

Good plan...good catch Crawley , four now for Robinson on debut

317/8.

Really good catch from Crawley, excellent figures for Robinson now.

Time for Conway to play some shots.

So Wood like Archer has taken wickets bowling around the 87/88mph mark rather than the 90+ stuff which looks good but isn't always conducive to movement.

Conway still undisturbed...but he's running out of partners. NZ now looking unlikely to reach 350 which is an extraordinary collapse from 250/3 this morning. Even if they can edge it up to 380 from here that's a lot less than we were all expecting when Conway and Nicholls were together.

Better not judge the pitch until both teams have batted but this looks like a significant underachievement.

Poor drop by Broad that

Robinson unfortunate not to have five...reckon Broad catches that nine times out of ten.

The most English thing to happen would be for that drop to cost them, and these two to rack up a partnership of 150, with Southee notching his first test ton.

No worries on that score as Anderson finds the outside edge with a nice ball and a little bit of movement.

Duty281 wrote:The most English thing to happen would be for that drop to cost them, and these two to rack up a partnership of 150, with Southee notching his first test ton.

Not today...Anderson gets in on the act , a first catch for Bracey and 338/9. Conway closer to carrying his bat...

These Sky commentators do know Wagner has 9 first-class fifties and a double-digit average? He's only at 11 because of NZ's silly depth, he's not Chris Martin!

Watching portions of this afternoon passage
The pitch is not really assisting the bowlers

But not assisting the batsmen either in their stroke play...ball not coming on to the bat, holding a bit and sluggish off the pitch and batsman risks his wicket if trying to play too many shots.
A Bit of reverse perhaps is visible

Conway is excellent in technique plays bat pad so close together and body close to the ball.
However this technique will make him a nudger & pusher, not a free flowing stroke player

If he can bat a bit, Robinson could be a utility package like Tim Bresnan


NZ will finish a 100 short of what most would have expected and enuf to hold upper hand given that their bowlers would have seen how the pitch is acting

Much better from England thus far today. Wood and Robinson were impressive after a slightly tired start to the morning from England.

Wagner can bat a bit though, definitely isn't a number 11 so England still have some work to do finishing it off. Conway will be desperate to reach 200.

Conway is such a strange case. Usually a number 3, his last FC knock opening was 2018 and before that it was 2014. When he has opened in FC cricket he hasn't really scored runs either. If England selected Conway to open in Tests there would be bedlam from most of us here on 606. It's a great hunch selection from NZ who must've seen something in his technique that convinced them he would go well in these conditions.

Got to feel a bit for Robinson. 4 wickets to his name, 5-fer wicket chance dropped by Broad and now replaced by Broad with Wagner at the crease.

Wagner putting on a show now by hitting Broad over extra cover for 6!

Wagner making a good case for a move up the order...

Not just slogs either. Useful runs here for the last wicket. England will really want to finish this quickly now , after their strong comeback today. 360/9.

200 for Conway, off a top edge. An absolute masterclass of an innings, the only doubt about him making 200 was due to running out of partners!

Conway goes to 200 with a 6. What a brilliant innings on debut.

Superb knock from Conway, rather soft dismissal in the end - great work by Pope in the field

Conway goes to 200 with a six !  Keeps on impressing

And has forced Root to turn to his own tempters to try and wrap up this frustrating last wicket stand ...and has he done it with a run out ? I think so , just...

378. Conway still undefeated by the bowlers

Well played man

A shame it had to end that way, but brilliant fielding on the boundary from Pope. England were beginning to look a little ragged from Wagner's flurry, so that run-out was very timely.

NZ probably 20 short of what they would have taken at the start of play yesterday, but about 80 short of what they felt they could get from 11:00 this morning. A batting scorecard of two halves.

Good day for Robinson and Wood. Broad continues his wicket drought, though he bowled well without reward.

Decent length of time for England to bat today. Test well-balanced.

From 288-3, with a batting order selected to bat deep, think that’s a fairly disappointing overall effort by NZ. 400 minimum winning the toss and batting first on this, were set to get 500+, missed chance to put the loss for them out of play first up

That bit of tail wagging restored a bit of the ground NZ had lost with today's collapse. But I think England will be happy to settle for just chasing 378 as it seemed likely to be at least 450 when they started this morning.
Tricky bit now though as there seems to be enough bounce in this pitch to make Jamieson and Wagner a potential handful . And the England batting is arguably a bit short of proven class , outside of the skipper.
Will be a good test for them - and a big change from the kind of challenge they rather failed in India.

An incredibly tight run out but the right call I think. One frame in it!

A very useful 40 run partnership at the end for NZ but England would have taken that at the start of today.

The pitch is fairly dead but on occasions (pretty rare ones admittedly) it has seemed two paced today. Some deliveries skipping through quickly and others just sticking a bit. I'm very interested to see what Southee, Jamieson and Wagner get from the pitch. They are 3 completely different bowlers. Jamieson has all the raw skills to be very good in England and if it's swinging Southee will get the ball in the right areas.

England's top 7 realistically has 6 batsman that could do with runs to guarantee a place.