England's Summer of Cricket 2022 as Joe Root Steps Down

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Joe Root has decided to step down from the captaincy. Main problem now is - who should take over?

Stokes is the only one really in contention. But should he be lumbered with the captaincy? His workload is immense as it is. But if he doesn't take the job, then who?

Let's hope Root's stepping down doesn't effect his batting! Captaincy cares hardly showed in his stats over the last few months.

Lees has been out bowled/lbw six times in eight innings. Not good for an opener.

Interestingly, where Crawley is the second coming of Vince, Lees is the second coming of Denly, with Lees scoring between 20-31 in every one of his last six innings.

Kyle Jamieson is so, so good. Brilliant over ends with the capture of Crawley.

Root coming out fairly early.

Crawley done by some fine bowling and catching... 32/2 and a bright start has quickly turned into a familiar greeting for Joe Root...

Jamieson the destroyer today. Darn good catch too...Southee is an excellent close catcher as well as bowler.

NZ right on top again.

Big innings this for Ollie Pope. He will be given longer to prove what he can do at three anyway ; but for his own confidence as well as our hopes , he could do with something far removed from that first innings "Rabbit in the headlights" performance.

Striking the balance between safe defence and positive intent will be his challenge today...

Oh dear...Boult does Pope with a peach...

46/3 and the home team sinking fast.

That was a gorgeous ball that held its line, though Pope was in no man's land with his footwork. Good tactic from Boult to come round the wicket.

This is the key partnership for England. If they are to win, it has to be these two putting on 120+.

What a shambolic innings from Bairstow that was

That Bairstow innings was really dumb. It's not an ODI for goodness sake.

Quality spell from Jamieson, nonetheless. 71 wickets @ 18 in his career, fabulous.

Could be over tonight. 55 overs left and just two away from the tail.

Honestly that Bairstow dismissal at 20 overs. It's a loose drive, but it's moved an entire set of stumps. I don't know if it's off the pitch, or just the state of the ball nowadays, but 20-over balls weren't doing that 15 years ago. Test batting is so much harder now

Aargh... Jamieson does Jonny via another inside edge...

Positive intent ;  bright little 16 : but as John Arlott once said of an innings by , I think , Peter Parfitt , at The Oval : "nice bright little 18s don't win Test Matches."

England have to balance stroke making with sensible defence. They really haven't done so in this match. NZ have a formidable bowling outfit and they're bowling well ; but England aren't making it hard enough for them. McCullum really has some work to do...

Bairstow's innings probably sums up English test cricket over the last few years - brainless.

Ten to fifteen overs away from NZ having to turn to CdG and/or Patel, with the ball softening and conditions becoming markedly easier, and Bairstow decides it's a good thing to play drive after drive, like he's still at the IPL, versus a high quality test bowler. Brainless stuff.

Zaltz also saying that Bairstow's average v balls hitting the stumps is now 13.5. That high?!

Last roll of the dice for England. If Root & Stokes can't get 70+ each, then its game over.

Will Stokes play like Bairstow or will he remember he's playing a Test match?

I mean its good to be positive and play strokes when the ball is there to hit, but you've got to be smart enough to rein it in as well.

Needing a miracle now with the two best bats at the crease. Not expecting one

For all England's batting deficiencies , has to be said this is seriously good bowling from the Kiwi pace men !

Pretty sure Stokes will try to attack anyway. I hope he can do so with some success ; as I'm afraid we are likely to hear a lot of complaints that England are reverting to the old Bayliss era over-aggressive stuff - which just doesn't come off often enough. The way they've played so far it is almost as if they all believe they're going to get an unplayable ball sooner or later and need to score what they can first...and I don't think that is true on this third day pitch.

Funny game this though : almost as if that Mitchell/Blundell stand was played in a different universe from the rest of the match ...

Well that was utterly brainless from Stokes...just VERY lucky it was a no-ball.

Will he learn his lesson?

Stokes isn't exactly swinging at it : but he keeps charging down the wicket at CDG ... And that didn't work either

But hey...double because CDG has overstepped !

Stokes bound to make a match winning 150 now

But seriously : I think England need to think about getting back to basics in their batting before next week. All this funky stuff isn't the % play...

CDG has had a rough day... Pulls up injured now and heads for the dressing room. Not just England bowlers who get injured then...

He doesn't look at all comfortable hobbling off.

Goodness, Patel bowling for the first time since his ten-for in India.

Looks like Stokes wants to take him on.

Glad to see Patel getting a chance to bowl ...he might have wondered why he'd bothered to turn up

Stokes immediately launching him into the crowd... England do know there are (potentially) two more days , do they not ?

Pleased to see Ben seems to be taking a more restrained approach against Southee.

This is a weird innings from Stokes. Has mixed some "normal" defensive work with a few wild swipes and a lot of strange footwork - presumably bent on putting the bowlers off their length : but is the risk necessary ?
Very fortunate to still be in...but I guess if he hits a hundred no one will care. You'd get long odds on that happening , I think.

When he hits it right it's good to watch though !

105/4.

Seems like a good session to bowl with the lights on and dark cloud, but nothing as yet.

Jamieson returning now. This could be the breakthrough.

Jamieson the wrecker back on...Stokes approach will be interesting...

And yes , charging already : shades of the Light Brigade

But I can't look away...

I do like the camaraderie between these teams... Stokes and Boult chuckling together after that throw in glances off the back of his bat...

At least it didn't run away for four

Stokes is still playing a fair few unorthodox shots. While Root has been uncharacteristically restrained so far , apart from the occasional pull.

Fifty stand 121/4

Kiwis probably regretting that De Grandhomme overstep just a little more. Target 153 now.

Of course the ball is soft, it's the time in the innings when Mitchell and Blundell carved out their brilliant partnership, and it's much tougher for NZ now. Kiwis just have to put it in the right areas and wait for the mistake. The solace of a second new ball 35 overs away.

Vaughan thinks 'something special' might be happening.

Duty281 wrote:Kiwis probably regretting that De Grandhomme overstep just a little more. Target 153 now.

Of course the ball is soft, it's the time in the innings when Mitchell and Blundell carved out their brilliant partnership, and it's much tougher for NZ now. Kiwis just have to put it in the right areas and wait for the mistake.The solace of a second new ball 35 overs away.

Vaughan thinks 'something special' might be happening.

Much of England's approach seems to be aimed at finishing the chase before the new ball becomes available !

Don't think the Kiwis will be exactly panicking just yet...

And Jack Leach isn't around to steer them home today

Fifty for Ben

Odd mix of crazy luck and wonderful powerful stroke play.

WINVIZ has apparently got England edging ahead now. If they had a remotely competent tail I'd maybe agree ; but two wickets and it's all done...

And last ball before drinks he's nibbled Jamieson to the keeper

Reckon it's NZ for sure now .

Stokes was probably starting to concern NZ a little, but Jamieson's the man again with an excellently-targeted ball that tucked Stokes up for room.

And that really should be that, unless Foakes can do what Buttler did v Pakistan in 2020. Root has played a very un-Root innings at the other end. The last recognised partnership and still over an hour to play tonight.

That's the second time in this innings Jamieson has taken a wicket with what would probably have been the last ball of his spell...

WINVIZ has had a quick rethink

"Only" 115 to get now. But without Stokes , that looks like Everest . Basically all on Root ; and really only Foakes with the skills to hang in and support him. Can't see it.

But you'd have to say the public are getting their money's worth today...

Duty281 wrote:Stokes was probably starting to concern NZ a little, but Jamieson's the man again with an excellently-targeted ball that tucked Stokes up for room.

And that really should be that, unless Foakes can do what Buttler did v Pakistan in 2020. Root has played a very un-Root innings at the other end. The last recognised partnership and still over an hour to play tonight.

I don't think Foakes should try to play like Buttler ! While Root is there , he really just needs to keep the other end locked up and give Joe as much strike as possible. But I'm afraid that partnership with Stokes really needed to account for about another fifty runs - his dismissal has left a bit too much to do. And with all due respect to Joe , he's not going to be able to score 80% of the runs himself - as Stokes might have been able to do ... given a bit more of his particular brand of fortune along with amazing stroke play.

And with Stokes out of the picture , they aren't going to be able to knock these off before that new ball arrives.

At least they've got the target under one hundred ; but for all the fun we've had today , (and in all fairness , the excellence of the NZ attack) I think England might end up feeling this is One that Got Away...

Kiwis looking a bit fatigued. They could do with stumps and coming back tomorrow to finish it off, but still thirty minutes left. CdG's injury quite costly.

Under 90 to get.

Not getting the point of picking Patel if you're not going to bowl him when your three main seamers are tired and the fourth seam option is injured.

Kiwis have really lost their way in the last 30-40 minutes, and Root has returned to normality.

Nine balls left in the day. 67 remaining.

Fifty stand

Foakes has been doing just as I instructed ...only 8 runs but he's still at the crease.

One more over...and it's Jamieson the Last Ball Specialist

Duty281 wrote:Not getting the point of picking Patel if you're not going to bowl him when your three main seamers are tired and the fourth seam option is injured.

Kiwis have really lost their way in the last 30-40 minutes, and Root has returned to normality.

Nine balls left in the day. 67 remaining.

Yeah I thought they might try Patel again , with Stokes out of the way. With another 15 overs to the new ball , I wonder if they will dare use him in the morning ?

Last ball coming up...phew ! Just a single for Root...

So : 61 needed. Fifteen to the new ball and five wickets (albeit some rather fragile ones !) still in the shed.

Gotta love Test Cricket

Well...61 to get tomorrow, five wickets left. Set for a great conclusion.

England may just pull off a great escape, but I reckon a rested and rejuvenated New Zealand team will get over the line. The new ball may have a small part to play; the long England tail probably a bigger part.

Very similarly poised to the first test between India and England in 2018 at Edgbaston. India were 110/5 overnight, Kohli at the crease, and they needed 84 more to win, but England got Kohli early-ish and India folded soon after. If New Zealand get Root early tomorrow, I'd expect England to fold.

Everything that went wrong for NZ today seemed to centre around De Grandhomme. First his silly run-out put the Kiwis in a panic and their innings fell apart. Then he bowled Stokes off a no-ball which deflated his side. Finally he got injured which put extra workload on Boult/Southee/Jamieson.

Do think Williamson's captaincy was poor after the actual Stokes dismissal. Root given easy leg-side runs. No Patel used, or even Mitchell for that matter.

Advantage NZ, but England may yet pull off a stunning victory. Good test.

4 am here but I might have trouble sleeping...

Was actually fairly relaxed for much of that innings because I figured there was no chance. But now it seems almost within reach so tension is back in town.

In England's favour : NZ bowlers must be a bit tired , and the ball is old , unlike the one England had this morning. Get say another thirty from this stand and you'd fancy it , no ?

Against that : Root doesn't have a great record resuming overnight. If he were to fall I'm not sure there are sixty runs in the other five. So , no pressure , Joe

Might get a few people in to watch tomorrow , whatever prices they're charging !

Lost count of the amount of times Root is not out overnight, then out early the next day. Might be something that's actually quite common, but does seem to happen to him a lot. I suppose it has to be noted that's because he's often there at the close of a day, whilst most of the others tend to be out way before then. So Root plus support is needed tomorrow. If he's out with more than about 20 left we are done for

Where would we be without Joe Root eh!

NZ must be kicking themselves they’ve let england get to this point, some poor batting this morning to not set a target of over 300, albeit England from what I saw continued to bowl well. Nice to see Broad get some reward, don’t think his figures reflected his efforts in this test until he got a few this morning. And nice to see Parkinson pickup a test wicket, fancy he might be good to the tail actually in his test career however long that might end up being! (A problem england often have!)

Do agree if Root is out early tomorrow we’re in trouble - Foakes has done well holding an end but not sure he’s got 30/40 more runs in him himself.
Also agree bizarre for NZ to not use Patel more in that final stretch once Stokes was out - if he’s not bowling in the 4th dig of the game (I appreciate it’s not a true “4th innings wicket” yet) then why was he even selected? It was clear to me Southee was running on fumes at the end in particular.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Where would we be without Joe Root eh!

Relieved of the burden of captaincy but still unaided by the company of others who can bat is how my dad summed it up.

Do agree if Root is out early tomorrow we’re in trouble - Foakes has done well holding an end but not sure he’s got 30/40 more runs in him himself.

I'd agree that if Root goes early it's immediately NZs game again which sums up the above fairly well. 61 to win, 5 wickets in hand and it feels like it's still on Root. He must be the most tired man in cricket from carrying this batting line up.

As well as Root's overnight problems, he has also never scored a century in the fourth innings of a test. He averages just 32 in the fourth innings of tests, with a high score of 87.

Root is on 77* and is also currently on 9977 test runs, so he could theoretically hit his first fourth innings ton, reach 10,000 test runs and win his country a test match at Lord's on Platinum Jubilee weekend all on the same shot, which is so fantastical that any creator of fiction would reject it on the grounds of being too fanciful.

Lot of clichés about a big first hour, well I think the same applies tomorrow but only for the first half-hour. If England get through the first half-hour without losing a wicket, they should be fine. If they lose Root in that time, the Kiwis should be fine. If they lose Foakes in the first half-hour but not Root, it's a maybe. Root would have to protect a pretty hopeless tail while still trying to score v test match fields which is a difficult proposition.

The pretty hopeless tail with Potts being normally a number ten for Durham; Broad fairly hopeless these days (of his last 11 test innings, six have ended before he's faced five balls), and Anderson and Parkinson being genuine tailenders. None of them can be expected to support a genuine batsman for long, and none of them can be expected to play a match-winning hand of 15 or 20 runs. How England would love to have Woakes at 8 tomorrow!

Still don't understand Patel's selection. Two overs bowled out of 108 so far. Why not pick Wagner or Henry?

kingraf wrote:On to the game, you'd think England would feel comfortable chasing anything short of 250. The expected Wickets for yesterday was 6 the whole day, so obviously it was one of those freak days where every body edges it behind. Ignoring England's innings batting today, which started from 7 down, NZ are 200/4, which suggests a rather typical second day wicket. So there's no reason to not believe the deck won't behave like a third day deck tomorrow. The challenge will be that I think 200 generally trends to be the point where people need to put their hands up and play defining knocks, while 250 generally needs a ton, or two 70-80 run knocks.

Interestingly, the average third innings score at Lord's is 257, so maybe a chase of 250 won't need to be as special as you'd think.  

I've got up from my slumber to find out that England didn't need to chase much more than 250, the wicket did indeed behave more like a third innings pitch, and England got the century they needed to chase the target. They're not home dry, but much like when South Africa needed to chase 240-odd against India earlier this year, the changing nature of Test cricket means a lot of historical data can be misleading. 280-odd is always a tough chase, but its a lot easier on a day three wicket.

Bit of a worry to see that Vaughan thinks England are now favourites

On the first three days the morning sessions have yielded : 39/6 off 24
                                                                                     63/6 off 22.5
                                                                                     80/7 off 21.3

Which rather suggests the morning is a good time to bowl on this !  Two things in England's favour though are that the pitch seems from that to be getting a little better to bat on ; and that ,perhaps more significantly,  there won't be a new ball until 15 overs are done. On those three days above , a new ball accounted for 16 of the 19 wickets. Kingraf's prediction/analysis above seems on target...

Normally you'd say a side needing 61 with 5 in hand is well on top : but that England tail has me very nervous.  I reckon it is probably 50/50 : just hope the weather isn't going to mess us around...

As for the Patel issue : I do think Williamson should have used him after Stokes got out - at least to see what he would do against the two right handers. Obviously if you'd had a crystal ball on Thursday morning he would not have been picked  - and neither would England have bothered with Leach. But both teams wanted some variety on hand : probably weren't planning on 130 plays 140

It’s going to be overcast but the rain isn’t expected to start until 2/3pm today - so we should be finished one way or another by then you’d think.

Overcast is not good for England, its hardly going to be good batting conditions, with the cast of Warership Down coming in from the next wicket I'm fearing the worst!

Just to touch on what I was getting at about Foakes' batting a couple of days ago. I feel he's a good understated batter to have alongside Root in this situation and quietly riding side saddle. However, I doubt him having the necessary power to bash boundaries and steal the strike if Root falls early.

It goes against all my long and traditional instincts to play a batter at 7 but I do feel, certainly for this innings, that England may have benefitted from Foakes and Bairstow swapping places in the order. If we were 5 down needing 60 odd to win with Root and Bairstow at the crease, we would be [stronger] favourites.

Bookmakers don't give NZ much of a chance - they've got them at 3/1, so you can insulate yourself against potential disappointment.

I'd widen the Foakes at 7 question to being more general whether he is good enough to bat there. That debut century is a long time ago now!

guildfordbat wrote:Just to touch on what I was getting at about Foakes' batting a couple of days ago. I feel he's a good understated batter to have alongside Root in this situation and quietly riding side saddle. However, I doubt him having the necessary power to bash boundaries and steal the strike if Root falls early.

It goes against all my long and traditional instincts to play a batter at 7 but I do feel, certainly for this innings, that England may have benefitted from Foakes and Bairstow swapping places in the order. If we were 5 down needing 60 odd to win with Root and Bairstow at the crease, we would be [stronger] favourites.

Hi guildford. Had to confess my initial reaction to your post from Friday was a bit skeptical ... "we've been down that road before" etc... But must admit I was pondering it a little yesterday as events unfolded. Kind of academic now anyway I guess ; and we will see shortly how it all plays out ; but might have another look at the idea later...

Understand conditions are going to be a bit unfriendly on resumption now : significant advantage NZ ?

VTR wrote:I'd widen the Foakes at 7 question to being more general whether he is good enough to bat there. That debut century is a long time ago now!

I do agree - while I understand Guildford's viewpoint, I'd just leave Foakes to worry about cementing himself as the keeper and at 7, before messing him around in the order. 9 tests since that initial Sri Lanka series, and he averages 16 with the bat in that time with no fifties (and that includes a few not outs to help the average too).
Would just let him have the summer to see if he can be the long term keeper or not personally, and if down the line he's batting well and constantly being stranded, it might be a good discussion for a future tour/series

NZ can't ask for better bowling conditions. Dark as night (almost), floodlights on, horrible stuff.

The new ball may still have a part to play. If England go at under 3 an over this morning, they'll still need at least 17 by the time New Zealand get it in their hands...presuming England haven't been bowled out by then!

Favour the Kiwis 60-40. Root or bust for England.

Hi again all - thanks for your responses about Foakes.

From my pov, it's more a question for the near future being raised rather than an answer being given now.

As virtually always with any side, a massive amount depends on the balance of the team. In other words, getting the make up and the order as good as possible. It's hardly ever that it can be perfect.

I just don't think that Foakes at 7 followed by a weak tail (loved the Watership Down reference, VTR) is right. However, I accept it may be the best we can do atm.

At least for now - That's All Foakes!

Despite conditions, not a huge amount of movement for the NZ seamers yet. England batting a good tempo to get this done before the new ball.