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.

Oh dear... Root drops a real dolly

Not like him at all. Slip catching letting England down in contrast to Lord's...

Stokes gritting his teeth.

Its been a nice day of test action so far. New Zealand losing Williamson on the eve of the game, then getting off to a good start for England to strike with 2 quick strikes, then for New Zealand to recover with a rapid partnership between Nicholls and Conway, only for England to strike back with the wickets of both quickly. New Zealand has test debutant Michael Bracewell to come, and Jamison is a better bat than he showed himself to be in the last game. Southee can always be a dangerous lower order slogger. But if England can get one more quickly, NZ might be in danger of getting bowled out for a sub-par total here.

Poor drop from Root that one. That could turn out to be a big moment in the game. England would have been well and truly on top...

The ball seem to be doing a bit more of late. Both Anderson and Stokes bowling, apart from the continued no-balls from the England skipper. He should be careful not to bowl himself into the ground though...

Mitchell trying to open up a bit and transform a bit of the pressure back on the bowling side... New Zealand still going at a good clip...

So far these two have kept Stokes and Anderson out. Important passage of play as Jimmy has already burnt a bit of petrol , and Stokes probably won't bowl a massive spell ; so batting after tea might get a bit easier.

Run rate being so good means NZ are still in a good position if they can get another partnership going here. Stokes bowling a lot of no balls today !

Stokes really bowling an impressive spell, but he's still not beliving in the crease line all that much! The way he's bowling, won't be surprised if he'll be regretting this... He's close to getting an edge, and closer to overstepping the line...

Leach on, thought it would be a good time to get Broad back on. Though he didn't make the breakthrough, his previous spell really started the pressure transformation...

Excellent session of test cricket. Stokes and Anderson exploiting the best bowling conditions of the day to take two big wickets, but Mitchell and Blundell repelling them until tea keeps New Zealand ahead. Ordinarily, England would be feeling very good about taking four wickets in 51 overs, but the rate the Kiwis have scored at has been damaging to the home side's cause.

Next session will be tougher for England as Stokes and Anderson will need a rest. There'll be a greater reliance on Potts and Leach in the final session, which could be to the Kiwis' benefit, but we should see Broad early on.

Well poised at the moment. Had Root held the chance of Mitchell I'd have England as being marginally ahead - hopefully won't cost us too much. New Zealand with all the top 5 passing 20 but none even making a 50, suggests it's an easier wicket to get started on than Lords but maybe hasn't one quite as dead with the older ball.

This pitch surely is not as dead as the HQ one was with the old ball. Stokes was really good, and Broad and Anderson also pretty good. Potts wasn't quite up there though, and this doesn't seem to be the time for Leach to do much.

Potts and Leach after tea so a good opportunity for NZ to push on , perhaps. Mitchell keen to get after Leach : that drop of Root's might prove rather costly , I fear. Added 23 already ...

Potts drew an edge from Blundell but there's a large gap in the slips now and all it brings is a boundary...can't keep five slips up all day

206/4.

And Mitchell going after Leach now , much as the Aussies did at Brisbane...four , six...

Will Leach hold his nerve ? Will Stokes ?

Potts much better than earlier today in his first few overs since tea ...but he's served up some loose ones lately. NZ rattling along again and there's a danger that this can get away from England rather quickly.

Reckon it's a decent sort of pitch to bat on - rewards for stroke play ; but some aid for the seam bowlers too if they get it in the right place. Don't think England will be too happy if they find themselves chasing 400 after inserting NZ...the Kiwis have a full hand of good pace men who might quite fancy defending that sort of total...

Not too surprised , by the way , that Stokes gave Potts the first spell after the break ; but wonder if he didn't miss a trick by not letting Broad have a few overs first. As a general rule , I like the theory of always leading with at least one of your best bowlers after an interval - and especially against a still fairly new and dangerous partnership.

These two did an outstanding job in the second innings last week and are bidding to repeat that effort today...246/4 and NZ well on top.

Potts unfortunate to not get a wicket in his spell, but it's the nature of these two to frustrate England. Leach, as well, denied on 'umpire's call' choices twice now, though the first wasn't reviewed.

Overrate has been a joke. And the ICC need to put some limit on fielding teams asking for the ball to be changed. You wouldn't see a batsman going up to the umpire asking him to get his light meter out.

255/4. NZ could be past 325 tonight.

Pleased to see Foakes actively encouraging the review to be taken there. Not overturned but not lost either. Hopefully that will encourage him to push the case. Certainly, his glovework has been excellent, often in a typically understated and unspectacular fashion.

If you're playing England test cliché bingo then you can mark off 'banging it in short down the leg-side'.

Yeah...the over rate was pretty good early on ; but it slowed right down as the day wore on. Ball change requests do seem to be getting out of hand lately.
Not going to get 90 overs today , even with extra time , are we ?

Leach has gone close a couple of times ; but not for the first time his inability to build pressure by restricting scoring while the seamers are resting is hurting the England combination. He hasn't managed even one maiden in 11 overs.

Fifty again for Mitchell ; and he celebrates with a six over fine leg...

Yep, Leach too expensive and failing to build pressure. Not as if he kept it dry for a while and then got walloped for a couple of overs. No maidens in his 11 overs. Consistently being taken for runs.

The short ball tactic doesn't seem to be a bad idea against Mitchell. He's all too happy to take it on and though things have gone his way largely so far, he hasn't looked to be in control more often than not. And Broad clanked him on the helmet there as they go into the protocols and drinks...

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:They forgot Guildford's golden toss rule - look down, look up and then choose to bat first

Sure a lot of people thinking that at the moment : bats not looking troubled at all. But also remember Benaud's policy of not judging a "send in" choice at 11.30 - wait until 6.

Does seem all very straight up and down at present though. Wonder if they will be seeking to change the ball soon

Certainly if they negotiate this first hour NZ will be well pleased. Nearly there...

Good over rate for a change !

Not there yet but getting closer to Benaud's 6 or the modern 6:30. 

[quote="alfie"]Leach has gone close a couple of times ; but not for the first time his inability to build pressure by restricting scoring while the seamers are resting is hurting the England combination. He hasn't managed even one maiden in 11 overs./quote].
That's the problem with Leach. He doesn't offer much control in terms of runs usually, can't usually bowl to left-handers. More like a decent 2nd innings operator in spinning conditions. And they said he's a class apart from Moeen!

No one has ever said Leach is a class apart from Moeen. Even Michael Vaughan

Mitchell and Blundell, in the middle of their fine partnarship in the last game, played into England's hands when they just whent ultra-quiet for more than 40 minutes before stumps against some rather friendly bowling. That proved to be decisive in the eventual outcome in the last game. They shouldn't make the same mistake. Don't waste scoring opportunities when they are available. No need to do anything rash, but take the runs that are on offer... At the moment they are letting Leach get in a few quiet overs.

Root's having a tough time in the field!

And Mitchell is going all or nothing! He either just blocks, or play the real risky shots! Takes on the short ball, reverse sweeps!

Drop catches, top-edges going over, reviews burned. England in a bit of trouble. They need a bit of luck to go their way here...

That was a dismal review. Not going to fault Root for that second 'drop', hardly even a chance, but the first was/is massively costly. England's fielding in general has been poor today.

Now Root's nearly bounced out Mitchell.

285/4. A lot is going to hinge on what the second new ball does.

Blundell has been a fine replacement for the outstanding BJ Watling both with the gloves, and with the bat. BJ scored some of the toughest test runs scored for New Zealand. Blundell has been class with the bat so far in his test career...

Leach has lost the plot. Serves up two boundary balls, then convinces Stokes to chuck away a review.

Only one review left.

And another review burned with a pretty desperate lbw try ...looked obviously at first live and so it proved.

As Guildford said , getting close to Benaud's six o'clock. Think we can say this has not turned out to be a win for the "let us send them in because it might swing" theory...

England need something brilliant with the second new ball or they are looking at a big NZ total to try and match.

300 up for New Zealand! Fine effort from them after being put in...
Good to see Mitchell and Blundell not making the mistake they made in the last game. But Mitchell will do well to learn a bit more from his partner. He seems to be overdoing the non-conventional a touch. Good to see Root trying to tempt him and encouraging to keep playing that reverse sweep...

Potts back on. Think Stokes should give himself an over or 2 before the new ball...

Dry pitch, few turning for Leach...Kiwis may lament not picking Patel.

The excellent run rate makes this very different from the second innings at Lord's. There NZ found themselves facing a new ball at about 240 and the innings folded up rather too cheaply as it turned out.
Today they'll be 310 or so...can't see England stopping them short of 400 even if they can do damage with the new one. And 400 or more should be a pretty handy score on this .

New ball time... What can Broad and Anderson do? Can Mitchell and Blundell see New Zealand through?

Its Potts with the new ball though...

New ball hasn't done anything alarming for New Zealand batters so far. Blundell seems to have shut shop, Mitchell's getting away from the strike at the first given opportunity. Think fair enough...

Jimmy's on 648 wickets, sixty away from Warne. Didn't realise he was so close to 650.

Might have to wait for a little while to get to 650 as the new ball isn't doing much.

Toby Radford (ex Middlesex) getting a shout out for his coaching at Wellington in NZ with BJ Watling. I played against Radford years ago when he was playing for Reading. He was tipped for stardom then, never really made it as a pro until turning to coaching where he’s done well in several countries.

Not sure I liked Stokes' bowling changes after tea really. Broad should have started straight away after that Anderson-Stokes performance. The skipper should have bowled a short spell before the new ball at some point though he did take on a solid workload already.
Good he's brought Broad on here. He deserves one last crack at the New Zealand batters before stumps...

Broad finds the edge, only for the ball to run through the slips for 4!

Utterly miserable day in the field for England summed up right there. Heads well and truly down now.

Broad's figures don't look pretty, but he's deserved one or two wickets today.

Crawley gave a let off to Nicholls earlier by going for a catch that should have been Root's, now he leaves one for Bairstow who didn't bother either.

Terrible performance today, calling this early as a defeat for England, the batting line up won't get anywhere near the 450 or 500 that will be needed in response

VTR wrote:Terrible performance today, calling this early as a defeat for England, the batting line up won't get anywhere near the 450 or 500 that will be needed in response

Root's won England a fair few test matches in his time, but dropping Mitchell at 170/4 (and it was the easiest chance you could see) has put England on to the path of defeat.

Absolute car crash of a day for England and the good feelings from Lord's will have nearly evaporated.

Firstly, the toss. What on earth? I know Trent Bridge has a bit of swing around, more than any other English ground, but it looked a clear bat-first day. Not only did England have to toil on a road, they've also got to bat second and fourth under scoreboard pressure.

Fielding. What a horror show. Crawley's drop didn't cost much, but Root missing the simplest of all chances off Mitchell was the key event of the day, maybe the test, perhaps the series. If Root takes that then NZ are 170/5 with a debutant walking in and just one away from the tail. England could have been batting tonight in that scenario. But it was dropped. And NZ are 318/4. Then there was the late miss in the final minutes of the day, added to a succession of misfields all throughout day one. A lot of praise, rightly, given to the fielding after the first test; it's all been undone now.

Mitchell and Blundell - England have no clue how to bowl to these two. They both have FC averages in the mid to high 30s, but (drop excluded!) they've dominated England like Labsuchagne and Smith in each of the last two innings now. Like watching Mitchell bat. He has a solid technique, good range of attacking shots and knows when to defend.

England were also far too aggressive with the ball today. Stokes talked about 'positive cricket', well there's a balance. England bowled too much full stuff, allowing an obscene number of boundaries and easy runs. For a while England have had a problem, masked by the batting calamities which people put more focus into, in that they simply don't bowl enough dots or maidens, except for Ole Jimbo who's a master at the dry stuff.

318/4. New Zealand will be looking for 450+, England will consider it a victory to keep them below 400, but if Mitchell and Blundell get through the first 30 minutes tomorrow then 500+ might be on. Wicket is already showing signs of some deterioration so it's a very long road back for the home side.

Mighty fine performance from New Zealand on day one. The rate at which they scored ensured, that even if they have a crash of a first session today, England will have to do some serious catching up...
I wouldn't rule the home side yet though. Firstly there is Root, in the form of his life, and now he doesn't even have the captaincy pressures on him. TB can be a flat road if it doesn't swing big. Remember a test in which even Stuart Binny looked like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara combined! Didn't James Anderson almost score a hundred here once?
England's 20 Something Club might find it easy if it doesn't swing and they can put up a score... It'll be very difficult for England to win from such a poor start, but they still can bat big in the first innings and give themselves a chance to stay alive at the end of day 5...
What is the weather set for the next 4 days?

I see over reaction hasn't gone out of style yet

Seriously : a lot of what Duty says above has some truth in it. But to imply that one bad day has basically wiped out all the good that came from the Lord's performance is as absurd as claiming that the success last week meant everything was fixed.  And I am sure none of us really think that either, do we ?

The toss : Hey , I would have batted first. So would a lot of commentators. And a lot more commenting after the day unfolded   But both captains planned to bowl and I suppose if Root had taken a simple catch off Mitchell and NZ had been 180/5 before tea , who knows what would have happened ?  Wrong in hindsight , questionable in advance , possibly over-aggressive intent.  It happens .

The fielding was the big negative . Excellent catching at Lord's , started well here with Crawley and Potts taking good ones in the first session. But then... Only Root's miss of Mitchell was truly remarkable (he really doesn't miss many so I'm not calling for him to move out of slip just yet !)  Bit concerned about Crawley - takes some good ones ; but misses a few too. Have a feeling his miss when diving in front of Root might have impacted on his confidence and be partially responsible for his not going for a fairly straightforward chance to his right hand late in the day. And the fact that Bairstow didn't move towards that one either perhaps indicates that the understanding between members of the cordon so evident at Lord's was a bit "off" today. Or maybe just late in a long day players aren't as alert as they should be...
Maybe we should watch a bit more before deciding McCullum's fielding improvements are dead in the water ?

Inclined to agree England were a bit too attack minded with the ball. I think they probably were at Lord's too ,  to be honest : but there it all worked out well so general reaction was that this was a huge improvement on previous policies of keeping runs down.....can't have it both ways , can we ?  Or rather , we can (sometimes !) : fine balance between when to bowl a bit "dry" and when to press the attack ; and getting it right isn't always easy. Perhaps something that Stokes and McCullum will be discussing after play - and hopefully working towards a better balance next time . And once again, by the way : if all catches stick - different picture.

One thing that was truly horrible : use of reviews. Two totally wasted. Stokes was commendably sensible early in the day , refusing silly speculative gambles : pity he fell into desperation calls after tea. A habit which has cost England - and other teams - in the past ; and one he needs to break.

Anyway time to praise NZ bats , especially Mitchell and Blundell. Nice positive intent , nothing too silly (barring Latham's brain fade) and they made full use of a fast scoring ground and what looks a pretty good pitch. Has set them up for 420 or so at least ; and not likely to lose from there.

That said , it does look a decent pitch to bat on so England ought to be able to respond in kind. Whether they will or not , of course , remains to be seen. So I am holding off - for now - on declaring the series over in NZ's favour. Roll on day two...