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.

guildfordbat wrote:Small shout out to Foakes - over 500 runs conceded but not one bye. 

Sorry, Ben - my jinx!

guildfordbat wrote:Small shout out to Foakes - over 500 runs conceded but not one bye. 

Ah you've hexed him ! Almost instantly he tips one over the bar...

One bye in 511 still ain't too bad.

Jamieson caught behind hooking ...Broad on the board at last. He's deserved at least that one , to be fair.

Collapse is on

7 down. If NZ sidestep Alfie's predicted collapse, maybe declare at 4:50 to give England 90 minutes tonight.

Eight down now

Broad bouncer barrage doing a job. Short stay for Southee.

Not sure NZ will be too bothered at losing 3/21 in quick time...they have a bit of a cushion

Jack's back! Now for that stumping ... or a boundary catch ... or a maximum!

guildfordbat wrote:Jack's back! Now for that stumping ... or a boundary catch ... or a maximum!

Not even half way to the boundary from Henry! Doing no favours to Mitchell.

NZ tail eager to bowl, I see.

Mitchell's gone to his highest FC score and passed his highest test score long ago. Good to keep these traditions alive. Can he swing the bat and make 200?

guildfordbat wrote:Jack's back! Now for that stumping ... or a boundary catch ... or a maximum!

...or a simple catch spooned to cover. Leach at least getting some joy at last.

Bout coming in so NZ want the maximum possible it seems...

Almost the stumping I've been banging on about but no cigar!

Hundred up for Broad...not the sort you like though

Mitchell trying hard to get that double ton...

Pleased that England fielders are still flinging themselves around on the boundary despite the situation. Hope they can bat with the same dedication !

550 up.

Boult's in my most entertaining test XI.

Boult is surely going to give Foakes that stumping , isn't he ? Keeps leaping down to Leach...

But two handsome straight fours brings up the 550 : is he looking to move up the order ?

Reckon Mitchell could reach 200 very soon...

At least England have managed to get the ball changed at last

You'd think after taking four wickets with it they'd want to keep it !

No double for Mitchell ... Edges a wide ball behind to give Potts a consolation wicket ....

What an innings though

So England will be seeking 354 as a minimum first target. Not sure I'm game to stay up and watch them try

Mitchell not getting his double ton,, but 190 is stupendous anyway. Root's drop just costing 187 runs. All dismissals caught, not a single bowled or LBW.

Can't see England saving it. They'd have to bat into Monday and I don't think that's happening.

Can play until 19:05, presuming the light holds (it should), so New Zealand will fancy a few tonight.

Both Southee and Boult getting a couple to really move. Nothing too concerning for the batters, but England's fragile top order will be under extra scoreboard pressure. And watching a couple bending sharpish, won't help their state of mind...

And Boult does for Crawley! Time for Pope to play an innings of substance for once. Its a flat pitch still, and there is no spin worth talking about in the pitch or in the New Zealand bowling lineup. Oliver wouldn't find it much easier to play one of his County Bully innings here...

Crawley just isn't good enough outside off to open, he'll play some lovely drives but just hang the ball out there and he'll edge behind eventually.

Duty281 wrote:Mitchell not getting his double ton,, but 190 is stupendous anyway. Root's drop just costing 187 runs. All dismissals caught, not a single bowled or LBW.

Can't see England saving it. They'd have to bat into Monday and I don't think that's happening.

Can play until 19:05, presuming the light holds (it should), so New Zealand will fancy a few tonight.

Didn't realise that. More than 3 and a half hours for the final session!

Terrible drop of Lees by Mitchell at slip from Southee. Wonder if the fielder was thinking back to the double ton that narrowly eluded him.

Very expensive miss - for me anyway, 50 points in Joey's comp! 

50 for Pope. One life - another Mitchell drop - but he's made the most of it in attacking vein. I seem to be a lone voice in thinking he could make the grade in limited overs internationals.

Anyway, Pope now needs to go on and double it and then add some more. A half ton rarely wins a Test and won't save this one.

Very late here and I'm too tired to post much...but am glad to see Lees and Pope hanging in (with a bit of help from Mitchell ) and ticking off ninety or so ... Only another 460 to go

One could say Pope has ridden his luck a bit ; but there have been some lovely drives in with the dodgy pulls...good time for a fifty

And Lees continuing to improve gradually , I think.

90/1 : not a bad start after losing Crawley so early. Way to go yet...

Me for bed. Cheers all...

Decent start to the reply from England, but both Lees and Pope fortunate to still be there. Mitchell's drop off Lees as easy as Root's drop off him!

England will have to bat all day tomorrow to save the test. With England's long tail, propensity to collapse and the skill of the Kiwi bowling line-up, it's difficult to make a solid case for that happening. Even batting all day might not be enough. So New Zealand are well in front.

Think it’s harsh to give Mitchell the Pope drop - that is the keepers catch everyday of the week. First slip should never be having to dive full length towards the keeper to try and take a nick behind. That’s on Blundell for me

The other one - as Duty says, let’s hope Lees makes Mitchell pay similarly to he did to Root!

Its very very rare that Joe Root would come to the crease with hundred plus on the board. Even without any kinds of platforms, he has been outstanding in the last couple of years. New Zealand will now effectively have to bowl around him, focus on the others! For that, they have to first separate the overnight batters. After making an 80+ against India nearly a year ago, Pope has put together a score of note at last. England has given him a very long rope. It is upon him to not to turn into the 21st century Ramprakash and repay some of that faith that has done nothing to earn so far. But this has been a good start, and though on a flat track with a drop and serious discomfort playing the short ball, this is a big opportunity for the man.
Lees also has shown a Denly-like stickability though he hasn't put together a score of substance yet in test cricket. This is his opportunity to get a big one.
For New Zealand, even if England bat the entire day, they should still have a few more to defend on day 4. But they need to take their chances, this is a tough pitch even for the highly skilled New Zealand pace unit. And for what on earth do they not play Wagner, their best tough pitch bowler, is absolutely beyond me! They might need Michael Bracewell's very parttime offspin a bit more than they may have liked on this pitch. And Mitchell might have to do a job with the ball as well.

Well I guess day three will be moving day ... either the oft-expected England collapse leaving home fans praying for rain - or a solid batting performance making the draw favourite.

Really could be either : pitch is no terror strip for bats , though there has always seemed to be a little something for the pace bowlers now and then. Possibly depending on how often they can get the ball changed   Still that weight of runs needed just to save the follow on so that might tell on England if a couple of wickets go down - meaning NZ are definitely on top at the moment.

Big day for these two bats : both a bit lucky to be there after offering fairly easy chances but that is behind them and they now have an opportunity to score some runs against a ball that is already 26 overs old - provided they can settle in again. Lees has looked a little more assured since his early let off , despite not quite timing some of his shots. I am pleased to see him continuing to play with a lot more positive intent than he did in West Indies , something he started to display in the second innings at Lord's. Would do him a lot of good to turn this start into something substantial now.

Pope has mixed some lovely strokes with a lot of rather frenetic movements : delighted to see him with the confidence to take the attack to the bowlers here after looking excessively timid and apparently quite out of his depth last week . Needs to settle down a bit and make the bowlers work ; but this is a real chance to show everyone what he manages so regularly for Surrey and stake a serious claim to a decent run at number three. Shouldn't have to worry about his spin demons in this game...

Interesting to note that NZ didn't over attack : had enough close catchers but not the - at times - five slips that England employed. Consequently didn't offer so many free boundaries as the generous hosts managed on day one , although the flurry of runs late on , principally off Henry , meant the scoring rate ended up a reasonable 3.4. Latham had plenty of time to assess conditions and hone his game plan accordingly. No true spinner so the poor old over rate might be a problem as he rotates his group of seamers .Bracewell will probably have to play a part ; but a FC bowling average of 47.51 doesn't inspire a lot of confidence !

First hour might be interesting. If these two can push on , Root could conceivably come in at the sort of score that more usually greets the start of the England tail ! At least we can hope...

Yes alfie, the pitch doesn't really seem like changing character suddenly on day 3. Extremely good for batting, and as spin is unlikely to play much of a role for New Zealand, shouldn't see a drastic change. There is just a bit of life now and then, so the bowlers if they can stay very focused, can create some chances. But this just doesn't seem like a track where we can see a major batting collapse just like that. England's lower order is not the same as 10 years ago wherein they had the likes of Swann, Bresnan and the pre-Varun Stuart Broad, or even the one that had Sam Curran coming in at 9. But they are only 1 down, Root's not even come to the crease. So I can't see a batting collapse. Will be very surprised if England doesn't come close to making the follow-on discussions irrelevant. and if Lees and Pope can do a job in the morning, I can see England batting the entire day, and may be even beyond. An England win is surely the least likely outcome, and at this stage, the draw is the most likely.

alfie wrote:Bracewell will probably have to play a part ; but a FC bowling average of 47.51 doesn't inspire a lot of confidence !

Got a terrible feeling now that Bracewell is going to give England a good Roston Chase-ing.

Few edges flying around this morning, but none to the fielders making it a frustrating morning for NZ.

Henry's bowled well. Boult will be wondering how he didn't dismiss Pope in his opening spell today.

England still trailing by 414. Still a long way back.

Ah, Henry takes the first of the day. Poor dismissal from Lees. Out for 67 but, in truth, highly fortunate to make that many.

alfie wrote:Well I guess day three will be moving day ... either the oft-expected England collapse leaving home fans praying for rain - or a solid batting performance making the draw favourite.

Really could be either : pitch is no terror strip for bats , though there has always seemed to be a little something for the pace bowlers now and then. Possibly depending on how often they can get the ball changed   Still that weight of runs needed just to save the follow on so that might tell on England if a couple of wickets go down - meaning NZ are definitely on top at the moment.

Big day for these two bats : both a bit lucky to be there after offering fairly easy chances but that is behind them and they now have an opportunity to score some runs against a ball that is already 26 overs old - provided they can settle in again. Lees has looked a little more assured since his early let off , despite not quite timing some of his shots. I am pleased to see him continuing to play with a lot more positive intent than he did in West Indies , something he started to display in the second innings at Lord's. Would do him a lot of good to turn this start into something substantial now.

Pope has mixed some lovely strokes with a lot of rather frenetic movements : delighted to see him with the confidence to take the attack to the bowlers here after looking excessively timid and apparently quite out of his depth last week . Needs to settle down a bit and make the bowlers work ; but this is a real chance to show everyone what he manages so regularly for Surrey and stake a serious claim to a decent run at number three. Shouldn't have to worry about his spin demons in this game...

Interesting to note that NZ didn't over attack : had enough close catchers but not the - at times - five slips that England employed. Consequently didn't offer so many free boundaries as the generous hosts managed on day one , although the flurry of runs late on , principally off Henry , meant the scoring rate ended up a reasonable 3.4. Latham had plenty of time to assess conditions and hone his game plan accordingly. No true spinner so the poor old over rate might be a problem as he rotates his group of seamers .Bracewell will probably have to play a part ; but a FC bowling average of 47.51 doesn't inspire a lot of confidence !

First hour might be interesting. If these two can push on , Root could conceivably come in at the sort of score that more usually greets the start of the England tail !  At least we can hope...

As he does at Surrey, Pope has looked busy and run well this morning, albeit not having much of the strike lately as mentioned on comms. Into the 80s now. Right, get to lunch and then go again.

PS Liked the comment about moving day but you knew I would!

Two down at lunch, England taking a step towards safety. New Zealand still getting the old ball to talk, so it's an enthralling battle. Root's played some nice shots, but has also been fortunate with a couple of edges landing safely.

Good session for England. Had some good fortune  (though the chance Root offered would have been an outstanding catch had Southee held on) , and NZ have asked a few questions...but so far so good , apart from Lees falling to a combination of Henry's change of angle and the drink break.

Pope still does the odd fidgety thing ; but he has seemed a bit more assured today for the most part. Really hope he can go on now and make this a big one.

105 in the session - very handy. Awfully long way to go yet though...

Well done Ollie Pope

Hundred at number three - and a great time to do it !

Now go on and make it a monster one , eh...

Very good for Pope, that might give him the summer at three. Root also bringing up a milestone as he goes to (another) fifty.

Load of rubbish bowled by the Kiwis since lunch.

Pope with a lovely hundred, important for England and himself, but more importantly, fantastic news for me in the tipping competition

That was all sorts of daft by Root but he got away with it. Has been an ODI partnership effectively with the pace they've scored at, so I like this clever fielding setting by Latham.

Approaching a point where NZ need to do something with the second new ball or the draw becomes a heavy favourite. But 17 overs until then.

Good innings from Pope, yes it's not a great pitch for the bowlers and yes he's been dropped but it's important to capitalise on that. If you can't score runs in these circumstances, you're unlikely to when the bowlers are on top.

Great stat from Zaltz, this Pope's 14th first class hundred is his first north of the Thames.

England scoring at a rate that is more impressive than that of New Zealand. If they manage to sustain it for much of the day, then the unlikely possibility of an England win can become not so outlandish!
a good innings from Oliver Pope. Certainly not convinced by him as a long-term solid test batter yet, but at least he'll be properly earning his upcoming chances...
And Joe Root, marching on to yet another test hundred... And that seemed certain on day 2 itself, even before he came to the crease...

Poor captaincy from Latham, bowling his seamers to ground on a lifeless track without giving them a bit of a break with some overs from Mitchell, and to change things around a bit, a couple of overs from Bracewell. Southee still on with the new ball to be available in in 12 overs or so. Ridiculous.

Bracewell doesn't come across too bad with the ball for a very parttime offspinner who also could keep wickets at times. Hope Latham gives Mitchell a couple of overs... His overall FC figures with the ball aren't too bad at all...

A good innings from Pope even though he got a life. I've been a Pope fan for a long time and hope he can crack it. The jolty movements, especially footwork early on might be a sign of nerves that hopefully settles as he scores runs. The issues with spin will be more difficult to develop but shouldn't be as much of an issue at home.

In CC and once again here he has tended to score runs on flat decks though. He will inevitably need to get tough runs at some point to shake that tag.

Root is just being Root. Casually on 79 off 95 balls. His ability to rotate the strike and always score is absolutely remarkable. The way Root has brought that side of white ball batting into his red ball game is brilliant. One of my favourite players to watch bat.

Pope makes his test best yet. Looking good for more. England should be somewhere around 420 440 by close today at the very least. The pace at which both sides have batted, means we still have time for some proper action on this dead track that might still come to life...

Henry bowled well in the morning session, now he's spraying it around. Bracewell's started off decently with his off-spin, getting some good bounce on this pitch.

Still 254 behind.

Matt Henry got a breakthrough, he did trouble Pope with a couple of short balls. But no way should he be playing ahead of Neil Wagner when he's available! New Zealand badly missing Wagner here... And they have only themselves to blame. Could kind of get when they went in for the frontline spin option, they had to play Boult, Southee and Jamieson and had no option  but sit Wagner out. But why Henry ahead of Wagner. Henry recently had a remarkable game, Wagner has been doing it for years...

Henry is all over the shop, and yet Latham doesn't give Mitchell a go. Nitpicking one might feel as Mitchell is not the likeliest to run through batting lineups, but you can't always stick to the textbook particularly on a track like this. Latham was a bit innovative with the fields at times, but his bowling changes have lacked imagination...

Roooooooot !!!

Not the most elegant way to go to his 27th hundred ; but he'll take it

Fastest yet : 116 balls. Awesome...

Very good from Root. Another ton. It's been a carnival afternoon.

Now the second new ball. If this does things NZ can still win. If it doesn't it's surely a draw.

The new ball might produce a wicket or 2 perhaps. But I don't see a collapse again. England are only 2 down, both batters are set. Their 2 remaining test class bats are yet to come. The possibility of draw is increasing by the minute.