England's Winter of Cricket 2022/23

First topic message reminder :

The Lions are doing some Bazball v Sri Lanka A.

Sri Lanka A were bowled out for a paltry 136, Fisher with 5/34, and the Lions have already amassed 249/3 in 48 overs. Hameed, who's captain, 81 off 109, Lees 56 off 69, and Haines unbeaten with 62 from 72.

busy first couple of overs

Crawley's lucky day ? Survived the first over mainly because they didn't place a fourth slip from the first ball ... And now completely castled yet saved by a no ball from Wagner.

Dodgy French cut to the next ball gets runs , naturally...

Duckett hasn't changed his approach , I see. Great start for him. Up with the Run Rate

looked only a matter of time for crawley, didnt look comfortable at all

Still don't like Crawley. Out twice in 18 minutes!

Well that is hardly a surprise...Crawley unable to profit from his good fortune and a just reward for some fine new ball bowling from Southee

If Wagner can get his act together after that first over , England will be in for a tricky session.

Wagner had to come off...bowling with the new ball seems to have spooked him. So we get a first sight of Tickner very early.

That hair and moustache ... Looks like a refugee from a previous century

50 in no time, very action packed and plenty going on, still worries me even with our recent form

Have been a few loose balls but even so you'd have to say Duckett has been striking the ball beautifully

Nice fast outfield and he's been consistently finding the gaps - and the boundary : completely taken all the wind out of the NZ sails despite that early wicket.

Southee rather let down by his other pacers. Might be wishing they'd invited Boult for this one , perhaps ?

superb 50 by duckett, looked like he was playing on a different pitch to crawley

i was going to bed soon, but another 15 minutes and he might get his ton

Real buffet bowling, Southee's opening couple of overs aside, and Duckett has feasted with impeccable timing.

Wagner looks past his best and Tickner looks Division Two standard, so worrying times for New Zealand. They'll need Kuggeleijn to stand up.

Fast fifty , eh ? Ten boundaries - hasn't had to run much. Make that eleven...

77/1 off just 11 overs. Bazball reigns .

Pope has been rather over shadowed by Duckett ; but I like the way he has been prepared to come forward and take the attack back to the bowlers - has ensured pressure on the fielding side at both ends.

Quite a remarkable situation really given the menace of those early overs - sure , Crawley was the one shown up by most of the batting errors , but Pope faced some testing stuff from Southee early on too - and played it well. Haven't seen that movement lately though , and far too much rubbish from the other end. Starting to look like a good toss to lose.

Ah...no century for Duckett , alas...

Rather a tame end and very much out of the blue as he chips Tickner straight to the cover fielder. Gone for an excellent 84 and NZ will feel just a little relief at 117/2. Tickner will be happy to have a Test wicket.

This is a pretty flat pitch and there will be better attacks to face - but not a bad opening effort from Duckett in his mission to prove himself more than a sub-continent specialist

Spin before lunch...don't think Bracewell will find much help from this pitch. But worth a try I guess as the pace men aren't threatening.

Root , dare I say , is timing the ball nicely already.

And that is lunch , after just 23 overs (due to a couple of delays rather than a super slow rate) at 134/2.

Think we can call that England's session

Wow, just 23 overs in the session. I suppose fetching the ball from the boundary does eat into the time!

Fun session. Duckett will be bitterly disappointed not to get three figures, but looks as though he's given England the platform to get 400+ in a day.

Nearly got caught out there by this break being just twenty minutes...back in action and Wagner still doesn't look himself., no balls continuing to flow. Root does : already produced one of his reverse scoops for four.

First session was slowed by stoppages for sight screen issues and Pope getting hit on the helmet ; and this one has already had a delay when Joe Root had problems with his eye : contact lens ? OK now.

But NZ have the break they desperately needed as Pope is caught at second slip off Southee for 42...

Enter Harry Brook at 152/3

Oh dear ...Root attempts the reverse special again and is brilliantly caught at slip by a diving Mitchell. That was a special bit of fielding

A wicket (rather undeserved) for Wagner sees Stokes coming in at 154/4 and NZ on the front foot after that double break...

Mini-collapse hasn't exactly caused Brook or Stokes to retreat into their shells...

Brook 22 from 22 , Stokes quieter with 10 from 19 ; and a few boundaries in the now 30 run stand. Brook has hit a couple in the air close to fielders but you wouldn't say they've looked at all troubled. The wickets were largely down to careless strokes more than any menace on this very flat pitch. England will want a big score to bowl at.

So : drinks after just 35 overs ...we are in for some overtime tonight ! 192/4 and NZ are probably lucky to have the four as their bowling has been largely disappointing - Southee the only one looking true Test class.
Really have to question why they didn't use Boult here , with Jamieson and Henry both being out of action. Could have blooded one newcomer with an eye to the future : trying two at once was asking for trouble. Neither have been particularly impressive so far.

Telling mini stats : in those 35 overs , we have seen six no balls (one costing a wicket) ; and not a single maiden. And England haven't had to go silly to score at this rate as there have been a lot of loose balls just inviting boundaries...

209/5 as Stokes pulls a short ball from Kuggeleijn to mid wicket for a smart catch by Latham...

Like some of the earlier wickets , batsman error not really good bowling - that ball begged to be hit for four or six. Bit of excitement as they think Foakes has glanced behind first ball but was off the body.

Great scoring rate , England (as Brook takes Wagner for successive boundaries ) ; but one more wicket now could still threaten a sub par total . Guess they don't worry about those dangers though...

Fifty for Brook

Got there with a ramp off Kuggeleijn (who seems to have one method - bang it in short) . If he's a Test bowler , I am a poor judge. Apparently he can bat a bit.

224/5.

Southee back on , and the ball might be moving a little now under the lights. He beat Brook a couple of times then with balls nipping back in - though his only reward was an inside edge which evaded stumps and keeper and went for four.

Kuggeleijn still serving up pies at the other end. Brook happy to take the offerings as he goes to 66 from 54 - 13 boundaries !

Foakes tucking in too. 254/5 from 44 overs.

And a fifty stand now as Brook takes on Southee with a couple of majestic lofted off drives for four and six

He must think this Test Cricket is an easy game ! Raced to 77 from 57 and I won't hex him by speculating on...anything. But it is fun watching : unless you are a Kiwi fan , perhaps.

270/5 now , 38 from the last three overs...still no maidens

Dinner time...279/5 from 48. Brook on 79 from 64 and Foakes not to be left out , now 27 from 33...

NZ unable to achieve any sort of control , though Southee actually bowled their first maiden a few minutes ago. One of the most impressive aspects of Brook's innings today is the way he has been ready and able to take the attack to Southee , who has been the only bowler to show out today - but thanks to Brook he has still gone for 71 from his 13 overs.

Bracewell probably might have come on sooner - he has been tidy for his three overs ; but that might be largely down to the proximity of the intervals. The other bowlers have frankly been complete rubbish - though Tickner at least produced one spell in which he managed to keep a decent line and length , and was rewarded with the wicket of Duckett.

England will fancy further plunder after supper , if the rain stays away. Could well be weather interruptions in this match , so they will be glad to have achieved this excellent run rate today - even if they don't make 500

Wagner resumes after dinner...and the field for Brook resembles an ODI one - no slips , deep boundary riders. Shortball is the recipe...and I think the same at the other end as Kuggeleijn is on again.

NZ really need a wicket - but I suppose if they can somehow get one , there is a bit of a tail lined up to follow.

Nearly got one then as Foakes seemed to lose that ball and popped it up in the air - fell between fielders on the leg side. Next ball took off and beat Brook so perhaps the light effect is happening...

Wagner looking more like himself , sending down bouncers with an old ball. Just clocked Harry Brook on the helmet ; not injured , I am glad to say...looks fairly unruffled as they fix the protective gear.

And now the short ball attack works ! Brook tries to hook another one and drags it on to his stumps...gone for another excellent knock for 88

298/6 . Broad the nighthawk in at the head of the tail...and flicks his first ball for four

This could be fun.

Just to correct two minor errors : Brook finished with 89 ; and apparently the Broad glance was adjudged as leg byes.

He's gone now anyway , trying to hit everything but caught at square leg for two.

305/7 , and in some danger of being bowled out for under 350 - which would seem to be a bit light. Wonder if Robinson will keep up the full on attack or try to settle things down a bit ?

Answer : I think so. Four balls faced ...dot , two , four and four

315/7.

All happening : Foakes now caught attempting a big hit - gone for a very useful 38 , Wagner has three and it's 319/8.

I guess they fancy a bowl under lights...

Indeed they did. : Leach didn't last long - short , pull , straight up and so four for Wagner... 325/9 and Cap'n Ben calls them in...

Guess he prefers having Jimmy bowling rather than dodging pink balls aimed at his head

You'd think 325 is rather under par on this flat deck. But if the bowlers can do their job effectively now the fast pace has set this match up for a good chance of a result even if time is lost at some point. Certainly they are continuing to walk the walk as well as telling us in advance how they intend to play. Never boring !

Anderson and Broad making the ball talk early - several beating the bat but no break in the first three overs.

I have to go off to practice now so will be interested to find out later if England can get some early success.

Robinson gets one early.

2nd quickest 1st innings declaration in history. I love this team.

Awful drop by Crawley at 2nd slip to give Conway a life - slip catches don’t come any easier

Tom Latham nicked off against the moving ball did he? Shock.

Pretty good then in the end. Still got the two Bradmans to come, so not all over yet, but those two must be due a low score against us!

Yep right decision to take advantage of the night conditions with the ball - bit under par with the bat I think, nobody going on to make that defining score unfortunately but some decent knocks.

Game finely poised

So three taken already , eh ? Saw the Robinson wicket while leaving but it appears Jimmy has been the star of the last hour with two scalps and should have had Conway too ? (Imagine Crawley will be relieved to have taken the last catch after his ultimate horror day continued into the fielding !)

Really don't mind that England left maybe 100 runs out there : the three wickets tonight are gold dust and the way this game is moving they are well placed to get a result unless we lose a lot of time to the weather. Suspect there will be weather issues at some point , so I reckon 325 and 3 wickets is way better than maybe closing on 430/7 ...

There are going to be days when we may regret a few batsmen getting out when poised for big scores due to an excess of attacking zeal : this isn't one of them.

Long way to go of course ; and NZ bat deep - at least on paper. But unless batting in daylight becomes ridiculously easy they will have a hard task to get up near England's total. Reckon England bowlers will be a lot tighter than their opponents were in those first two sessions.

The old adage about not judging a wicket until both sides have batted on it - 325 might look a bit light for this England batting line up against this NZ bowling attack, at least in light of how some of the wickets were lost, but the NZ wickets this evening and generally the speed things have happened make this comfortably England's day. If they can get through the rest of the NZ line-up for 200, and get a lead of about 100, the runs they left out there won't be as important as the time they've left in the game.

Some disappointment that none of Duckett, Pope or Brook kicked on to a truly big score, but 325 was decent enough. I suppose you could say it was a little light against that garbage attack, though that's quibbling. I think Root would be better off playing his classical game, rather than going for uber-aggressive T20 shots from the off. 

The declaration was very sensible as there's no point poking around for a few overs to score ten more; rather get bowling as soon as possible in those evening conditions. And Anderson, Broad and Robinson all bowled like a dream under the lights against a low on confidence NZ batting line up. Nicholls, in particular, is really struggling.

Anderson's test bowling average is now down to 26.06, which is the lowest it's been since the second test of his career back in 2003. Just 32 more wickets needed to overtake Warne...

If Don Mitchell and Viv Blundell don't put up the usual resistance, England will be toasting victory very soon.

Hi Duty

I agree that the declaration was a good decision - Jimmy isn't likely to add many of value with the bat, especially in the company of another tail ender, so the extra few minutes to bowl were likely more valuable than 5-10 extra runs and using up time.

A couple of rapid 80s and a 40 are the sorts of score where you would hope one would go on and make a really match changing contribution - indeed, my one criticism over the winter is that we've not seen many (any - have half a recollection of Brook getting around 150 in one innings?) 'daddy hundreds', although we've had good contributions from multiple players in the same innings, so to date it hasn't mattered.

Was just playing around with Cricinfo. 

From the age of 30+, Anderson has taken 409 wickets at an average of 23.24. This is more than any other test player has taken from the age of 30+, with Herath in second at 398 wickets. The next closest seamer is Walsh with 341 wickets.

From the age of 35+, Anderson has taken 197 wickets at an average of 20.86 (!!!). This puts him second in the overall list for those 35+, trailing Herath who's on 233 wickets.

And from 40+, Anderson is way down the list in 10th with a mere 20 wickets, but this is because he's only just started! The leader in the 40+ category is Clarence Grimmett, an Australian legbreak bowler who took 96 wickets after turning 40 - interestingly his test career only began at the age of 33, and he managed 216 overall wickets before retiring at the age of 44.

Anderson also needs 124 more wickets to become the most prolific wicket taker in test history, overtaking Murali. If he maintains the same level as over the last few years, this will take him around 34 tests to achieve. That's roughly the same number of tests that it would require to eclipse Sachin as the most capped player in test history, which Anderson is 33 away from overtaking. It would require playing until around 2026, when Anderson would be 44. Even that might be too mountainous for Jimmy...

Couldn't catch much of this game. But a typical Bazball innings from England, and a very interesting declaration, that unsurprisingly, is very much in line with the new philosophy of the New England team. And they made it count, by nipping 3 up front. New Zealand still have some quality batting to come, and England surely wouldn't have forgotton what Mitchell and Blundell did to them back home. But England has surely set the pace, and is in charge of this game at this stage. New Zealand would need something really special from Devon Conway tomorrow.

dummy_half wrote:Hi Duty

I agree that the declaration was a good decision - Jimmy isn't likely to add many of value with the bat, especially in the company of another tail ender, so the extra few minutes to bowl were likely more valuable than 5-10 extra runs and using up time.

A couple of rapid 80s and a 40 are the sorts of score where you would hope one would go on and make a really match changing contribution - indeed, my one criticism over the winter is that we've not seen many (any - have half a recollection of Brook getting around 150 in one innings?) 'daddy hundreds', although we've had good contributions from multiple players in the same innings, so to date it hasn't mattered.

There have been three scores of over 150 in the BazBall era - Root 176 (SR 83) at Nottingham vs NZ, Bairstow 162 (SR 103) at Leeds vs NZ and the Brook innings you mention of 152 vs Pakistan at a ludicrous SR of 132 in the First Test.

That’s 3 out of 16 innings - 19%, albeit four innings have been cut short when players have been not out.

In the two years prior to that, England had three double centurions and 8 out of 17 (only 17!) hundreds passed 150. Which is 47%, but with a lot less not outs.

So, boringly, we probably need a bit more of a sample size to see how it holds but it makes sense. Someone on Twitter put the theory out there that BazBall raises the floor of a batting line up, as it is a lot easier to fling the bat and make a quick 30/40 - as we see from tailenders counter attacking a lot of the time. But limits the ceiling, as when you are playing in a more aggressive manner you are going to play more false shots so your luck can’t last forever.

It’s why I don’t think Root needs to be playing as BazBall as everyone else. He is good enough to just churn out the runs batting like he has been. Whereas Pope and Crawley, who struggle batting conventionally may as well give it a go.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/tom-abell-ruled-out-of-england-s-bangladesh-tour-due-to-side-strain-1359288

Tom Abell won't be winning his first cap in Bangladesh due to injury. Might have been his only chance? Jacks might replace him in the squad if he doesn't play in the second test.

No early joy for England today... Spectacularly juggled catch by Jack Leach seemed to have seen off Wagner from a skied hook ; but Broad had somewhat uncharacteristically overstepped. The nightwatchman can continue to annoy England (28 balls now for 11) while Conway builds on his good fortune with the dropped catch last night...

66/3 from 24. Would like one soon as the ball won't be getting any better and the sun is out.

Wagner making Broad pay ! Amazing stuff from the Nighthawk...4.6.6.

Pitch one up , Stuart ? Yes ! Needed that.

1,000 wickets for the Broad and Anderson duo.    

A useful 27 from Wagner. England got embroiled in a silly battle there. Now for Daryl Mitchell, who averaged a Bradman-esque 107 in the series in England.

Always puzzles me how often good bowlers try to bounce out tailenders. And persist even when it isn't working. Nothing wrong with the odd short one ; but these days they are all so practiced against the tactic - and well protected with gear - that it rarely serves to intimidate them into donating their wickets. And more to the point it isn't really needed : they bat late because they aren't very good at batting.

Perhaps Broad would say it was worth 16 runs as bait but I can't help thinking he might have got the wicket cheaper and with less cost to his own energy reserves with a more conventional attack. But maybe they reckon this pink ball is not going to help them at all in daylight...in which case getting Conway Mitchell and Blundell out is going to present a bit of a problem !

I say, that's jolted me awake. Mitchell done for a duck after not playing a shot.

NZ in big trouble. They'll need to be the ones performing the unrealistic high chase to rescue this.

That's a bit of a gift for England ! Mitchell padding up to a Robinson in-ducker and rightly judged lbw by the umpire ...England's nemesis from the last series gone for a duck and the hosts battling at 83/5...