Cricket Thread

[Darwin]

Excellent session for New Zealand: 29-3-42.

I expect we will see Boult and Southee given a few overs at the start of the session, then Bruce Martin and perhaps Kane Williamson given a bit of a bowl. It may seem a bit passive, but Prior and Root look very comfortable against the old ball, so NZ may want to keep Southee, Boult, and Wagner fresh for the new ball (which they should get just before the end of the session). It should be an interesting second session!

 

[Darwin]

England all out for 204. Big decision for McCullum here....

EDIT: looks like we won't enforce the follow-on.

EDIT 2: Looks like we are collapsing now. 8-3

 

[Amobokoboko]

With a bit of luck NZ still can win this tomorrow.

 

[Larksea]

Peter Fulton absolute legend as the Black Caps set England 481 to win and give their bowlers a day and a half to get 10 wickets.

If we can get them this test will go down as one of NZ's best. Secure a series win.

 

[Larksea]

holy crap, a wicket already

England are 5 for 1

compton out bowled southee caught behind.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

holy crap, a wicket already

England are 5 for 1

compton out bowled southee caught behind.

I reckon we declared too early. England can still win this. We should have just started taking heaps of risks to score at a faster rate, maybe even for just 5-10 more overs. Did mcallum declare becaause he thought that we needed heaps of time to bowl them out, or because he wanted to give England a target they would go for, instead of just defending their wicket to salvage a draw?

 

[Darwin]

I reckon we declared too early. England can still win this. We should have just started taking heaps of risks to score at a faster rate, maybe even for just 5-10 more overs. Did mcallum declare becaause he thought that we needed heaps of time to bowl them out, or because he wanted to give England a target they would go for, instead of just defending their wicket to salvage a draw?

Really? I thought we probably declared a bit late! England were set 481 to win. For England to do that they would have smash the current world record for the highest successful 4th innings chase in tests (418) scoring at almost 3.5 per over! It is very unlikely that England will get close to winning from here - hopefully NZ have enough time to bowl them out....

Anyways congrat to Peter Fulton for another outstanding century, while McCullum's quick runs were also important. We just need our bowlers to do the job for us (again).

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I reckon we declared too early. England can still win this. We should have just started taking heaps of risks to score at a faster rate, maybe even for just 5-10 more overs. Did mcallum declare becaause he thought that we needed heaps of time to bowl them out, or because he wanted to give England a target they would go for, instead of just defending their wicket to salvage a draw?

Shut up Umaga's Witness, we just got Trott!

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Really? I thought we probably declared a bit late! England were set 481 to win. For England to do that they would have smash the current world record for the highest successful 4th innings chase in tests (418) scoring at almost 3.5 per over! It is very unlikely that England will get close to winning from here - hopefully NZ have enough time to bowl them out....

Anyways congrat to Peter Fulton for another outstanding century, while McCullum's quick runs were also important. We just need our bowlers to do the job for us (again).

Hmmm, maybe. Just with short boundaries the run rate isn't as high as it seems, and with the ease at which Mcallum and Fulton were going there I was worried the English could do the same. But then I am sometimes pessimistic about my teams' chances.

Disclaimer: I am not watching this, just keeping up to date through cricinfo.com, and cricbuzz app, so i don't know how the pitch is playing/ what it looks like.

 

[Darwin]

Williamson strikes - Cook gone. Good catch by Brownlie, who was standing very close to Cook! Williamson getting a bit of turn out of the pitch - he looks more dangerous than Martin...

EDIT: Finn gone now! Williamson is a wizard

 

[Umaga's Witness]

 

[TRF_heineken]

There was some good cricket on over the weekend. SA won the ODI series 3-2 against Pakistan yesterday, with Captain AB De Villiers winning MOTM and MOTS. this was great preparation for upcoming ICC Champions Trophy later in the year in England.

I love it that the 2 Ashes teams are struggling in the test arena at the moment. It shows that Test Cricket is alive and well and still as competitive as in the past.

the IPL is starting on the 3rd of April.

 

[Larksea]

unbelievable end to the days play, two epic catches in close

 

[Darwin]

England fighting well this morning. I'm surprised we haven't seen Wagner yet this morning, as he generally bowls pretty well with the older ball. I would like another wicket (or 2) before we get the new ball (in 13 overs).

EDIT: Breakthrough finally - we just needed the new ball

 

[Umaga's Witness]

two drops in 3 balls. come on guys. 60 overs to get 5 wickets.

 

[Darwin]

Yep, those dropped catches were very frustrating, especially given the two outstanding catches we took at the end of yesterday. We need 1, preferably two wickets in the next 15 overs or so, as it appears very easy to bat on this pitch once the ball gets a little older. It will certainly be a fascinating second session!

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Yep, those dropped catches were very frustrating, especially given the two outstanding catches we took at the end of yesterday. We need 1, preferably two wickets in the next 15 overs or so, as it appears very easy to bat on this pitch once the ball gets a little older. It will certainly be a fascinating second session!

Just what I was thinking. We really need two though, one won't be enough. We have to open up an end to get at the bowlers. remember one of the 5 wickets thusfar was the night watchman.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

It looks like bell wants to dominate the strike too. we need to try hard to prevent a single on the last ball of the over.

 

[Darwin]

There is one of the wickets. Caught one finally

 

[Umaga's Witness]

You beauty, Southee gets Bairstow. Where did all the English go from this thread?