******Cricket Thread******

[Gray]

It was only a RR of 3.64. Unless some quick wickets fell within the first 30 overs, I expected at least some intent from England.

Sibley is one of the most negative players I have seen represent England in recent times.

We do not have a KP anymore.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

We do not have a KP anymore.

KP was a generational talent in the Viv mould. But Root, Pope, Crawley and Lawrence are fluent batsmen.

If we had been this busy earlier in the innings, we might have been in for an exciting final hour.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

KP was a generational talent in the Viv mould. But Root, Pope, Crawley and Lawrence are fluent batsmen.

If we had been this busy earlier in the innings, we might have been in for an exciting final hour.

There have only been 3 chases of over 200 in test match history at Lords.

It was never going to happen.

 

[ShedDweller]

You really thought we were going to try and chase 273 in the afternoon on the 5th day ?

Ask yourself, would the Kiwi's or Aussies at least made an attempt got in position to chase it.

Of course they would. This is rubbish by England...

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Ask yourself, would the Kiwi's or Aussies at least made an attempt got in position to chase it.

Of course they would. This is rubbish by England...

I don't think they'd have a serious go on that pitch, but I think they'd certainly have tried to dominate at least one of the bowlers rather than grind along.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Ask yourself, would the Kiwi's or Aussies at least made an attempt got in position to chase it.

Of course they would. This is rubbish by England...

You have to remember we have no Stokes, no Buttler, this is not full strength. And as Rob Key just said, time in the middle is the best for confidence, which some of the team need currently.

I would bet against any team trying to chase this because history is not on their side.

Also Neil Wagner and Tim Southee are currently ranked 3 & 6 respectively in the ICC test rankings, so best to respect them.

 

[ancoats]

england should be ashamed of themselves. NZ give the fans that turned up a game and a chance for england to win the test. but england blocked and blocked boring cricket ?

i just don't understand what a draw does for england and root. the fans that turned out today should be all over root and england with booing and asking for their money back. shocking and root bottled it

 

[andyhinch]

Ask yourself, would the Kiwi's or Aussies at least made an attempt got in position to chase it.

Of course they would. This is rubbish by England...

I’m not saying I liked it but that was the only way they were going to play

 

[ShedDweller]

I’m not saying I liked it but that was the only way they were going to play

Fair enough, but its probably an indication of why Root will never be a good Captain.

We've not had a decent Captain since Vaughan, Straus was OK, Cooke was overly negative and Root is the worst of the lot. Its also destroyed his batting.

I think we also need to question the coach's input into this. Silverwood looks bang average to me, just as he was as a player.

 

[waspish]

England gone backwards mentally as a test match team like watching us in the nighties

 

[jimharri]

England gone backwards mentally as a test match team like watching us in the nighties

I'm more of a pyjamas man myself. But hey; we won't judge you.

 

[discopop]

Cowardly from the coach and Root, no ranking points no test championship points basically a beer match and they wanted a draw we all have a chuckle at @ancoats for his Root hate but that response to a reasonable chase to give paying fans a cheer was fucking criminal.

 

[Postman Pep]

england should be ashamed of themselves. NZ give the fans that turned up a game and a chance for england to win the test. but england blocked and blocked boring cricket ?

i just don't understand what a draw does for england and root. the fans that turned out today should be all over root and england with booing and asking for their money back. shocking and root bottled it

If the Kiwis genuinely wanted to make a spectacle of it they should a got a shift on last night instead of plodding on at 2 an over or declare mid morning and dangle a bigger carrot?
The reality is in Test cricket that *all* teams in these circumstances look to take defeat out of the equation before anything else.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

If the Kiwis genuinely wanted to make a spectacle of it they should a got a shift on last night instead of plodding on at 2 an over or declare mid morning and dangle a bigger carrot?
The reality is in Test cricket that *all* teams in these circumstances look to take defeat out of the equation before anything else.

It’s crazy the criticism England are getting here. At the start of our innings, I reckon the chances of us winning were about 5%, the draw 75% and NZ 20%.

As you say, you start off playing not to lose against a new ball with fresh, world class bowlers. Couple that with 6 out of our top 7 either making their way in the game or fearing being dropped, there was no chance that we were going gung ho on a wearing pitch.

Test cricket is totally different to one day formats of the game and the one day formats are threatening to destroy it. People demand 5 an over for 5 hours on a tired pitch with a ball that actually swings and seams! Madness.

 

[bavarian blue]

Timidity won't win us the ashes.

 

[ancoats]

Cowardly from the coach and Root, no ranking points no test championship points basically a beer match and they wanted a draw we all have a chuckle at @ancoats for his Root hate but that response to a reasonable chase to give paying fans a cheer was fucking criminal.

spot on what was there to lose
england would have got more credit out of the game if they went for it and lost than just sitting in and block and get the draw. the fans back for the first in a year and you would think lets give them something back
i think NZ did there part today when they offered a chance of a good finish ? but root and england stunk the place out

i laugh at myself sometimes ? why i keep banging my head on a brick wall with root and the ECB
because nothing will change and england will be cannon fodder in the ashes. this test match has shown me all i need to know and both captain and coach of england don't care enough about test cricket

no spinner. anderson and broad again. the batting line up. the opening pair not right.
but for me its was the NZ bowlers using the bouncer and our batters bar one ? not being able to handle it

you just know in the winter down under. chin music will be the order of the day and moeen ali will be our spinner

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

It’s crazy the criticism England are getting here. At the start of our innings, I reckon the chances of us winning were about 5%, the draw 75% and NZ 20%.

As you say, you start off playing not to lose against a new ball with fresh, world class bowlers. Couple that with 6 out of our top 7 either making their way in the game or fearing being dropped, there was no chance that we were going gung ho on a wearing pitch.

Test cricket is totally different to one day formats of the game and the one day formats are threatening to destroy it. People demand 5 an over for 5 hours on a tired pitch with a ball that actually swings and seams! Madness.

Correctamundo. If England "have a go" and likely balls it up with another collapse, they'd be having a go at them for that too. The batsmen lose more confidence and we're learning nothing.

 

[ancoats]

If the Kiwis genuinely wanted to make a spectacle of it they should a got a shift on last night instead of plodding on at 2 an over or declare mid morning and dangle a bigger carrot?
The reality is in Test cricket that *all* teams in these circumstances look to take defeat out of the equation before anything else.

matey england are shit and if NZ offered 150 root would still be ordering the blocking and just sit in and defend
273 in 75 overs boy that was some offer by NZ and root bottled it

 

[Bluemoon dan]

Timidity won't win us the ashes.

About the only thing I could say about this afternoon is that, with the ashes in mind, we are more likely to need practice at batting out a day to hold on for a draw than we are to be trying to chase down a run target.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Correctamundo. If England "have a go" and likely balls it up with another collapse, they'd be having a go at them for that too. The batsmen lose more confidence and we're learning nothing.

Win the next test and the series is won. Lose this one and we can’t win it.