Planet Rugby Forum

After easily beating the kiwis in the T/20 decider with our C team we now turn to the test team.

I predict the Black Craps will come third - just

Enzedder wrote:I predict the Black Craps will come third - just

Well that is just straight up optimism.

England's youngsters going well in the warmup, albeit against a very weak bowling attack. Hundreds for Sibley and Crawley. Root with a quickfire 41 not out, Ollie Pope in with him.

Young Auckland batsman Finn Allen hits century against England in tour match
Mark down the name Finn Allen.

The 20-year-old Auckland Aces contracted player demonstrated his talent in abundance, hitting an unbeaten century for the New Zealand XI against a full-strength England test attack in Whangarei on Wednesday.

Well that sounds encouraging for the future.






But probably not.

NZ squad. As expected really, it's a pretty settled side.

Could quibble that I'd prefer to see Neesham over CDG, but realistically CDG has a decent test record (averaging a tick under 40 - albeit most of those runs coming in hit out or get out situations with a declaration imminent), and is a more reliable bowler in seaming conditions.

Ajaz Patel probably a little unlucky - think he's a better test spinner than Santner, but I guess on unhelpful pitches the spinner is only really there for an economical holding role, so Santner offers more with his better batting and fielding. Don't necessarily agree with that, but I get the logic.

Excited to finally see Ferguson in the squad. Hope he gets a run. Not sure who for as Boult/Southee/Wagner is a proven combination in home conditions, but there's something exciting about the prospect of Ferguson bowling 150+ with the red ball. Hopefully this is a nod to the Aus series, where he has to play over Southee - ~130k seamers aren't effective in Aus, you need pace.

I'm cautiously optimistic about this series. Test cricket has been our best format recently and we're hard to beat in home conditions. Then again, years of the Black Craps has taught me to never really expect to beat one of the Big 3, especially England after recent results...

mrbrownstone wrote:

NZ squad. As expected really, it's a pretty settled side.

Could quibble that I'd prefer to see Neesham over CDG, but realistically CDG has a decent test record (averaging a tick under 40 - albeit most of those runs coming in hit out or get out situations with a declaration imminent), and is a more reliable bowler in seaming conditions.

Ajaz Patel probably a little unlucky - think he's a better test spinner than Santner, but I guess on unhelpful pitches the spinner is only really there for an economical holding role, so Santner offers more with his better batting and fielding. Don't necessarily agree with that, but I get the logic.

Excited to finally see Ferguson in the squad. Hope he gets a run. Not sure who for as Boult/Southee/Wagner is a proven combination in home conditions, but there's something exciting about the prospect of Ferguson bowling 150+ with the red ball. Hopefully this is a nod to the Aus series, where he has to play over Southee - ~130k seamers aren't effective in Aus, you need pace.

I'm cautiously optimistic about this series. Test cricket has been our best format recently and we're hard to beat in home conditions. Then again, years of the Black Craps has taught me to never really expect to beat one of the Big 3, especially England after recent results...

I'd have NZ as clear favourites - they've a settled team with a solid batting line up and a decent bowling attack. England's batting is inexperienced and shaky at best. And the bowling looks a bit thin - Curran and Stokes don't really inspire confidence as 3rd and 4th bowlers - get past Archer and Broad, and things might be fairly comfortable for the NZ batting line up.

ovalball wrote: I'd have NZ as clear favourites - they've a settled team with a solid batting line up and a decent bowling attack. England's batting is inexperienced and shaky at best. And the bowling looks a bit thin - Curran and Stokes don't really inspire confidence as 3rd and 4th bowlers - get past Archer and Broad, and things might be fairly comfortable for the NZ batting line up.

Logically I'd agree. On paper, New Zealand have a better, more experienced side & are playing at home. We should go in as reasonably strong favourites against an England top six featuring two newbies & several players who will be playing their first test in NZ (think all but Root, Stokes, Broad and Leach will be playing a test in NZ for the first time, which is a little damning considering you last toured here 18 months ago.)

I've just been burned too many times by the Black Caps to be actually confident of beating England in a test series

Glenn Phillips brings up a century for NZA in the warm up match

Thought he was more of a T20 player, but he's averaging 40 in first class cricket, can keep (not sure if he's a genuine option as a keeper or more of a part timer), and is only 22. Now a ton against Broad & Archer. Definitely one for the future

Bump for Match Day - beautiful weather for all 5 days and I am working from home (no coincidence). Toss winner will bat for 2 days (if they are from England) or provide Archer his first 10 for ...

C'mon Crappers. (Take it to the 4th day)

Enzedder wrote:Bump for Match Day - beautiful weather for all 5 days and I am working from home (no coincidence). Toss winner will bat for 2 days (if they are from England) or provide Archer his first 10 for ...

C'mon Crappers. (Take it to the 4th day)

Can't remember the last time England managed to bat anywhere near two days !!

Kiwi record at home is brilliant. Will be difficult for England for sure.

England/Wales will have the blackcaps for breakfast

JM2K6 wrote:Kiwi record at home is brilliant. Will be difficult for England for sure.

It will - especially with such a rookie side - Curran, Archer, Burns, Sibley, Pope, Denly, Leach - all very inexperienced.

ovalball wrote:

JM2K6 wrote:Kiwi record at home is brilliant. Will be difficult for England for sure.

It will - especially with such a rookie side - Curran, Archer, Burns, Sibley, Pope, Denly, Leach - all very inexperienced.

Rookies or not - they are a strength in the team.

England win the toss and will bat. This pitch is a road by the look of it

Enzedder wrote:England win the toss and will bat. This pitch is a road by the look of it

I wonder how long it will take us to be 30/3 ?

Enzedder wrote:England win the toss and will bat. This pitch is a road by the look of it

New test ground, right? Has it always been a road? Quite liked how NZ was always English conditions in the past.

Enzedder wrote:Bump for Match Day - beautiful weather for all 5 days and I am working from home (no coincidence). Toss winner will bat for 2 days (if they are from England) or provide Archer his first 10 for ...

C'mon Crappers. (Take it to the 4th day)

Think I might go and work from home this afternoon, I only live 5 min from the ground

JM2K6 wrote:

Enzedder wrote:England win the toss and will bat. This pitch is a road by the look of it

New test ground, right? Has it always been a road? Quite liked how NZ was always English conditions in the past.

It's been a specialist T20 ground since Mt Maunganui is a real summer holiday spot. For that reason they have always deliberately provided absolute roads.

ovalball wrote:

Enzedder wrote:England win the toss and will bat. This pitch is a road by the look of it

I wonder how long it will take us to be 30/3 ?

About 45 minutes. Every fucking innings.

Usual fucking road.

Quarter past 10 in the UK.....perfect toss for England to win.....would imagine that they will rack up a fairly sizeable score on this pitch.

Sleep time and check in the morning.

Well they f**ked that one up.

Gazzamonster wrote:Well they f**ked that one up.

Yep, might have got away with one there.

Could be a good day to bat once the swing finishes. Need patience.

ovalball wrote:Could be a good day to bat once the swing finishes. Need patience.

It's going to be a batting paradise once the ball is a bit older and the green tinge disappears.

J Man wrote:

JM2K6 wrote:

Enzedder wrote:England win the toss and will bat. This pitch is a road by the look of it

New test ground, right? Has it always been a road? Quite liked how NZ was always English conditions in the past.

It's been a specialist T20 ground since Mt Maunganui is a real summer holiday spot. For that reason they have always deliberately provided absolute roads.

Back the draw before play when England play New Zealand in sheep shaggerland. Very good chance you will be able to take your money out and end up with a free bet at some stage.

Ground looks lovely - so nice to see spectators sitting on the grass banks - reasonable crowd in but they'd probably looked lost in a stadium.

Who are the NZ commentators

ovalball wrote:Who are the NZ commentators

Marl Richardson
Ian Smith
Simon Doull
Craig McMillan,
I think the chick might be Debbie Hockley
Craig Cumming

Not sure I’ve ever seen two openers with odder or uglier techniques.

J Man wrote:

ovalball wrote:Who are the NZ commentators

Marl Richardson
Ian Smith
Simon Doull
Craig McMillan,
I think the chick might be Debbie Hockley
Craig Cumming

Been excellent so far - NZ always seem to find some great commentators

Mahoney wrote:Not sure I’ve ever seen two openers with odder or uglier techniques.

Yep I don't think Smith has ever opened in test cricket.

Is the choice of Bay Oval and Seddon Park a deliberate ploy to condition our bowling attack in preparation for the Australian series?

Kahu wrote:Is the choice of Bay Oval and Seddon Park a deliberate ploy to condition our bowling attack in preparation for the Australian series?

Interesting thought. It does look pretty flat, and NZ pitches have only gotten flatter over the course of a Test in recent years. Hopefully this one breaks up a bit.

Let Burns off the hook twice now - no review and a catch between first and second slip. Unacceptable on a flat pitch where chances are hard to come by.

Good review - that's ridiculous.

LBWs really should be benefit of the doubt to the bowler. You have a bat - use it.

I know it's the same rules for everyone, but gee I'd like to see those given out*, particularly on a flat pitch. Tough enough for the bowlers already.

*Ask me again when Archer and Broad are bowling, of course.

mrbrownstone wrote:I know it's the same rules for everyone, but gee I'd like to see those given out*...

*Ask me again when Archer and Broad are bowling, of course.

Yeah, pretty much my view. The game is already in favour of the batsman enough.

Unless the ball is fully covering the stumps I don't want to see it given.

How does CdG pick up wickets? He bowls at 100kph