NZ v England test matches, November 2019

[Arthur Crabtree]

In Durham news, Stokes dropped Latham on 66.

[bigfluffylemon]

England get Nicholls and Latham early on day 2, and the score suddenly looks a bit more respectable.

Plenty of batting to come from NZ of course, as we saw last test. England will be hoping for further inroads with the second new ball, or it could be another long day in the field.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks like a good contest at the moment.

If Denly is bowling though, they probably got the attack wrong.

[Alviro Patterson]

Struggling to see what the fuss is about with Sam Curran, often bowls 75-78mph and does not hit the deck hard enough. New Zealand batsmen can just pick him out with his medium pace dobbers.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Nine runs in the last ten overs! Brilliant!

Proper cricket.

[bigfluffylemon]

England are bleeping it reasonably tight, but getting no reward.

[Arthur Crabtree]

78 run partnership in 40 overs. Second new ball getting a bit old. Kiwis doing well.

[bigfluffylemon]

Sigh. Amazing the strength in depth most sides have compared to England. 50 on debut for Mitchell. Most England batsmen you've been lucky to get a tidy 30 from before they give it away.

[bigfluffylemon]

Finally the stand is broken, but my word, Watling and the sixth wicket have made a mockery of England's decision to bowl, again.

In walks Santner. More to come?

[Arthur Crabtree]

375. Looks an intermediary score. Though might look a lot to the England bats. Time for Root to come out of mid career hibernation?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Two early wickets. Root gets his chance early.

[bigfluffylemon]

24-2, naturally.

How did Sibley get so many Championship runs?

[sussexpob]

Love Stuart Broads post stumps take that the par score is 700 ....not sure if that makes his captain's decision to bowl look sensible

[backfootpunch]

Burns must be the luckiest player I have ever seen

[sussexpob]

How did Sibley get so many Championship runs?

Today's dismissal was exactly the type I stated I think he'd struggle with last test, which isn't encouraging.

My better sense just screams he's going to get done over time and time again with that setup, but it's a position worth dwelling on; how did he score so many runs?

It's not like we are in an era of pancake decks and rampant high scoring. Runs are proving difficult in the domestic 4 day game, and this guy has put big runs in the board. So maybe there is more to this. Maybe he's a guy who bats with so many moving parts, when he's not warmed up and on form he struggles, when he gets it right he compensates for it?

Of course I don't believe it. I don't like to write players off after 3 innings, but there is no one in my memory of English cricketers through the years who looks more of a train wreck with a bat in their hand. I'd beg to take the new ball as a kiwi and get at him.

Full, moving a hint, in line with the stumps...bingo. The gap between bat and pad is so large, we should rename it the Sibley Grand Canyon