Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Thu, 02 Jun
1st Test, Lord's, June 02 - 06, 2022, New Zealand tour of England
England
New Zealand

Fri, 10 Jun
2nd Test, Nottingham, June 10 - 14, 2022, New Zealand tour of England
England
New Zealand

Thu, 23 Jun
3rd Test, Leeds, June 23 - 27, 2022, New Zealand tour of England
England
New Zealand

Kiwis made 362-9 declared in their warm-up match.

Some half-centuries, but no tons.

Up against it in the current game. But a bit chaotic with the IPL players returning.

So, Potts or Overton in the team for Thursday. They could both play if they leave out Leach.

I'm presuming A&B will be back.

Rest of the team looks settled, with Brooks to miss out.

Crikey, this starts on Thursday. Good to see a 3 test series v NZ, hard to believe England will turn around their recent form against the world number 1 team.

Too late for a FL? I am not in a position to run one (Will be on holiday much of the series).

I've posted a FL. If I get five names or more.

The press are full of articles about the usual vague concepts like approach, mentality or brand of cricket .... I get the sense they see an instantaneous improvement in seeing two "chest out" type players being installed as captain and coach, but the danger of that is ignoring that England's batting problems particularly are caused by technical issues rather than any instructed approach. No matter what wrapper you want, or how you advertise it, a crap biscuit will always be a crap biscuit.

I think we need to be very patient with this new setup, because I dont see rapid and widespread improvement being much of a realistic outcome. If 1 or 2 batsman look to improve in the next 12 months and win their long term places, if those on the fringes improve their averages.... well, if we can do that and still lose, its a step forward.

For McCullum, in the short term we either need the established under-performing players who have had chances to get better. Or he needs to unearth at least 1 or 2 other talents in the batting that can at least justify their places.

For Stokes, I just want to see some smart cricket and not the poor thought process that Root displayed. I want to see a bit more aggression (although not Rambo cricket) in field placings, and definitely someone who is reactive to the game and not just following what his data analysis wrote down for him to do.

Both need time.... well, unless we get absolutely massacred. But if we lose 3-0 in 3 hard fought tests that the result was at least a question in, I think Id be happy.

I have a feeling Stokes might be a great leader, but not sure about tactically. I feel the same about McCullum - maybe a great man manager, but does he have the technical knowledge to improve the team as cricketers.

Time will tell.

One thing that did make me wince was McCullum endorsing Rashid, Ali and Buttler for comebacks....

Again, maybe if we just accept blindly that mentality can win the day, then sure maybe a fresh approach might work... but Buttler is the world's best paid T20 player... its hardly like he's struggling with the pressure of the IPL or isnt professional. ITs quite clear as a test player, he's just not a 5 day player... so whats the mystery?

McCullum saying Buttler hadnt really had a chance.... he's played nearly 60 tests.... he;s just not that good.

Brandon always did like that team logo sort of b*****x. Hopefully someone will have a word about re-running the past five years. Is James Vince going to get another go around?

Sigh. Nothing says fresh new approach like returning to players who have failed time and again.

Jos is clearly one of the best limited over bats England has ever had, and not a red ball player. We've all been saying that for years. It baffles me why the England set-up can't see it. He must have a great attitude...

I think they just see tremendous natural ability in hitting the ball everywhere and somehow feel he ought to be able to modify that approach for the five day game. In truth he did attempt to do so when returned to the side in 2018 - with some success , albeit playing in the rather artificial position of "specialist number seven batsman". But it didn't result in his playing the dramatic Gilchrist-like match changing knocks Smith was reportedly hoping for ; and in fact the runs he scored basically just replaced those that were lost from other players like Bairstow and Moeen as they were shuffled up the order to fit him in...
Since taking over the gloves Buttler has had bursts of form ; and in fairness his keeping had seemed to improve before rather falling apart over the last year : but the overall record remains ordinary at best. As I think he can't really be considered for the keeping job again the only spot open would be at six (his record batting any higher is pretty poor) and Stokes has stated rather clearly that he wants to bat there . I honestly can't see much upside to rearranging the order again just to fit Jos in.

Often see people saying "Oh but he would do so much better if he came in at 300/4 instead of 60/4." Doubtless true ; but so would any reasonably competent bat! England need players who can dig them out of trouble more than "luxury finishers" so I wouldn't think a Buttler return is a high probability - even if McCullum has offered some encouragement for him if he still wants to play Tests. I hope the new coach is just keeping his options open because I think there are a couple of new players who seem worth a try before we try this particular bit of recycling.

Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Matty Potts, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

If Overton can't get in with about nine fast bowlers out injured, then his time has gone.

So, no Brook either, and it looks like Pope has been poked up to three.

Shame Brook hasn't been picked as he's in form. Has JB1 even had an innings in UK this year?

I've not seen Potts play, but I'm struggling to see the wisdom in it. Average of 27 for a division 2 bowler who plays on the most friendly seamer wicket in an era of historically abject batting performances .... Doesn't scream excellence.

I seen one interview where he was selling his combative spirit....like an instance where he joined a junior team and offered to fight the whole side one by one....or in other words, he sounds like a total a3se too....

Apparently the first guy he challenged ironed him out with one shot, so let's hope he's a better bowler than boxer

Mark Wood was talking Potts up on 5live last night, but he's hardly going to say 'dunno why he's been picked, he's a bit rubbish', especially when they're teammates.

Guess we'll wait and see. If he's rubbish, there are 8 injured bowlers waiting in the wings to come back.

Odd that New Zealand are playing again this summer after touring last summer too. Does anyone know the logic in that?

As a result, here's an obscure stat. Tim Southee will become the first overseas specialist bowler to play five tests at Lord's. Only 13 touring players have played more than four test at the venue, 12 of whom played 5, and they were all specialist batsmen or allrounders. The one who played more than 5? Syd Gregory, Australian batsman from the pre-WWI era, who played a never-to-be-beaten 9 matches in 8 tours of England (and his total of 52 matches against England will probably never be beaten either, although Border had 47).

Looks like a reasonable forecast, especially the first three days, so win the toss and bat. You should always bat first at Lord's anyway, but as I harp on about every year, when it's cloudy teams get suckered into choosing to bowl first, and it almost never works out for them. Lord's can be tricky to bat on for the first day, but any difficulties are more than offset by the advantage of not batting last.