2nd Test - England v New Zealand (May 29 - June 2)

[sussexpob]

3 places in doubt after this test Ballance, Bell and Ali, and Stokes hanging in there after his heroics in the last match.

Sadly no real obvious candidates waiting in the wings.

The Aussies must be rubbing their hands with glee.

Alex Hales, James Hildreth and Adil Rashid

Problem solved!

Hildreth should have been called up 8 years ago, but surely his boat has sailed. Taylor would be my pick, but I don't think he is on form... currently batting v Sussex, I would prefer him not to stake his claim now.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I kind of discounted Hales and Taylor without checking their scores this season. Assumed that with Notts horrendous start to the CC season they would not be in much form.

[budgetmeansbudget]

3 places in doubt after this test Ballance, Bell and Ali, and Stokes hanging in there after his heroics in the last match.

Sadly no real obvious candidates waiting in the wings.

The Aussies must be rubbing their hands with glee.

Alex Hales, James Hildreth and Adil Rashid

Problem solved!

Hildreth should have been called up 8 years ago, but surely his boat has sailed. Taylor would be my pick, but I don't think he is on form... currently batting v Sussex, I would prefer him not to stake his claim now.

Taylor would need to get some experience in the Under 15's first, surely.

[Aidan11]

That's the way Broady, give it some tap.

[sussexpob]

I kind of discounted Hales and Taylor without checking their scores this season. Assumed that with Notts horrendous start to the CC season they would not be in much form.

Well they have made 15 this game between them, courtesy of Mago and Robinson.... (Taylor has just got out now)....

Hales has 236, 141, 94 and 86* in his last 6 matches he batted in

[Aidan11]

Considering Broad can't bat, he's got more runs this series than Bell & Ballance combined.

[budgetmeansbudget]

3 places in doubt after this test Ballance, Bell and Ali, and Stokes hanging in there after his heroics in the last match.

Sadly no real obvious candidates waiting in the wings.

The Aussies must be rubbing their hands with glee.

Alex Hales, James Hildreth and Adil Rashid

Problem solved!

Hildreth should have been called up 8 years ago, but surely his boat has sailed. Taylor would be my pick, but I don't think he is on form... currently batting v Sussex, I would prefer him not to stake his claim now.

No worries there!

[Aidan11]

Williamson again.

[Aidan11]

One more wicket in the next 5 minutes and tea will be delayed.

[sussexpob]

One more wicket in the next 5 minutes and tea will be delayed.

Do they need to be 9 down? I thought umpires could do it if it was reasonable to expect the match to end

[yuppie]

This is just reward for NZ enterprising batting in the first innings. They knew the match would be affected by rain, and forced the issue from the first over.

Good positive cricket, and this is the reward

[budgetmeansbudget]

I kind of discounted Hales and Taylor without checking their scores this season. Assumed that with Notts horrendous start to the CC season they would not be in much form.

Well they have made 15 this game between them, courtesy of Mago and Robinson.... (Taylor has just got out now)....

Hales has 236, 141, 94 and 86* in his last 6 matches he batted in

I guess I was overlooking the high scoring draws. I now seem to remember him absolutely murdering us, but the game ended as a draw.

He's next in line then.

[yuppie]

Alis stats for this series.

104 runs at 26.

5 wickets at 50

Like SP says, batting to far down to have an effect on the runs, and he really is not a front line spinner.

[sussexpob]

Alis stats for this series.

104 runs at 26.

5 wickets at 50

Like SP says, batting to far down to have an effect on the runs, and he really is not a front line spinner.

What he has proved is he can bowl to test batsman though. I see him as the all rounder in the team at the moment.

[Aidan11]

One more wicket in the next 5 minutes and tea will be delayed.

Do they need to be 9 down? I thought umpires could do it if it was reasonable to expect the match to end

No, has to be 9 down. Luckily we hung on.