NZ Test tour of Eng, June 2-27

[bigfluffylemon]

He;s back on strike 2 balls later, and Ando ends it....

298 the lead. DO England go for this now?

Take the new ball, give it to Jimmy, target stumps, job done.

Why did Stokes delay doing that and bowl short with the old ball?

I'm sure England will go for this. As I said, I'd be tempted to promote Bairstow or Stokes and tell them and Crawley to have a hit, and if it doesn't come off then shut up shop.

[sussexpob]

Lees starts with 2 boundaries.... I think that might be our answer about England's intentions.

[sussexpob]

The ever useless Crawley once again fails

[bigfluffylemon]

Oh look, Crawley out fishing outside off again.

Another wicket before lunch and NZ are favourites.

Please can we drop Crawley and Bairstow, regardless of result?

[sussexpob]

And once again, its an edge to the slips while defending. The guy's defence is about as watertight as the Titanic's hull

[Durhamfootman]

when I saw that Lees had hit 3 boundaries in his first 5 balls, I just assumed that he'd gone off too fast and was the wicket to have fallen at 12-1, but it was Crawley......... of course it was

[sussexpob]

Please can we drop Crawley and Bairstow, regardless of result?

I'd be quite happy with that

[sussexpob]

when I saw that Lees had hit 3 boundaries in his first 5 balls, I just assumed that he'd gone off too fast and was the wicket to have fallen at 12-1, but it was Crawley......... of course it was

23 off 14 now, so watch this space DFM, you could be right

Although to be fair, he's hitting these well so far.

[Arthur Crabtree]

NZ must be favourites 55-45.

300 was once considered out of reach in the fourth innings. Not anymore.

[sussexpob]

Forget NZ are down a bowler too (again) in the 4th, so could factor into it if England get to stage where they can take advantage

[Arthur Crabtree]

KW might have been an option on day five.

[bigfluffylemon]

263 needed from 63. 9 wickets.

No Jamieson could make the difference, especially as Southee has taken a spanking this game. Boult is the danger man, but he can't bowl all day. And there will be no second new ball for NZ.

Still in the balance.

[Durhamfootman]

when I saw that Lees had hit 3 boundaries in his first 5 balls, I just assumed that he'd gone off too fast and was the wicket to have fallen at 12-1, but it was Crawley......... of course it was

23 off 14 now, so watch this space DFM, you could be right

Although to be fair, he's hitting these well so far.

Against the red ball it's in his nature to be very watchful, almost pedantic, about the way he goes about his business, but he's a different beast in white ball cricket where he's a very positive batter. Looks as though the new coach has been in his ear and told him to bat the Big Mac way

[Durhamfootman]

someone texted into the Durham match commentary to demand 'where's Alex Lees and what have England done with him?'

[bigfluffylemon]

Got to be a rare match indeed where 550 plays 540 in the first innings, four centurions including two 170+ scores, yet all four results remain not just possible but really in the balance well into day 5.

It's a good batting pitch, no doubt, but 12 wickets fell yesterday, 4 this morning, and no one in the first innings made 50 without a let off, so it's no road.