England Cricket Tour of New Zealand, 2017/18 (with no cricket in 2017)

I don't usually mind Graeme Swann as much as some on here, though obviously he has an ego the size of the MCG, but he was winding me up something rotten this morning ranting about anyone who thinks Bayliss should be removed as being like football fans always blaming the manager etc.

He then started saying the issues are how the batsmen aren't playing the swinging ball correctly etc.

Yes, Graeme, because of the coaching. He couldn't seem to see how one might be related to the other. Tit.

killerandflash said:

dickplumb said:

Why don't we play every Test like it is a fifty over game? Serious question.

Our innings lasted 20.4 overs, maybe the players thought they were playing a T20 match...

Par score for a T20 would be about 160 - we barely scraped 50.

Blackheathen said:

Weather forecast looks promising. Could be raining till Monday. Fingers crossed.

After 3.5 days of rain, New Zealand declare at tea on the 5th day. Then bowl England out for 67 in 10 overs

"I was really impressed with the attacking intent shown by the players. This is the aggressive cricket we've been working on" said Bayliss.

Blackheathen said:

Weather forecast looks promising. Could be raining till Monday. Fingers crossed.

No. We need to finish this match and hopefully it will send a wake up call to the players who think they are far better than they are and moreover a wake up call to the ECB to sort our game out before it disappears completely.

18th Test Century for Kane Williamson - the highest number for any New Zealand player.

Congratulations, great achievement.

On the game - we look powder puff with the ball.

Woakes - too short, but tidy.
Overton - very nothingy.
Broad - the best of the four, hitting a better length.
Jimmy - Only bowled one over (first over with the new ball) and it was beyond atrocious - let's hope he loosens up.

Williamson looks like Williamson and impressed with Nicholls, very few loose shots.

Riviera said:

Ormiston Addick said:

As Agnew said on the BBC - and he said this after The Ashes as well - our preparation for this tour is an utter disgrace.

No proper first class matches - just a couple of hit and giggles - and then you're bowled out for 58 in the Test.

None of our lot have played any first class Cricket since January 7th so that's 11 weeks without a proper game.

Join the fucking dots.

I agree but also it has to be pointed out that this is Kane Williamson's first 1st Class game this year. Our preparation is crap and has been for years but it is just part of the problem.

True but Williamson is playing in his home conditions so has less need to acclimatize - accepting that NZ conditions are not too dissimilar to England.

Addickted2TheReds said:

Addickted2TheReds said:

On the game - we look powder puff with the ball.

Woakes - too short, but tidy.
Overton - very nothingy.
Broad - the best of the four, hitting a better length.
Jimmy - Only bowled one over (first over with the new ball) and it was beyond atrocious - let's hope he loosens up.

Williamson looks like Williamson and impressed with Nicholls, very few loose shots.

What do I know? He was warming up with an over with the old ball. (Still bowled shit).

New ball taken.

And he's just bowled an absolutely unplayable beauty to trap Williamson LBW for 102. Never doubt the great man. :-)

Wet Wet Wet are playing

Danepak said:

Wet Wet Wet are playing

Are those potato croquettes?

Riviera said:

Ormiston Addick said:

As Agnew said on the BBC - and he said this after The Ashes as well - our preparation for this tour is an utter disgrace.

No proper first class matches - just a couple of hit and giggles - and then you're bowled out for 58 in the Test.

None of our lot have played any first class Cricket since January 7th so that's 11 weeks without a proper game.

Join the fucking dots.

I agree but also it has to be pointed out that this is Kane Williamson's first 1st Class game this year. Our preparation is crap and has been for years but it is just part of the problem.

As much I know you will hate to learn this Riviera, age group county cricket is becoming more and more focused on quick scoring and funky shots rather than technique. The expectation when you reach that standard is that a player already has the technique to be able to bat but, more often that not, this isn't the case and the quick 30, 40 or even 50 in a limited overs game masks the basic inadequacies.

It's even got to the stage where the ECB, as a result of an initiative from Strauss, that more county age group matches T20 matches are played. In fact the U15s now play in coloured clothing regardless of the nature of the match!

If we're not careful we will go in the opposite direction to football - the old days of the big centre back hoofing it to the quick big lad up front in academy football are, hopefully, a thing of the past whereas in cricket we could see a breed of batsmen with long leavers bullying their way through the system to the detriment of the smaller players with better touch and technique.

Addick Addict said:

Riviera said:

Ormiston Addick said:

As Agnew said on the BBC - and he said this after The Ashes as well - our preparation for this tour is an utter disgrace.

No proper first class matches - just a couple of hit and giggles - and then you're bowled out for 58 in the Test.

None of our lot have played any first class Cricket since January 7th so that's 11 weeks without a proper game.

Join the fucking dots.

I agree but also it has to be pointed out that this is Kane Williamson's first 1st Class game this year. Our preparation is crap and has been for years but it is just part of the problem.

As much I know you will hate to learn this Riviera, age group county cricket is becoming more and more focused on quick scoring and funky shots rather than technique. The expectation when you reach that standard is that a player already has the technique to be able to bat but, more often that not, this isn't the case and the quick 30, 40 or even 50 in a limited overs game masks the basic inadequacies.

It's even got to the stage where the ECB, as a result of an initiative from Strauss, that more county age group matches T20 matches are played. In fact the U15s now play in coloured clothing regardless of the nature of the match!

If we're not careful we will go in the opposite direction to football - the old days of the big centre back hoofing it to the quick big lad up front in academy football are, hopefully, a thing of the past whereas in cricket we could see a breed of batsmen with long leavers bullying their way through the system to the detriment of the smaller players with better touch and technique.

The thing is, in Britain people (as in the general public) still care about Test cricket, we're not a country where everyone is happy for cricket to be all about T20 slogathons (which I enjoy as well).

Commercially Test matches in England are still big business as well, 5 days at Lord's or the Oval must generate a decent income for the game. In alcohol sales if nothing else!