New Zealand v England test series

[Clucking Bell]

Rain is our best player so far ....

[smuts]

Have to bat all day to save it tomorrow. Oh well.

Broad and Anderson apart the bowling was again pretty powder puff by all accounts.

[westham,eggyandchips]

Chef is done im afraid.

[wolf359]

Stokes goes last over before 'dinner'. He batted so well, why couldn't he just duck for six balls. In isolation a stupid decision, however well done for showing some spine.

[jacko]

Terrible performance. We have a very poor team at the moment. Our two best bowlers aren't getting any younger. We have no variety in the attack. Only Root, Bairstow and Stokes are established batsman in the team.

We can't find one opener and I don't think Cook has got it anymore, so god knows where we are going to find the second one from!

[LincolnshireHammer]

Terrible performance. We have a very poor team at the moment. Our two best bowlers aren't getting any younger. We have no variety in the attack. Only Root, Bairstow and Stokes are established batsman in the team.

We can't find one opener and I don't think Cook has got it anymore, so god knows where we are going to find the second one from!

Funny how things can change isn't it. Only a couple of years ago we were dubbed as having a great, upcoming team.

So many gaps now though and too many consistent under performers.

[chigwells finest]

we've been too content to fill the team with bitsa players , and then rely on cook/root to get us out of trouble at the top, Cook apart from 1/2 innings has been in the worst test form in his 12 years , and really deserves to be dropped , however theres nobody to replace him ,1 as his partner or himself.

Bairstow should be in the team solely as a batter , with either foakes or butler given the gloves .

18 1st class counties and we cant find a competant spinner , its no wonder rashid said ' sod this ' and just plays white ball cricket .

[kenthammer]

Cook out 6-1

[Big George]

Root looking so good, just been castled.

[Polaroid]

Root followed swiftly by Malan and Stoneman
A mixed innings from Stokes but a steadfast Bairstow and a brilliant 52 off 62 balls from Wood, sees England looking far more competitive.
A once 94/5 and a 164/7 currently stands at 275/8 with "The Ginge Of The North" at 86.
Nice comeback.

[westham,eggyandchips]

Cook out 6-1

Can't think of a time when he has looked more out of nick than he does right now.

[smuts]

Great start from England 17 for 3.

[smuts]

Now 17 for 4!

[Clucking Bell]

They don't seem to come along that often but, once in a while, Broad decides to win the game on his own ....

[westham,eggyandchips]

That pitch looks a belter!

[smuts]

Good day for England. It's worrying though how much we rely on Broad and Anderson for wickets.

34 for Jimmy to beat Pigeons seamer record.

[Bend it like Repka]

ALERT ALERT. This is not an April fool.

England

1) Ended up with a first innings lead
2) Had two of our top 3 score a 50
3) Might set a target of 400
4) Have a chance of winning a test match

Fair play to Broad, went away and worked on his bowling action since Oz. No resting on his laurels. 6 wicket haul.

[sendô]

Yep, we've got a day to skittle them out and rescue the series. Weather dependant that should be doable.

On a down note, Chef looks shocking still. His days are seriously numbered. Carrying his bat in Melbourne aside, when was the last time he looked halfway decent?

[wolf359]

On a down note, Chef looks shocking still. His days are seriously numbered. Carrying his bat in Melbourne aside, when was the last time he looked halfway decent?

It is sad to see, he clearly has a technical issue, I think he would step aside but who is there to come in? He is young enough to reset and return to his best (see Broad) , he has always been a bit 'boom and bust' though it feels rather 'bust' in recent years.

[aaronhammer]

Broad with 2 wickets off the first 2 balls of the day - including Williamson!

Game on!