NZ v ENG - Test 1

[Maximus 674]

Being a cricket tragic since the age of 7 (and worse/better than even Dr Jarrod Gilbert), Max is following this home series ball by ball wherever and however possible, but not 'on course', so to speak.

Day 1 review (short version, mercifully for you, Dear Reader(s)

Honours shared NZ 319/8 from 83 overs at almost 4/over on a gloriously sunny day at Hagley Oval.

Blackcaps did well to post 319-8 after being inserted on a green top that held no real terrors, and the Poms looked and behaved as if short of a gallop for most of the day.
They were aided by some poor 'placement' from several Blackcaps batsmen, who were prospering bountifully until giving their wickets away - Ravindra, in particular, will be kicking himself for not despatching a full toss along the ground to the on-side fence anywhere - instead, he whipped it aerially straight into the midriff of midwicket. Duh! He and especially Williamson starred with a good partnership that blunted the Poms confidence and energy. Kane's innings (chanceless?) was a patient, dedicated knock and he looked odds-on for a ton on return to Test cricket after injury. But he also gave it away, on 93, cutting in the air to point. At 227-5 in the 61st over, alarm bells were ringing in Max's head. How could we be giving it away so meekly when the wicket was hardly a demon and the bowling was mostly just... CRAP??
 

Earlier, Conway had been the early victim of a great c&b from Atkinson (Conway's bottom hand had come right off the bat playing the shot, but it still took some catching!), while Latham looked to be largely untroubled by the English attack, (47 from the skip at nearly run-a ball), but succumbed to a rare 'peach' of a cutter from Carse to nick off when his half-century looked assured.
Mitchell, Blundell and debutant Nathan Smith were equally guilty of poor execution of fair-middling deliveries, so it was left to Phillips (40no), Henry and latterly Southee to push well past 300 by stumps. At least BCs didn't sacrifice those last two wickets in the setting sun (as Max half-expected we would after Henry failed to clear the mid-on fence, 298-8).
So, a day of the unexpected:

• a green-top that didn't do anywhere near what was expected.
• a huge number of Extras (35) - including a ridiculous number of No-Balls (11)
• very slow over rate - only 83 overs of 90 bowled. almost 85 if you include the no-balls, but poor effort by Stokes et all, esp with a spinner bowling 20 of the 83.
• unexpected use of - and success of - English spinner Shoaib Bashir. He took 4 of the 8 wickets to fall (4-69). Most pundits would've thought he'd be lucky to be given the ball on Day 1, given the nature of the wicket.

Hoping the BCs can charge on in the first session of Day 2 with judicious shot selection and better placement - the new ball is only a few overs old. 
Twill be interesting to see how effective Bazball batting tactics will be through most (?) of the day tomorrow. Phillips (40no) and/or Southee (10no) might flourish for a while prior - and in the back of the mind of one T D Southee will be the lure of a few more 6s required to get to 100 of em in Tests. Will it be 'stand and deliver' or 'duck and flail' or both early tomorrow?  Are the spectators at cow corner an endangered species around 11am? Will Phillips try take the long handle to 'em as well - before or after he gets his 50?

Can't wait to find out!

 

[mikenz 1,244]

Just watching and started wondering what the percentage of spectators are over 55,.

Interestingly they say it's almost sold out, if not already but heaps of room and heaps of seats with Noone in them.

Also wondering what viewing numbers at home as opposed to spaks days.

[Maximus 674]

Day 2 Review (considerably shorter because The Reviewer, is still too hot under the typewriter laptop for a comprehensive write-up.

• woeful display in the field. The blinder taken by Phillips to dismiss Pope was top shelf but Brook got 4 lives too many and made us pay.
• Impressive start by Nathan Smith with the ball - put us on the front foot before lunch but from 71-4 in the 22nd over to 319+-5 is giving a sucker an even break.
• Latham must be really really injured - keeps hiding his hands in his pockets - his dominant hand is taped up bigtime. Must've affected his catching co he's pretty reliable in the slip cordon and dropped two chances.
• so we're almost back to 'even stevens' - with England's snouts in front with Brook and Stokes set to plunder anything (loose) tomorrow.
• strangely enough, England have exactly the same # of runs on the board at stumps on Day 2 as the BCs at stumps on Day 1 (but scored 9 overs less and for three wickets less. That's why they're in front! )
• Who'd have thunk it?

[mikenz 1,244]

Me reckons England will win.posted 11 35 Saturday.

[mikenz 1,244]

Southee once again  digging in, the hole deeper trying to get that 100th test 6 , surely if change for test 2 he can't be there, Santner apparently is in the squad for test 2, he's no better either, funny, some strange results in Test lately, NZ over India, Sri Lanka over NZ now South Africa over Sri Lanka, India over Australia, so hard to predict.