England's redemption Down Under? Aus ODIs & NZ Tour 2018

[Ray de Galles]

They are apparantly worried about issues with dew if they start earlier.

[San Bernardhinault]

So, basically, they're playing the Dunedin test too late in the year, and an idiot arranged it with Dunedin happening after Auckland?

[San Bernardhinault]

That's a decent start to the morning for England...

[tee rex]

It's Christchurch, but yes, the point still stands. Essentially we're playing a Test in autumn. Shifting everything one week earlier would have helped (though early Easter was an understandable reason to cash in on holiday crowds, such as they are here).

Since NZ's last Test before Christmas, the "summer of cricket" in New Zealand has been: 24 games of T20 or ODIs. This test series has been almost apologetically tacked on. It's a real shame.

So anyway, it's England versus light now. Still a chance of a farcical finish, of the kind only cricket can deliver.

[tee rex]

Impressive stat of the day, from BBC's Andrew Samson:

James Anderson has now bowled more overs in Test cricket than any other seamer, overtaking Courtney Walsh - there are only three spinners (Muralitharan, Warne and Kumble) ahead of him.

[tee rex]

[Satchmo Distel]

Three reasons England lost the series

1. The 58 all out, clearly the overwhelming reason

2. Batting too slowly on Day 4 first session

3. Only taking 8 wickets in 124.4 overs in the 4th innings against a side not noted for 5th day shut-outs.

I thought light might be a legitimate mitigating factor but that did not turn out to be the case. Although the part timers bowled 20.4 overs, the four specialists bowled 104. I think most other top six Test sides would have been able to get the 10 wickets in that time.