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**Eggchaser** · 15-05-2008, 12:19

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

In case someone broke this morning.

**Eggchaser** · 15-05-2008, 12:35

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

And I see NZ are already 2-1 off 2 overs.

**Big Daves Gussett** · 15-05-2008, 13:00

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

When did England get an adidas strip and why did no-one inform me? It makes them look a bit like tennis players. The one-day shirt looks lush though.

**Tubby Isaacs** · 15-05-2008, 15:11

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Classic seamers' paradise pitch. Some odd tactics by NZ- Taylor seemed to think it was the IPL, McCullum promoted to number 5.

NZ were �20 or so in 2004, with a better team.

**Eggchaser** · 15-05-2008, 15:57

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

BBC have come up with the crappest nickname in the history of crap nicknames for Broad, "Lee Speaking". Fuck me, it's like some hilarious Chinky music hall sketch. Cringeworthy

Anyway, everyone knows he's Draco Malfoy.

**Tubby Isaacs** · 16-05-2008, 11:18

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

NZ battling well, but Oram gone. Ian Smith has a rather high opinion of Kyle Mills' batting. It's Tim Southsee I'm worried about after what he did on debut.

**ursus arctos** · 16-05-2008, 11:22

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

"Chinky"? Don't try that in San Francisco (or pretty much anywhere else in the US), Egg.

It sounds as if someone at the Beeb has been "Chris Bermanised".

Berman's act got stale about eight years ago (though he hasn't stopped).

Tubby, are you ready to rethink your view on McCullum?

**Tubby Isaacs** · 16-05-2008, 11:45

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

His keeping isn't that good, so I expect a few byes in this game. But it gives him a bit of breathing space to bat with freedom. He's not as solid as Oram but they (and Vettori) work very well together and deserve to come in after a better top order.

He measured his aggression brilliantly yesterday, which Taylor failed to do.

**Duncan Gardner** · 16-05-2008, 11:53

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

His keeping isn't that good, so I expect a few byes in this game

He'll do well to top Ambrosia's 16 so far. To be fair, I saw 12 of these (three long stop boundaries), and at least eight of the runs should have been wides.

**ursus arctos** · 16-05-2008, 11:59

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

His keeping is poor, and the IPL experience isn't going to help that. I wouldn't be that surprised if gives up the gloves in a couple of years.

His IPL batting, however, seems to be capable of transferring succesfully to test cricket, which is a good sign for NZ.

**Etienne** · 16-05-2008, 12:06

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

It's Tim Southsee I'm worried about after what he did on debut

Yes, England might just have to wait for his bubble to burst.

**Duncan Gardner** · 16-05-2008, 12:10

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Ursus- don't forget NZ play fewer tests than the other countries. They can carry a non-specialist keeper in the 50 and 20 short games.

The weakness of their top batsmen makes it more difficult to squeeze in a rookie keeper at #7 or #8.

**Tubby Isaacs** · 16-05-2008, 12:22

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Etienne, LOL. I'm developing Keith Fletcher's approach to names.

Having woken up late today, it seems my praise of Oram's solidity was rubbish. Apparently he's now known to play short fast stuff as badly Glenn Turner, and England duly hit him 3 times.

**E10 Rifle** · 19-05-2008, 22:36

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Is this the most inactive Test thread ever on OTF? No one's been bothered have they? Mind you, having sat in front of it for much of today I can see why. Some moderately rubbish fielding from England, some good stuff from McCullum, Vaughan, Cook, Oram and Vettori but that was it.

**ursus arctos** · 20-05-2008, 06:22

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

I was waiting to see who Tubby was going to slag off next, as it is appears to be a good indicator of which New Zealand batsman is going to excel in his next innings.

**tee rex** · 20-05-2008, 06:41

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Rain robs Kiwis.

Never mind that I turned in and tuned out once McCullum was injured, and fully expected to wake up to an England win this (NZ) morning.

300 chase, 4th innings, only one winner. Robbed, I tell you.

**The Purple Cow** · 20-05-2008, 08:30

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

I think you are wrong about McCullum's keeping, I think he's pretty good. Certainly the best wicket-keeper/batsman in the post-Gilchrist world.

**Duncan Gardner** · 20-05-2008, 09:02

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

The pundits yesterday were discussing this at length. McCullum is very athletic, which means he can overcome a tendency to favour his right side. Whereas Prior crouches awkwardly and too low, so shells them both on and off.

I was impressed by the debutant guy, Flynn. He blocked out for a three hour 30, while Oram smacked around the ground at the other end.

England looked pretty ordinary yesterday, to be honest.

PS Eoin Morgan shouldn't be twelfthing for England- he ought to be psyching up for this weekend's grudge double header at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.

Bob Willis, King of Spain, Dennis Amiss, Purple Cow can you hear me. Yer boys took a blarney of a beating...

**Eggchaser** · 20-05-2008, 09:39

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

"Chinky"? Don't try that in San Francisco (or pretty much anywhere else in the US), Egg.

I wouldn't try it anywhere but in the context of a "that was the racist way they spoke then, and it was fucking crap" comment. Jesus wept. I fucking resent the implication I'm racist.

Anyway, what a load of rubbish that Test was. With the weather situation, England were the only team who could win it, but instead of trying to force the issue and smack up a total to try and bowl out New Zealand over four sessions they fiddled about and played conventionally, got tied up and Vaughan and a few lower order bravos aside, got out cheaply. And even if we had died by the sword in the first innings, there was no way New Zealand could have racked up a big enough lead to bowl us out again in the time available. Lions and lambs, hanging thereof, springs to mind.

**ursus arctos** · 20-05-2008, 10:02

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Tongue very much in cheek, Egg.

Apologies for the unintended offence.

**Eggchaser** · 20-05-2008, 14:47

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

And here I was about to follow it up with my hilarious revue, What Ho, Darkie.

**Tubby Isaacs** · 21-05-2008, 10:24

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Ursus, Ross Taylor may have let the IPL go to his head. Don't rate him.

Watch this space.

Simon Jones seems to be bowling well at the moment.

**Duncan Gardner** · 21-05-2008, 12:29

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

I saw Jones take five in a 50 game at Worcester last week. He looked lively (grunting loudly like Monica Seles at every delivery), but it was Hants reserves and three of them were tailenders.

Then he grabbed five more agin yer Glaster boys in the championship- but this time they scored well over 400.

If he stays fit all summer and plays somewhere in the winter, who knows for an Ashes recall? More likely than SKW, anyway.

**tee rex** · 22-05-2008, 08:29

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

I'm calling on OTF (or whatever you call yourselves nowadays) to boycott this thread in PROTEST. I thought we all had a week off while the New Zealanders knocked off a county 2nd XI, but I've just realised there is a Test match starting on Friday, which is wrong, wrong, wrong. Tradition! [/Topol]

I hope it pisses down.

**Eggchaser** · 22-05-2008, 08:34

England vs New Zealand Test Thread

Well, after a few days of nice weather, it's clouding up again nicely. Are your lot bringing the bloody rain with you?

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