And so the Summer begins
 

With how NZ have been playing the last couple of years I think our batsmen are going to struggle against their pace attack which won't set us up well for the Ashes.

Can't wait though, these 2 tests and then the Ashes. Lots of pace bowling on show and a long Summer to sit back and enjoy the banter of the players and the commentary team.

30-4 I wasn't wrong :lol1:

Just came out of a meeting and opened up the browser to see that :mad:

On the upside at least I'll be watching Jimmy bowl tomorrow

WTF has Curtly done to his hair :lol1:

Although I've only caught fleeting glimpses on the TV and a bit of chat on bbc website.. I STILL fancy us to win!!!

Is it me or do the look a little more "free"???? Don't think stokes would have whacked it around as much if moores had been charge??

Nothing to lose at 30/4 I think thats why they started swinging the bat in anger, not sure if it was the wishes of the coaching staff just yet, we'll see in the 2nd innings I guess.

Tomorrow will be the answer to how this pitch is playing when Jimmy gets the ball. I think playing 3 left handers in a row at the top of the order is a mistake against a pace bowler renowned for taking the wickets of left handed batsmen. I think Root and Stokes played superbly after being put in such a pressured situation.

More great captaincy from Cook, wait until NZ are 150 without loss and only then decide it might be time to give our spinner a chance to find he gets a wicket in his second over :rolleyes:

Am I the only one who thinks Cook is utterly useless?

errr.... :-)

what a catch mohin!

Brendan....good lad...proper cricketer...

What a turn around !

Gobsmacked with the result, much of it owed to 2 fantastic innings and some great bowling by Stokes but also credit to a much improved overall team performance in the second innings in batting and bowling. Lets hope they keep that up for Friday.

The Aussies are going to be relishing having a go at Stokes and I can't wait for that over the Summer.

I never saw that coming on what was hard work watching Friday's play, and the beer has been considerably watered down at Lords, it's just not cricket old chap.

Mmmmmm I'd have prefered Gillespie over Bayliss but both are better than Moores imho

Same here, I don't even really know who Bayliss is :wonder:

It will be interesting! My god we have some talent.Hope we use it!

Listening to the radio last night they were saying Bayliss' name came up on Friday at Lords in the media centre and everyone was who? so they all jumped on Google.

His record in the shorter form is superb

Personally I'd like to see some positive batting from ENG today to try and win the test even if it means losing it !

pure England :lol1:

Expected more from Root after his comments about winning this game.

NZ deserve it after their performances this summer

They are useless, although they have got further than I thought as I expected them to be all out for 200 in the 2nd innings.

Never has a game of cricket been ruined as much as today's with that utter fcuking shambles called Duckworth Lewis.

To go from 9 an over to suddenly 17 an over just shows what a joke that system is. Never liked it and today highlighted why more than ever :mad:

The Strauss effect or just Moores being banished once and for all?, 20-80 for me, we've got rid of the bull5hit and the boys are allowed to express themselves, should be 3-1 up but what a great finale we'll have to one of the best ODI series I've seen on these shores.

Yep agree looking forward to the decider. Morgan/Root makes a very good combination and for once I actually enjoyed watching England bat.

And another game ruined by DL. 192 off 26 overs is a joke, we only needed just over 5 an over now we've been set a target of over 7 an over. What a bunch of fcuking idiots who came up with such a ridiculously flawed system.

At 45-5 I'm thinking we've committed suicide and Bairstow plays an outstanding knock which summed up the series, great stuff!!

Yep it was a good result in the end but do you think the DL method is fair? I'm probably in the minority with my opinion of it but Botham wasn't exactly impressed with our revised target in the 2nd match.

I've never thought it was fair but I guess it works in our favour every now and then.

D/L.. No it's not fair.. But it's it also means it's not fair for everyone.. So hopefully we will be on the right end for once!!

With regards to this New Zealand tour.. We have finally played the way that we should be playing.. We should have been playing like this for as long as everyone else has been.. And I can't help but think it was moores that was holding us back.. As I said before he should never have been given another chance.. It was almost like a token gesture by the ecb.. You also can't see broad or Anderson or bell coming back into the one day side.. Hell why should they!! I also think that it's time for bell to finish in the test side.. Been a great servant and all but feels like he is being carried.. And if broad don't pull his finger out this summer with both bat and ball I'd chop him as well.

I don't think we would win the tests with New Zealand but only thought we would win a single match in the 50 over format and get smashed in the T20.. I just hope they carry on with the confidence and form into the ashes..

Although it also has to be said that New Zealand didn't have the best of series..