"Rain Thwarts NZ Chase" :bringingyoutomorrowsheadlines:

[redgunamo]

[Hillary]

Saying that England didn't need to set NZ a world record target as they (NZ) weren't a world record side.

The presenter neglected to ask him his views on the West Indian side who set that record - against the best side in the world at that time, I might add.

Secure the series is number one on the agenda imo.

[Luis Anaconda]

explosion is good enough reason for Cook's decisions on its own, regardless of the cricketing perspective

[Hillary]

[Luis Anaconda]

Cook should have had a word then

[Hillary]

[Free SL]

against NZ, I think it will be him unless he remembers how to use the bit of wood he holds in his hands. He looked all at sea in the second innings.

[Pokster]

hardly a place where the side batting last makes big totals... and the weather forecast had been predciting rain for the last few days for today...... not raining up here at the moment but it is v dark

[Hillary]

[Luis Anaconda]

regardless of his struggles he still has scored two tons in his last five Tests and Bairstow while talented hasn't done a lot apart from the first innings here. Also I would prefer Root to bed in down the order before he inevitably moves up to open - of course everyone loves him now but it would only take a couple of poor scores opening the batting for the knives to come out. Of course it helps that KP completely changes the balance of the side as the top three can play their naturally more conservative game knowing that there is a game-changer at four (and takes pressure off Bell, though I would prefer him at 6 and Root at 5)*







*token we could put Prior there and bring in another bowler response :-)

[Free SL]

they took a conservative, no lose, approach.

[Pokster]

[Hillary]

Had they declared at 350 in front, NZ do have batsmen capable of big scores.

[Pokster]

[Free SL]

KP likes 4, Bell bats at his best at 5 and Bairstow stays at 6.

[Free SL]

but England don't need to win the test, they just needed to make sure they couldn't lose.

300 would have probably been enough.

[Hillary]

We could open with Trott, as I said.

[Luis Anaconda]

no harm in wearing the pitch as much as possible either as 5 wickets for Swan would seem to show

[Hillary]

[Luis Anaconda]

nor should they

[Hillary]

[Free SL]

I don't think it would perturb him too much, seems to take everything in his stride.

[Pokster]

they might possibly win from here depends on the weather, but always going for the not losing rather than going for the win is the wrong option

[Hillary]

it would stand him in better stead if he then had to open.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Pokster]

[Luis Anaconda]

[Free SL]

but at 1 up the series win is always going to take precedence

[redgunamo]

[Luis Anaconda]

[Free SL]

but made sure they couldn't lose first, which when 1 up in a 2 test series will always happen.

[Free SL]

and drop Bairstow as well.