3rd Test

[Flashman]

Good fightback, KP and even Ambrose (though NZ are helping a lot bowling short and wide) showing how it's done. 270 - 300 wouldn't be too bad considering.

 

[Teaboy]

Good fightback, KP and even Ambrose (though NZ are helping a lot bowling short and wide) showing how it's done. 270 - 300 wouldn't be too bad considering.

Yup, I'd be delighted with 270 - 300 all things considered.

That being said the ball is not swinging as much and it is 60 overs old, so England have got a good 20 overs to press on now before the new ball.

 

[Teaboy]

Nice and steady that's the way to do it. If we can get to the end of the day with maybe only losing one more wicket, finishing on say 270, than I will be very happy. Then tomorrow we could push on for 300 +. Long way to go yet though.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Im too scared to comment properly until the end incase it all fucks up straight after my post,lol.

 

[E.J.]

KP just gone for 115 (one of his best innings for the team). He'll be gutted with the way that he got himself out. But his partnership with Tim Ambrose of 161 was vital after the stuttering start by the top order batters.

Score 255-6

 

[Teaboy]

273 - 7. You have to say it's been New Zealand's day really. As for tomorrow if England are out for less than 300 NZ are ahead, anything between 300 - 350 about par and if England do scrape more that 350 than we are ahead.

Fair assesment?

 

[Flashman]

Yeah. 7 down flatters NZ tbh, it wasn't a minefield by any means and if we had a middle-order Vettori might have been a little embarrassed at inserting. 350 looks par I agree. We should be able to squeeze 320 for the last wickets which will give us summat to bowl at, and I reckon Frank will be a handful under the clouds tomorrow. Never sure which Jimmeh will turn up, lately it's been the shite one but he's due a spell. Hoggard really, really should be playing.

I'd take a 50 run deficit as it stands, bat well second dig then unleash Monty for the win .

 

[Teaboy]

I'd take a 50 run deficit as it stands, bat well second dig then unleash Monty for the win .

Do you reckon Monty will get much out of this pitch? Vettori didnt look like getting close to a wicket all day.

 

[tangerinedream]

And if they are at home they probably haven't got Sky anyway

 

[Flashman]

A bit of blind optimism there, however you never know how the pitch will fair over a Test.

It was quite slow today and didn't offer much, but by day five (if it goes that far) it might quicken and offer turn. We'll see. Dan bowled too short all day which didn't help him personally, quite a few runs scored off the back foot particularly from Ambrose. Can't see Monty bowling as poorly.

 

[Bambouk]

Betfair reckons England are still the likely winner... by quite a healthy margin

 

[Flashman]

But really, forgetting Monty, I expect Sidebottom to be the main man tomorrow and if it swings I wouldn't be at all surprised to have a first innings lead with him taking 6 or 7 fer.

 

[SpookyFrank]

But really, forgetting Monty, I expect Sidebottom to be the main man tomorrow and if it swings I wouldn't be at all surprised to have a first innings lead with him taking 6 or 7 fer.

Sidey and Broad are both at their home ground remember, I reckon we can expect good things from both of them

 

[Santino]

Does anyone know why Anderson went in at no.9 and not Sidey?

 

[Teaboy]

Does anyone know why Anderson went in at no.9 and not Sidey?

It was odd, but according to Sky this morning it was becuase Sidebottom had a back spasim.

Anderson has been looking pretty positive actually, maybe it will be his day with the ball.......

 

[Teaboy]

50 partnership bewteen Broad and Anderson and lot of playing and missing though and a bad drop by McCullum at slip. I think England should be pretty happy, the pitch looks very slow but it's moving around a fair bit.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Blimey, showpony's got his best Test score.

 

[mattie]

Anderson's just got his best test score.

 

[Flashman]

Best Test score.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Score.

 

[mattie]

And now Broad's just got his.

 

[Dirty Martini]

That was a good knock from Anderson.

 

[mattie]

Are all our tailenders lefties?

 

[Teaboy]

Are all our tailenders lefties?

Yup.

Pretty turgid stuff at the moment.

 

[Flashman]

This is all very well but I'd rather be bowling. Tail wagging is jolly good but tail-hanging-around-all-bloody-morning isn't.

 

[Teaboy]

This is all very well but I'd rather be bowling. Tail wagging is jolly good but tail-hanging-around-all-bloody-morning isn't.

Plenty of time in the game yet. It's got pretty slow since Anderson was out but once Broad gets past 50 things will pick up again.

 

[mrkikiet]

he'll get out in the first over after lunch...

 

[Santino]

Great work from Broad. He seems to have all the makings of a great all-rounder - not in the Botham/Flintoff mode, but maybe better for it.

This must really be demoralising for NZ. They can't have thought that they'd still be batting after lunch.

 

[mattie]

Broad just gone, but Good Work Young Man

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Good innings by broad. 361-9, happy with that considering what could've been.