Second Test thread: Eng vs NZ, Old Trafford

[mattie]

Anyone got sopcast link? myp2p doesn't have anything.

 

[Dirty Martini]

This was working yesterday ...

http://www.justin.tv/yoursports2

 

[mattie]

This was working yesterday ...

http://www.justin.tv/yoursports2

Cheers DM - unfortunately, it looks like Sky have shut it down.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

97-1 atm. Slow but good start.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Cheers DM - unfortunately, it looks like Sky have shut it down.

 

[JTG]

Cheers DM - unfortunately, it looks like Sky have shut it down.

so when are we storming the ECB and demanding cricket is given back to the British public on proper telly?

 

[Dirty Martini]

Time for Pietersen to show.

 

[JTG]

If pietersen can grab this game then it's won. If not then I'm dubious frankly

 

[TrippyLondoner]

235-2 59 to win...

 

[TrippyLondoner]

oh fuck off straight after i post that we lose a wicket, fucking knew i should've said nothing. strauss out for 106.

 

[Dirty Martini]

I hope this is a wobble and not the start of a seven-wicket collapse

 

[mrkikiet]

i'm confident. probably because i can't see any of the action.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

I hope this is a wobble and not the start of a seven-wicket collapse

me to, or i'll be really kicking myself for making that post...

 

[TrippyLondoner]

248-4.....i think im going to edit that post of mine.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Oh, great.

 

[mrkikiet]

i'm still confident.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Nearly 5th wicket, i bet had i not edited my post the umpire would've given it.

 

[mrkikiet]

cometh the hour cometh the man. Collingwood.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

England win by 6 wickets! Can't lose the 3 match series now.

 

[Nemo]

I only got to see some of yesterday's play and today's; although it doesn't sound like I missed too much. It's like England suddenly remembered they're actually a decent team. Strauss and Monty the stand-out performers though.

E2A, what happened to KP with that run out though? Rush of blood to the head?

 

[SpookyFrank]

E2A, what happened to KP with that run out though? Rush of blood to the head?

At least he made some runs first...

 

[Nemo]

At least he made some runs first...

True enough.

 

[miss_b]

Eeeeeeeyyyyy!

 

[Nemo]

Monty is man of the match.

 

[JTG]

At least he made some runs first...

yeah, makes a nice change

 

[Nemo]

The problem is, if England produce a performance like their first innings one here against the Proteas later in the Summer, they'll be right out of the match.

 

[tangerinedream]

Enjoyed that, good test, could do with a few more pitches like that, giving everyone a chance - it seemed to have a few little cracks, to turn for the spinner but still be consistent enough for runs to be scored by Taylor and Strauss. Well played Peter Marin.

What worries me is Broad is going to keep his place on the basis of being tidy and 'a usefull no 8.' Twice in the series they've taken the new ball off Jimmy after about 4 overs and given it to Broad, Anderson may be costly but it shows a terrible lack of faith in him I think - We are certainly three bowlers and two batsmen short of an Ashes side.

Bowling wise, I'd say only Monty and Sidebottom really deserve to be shoe-ins and we need Freddy to take Broad's place and to find a miraculous version of Collingwood who is actually a decent bowler. Then Jones or Hoggard can have Anderson's place.

As for batting, top 4 I'd say are as good as your going to get - Ramps is not going to come back and I'm fine with that. I'd stick with Ian Bell for now, but he needs some runs, I'd be happy to disregard Colly if we could get a batsman like him with a bit more bowling in him. I dunno if Bopara is the man, may be stuck with Colly.

If Prior continues to score like he is at the moment then he could get Collingwood's spot, meaning Broad can play as well...

How about this for the Ashes?

Strauss
Cook
Vaughn (c)
Pieterson
Bell
Prior** (wk)
Flintoff
Broad
Jones*
Sidebottom
Panesar

*If not fit Hoggy
**If he makes lots more runs in county cricket/winter + continues not to drop catches

I think we need 5 bowlers to beat Aus, also Flintoff has to play as a 5 man attack (as probably/hopefully would Jones) - That teams bats down to 9, Jones is handy enough so wouldn't often get knocked over for tiny scores and on song I think could bowl very well - no easy runs from that lot if they are all fit and firing. Question is, would that side be good enough in the field + is Prior good enough to do the job I've given him?

 

[agricola]

Strauss
Cook
Vaughn (c)
Pieterson
Bell
Prior** (wk)
Flintoff
Broad
Jones*
Sidebottom
Panesar

Ambrose rather than Prior (who had enough chances, plus he looks far too much like that gimp off big brother four to be likeable), and S. Jones at 11, Monty is like Bradman compared to his C. Martin. Other than that, I agree with much of that side (maybe Collingwood rather than Broad).

 

[tangerinedream]

Ambrose rather than Prior (who had enough chances, plus he looks far too much like that gimp off big brother four to be likeable), and S. Jones at 11, Monty is like Bradman compared to his C. Martin. Other than that, I agree with much of that side (maybe Collingwood rather than Broad).

I don't think Collingwood has enough to offer with the ball (Ian Bell can bowl dibby dobby medium pace too) to be honest and if your going to play 5 bowlers he is the least gifted of the batsmen. I don't understand why you think Jones (Avg 15) is a worse bat than Monty (avg 6)

Prior only had 2 series didn't he? If Ambrose gets runs, fine then keep him in. The main weakness of my line up is we need a keeper to score runs, though if Flintoff gets back to his old self with bat and Broad continues to develop then we could get away with it.

Collingwood should be forced to become a keeper, I reckon he'd be good at it!

 

[Nemo]

Colly is a valuable person to have around when he's on form as he's good at the scrapping, grafting innings that are needed if the team is 150/6. Sort of like Thorpe and Hussein used to do. Without him, there'd be too much dash and precious little sinew in the middle order.