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Sven Roeder 10:15 Thu May 21
1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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The 100th Test match between England and NZ.
Englands record P99 W47 D44 L8
cricinfo
Adam Lyth will be England's 666th Test cricketer becoming the sixth opening partner for Cook since Strauss' retirement in 2012. Mark Wood may also be handed a debut in place of Chris Jordan.
England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Adam Lyth, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Ben Stokes, 8 Jos Buttler (wk), 9 Mark Wood, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson
New Zealand 1 Tom Latham, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Brendon McCullum (capt), 6 Corey Anderson, 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Mark Craig, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Westside
3:46 Fri May 29
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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I'd be in favour of three divisions, but only the current 18 teams. So only 10, 4 day games per team. allowing more time for rest, training etc. The counties get bugger all money from championship games, so the loss of revenue would be negligible. Two up and two down for promotion and relegation.
One 50 over competition and T20 as desired.
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stewie griffin
2:42 Fri May 29
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Good work here, M4E, I completely agree.
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Dr Matt
2:39 Fri May 29
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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I was once all for the reduction (City based rather than County based as per the Big Bash etc.) years before T20 was introduced.
That will never happen sadly, so a genuine League system is the only way to do it.
Have a Division 1 which is where the money and the best players are and have a Division 3 which is where all the shit is.
If that doesn't create a competitive environment and teach players that a few bad performances and your relegated into the dross of Division 3 etc. then nothing will.
It will separate the men from the boys and will show who bats and bowls best under pressure.
It will also encourage the shit counties to start producing some players.
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southbankbornnbred
12:47 Fri May 29
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Btw, under that model, the county championship would be decided by the top team from each group playing-off in a "shield final" over five days at the end of the season.
A proper test match-style finale.
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southbankbornnbred
12:45 Fri May 29
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Three divisions of seven?!
Jesus - how bad will the third division be?
Surely any reform must focus on improving the overall quality of four-day country cricket, whilst providing further opportunities for the best sides to play ample one-day games (income etc).
The best way to do that would, in my view, be to sacrifice the most financially unviable counties (likely to be Northamptonshire and Worcestershire), thereby reducing the number of counties to 16 from 18.
Then, split the county championship into a "north" and "south" divisions geographically. The shorter travel distances could glean some extra away fans for games, while the (goegraphically) closer match-ups would generate better local rivalries - again possibly providing a few more faces through the gates.
Eight teams per group, home and away - 14 full-on four day games per season. The extra two weeks of playing time freed-up by the absence of two counties from the list could then be spent focusing - as they do on Australia - more on preparation, training and technique in the build up to each key match.
Surely that would improve quality, rather than focus on the treadmill of quantity.
You could even use some of the extra days to spread the calendar of one-day games - maybe bring some of the T20s towards the start of the season to draw the crowds - and income - in earlier. This would also have the benefit of ensuring that more of the four-day games are played when the weather is warmer/drier - helping the counties to properly develop spinners. At the moment, so many championship games are played early in the season, when the wickets are basically lush "green-tops" and the trundly medium-fast seamers dominate bowling attacks. This has no benefit to the test side, or English cricket generally, whatsoever.
When the spinners do have pitches that help, they tend to be playing a lot more 50-over and T20 cricket, which "flattens" them out as bowlers and they don't develop test match skills etc.
The county game is a mess. But more sides is not the solution.
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Dr Matt
1:37 Fri May 29
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Tail starts at 4 with Taylor's recent form in that line up.
Interesting seeing the recent debate over a new county/counties being added to the current system, alongside Ireland and Scotland.
I'm all for a change, as the counties only exist to provide cricketers for England.
3 divisions of 7 should allow us to see higher quality in the top division, with all the best players there. With the Under 19s, canny old pros and journeymen filling up Division 2 and 3.
Would hopefully introduce a more competitive group of players. Who play against the best players week in and week out.
Can also operate the same system for T20s too which will allow a 4 or 5 week block to play the 12 group games. Allowing your Pollards, your ABdVs and your Gayles the chance to play in all matches.
A single 50 over knock out Cup incorporating the best 4 or 5 Minor Counties and all the MCCUs will suffice on the 50 over front - have 32 sides in all. No need for annoying leagues or group formats.
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Jonah Lomas
11:38 Thu May 28
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Completely agree VH...bowling loads of practice balls in the nets is only slightly ahead of me bowling down my hallway at home.
Looks like Anderson and Watling will probably be out for the next test.
I'd like to see us go with an extra pace bowler in Andersons place, and trust our top order to do the job without him.
So, I'd go with the following side:
Guptill
Latham
Williamson
Taylor
McCullum
Ronchi
Craig
Bracewell
Southee
Henry
Boult
I'd add in Bracewell as he's a better batting option than Wagner, and if he can reproduce anything like his bowling performance to smash Australia the other year, he'll be a good addition.
Long-ish tail there, but hopefully we can get some good runs out of the top order and put the extra bowler to good effect.
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VirginiaHam
2:06 Thu May 28
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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You can bowl as long as you want in the nets, but it's no substitute for 40 overs spread across two innings in a match.
Te 3 test series we had in the Windies put lots of miles in the legs.
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Jonah Lomas
5:34 Thu May 28
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Well, Corey Anderson is in doubt for starters, along with BJ Watling, so we're already likely to be weakened in that respect, although Ronchi wouldn't let anyone down and Bracewell or Wagner should be able to step in for Anderson.
It's a shame that Adam Milne hurt himself prior to the tour, again the frigging IPL's fault although he did initially suffer the heel injury in the CWC 1/4 final.
You'd think that Boult and Southee would be better for the overs in the first test really, although maybe a bit leggy.
Bowling overs in the nets in India isn't really the best prep for bowling overs in a match in England.
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VirginiaHam
4:08 Thu May 28
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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I wonder what the wicket'll be like at Headingley?
Interesting comments.....when Anderson and Broad pitch the ball up, wickets fall. If the ball doesn't seam (bang-in length) it's a different game. Worth considering what happened to NZ in the second innings.
I wonder how NZ's bowlers are feeling (ie legs) as the 2nd test approaches.
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Jonah Lomas
9:46 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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It turns out they're not all that good that that either VH.
What a boring game that was.
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VirginiaHam
2:38 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Jonah Lomas 12:43 Wed May 27
Murdering each other in the 'State of Origin'.
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Sven Roeder
12:47 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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I'm not sure we are even that great at that just now
Good enough but nothing special
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Jonah Lomas
12:43 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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So, is cricket now the only sport you're good at Sven?
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Sven Roeder
12:40 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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I've always found the best way to deal with a defeat is to take it on the chin(s) and do better next time rather than making excuses
* watches replay of Mitchell Starc sending McCullum's middle stump cartwheeling while polishing World Cup*
Headingley on Friday. NZ like conditions and no IPL in sight
* watches Coaching Mastermind Ricky Ponting polish IPL trophy*
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Jonah Lomas
12:24 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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In most cases Grumpy, the boards hands are pretty much tied, because it's not possible to pay these guys anywhere close to a competitive salary to keep them away from the IPL.
If we had enough good players, I'd be quite happy for us to do what the All Blacks do and only select players playing in NZ.
Anyone who doesn't think the IPL had an impact on the test match just gone, is a fool.
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Grumpster
9:41 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Not sure it's anyone's fault with the IPL etc but the actual boards for each country.
Maybe the kiwis aren't that patriotic, as none of our players have ever played in it given the choice between representing England or making a few quid.
Priorities are different for some and ultimately they are just trying to make a living. No doubt impacts more on the smaller nations such as yourselves with less back up for the players away.
For me none of the T20 comps have ruined test cricket at all, though then again we're one of the only nations who have always held it in high regard anyway as always shown by attendances compaired to other countries. Oz only turn up when we're in town as do the Windies, though that's because more of the crowds are English.
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Mr. Burns
9:22 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Ha ha!
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Steve P
9:00 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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Can you hear a high pitched whining noise?
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One McAvennieeeeee
8:54 Wed May 27
Re: 1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's
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This victory gets better and better by the day.
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