England vs New Zealand 2015

The 5th highest extras total in a test innings :

(from espn cricinfo)

Well done to Ben Stokes in getting the fastest recorded test hundred at Lords today against New Zealand. (85 balls)

And he was born in New Zealand

Bearing in mind England were 30/4 in their first innings and trailed by 134 after the first innings they have recovered extremely well.
I am not the biggest Cook fan in the world but fair play to him today. He produced an innings of concentration, focus and discipline that has given his team a chance of at worst saving the match and possibly even a win.

(23-05-2015 17:33 )circles_o_o_o Wrote:  The 5th highest extras total in a test innings :

26 byes, what was going on? I didn't see any of that day's play.

Oh please england just once lets have an aggressive declaration... bat for one hour, moeen plays some shots and with a lead of 375 declare and have a proper go at NZ. No more late declarations and having teams 7,8,9 down and drawing.

(24-05-2015 23:54 )Whynot Wrote:  Oh please england just once lets have an aggressive declaration...

If New Zealand take England's last 4 wickets quickly in the morning they could easily knock off the 300 odd they would need to win the match.

(25-05-2015 00:04 )cosmonaut Wrote:  

(24-05-2015 23:54 )Whynot Wrote:  Oh please england just once lets have an aggressive declaration...

If New Zealand take England's last 4 wickets quickly in the morning they could easily knock off the 300 odd they would need to win the match.

Why be afraid of losing? The only way to win is to bowl them out again. If they bowl us out early it might be for the best, hopefully the new bowl will swing and we can put them on the back foot with a couple of early wickets.

Due to the fast paced innings of Stokes it has given us an opportunity to try and win, we might as well try to take it. If the shoe was on the other foot NZ would declare or get out throwing the bat around and back themselves to get 10 wickets, so should we.

There batting line is not phenomenal, both openers r trying to secure their test places. Granted 3-5 r strong but past them you have Anderson who is untested at test level an injured Watling and the bowlers.

(25-05-2015 00:32 )Whynot Wrote:  If they bowl us out early it might be for the best

I agree with that. It sounds ironic, but England being bowled out quickly in the morning would mean more chance of an England win.

(24-05-2015 23:54 )Whynot Wrote:  Oh please england just once lets have an aggressive declaration...

No, forget any aggressive declaration. If Cook sets a tempting target and ends up losing he will be (rightly) pilloried, because then it's impossible for the series to be won. His primary job today is to make sure that England don't lose.

Cook finally out for 162. New Zealand are trying to bounch Broad out.