England v New Zealand Test Series 2022

Amazing first days cricket. I am not sure that the track had 18 wickets in it day one, with the skill of batsmanship not shown in its best light - from a Kiwi point of view?? maybe a trip to india for some to blame?. I think England have found (through the foresight of Stokesy - decent first day as leader) a real diamond in Potts. Not the tallest of bowlers, but he is strong and sends it down at more than a decent lick.

Too early for Baz to wonder what he has taken on, but still the same frailties hanging around the England dressing room which he will have to get to grips with. Looking forward to the rest of this match and the series even more now.

1st Test - Lords Day 1 close
NZ 132 de Grandhomme 42 Southee 26 Potts 4-13 Anderson 4-66
ENG 116-7 Crawley 43 Lees 25 Boult 2-15 Jamieson 2-20 Southee 2-40
ENG trail by 16 runs

A good debut for Potts I guess to NZ to their credit didn't let England bask in their glory for long

^ A great debut for Potts with the ball, but an embrassing display with the bat. He looks like he's a natural no11.

But he was not alone with his poor performance with a bat.

^Is he in for his batting too though?? I think Stokes saw something in him with the ball, and he proved himself in that dept for sure! I have said this before, but I do not hold with this 'second string' policy for players coming in to the side, certainly in terms of expecting the type of performance with the second skill set, that you should expect from the main skill. I listened with trepidation to M Atherton give his opinion on how Ben Foakes position in the team going forward would depend on how he performed with the bat. Sorry Athers, but no! Foakes, I think, is generally regarded as the best keeper in England?? and it is on his performances behind the sticks that he should be judged. That was the one question that was missing (and should have been asked) from the Interview Stokes had with Wardy. Namely, whether Stokes saw the two skill set requirement in the same way that it has become in recent times. In other words, is Foakes batting ability a pre requisite for his position in the team and is it a benchmark the management will look at (on a par with his keeping) to determe whether he keeps his position.

(02-06-2022 19:36 )Charlemagne Wrote:  ^
But he was not alone with his poor performance with a bat.

Exactly!! Those above him failed (and failed him too given the strong position he put the team in with the ball)

^ Foakes is a top keeper. And he does have at least 1 test century to his name. And he's still there at stumps.

The problem that I see is that Potts at no8 is a couple of positions too high.
But with Parkinson, Broad and Anderson at Jack, Queen & King there's not a lot of other options.
Unless they had decided on playing Livingstone as the spin replacement. Which wouldn't be a bad option with the seamers taking wickets with ease.

^ And that is a bonus for England that Foakes can bat. My argument is that his keeping - his primary job as I see it - should determine his future! I have not done the stats (I wish someone would) but I can't think of too many occasions when a keepers inns made up the shortfall for any drop in his performance(s) with the gloves. I guess that with 9 10 jack in the form of the names you mention, then a solid #7 becomes more important, but my philosophy has always been that batters bat bowlers bowl and keepers keep. If you get supplementary runs from the bowlers then great, but they shouldn't be there to make up for any cock up(s) from the top 6. Their job is to get you to a declaration with quick runs or across the line in a run chase.

Potts has only played 24 1st class matches, less than 2 seasons, he's been used as a nightwatchman for Durham, & done a decent job. This is a big step up for him, guess what, he can expect a lot of short balls in the future. All the talk regarding selection was the choice between the form bowler, or Craig Overton who is a better batsman. I believe they made the right call, the top 7 have to make the bulk of the runs.
In this batting line-up, Foakes could find himself 20 not out on a regular basis, Bairstow has the extra gears to bat with the tail. Brooks has been in the form of his life, & this has been a wasted opportunity. Harsh on Foakes, but Brooks at 5 & Bairstow at 7 looks right to me.

(02-06-2022 18:01 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  1st Test - Lords Day 2 Session 2
NZ 132 & 36-4 (79 overs)Mitchell 97 no Blundell 90 no Potts 2-50
ENG 141 (42.5 overs) Crawley 43 Southee 4-55 Boult 3-21 Jamieson 2-20
NZ lead by 227 runs