England v New Zealand Test Series 2022

Squad to be named tomorrow, & it's anyone's guess who will make it, with new management/coach, a growing list of injured bowlers, & others playing IPL.

Perhaps a long awaited call-up for Jamie Overton. A long-shot could be Matthew Potts, with 35 wickets already, 4 five-fors, & match figures of 11-101 in the last game. Not an out & out speedster but sharp enough, new skipper Stokes should know best as a Durham teammate.

(17-05-2022 21:18 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Squad to be named tomorrow, & it's anyone's guess who will make it, with new management/coach, a growing list of injured bowlers, & others playing IPL.

Perhaps a long awaited call-up for Jamie Overton. A long-shot could be Matthew Potts, with 35 wickets already, 4 five-fors, & match figures of 11-101 in the last game. Not an out & out speedster but sharp enough, new skipper Stokes should know best as a Durham teammate.

I am very much looking forward to this series against the World Champions (I trust they will be promoted and introduced as such) Aside from seeing who fills the positions for England (I can see an argument for both Overton Twins - at least throughout the series if not immediately) in this 'dial reset', seeing how the late arrivals of the IPL group of players from NZ - particularly K Wiliamson manage to perform without any red ball run up to the series! I know they have a while to bed in, but not long!

England 13
Stokes ©
Crawley
Lees
Root
Brook
Pope
Bairstow
Foakes
C Overton
Broad
Anderson
Leach
Potts

As already stated by Stokes, Root is return to the No.4 spot, which brought him much success last year. Key has now indicated that Pope will occupy the No.3 spot. You would assume Bairstow will slot at 5 after centuries in the Ashes & Caribbean. Not idea straight from IPL into a Test but that is how the cricket calendar is. Stokes & Foakes make up the top 7, with the openers Lees & Crawley, given more time to forge a partnership. Leach must surely play, as will Anderson & Broad. It will be a choice between Potts & Craig Overton.
The brave new world, has a familiar look about it, with the possibly of both debutants not making the final XI. If this is the case, hopefully, both players will be released back to the County game if they are continued to be overlooked, as both need to carry on the form they are in.
With 7 potential bowlers out, it left little options. Having watched Parkinson last week, his figures flattered him, bowling far too many pies, just lacked the control that is required in a Test Match. Mason Crane is a far better Leggie, but doesn't get a regular place at Hampshire.
My concern, is still the top 3, Lees doesn't play enough shots, Crawley plays too many, & it was always said, even by Key at the time, that he shouldn't be moved from the No.3 spot after his Double-hundred success, but that seems like years ago. Same issue with Pope, who had early success in Tests, before a change in technique, & loss of form followed. Another, batting out of position, he's never done the No.3 job at Surrey, so lots of question marks.

(18-05-2022 17:00 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  As already stated by Stokes, Root is return to the No.4 spot, which brought him much success last year. Key has now indicated that Pope will occupy the No.3 spot. You would assume Bairstow will slot at 5 after centuries in the Ashes & Caribbean. Not idea straight from IPL into a Test but that is how the cricket calendar is. Stokes & Foakes make up the top 7, with the openers Lees & Crawley, given more time to forge a partnership. Leach must surely play, as will Anderson & Broad. It will be a choice between Potts & Craig Overton.
The brave new world, has a familiar look about it, with the possibly of both debutants not making the final XI. If this is the case, hopefully, both players will be released back to the County game if they are continued to be overlooked, as both need to carry on the form they are in.
With 7 potential bowlers out, it left little options. Having watched Parkinson last week, his figures flattered him, bowling far too many pies, just lacked the control that is required in a Test Match. Mason Crane is a far better Leggie, but doesn't get a regular place at Hampshire.
My concern, is still the top 3, Lees doesn't play enough shots, Crawley plays too many, & it was always said, even by Key at the time, that he shouldn't be moved from the No.3 spot after his Double-hundred success, but that seems like years ago. Same issue with Pope, who had early success in Tests, before a change in technique, & loss of form followed. Another, batting out of position, he's never done the No.3 job at Surrey, so lots of question marks.

Unfortunately yes! The powers that be were asleep at the wheel when they allowed this artificially created tournament with no history to establish itself with a level of importance it scarcely deserves(d) - it should never have been able to take on this mantle. The domestic professional structures have suffered as a result, with long established history laden clubs seemingly powerless to hold their supposed employees to their contractual obligations, even having to accept the players release for the IPL should they be 'bought' (apt word in more ways than one) in the auction, as a clause in any contract, otherwise they don't secure the desired signature at all.

SAD MAD WORLD indeed!! Your stating that that is how the calender is, reflects a resignation to the inevitable which is in itself a hugely depressing reality!!

After looking the part as a Test match bowler, Ollie Robinson, has had yet another setback. Named in the First Class Counties XI who face New Zealand today, he has withdrawn, with an on-going back issue.
The match represents an opportunity for in-form opener Ben Compton to impress, & Sibley, who has been working hard at his game, in order to re-start a Test career.

(26-05-2022 12:58 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  After looking the part as a Test match bowler, Ollie Robinson, has had yet another setback. Named in the First Class Counties XI who face New Zealand today, he has withdrawn, with an on-going back issue.

He's also announced that he's come down with covid

Should be an interesting series and summer with Stokes as captain it will interesting to see how he handles the bowling aspect. I have a lot of respect for what Brendan McCallum has done in the game, and only time will tell if this is a good fit for England. I wasn't surprised when Root stepped down from captaincy, I think our Test form suffered a great deal, and it especially hasn't been helped by injuries as well to key players. When you look at how how New Zealand have performed the last few years in all forms of the game, their blueprint was started by McCallum and I think many are hoping he can do the same for us. To be honest, we have been stuck in a rut for far too long Test form wise - and now we languish at the bottom of the Test Cricket championship, but are second in the overall test rankings. in the championship table, we have only won 1 test and lost seven and drawn 4. That hopefully can change if McCallum is given enough time to instigate a different blueprint that suits us.

(26-05-2022 12:58 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  After looking the part as a Test match bowler, Ollie Robinson, has had yet another setback. Named in the First Class Counties XI who face New Zealand today, he has withdrawn, with an on-going back issue.
The match represents an opportunity for in-form opener Ben Compton to impress, & Sibley, who has been working hard at his game, in order to re-start a Test career.

The Kiwi's lost this match by 7 wickets. After winning the toss, the tourists were found themselves in trouble at 219-8, before they declared on 362-9. With a 1st innings lead of 115, the top order failed, as they slid to 70-8, before 8,9, & 10, all made 30's to set the counties X! 264. Jamie Porter took 5-31, a bowler who was picked in a number of squads for England a few years back.
Compton made his 5th century of the summer, & in doing so, passed 1000 runs in red-ball cricket before June. Unfortunately this match didn't have First Class status, with New Zealand opting to give match practice to all their squad.

England have confirmed that Matthew Potts will make his debut in tomorrows 1st Test against the Kiwi's, after already signaling that Harry Brooks will be the spare batsman.