I disagree, i would rather lose fighting then draw with a whimper. We are not a good enough test side, we all know this, but settling for and celeebrating a draw with New Zealand is too much for me to take.
English cricket 2015 - NZ, The Ashes, Pak and SA
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
We wouldn't be celebrating a draw. We'd be accepting that neither side was good enough to force a result on a pitch that was flat even by Lords standards.
Only way England win this is if New Zealand bat terribly. There just as likely to do that out of boredom, trying to bat out overs having just been playing 20/20, as they are getting themselves in a mess trying to win. Only significant difference an agressive declaration makes for me is to New Zealand's chances of victory.
I want our bowlers under pressure on a difficult pitch, I want to see if they have learnt anything at all. In fact i would go as far as to say I just want to see Cook try something new. We know it will be hard but I would love just once to see us take the initiative and have a pop, you never know, a couple of early wickets and we could be asking serious questions, even on this pitch. But if we don't take the punt, we'l never know.
I just don't see the advantage. Would rather tire them out in the field a bit more (particularly with the next test on Friday) and see if they've then got the concentration to bat for time.
The advantage is to warm up and find our weaknesses and strengths pre ashes. Either way it should be a great day of cricket, sadly, i will have to retire to bed before a ball is played and have to catch the highlights on channel 5.
Do you ever use their on demand service, on the website?
I used to but got fed up with the fact they rarely uploaded the day's show before 3am.
Channel 5s? yeah i used it before but not for Cricket, but what i used it for seemed to lack in quality and the refresh rate of the screen seemed sluggish as feck, so i don't think i'd like to use it to watch sport.
EDIT: I can hook you up with a live stream for the day though if you need one to report to the correct authorities.
Yup.
Sehwag's the only one who I have found entertaining to watch when attacking in test cricket. Maintains his shape and plays good shots.
Reports are emerging that Trevor Bayliss might be the new England coach. Big mistake in my eyes.
As long as Dizzy is not made to be part of that circus, it is all good.
Are you an Aussie or a Yorkshire fan?
Indian but Australia has been my favourite team for long time. Not hardcore supporter, but overall fan of. I am generally indifferent for matches between India-Australia.
Brilliant start from Anderson. This has been a fantastic Test.
Yes, thankfully NZ bowled England out. Now there is chance of result either way. Anderson gets no. 399. What a legend!
We can rule out a NZ win now.
2 down for nothing.
Ffs, nz
Ffs, nz
Yup. Required rate more than 4.5. It has to be rearguard action now.
In hindsight, McCullum probably wishing he opened to put pressure back on England.
Dare I say it but a Flintoff-esque test from Stokes so far, cracking two deliveries to set that all up.
Ok definitely Flintoff-esque.
If he gets the third....
Boooooooooo! 
Honestly reminded me of that Flintoff over up at Edgbaston in the 2005 Ashes.
This could be a very big summer for Ben Stokes. Started great for him.
A very familiar territory for England. Work very hard in a test match, get into winning position on last day but unable to force through a result. Can they turn it today? Watling is a big wicket. He has been in two match changing partnerships in NZ recently, vs India with BMac and lately vs Sri Lanka with Williamson, totally changing complexion of the match, upside down. He could have just hanged around even if Corey went.
24 overs, 4 wickets. England should really not screw up it again!
24 overs, 4 wickets. England should really not screw up it again!
Golden arm Root!
Really a great comeback from England to even be in this position.
Get the feck in Root!
New Zealand have been a bit unlucky in terms of the umpiring decisions, pretty strange how the umpires are so inconsistent with these clipping the leg stump decisions
Ian Smith is absolutely right about DRS
This is amazing.
Bodes well this for the summer, young players stepping up big time.
What did he say?
Also about bloody time England figured out that they're 10 times better as a bowling attack when they pitch it up and attack the stumps.
About umpires call and how it makes no sense that the same case can have a different decision depending on what the original decision was.
Cracking test match.
What a catch from Moeen!
Incredible test match. Can't quite believe England have won that.
Well done, England. Fighting back from 30-4 in first innings and from the troubled situation again in 2nd innings. Great show of character. Almost every player contributed over whole test. Sad for New Zealand. Played very well overall.