Series Discussion. NZ V ENG

[abcdef]

Right well now the series is over what do the cricket guys on this forum that have an interest in this match think. Now the first point to make, obviously is that England took it 2-1 after a hammering in the first game, followed by two convincing (in the end) wins in the final two test matches.
The point was possibly made that England made hard work of beating a mediocre side, which is a typically English thing to say, but Vaughan said that England are an emerging side and that they showed great character and spirit which indeed they did.
The changes after the first test helped and Broad especially has cemented his place in the side for the future, in my opinion. I would not like to see him left out. Handy with the bat, and a tall strong quick bowler. A perfect replacement for the useless Harmison.
Sidebottom had an immense series and he is really developing nicely. Its good to see a player coming into test cricket at an older age, a pure product of English first class cricket. Shows it still works! 24 wickets makes him deservedly man of the series.
Panesar impressed and played a match winning role in the final test as well. Strauss saved his test career in my opinion with a great innings, and Pietersen and Bell also hit needed centuries.
The only question mark is over the captains form with the bat, but with 4 weeks until the first test in England against the same opposition, and the first class season about to start, there is a lot of time for the players to get some time in the middle.
The big test comes in the second half of the summer in England (where i think we will always be confident to win) against South Africa.
England were number 2 in the world in 05, and now number 5. This could be the start of a new team emerging from the Ashes (see what i did there).
Your thoughts...

[huzup]

right - been meaning to reply to this.
Firstly I have to congratulate the English side on their first away series win in 3 years - special mention to Ryan Sidebottom who at the moment is seemingly unplayable with a new ball.
and aah..if ever the pessemist...
BUT...dont let a series win over a team 2 places below you in the ICC world rankings blind you by the many problems that are facing our national side - which if I'm honest came ever more apparent in these 3 games.
We are lacking genuine quality all over the team.
Off the top of my mind ONLY Siders performed consistently well in all 3 games - there were glimpses from Monty, Jimmy, new-boy Ambrose, Bell a couple of times, but other than RS, no one stood out.
We know KP has the ability to deliver on any stage, but he only showed it once in 6 innings, with his first century in 10 matches.
Strauss confused everybody with a stunning, and arguably match winning, and stunning 177 in the second innings which enabled England to post a mammoth total - he looked amaturish at best in all his previous attempts with the bat in this series, but then showed what he may have to offer when he really concentrates on his batting.
Alaistair Cook has the shots, and the mentality, but the better bowlers who are doing their homework on him know, that if they stick to a line 2 inches outside off stump he will be walking back down to the pavillion before the end of the first session.
Jimmy Anderson showed that on a bowler friendly pitch - the ability to swing the ball both ways is lethal - only if the pitch allows you to though - in 3 innings (2 test match and one ODI) at Napier Park - he bowled (approx) 40 overs, took one wicket and went for over 200 runs at 6 an over.
If a ball aint swinging - he will get taken out the park by better basmen. Needs to be selected carefully - not the answer to Harmy.
phew...
anyway - reading the main body of that someone would think Eng had just lost 5-0 - so leaving on a lighter note - at last - a step forward, more work to do...but definitely a step forward in the right direction.

[joshbrfc]

Sidebottom... LEGEND
great series victory for us cant be bothered going through it as iv done on other forums but as we all know great comeback for us and Sidebottom in particular has been amazing

[Mister T]

Batting a big worry with no consitancey to any of the top six!

[huzup]

Mister T Wrote:Batting a big worry with no consitancey to any of the top six!

that probably hits the nail square on the head mate.

[gclark]

I didnt see hardly any of the series as it was on to late for me to watch, i hate havin to get up early for work lol

[joshbrfc]

lol.. gutted it was great..