Conference xtine::cricket_v2

    
    Update (of sorts):
    
    At the close of the fourth day, New Zealand were something like 56 for
    3, still trailing by 70 odd runs.
    
    The Kiwis made 390 in their first innings, with 129 from Fleming and 67
    from Cairns. England made 500 and something, with centuries from
    Stewart and Thorpe, 83 from Atherton and a half-century from Cork.
    Stewart's 173 was the highest ever by an England wicket-keeper.
    
    Difficult final day ahead for the Kiwis.
    
    j.
    
    
    

Hmmm, I expect it'll be a draw or England will somehow contrive to lose this,
but hope springs, and let's see if it's not too early to talk about Englands 
first test series win on tour since, err.. well, far too long anyway.

�    Stewart's 173 was the highest ever by an England wicket-keeper.
    
And his nine catches and one stumping in a single test match was the highest 
ever by an English batsman. 

    
    The first test ended in a draw, as New Zealand batted out the final
    day. That bald statement, however, disguises what actually happened:
    
    At lunch, the Kiwis were 146 for 8, just twenty or so runs ahead. After
    lunch, first Astle and Doull and then the former with Morrison, defied
    the English "attack" and saw out the day's play. Astle made a century 
    and added 106 for the last wicket with Morrison, who, incidentally, has
    been dismissed for nought more times than anyone else in test history;
    he made 14.
    
    There are two ways of looking at this - heroic performance from the
    Kiwis, one of the greatest escapes in Test history. Or, another inept
    display of bowling from England, who have become so used to not winning
    that even when handed victory on a plate can still contrive to drop it.
    Both, in fact, are true - a half-decent performance from England will
    no doubt be used yet again to disguise the fact that they failed to win
    a match which was their's for the taking.
    
    j.
    

    I've heard some strange excuses recently from England, but the latest
    takes the biscuit. This AM I swear I heard Atherton claiming on the
    radio that Morrison is a much better batsman than he pretends to be. He
    deliberately went record-hunting in some of his test matches and
    deliberately got out for ducks!!!!
    
    Cheers,
    Brian

England bowling let us down in the first innings and should have wrapped up 
the tail after lunch, despite the heroic NZ stand. 

I'd like to see Silverwood have a try next match, and why do they still 
persist with Craig White in the senior side ??

    
    re. White
    
    England's confusing selection policy reflects the lack of quality
    players available. The batting line-up has remained fairly constant for
    a while, particularly Atherton, Stewart and Thorpe, whilst the bowling
    attack is continually changing. This is mainly because there are no
    bowlers of real quality who "pick themselves".
    
    Apparently, in today's press, Illingworth and Willis have blamed
    Atherton for the failure to win the first test. Personally, I blame the
    planet Venus..
    
    Ted Dexter
    

    Jeff,                                 
    
    Don't you think the non-selection of Croft was a bit odd? Considering
    he was probably England's best bowler in Zimbabwe he then gets cast
    away for the first New Zealand Test. The original plan was to play
    Stewart as a keeper, to enable England to field 5 front line bowlers.
    We now have 4 seamers and one slow bowler - hardly balanced is it?
    The classic adage that if 3 seamers can't bowl a side out then what
    difference would a fourth make, holds true.
    
    England remain 7th in the World Cricket Rankings after this Test.
    
    Andy  

    
    Andy,
    
    Croft can count himself very unlucky, victim of two bizarre selection
    policies:
    
    1) As you stated, that four mediocre seam bowlers is somehow more
    potent than three.
    
    2) That Tufnell should play because "he's played well in New Zealand
    before, a few years ago".
    
    I shall be playing in the next test because I am a mediocre seam bowler
    (oh alright, very mediocre) and I once played well in New Zealand. The
    fact that I played well in a game of cards should not be relevant...
    
    j.

Another factor was the lack of imagination in the captaincy when the last NZ 
pair remained. It seems no attacking field was set early to put on pressure. 

Also why not try anyone to bowl for an over or two, to stop them settling and 
baffle the batsman out - such as Thorpe, Atherton himself or even Stewart.
The way his luck is going Stewart might have got the final wicket!

Fully agree about the use of 4 bowlers, rather than a balanced side. 
England never seem to stick to their tour strategy, resulting bits and pieces 
players and poor treatment for Croft, Silverwood and poor old Jack Russell. 


Incidentally this mornings score v the NZ A Team was 
	NZ 181 all out (Silverwood 6 wickets and career best figures!)
	England 30-3 !! (Knight, Atherton and Crawley)

    
    Re. game against New Zealand A
    
    It got far, far worse. England were bowled out for 107 and the 'A' Team
    were 181 for 3 at the close. 
    
    Another ignominious defeat on the cards.
    
    j.

    In a rather bizarre effort to 'flower up' the One-day series after
    the Test Matches, players have been asked what music they would like
    to be played as they stroll to the wicket. Jack Rusell has apparently
    plumped for 'How much is that Doggy in the window' whilst Phil Tufnell
    has rather aptly gone for 'Cigarettes & Alcohol' by Oasis.
    
    It's a shame this was not employed during the World Series Cup games 
    between West Indies & Australia. To see Steve Waugh walk to the crease
    with 'Jumpin Jack Flash' ringing out, would have been worth the entrance
    fee alone.
    
    Andy

    
    Andy, Andy, Andy,
    
    I ain't been here fer ages and I see ya still givin' ol' Stevey a hard
    time...........well, let's see your mob of losers get him out this pom
    summer. He's just hit another 160 against the so-called fastest bowler
    in Donald and then proceeded to take wickets.
    
    You guys have never forgiven him for flogging you to death in '89...
    
    BTW Oz started this rubbish of associating songs to players and I think
    it's stupid and demeaning of the game, but it's only one day junk.!
    
    Oh, and Atherton should opt for "Another one bites the dust"   :^)
    
    CRIM

    
    Crim,
    
    Unfortunately, Andy is no longer around - he's received the "calling".
    In other words, he's come to his senses and buggered off. I'm sure this
    will make Steve Waugh sleep easier at nights - or maybe not.
    
    As for the Ashes, I think you'll find that the new-look, super-improved
    England with their new ex-supermarket-chief boss, will be more than a
    match for the Aussies. After all, we've just had a highly successful
    winter tour in which we beat the Kiwis and did not lose to Zimbabwe..
    
    j.
    

    Actually I heard on the news that the English have called inMike
    Brearley to put them all on the couch to analyse their deepest fear, 
    an ashes series.They are psyching themselves out already.
    
    Actually I think the theme song for the English team should be 
    
    	"FAT BOTTOM GIRLS"
    
    Mike N.