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[Jogetnz]

KPs out, not sure if this is a good thing or not for NZ

[Manormanic]

good thing for England - Bluey will get a game!

[Binsy]

Shame, but at least he's prioritising the Ashes over the IPL. Looks like Bairstow will come in, but I'd be tempted to draft in Woakes for Panesar.

[Twelfth Man]

Bairstow in I presume, Bell moves up to 4?

[Manormanic]

For that wicket there is a good argument for doing so - or perhaps even for giving Tredwell, who bowls slow enough that he will get a bit of turn on almost anything, a game.

[ProCricketer1982]

Bell moves up to 4?

oh god 

[procricket]

It never a good thing to see a England side without kp in it

[Twelfth Man]

oh god 

Haha, that actually made me laugh! Your worst nightmare. I don't see England doing anything different i.e.putting Root or Bairstow at 4 :/

[ProCricketer1982]

Haha, that actually made me laugh! Your worst nightmare. I don't see England doing anything different i.e.putting Root or Bairstow at 4 :/

tbf it's the right call to put Bell to 4. He has the experience and I'd rather see Root kept down the order currently. Be interesting to see Bairstow play though. Hopefully he does well.

[Danny1870]

agreed that an england side without KP is weaker, i'd like to seePprior moved up and Woakes given a game but think the obvious choice is Bairstow in and Bell moved up to 4 :-(

[PedalsMcgrew]

So, is everyone trying to forget about this series then? 

I don't blame you......I was looking forward to this series so much. For one I think this Kiwi side is actually on the way to being a decent unit, secondly New Zealand is a beautiful place so visually it's always nice and thirdly the time difference means I can retire to my office at 9pm, close the door and drink Grey Goose for a few hours with my feet up watching it!

Sadly it hasn't worked out like that. These pitches will be the death of test cricket. Ok, so they've had a drought so pitch prep has been made a lot harder, I accept that, but overall it has been the most boring series I can remember. No spin, no pace, little bounce, hardly any swing and no seam movement at all! If my eyes don't deceive me NZ have started playing for the draw from the first ball in this match and I reckon they'll get it!

Why aren't all nations forced to use the Dukes ball? It's blatantly obvious that the Kook balls are rubbish. If everyone had to use a Duke then at least the balance of most test matches will be evened up, even if it's only a little bit it would help! Sort the pitches out and make every side use a proper cricket ball, not some sub-continent made crap that loses it's shine after 5 overs and goes soft after 10.

[Number4]

So, is everyone trying to forget about this series then? 

I don't blame you......I was looking forward to this series so much. For one I think this Kiwi side is actually on the way to being a decent unit, secondly New Zealand is a beautiful place so visually it's always nice and thirdly the time difference means I can retire to my office at 9pm, close the door and drink Grey Goose for a few hours with my feet up watching it!

Sadly it hasn't worked out like that. These pitches will be the death of test cricket. Ok, so they've had a drought so pitch prep has been made a lot harder, I accept that, but overall it has been the most boring series I can remember. No spin, no pace, little bounce, hardly any swing and no seam movement at all! If my eyes don't deceive me NZ have started playing for the draw from the first ball in this match and I reckon they'll get it!

Why aren't all nations forced to use the Dukes ball? It's blatantly obvious that the Kook balls are rubbish. If everyone had to use a Duke then at least the balance of most test matches will be evened up, even if it's only a little bit it would help! Sort the pitches out and make every side use a proper cricket ball, not some sub-continent made crap that loses it's shine after 5 overs and goes soft after 10.

The Kooks are actually made in Australia

[PedalsMcgrew]

Still a rubbish cricket ball! 

[Number4]

Infact Kookaburra are used for all tests in every country bar England and India

[ProCricketer1982]

Infact Kookaburra are used for all tests in every country bar England and India

It really is a rubbish ball though.