The key for me was that we won the toss and Cook made the right decision having done so. Seriously - the biggest difference in that kind of low scoring match, especially with the majority of the movement being aerial, is that one side has to chase a total and is therefore under the mental pressure of knowing what is required rather than just going out and batting. Broad bowled well on the final day - but if you analyse the wickets he took, only Rutherford got an unplayable ball and Fulton, Taylor and Williamson basically played rank bad shots.
In terms of England's batting, they miss Pietersen more than they would ever like to admit, as much as anything for his ability to dominate an attack. As it stands, they have a top five who to one extent or another bat time and a number six who has had painfully little cricket in the last twelve months, added to which there are real questions over Compton's ability against top class bowling, Bell's temprament and Bairstow's readiness for test cricket...
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Topic: England vs New Zealand - Round 2 (Read 10877 times)