Second test: England v New Zealand

[pasty]

Venue: Headingley Dates: Friday 24 to Tuesday 28 May

England likely to be unchanged form the Lords victory, Daniel Vettori confirmed not making a comeback after failing fitness test.

More of the same from Stuart Broad please , although not looking good on the weather front

 

[Daffy Duck]

The weather's looking pretty grim up there. Wouldn't be surprised if there's not much play today. Maybe none at all.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Here I am, working at home, and there's golf at Wentworth and a Test Match. How on earth am I supposed to get any work done, do these people not think of me when they make their schedules.

 

[pasty]

Here I am, working at home, and there's golf at Wentworth and a Test Match. How on earth am I supposed to get any work done, do these people not think of me when they make their schedules.

Funny you should say that TD.......

 

[sten_super]

Draw for me. Flatish pitch and too much time lost to rain. Would be nice to see some English batsmen make some runs before the Champions Trophy and Ashes, although I can't decide whether I want Compton to succeed or not - I'm seriously looking forward to watching Root grow into a quality international opener. I wonder where he'll bat in the Champions Trophy...

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Funny you should say that TD.......

Ah, you too, eh ?

 

[pasty]

Ah, you too, eh ?

Yup.

Highly unlikely to see any play at Headingly today though

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Yup.

Highly unlikely to see any play at Headingly today though

These golfers must be well hard, they can play in the rain !!

 

[crodonilson]

Another snoozefest beckons as England who think they are the best team ever to play test cricket again flatter to deceive against the minnows of New Zealand, all played out in half hour intervals between rain and near freezing temperatures.

 

[vegster]

Draw for me. Flatish pitch and too much time lost to rain. Would be nice to see some English batsmen make some runs before the Champions Trophy and Ashes, although I can't decide whether I want Compton to succeed or not - I'm seriously looking forward to watching Root grow into a quality international opener. I wonder where he'll bat in the Champions Trophy...

Headingley is usually a result pitch and I can't see it changing much. There may well be some rain and time lost but don't forget that an hours worth of good swing bowling from either side can transform the match. I'm thinking that England will win if we have the good fortune to field first. Root is almost the finished article already, I can't see him getting dropped anytime soon especially as Bell is a bit hit and miss these days. Compton is the new Tavare, he just needs to realise this and drop the odd swoosh from his game.

England to win !

 

[Benson]

Were loose

 

[sten_super]

Headingley is usually a result pitch and I can't see it changing much. There may well be some rain and time lost but don't forget that an hours worth of good swing bowling from either side can transform the match. I'm thinking that England will win if we have the good fortune to field first. Root is almost the finished article already, I can't see him getting dropped anytime soon especially as Bell is a bit hit and miss these days. Compton is the new Tavare, he just needs to realise this and drop the odd swoosh from his game.

England to win !

All the reports I've heard have said it's unusually flat, more like a typical Lords pitch than Headingly. Certainly Yorkshire have scored bags of runs at home recently - their last two outings have seen scores of 505-9 declared and 677-7 declared.

I can't see England losing, I'd still back the draw but I agree that an hour of excellent swing bowling from England could make a decisive difference.

 

[vegster]

All the reports I've heard have said it's unusually flat, more like a typical Lords pitch than Headingly. Certainly Yorkshire have scored bags of runs at home recently - their last two outings have seen scores of 505-9 declared and 677-7 declared.

I can't see England losing, I'd still back the draw but I agree that an hour of excellent swing bowling from England could make a decisive difference.

Well, don't forget, at Headingley, Sussex bowled out Yorkshire for 96 and 248 while posting 356 in their only innings to win by an innings and a few. Thats Headingley earlier this year so if we get a similar track, who knows ?

 

[crodonilson]

Well, don't forget, at Headingley, Sussex bowled out Yorkshire for 96 and 248 while posting 356 in their only innings to win by an innings and a few. Thats Headingley earlier this year so if we get a similar track, who knows ?

The ECB are a money making machine, they'll be requesting the flattest pitch possible to extract as much money as possible from this match.

They'll also be hoping for at least 10.1 overs today so they would only have to refund £25 of the £50 entrance fee for the day.

 

[vegster]

The ECB are a money making machine, they'll be requesting the flattest pitch possible to extract as much money as possible from this match.

They'll also be hoping for at least 10.1 overs today so they would only have to refund £25 of the £50 entrance fee for the day.

I think that is all covered by insurance so they are not personally responsible if the weather intervenes.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

If you look at this http://www.raintoday.co.uk/ you can see that there's been a line of showers aiming directly at Leeds all day.

 

[Beach Hut]

Hopefully some play today but looks like a nailed on draw due to the weather

 

[pasty]

Just started. England won the toss and are batting.

4/0 after first over.

 

[pasty]

11/1 Compton c Brownlie b Southee 1

 

[jakarta]

Somerset may be getting Compton back to bolster their batting at this rate - another good knock from Root and Cook may have a new opening partner?