NPR

England all out for 143.

Another dominant session for the Craps... world's gone mad.

Order finally restored to its natural state.
England out giving us a 204-run lead

My mate is having difficulty finding a stream that does not freeze frequently

Why on earth is O'Rourke being sent out to bat? He batted for an hour this morning, then bowled 8 overs straight. Meanwhile, Ravindra has done precisely nothing — surely he could bat for 20 minutes! Isn't that what he's in the side for?

And the idiotic decision pays predictable dividends...for England.

Kane progresses smoothly to his 38th half century and BCs to a 340-run lead

Great stuff from New Zealand in this one. Not just restoring pride but reminding everyone they are an excellent team.

I know it's a weird thing to say given his wickets in the first innings, but I really don't think Potts is the answer for England. He's too slow and predictable, and as soon as teams realise how hittable he is, it's over. Coming into this match he was averaging less than two wickets per game, and it was hugely disappointing seeing him fuck up in the field too given that's meant to be a strength.

He's an extremely popular guy and everyone seems desperate for him to succeed. I just don't think a sub par Woakes 2.0 (0.5?) is what England need at any point.

Today will be interesting. Humidity levels are through the roof so the ball will hoop around, provided the rain stays away of course.

Enzedder wrote: Sun Dec 15, 2024 6:44 pm Today will be interesting. Humidity levels are through the roof so the ball will hoop around, provided the rain stays away of course.

Your powers are fading, Jedi Master

Williamson brings up his 33rd test ton with a six.

Gumboot wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 2:26 am Williamson brings up his 33rd test ton with a six.

An immaculate shot too. His average at Seddon Park is 97.6!!!

Flicked it on to catch up and saw Ravindra hole out...

bit of chat from the bowler. Has there been a bit of niggle going on out there?

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 2:38 am Flicked it on to catch up and saw Ravindra hole out...

bit of chat from the bowler. Has there been a bit of niggle going on out there?

Cares has been giving Ravindra some solid batting advice throughout his innings

Kiwias wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 2:46 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 2:38 am Flicked it on to catch up and saw Ravindra hole out...

bit of chat from the bowler. Has there been a bit of niggle going on out there?

Cares has been giving Ravindra some solid batting advice throughout his innings

Solid irony from the team facing a 4th innings target close to 500.

My mate hates it when the feed keeps freezing

This is what he is trying to use right now
https://my.watchcric.com/live-three-server-2.php

KW now has an average of 100 at Seddon Park

Kiwias wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 3:13 am My mate hates it when the feed keeps freezing

This is what he is trying to use right now
https://my.watchcric.com/live-three-server-2.php

I've given up on it a couple of times, that cricfree stream that we've all used is getting very shaky. This is working ok for me...
https://watch.cricstream.me/new-zealand ... i/stream-1

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 4:14 am

Kiwias wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 3:13 am
My mate hates it when the feed keeps freezing

This is what he is trying to use right now
https://my.watchcric.com/live-three-server-2.php

I've given up on it a couple of times, that cricfree stream that we've all used is getting very shaky. This is working ok for me...
https://watch.cricstream.me/new-zealand ... i/stream-1

Is Southee going to get a chance to hit the 100 sixes? Lead now almost 650


EDIT: Southee in for his last at-bat in test cricket, We know what he will be trying to do

England need a paltry 658 to win

NZ all out for 453, so England have a target of 658.

We could be in with a sniff here...

England 18/2 at Stumps.

England were a bit unlucky with the DRS. Williamson was given not out on one that was shown to be just clipping the stumps and so was saved by umpire's call; Crawley was given out on one that was shown to be just clipping the stumps and so had to go on umpire's call.

Despite NZ being in a seemingly-impregnable position, I can't see this match as having done a lot for the integrity of test cricket:
1. Astounding form reversal.
2. England foregoing the second new ball in order to keep trundling away with a part-time spinner — who eventually takes the new ball!
3. Another part-time spinner trying to send down a bouncer.
4. Pretty much anything to do with Southee — his selection, his being offered help-yourself stuff to try and get him to 100 sixes, and his being gifted a wicket by Duckett (when he obviously wasn't going to get one any other way).

It's hard to escape the impression that the England players now have 1.5 feet each on the boat home while NZ have been more concerned with the Tim Southee Farewell Tour than actually playing proper cricket.

Congrats NZ, well deserved win here.

Utterly unsurprised by Potts getting flogged by Kiwi batsmen, and even less surprised by Bashir being monumentally shit. Can't imagine that Leach or Dawson would have been half as bad. Crawley needed to step up to give us some chance of a decent total in either innings but will have nightmares about Henry for the next decade.

Gutted to hear that Stokes has injured his hamstring again. Given we've won the series that's the worst possible news.

On the positive side it may have hastened the demise of Crawley. Spot the odd one out:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/se ... 250?team=1

Certain Navigator wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 9:27 am Crawley was given out on one that was shown to be just clipping the stumps and so had to go on umpire's call.

When you're out of form, all the 50/50 decisions go against you

Benefit of the doubt has always been a "thing" in cricket (sports?) and home teams have generally been given that benefit since Jesus was a lad. Seems that even with technology, that law still applies.

Enzedder wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 4:10 pm Benefit of the doubt has always been a "thing" in cricket (sports?) and home teams have generally been given that benefit since Jesus was a lad. Seems that even with technology, that law still applies.

Yeah, but Jesus was always a bit suspect around 5th stump.

It's less about benefit of the doubt and more about wanting to keep umpires relevant, really

Day 4 kicking off in about 10 minutes time - half an hour early because of yesterday's late start.

Certain Navigator wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 9:27 am England were a bit unlucky with the DRS. Williamson was given not out on one that was shown to be just clipping the stumps and so was saved by umpire's call; Crawley was given out on one that was shown to be just clipping the stumps and so had to go on umpire's call.

Despite NZ being in a seemingly-impregnable position, I can't see this match as having done a lot for the integrity of test cricket:
1. Astounding form reversal.
2. England foregoing the second new ball in order to keep trundling away with a part-time spinner — who eventually takes the new ball!
3. Another part-time spinner trying to send down a bouncer.
4. Pretty much anything to do with Southee — his selection, his being offered help-yourself stuff to try and get him to 100 sixes, and his being gifted a wicket by Duckett (when he obviously wasn't going to get one any other way).

It's hard to escape the impression that the England players now have 1.5 feet each on the boat home while NZ have been more concerned with the Tim Southee Farewell Tour than actually playing proper cricket.

I was going to say that it reminded me so much of the way the BCs played in the 3rd test in India recently but .......

The pitch is quite benign; the catching is back to test 1 standard.

This game is going to Day 5 and a world record.

Enzedder wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 10:32 pm The pitch is quite benign; the catching is back to test 1 standard.

This game is going to Day 5 and a world record.

Your wicket, I believe

Kiwias wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 11:17 pm

Enzedder wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2024 10:32 pm The pitch is quite benign; the catching is back to test 1 standard.

This game is going to Day 5 and a world record.

Your wicket, I believe

Make that two.

Well played Enz, keep it up.

England 193/5 at Lunch.

One of the ugliest ways to get yourself clean-bowled. 215/6 now

One wicket to go now, as the word is that Stokes will not bat.

We win by 423 runs, equally the record for our biggest test victory by number of runs.

Kiwias wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 1:17 am We win by 424 runs, breaking the record for our biggest test victory by number of runs by just one run.

That'll do nicely.

Gumboot wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 1:19 am

Kiwias wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 1:17 am We win by 424 runs, breaking the record for our biggest test victory by number of runs by just one run.

That'll do nicely.

Yup, that'll do, Pig. That'll do.