Prediction League - England Vs New Zealand

[freddie flintoff 142]

duno! i'll try some dodgy backstreet bookmaker, he always gives me good money for the info on my local club team and pitch conditions

[James M]

Originally Posted by freddie flintoff 142

duno! i'll try some dodgy backstreet bookmaker, he always gives me good money for the info on my local club team and pitch conditions

Hi Freddy how are you? Good to see you on the new look board.

[freddie flintoff 142]

alrite james i'm fine chief, yeah it's great to be here, missed most of the MB posting over the windies series due to playing comitments, now i got a bit of time on me hands due to the rain its good!

but seriously i'm glad im here the bbc board got a few numties now

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by freddie flintoff 142

duno! i'll try some dodgy backstreet bookmaker, he always gives me good money for the info on my local club team and pitch conditions

Mornin freddy

did yu find your dodgy bookie,and did yu get the odds on tresco.?

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by R W S

What is perhaps more revealing is that a number of opinionated members are, as yet, unwilling or unable to distill their views into a forecast!!

R W S

I guess I'm being included in this! That's mainly down to the fact that this series against NZ is almost impossible to predict, it depends on so many factors it's hard to take them all on board, although I have hinted at the way I think it will go in other posts I've made. One thing's for sure, this England team is better than the last one that NZ played the last time they were here.

In my mind it comes down to two or three factors. 1/ How well England bat 2/ How the Kiwi's deal with Harmison 3/ Whether Bond plays for NZ.

The first point I guess is a bit obvious, but batting is England's current weakness and if they can up that area of their game I beleive our bowlers will do the business. This is why I feel its imperative they do something about the current problems in the opening partnership - so important to get off to a good start. Everyone pretty much agrees runs will be at a premium on these May pitches so this is a key area.

The second point is also a little obvious. Harmison is without a doubt currently England's most improved and dangerous bowler, it sounds a lot like the pitches will be prepared with his bowling style in mind (which is partly why I think Caddick should play) and how the Kiwi's deal with Harmisons pace and bounce will be a key area in deciding the outcome of the series.

The third point is a bit of a wild card. If Bond plays, he has the kind of pace that could very well unsettle a lot of the England batsmen and again, how they deal with this is is another key area.

In my mind, in England, on our pitches, with our crowd support, I think England have the edge. If England's batting begins to come together and Harmison bowls as well as he did in the West Indies, my prediction is a 2-1 or 2-0 win to England.

One thing I am sure about, if England bat as badly as they did in the West Indies, they will lose this series.

Scott

[Ernest]

[quote=Scott-Wozniak]R W S

Hi Scott

England should beat New Zealand with the bowling firepower we have,but where I agree with you the form of the top order batting is making the series hard to predict.
Also the pitches will matter they can be dead here.
the truth is the bowlers won the series for us in the West Indies,aided by the lower middle order,cant rely on that all the time,should we make ajustments now,or wait until after the New zealand saries?Tough one that no one likes to tinker with a winning team.

[freddie flintoff 142]

Originally Posted by ernest

Mornin freddy

did yu find your dodgy bookie,and did yu get the odds on tresco.?

i did, he gave me 500 rupees for local pitc knowledge and wouldnt give me odds on tresco as it was as he put it 'too likely to happen'

[Richard Jenkins]

I'm not betting anymore, I owe ten joke pounds already.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by freddie flintoff 142

i did, he gave me 500 rupees for local pitc knowledge and wouldnt give me odds on tresco as it was as he put it 'too likely to happen'

never mind freddie yu can buy a curry with 500 rupees,he is not daft is he?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Richard Jenkins

I'm not betting anymore, I owe ten joke pounds already.

i will give you a chance to get the joke momey you owe me.

I bet James Anderson breaks Brian Laras world record in the 1st test against New Zealand.

If the game is a washout because of rain I win.

If he is not selected I win

If he gets his stumps uprooted,while being distracted by a streaker I win.