22 men, 90 overs , 10 wickets or 274 runs

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Why is it, that with 274 need its a tough job in test match cricket, but if we were given that target in a ODI it would be laughably easy ?

[R W S]

Originally Posted by Mike_Hock

Henman's crap!

Strange but True.

[Notts Exile]

Afternoon Scott

There will still be thirty overs left at tea. So 90 or 100 from thirty still isn't too bad. We've got at least 90 overs in the day and they only bowled 28 this morning.

Very even in my mind, could go either way. I'd have England to win unless we lose two wickets in the first half hour after lunch.

[freddie flintoff 142]

rite off to me exam, perfect situation wen i come out, strauss on another 100 and hussain still battling away with 60-70 to win, see ya in 4 hours boys and girls

[Mike_Hock]

Originally Posted by freddie flintoff 142

rite off to me exam, perfect situation wen i come out, strauss on another 100 and hussain still battling away with 60-70 to win, see ya in 4 hours boys and girls

four hours? oach - seems a bit late for an exam! good luck

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

What a fascinating dilemma !

Do they go for the win and risk losing it - or play it safe and defend playing for the draw?

In my mind they're mutually exclusive - you can't try for one and get the other. If they go for the win - they must go for it, heart, body, mind and soul. They need to decide NOW if they're going for it or not, because they don't have long to decide. It's pointless getting to tea with 20 overs left and 100 runs still needed, because they could well end up throwing the match away by losing wickets trying to get those runs quickly.

In my mind they're playing for the draw.

Views, comments?

Scott

Most sides bat at around 280 odd a day anyway. I don't think the required run rate is so huge that we need to make a decision about whether to go for the win or not. If we have wickets in hand at tea, we can always fling the bat a bit, and we have the players, in Jones and Flintoff, who can do it. We scored 80 odd runs this session, even though Nasser didn't bat that fast and two wickets went down. I dont think the run-rate is the problem - losing wickets is.

[R W S]

At the start of the 2nd session the bookies make England strong favorites

Current Betting England 1.76 Draw 3.00 NZ 5.00

[And Henman makes it 2 sets all!]

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by sostenurter

I dont think the run-rate is the problem - losing wickets is.

sostenurter

If you try to accelerate the run rate, you risk losing wickets - thats the whole problem, and the over run rate is going up all the time.

This will be the second highest ever second innings total that England have chased down - I don't think that's a coincidence. This isn't going to be quite as easy or straightforwrd as people think.

Scott

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

What a fascinating dilemma !

Do they go for the win and risk losing it - or play it safe and defend playing for the draw?

In my mind they're playing for the draw.

Views, comments?

Scott

See my comments above on "back to the start". They are scoring at the run rate required to make the runs without taking risks. Why should they make a decision? If a couple go down or they really strat to slow is up, THEN we have to make the decision. Before that, I think messers Fletcher, Vaughan and Trescothick will be more than happy to dribble on as they have!

We HAVE to play for the win, until the win goes out of reach!

[R W S]

Originally Posted by Scott-Wozniak

sostenurter

If you try to accelerate the run rate, you risk losing wickets - thats the whole problem, and the over run rate is going up all the time.

Scott

True about risk taking BUT your second point is false.

Current Partnership: 58 runs, 18.0 overs, RR: 3.22

RRreq'd = 3.22