Really? Ern's criticisms of the batting have been overstated (as I think the batsmen are more than capable) but he's right to note that under Fletcher the side won despite the batting rather than because of it: the percentage of batsmen who got THEMSELVES out instead of being GOT out was consistently high... and the negative approach to batting against spin (reaching forward without leaving the crease) was just plain awfulThe side did just fine in that first innings: some greater rotation of the strike would have been impressive... but the side is NOT experienced at accumulating in a risk-free manner on difficult wickets - I'd rather they start learning as they did in that innings than get themselves outDepends on the length: the classic way of playing lateral movement is off the back foot and VERY late (as Jayawardene has demonstrated to great effect)... or by using one's feet to get down the pitch (as Bell might start doing before long if he gets properly "in").

ps. Surely Strauss is the only weak link in the top order: the rest strike me as all being accomplished enough players.

26-3 racing along now.

The guys who did well for England Lions must be thinking they have a chance and you do wonder about the future of the captain if they lose this match as that would be 3 lost series in a row and we have sacked captains for less previously.

Before I go to bed I think England are slight favourites they have just made the task much more difficult for themselves.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

Statistically only slightly worse.

I'm still not sure going to the counties is the best way. We have had our only recent sucess under Fletcher who picked players on perceived class rather than CC scores. If we looked at CC scores the England team would have been made up of Ramps, Hick, Adams ..... Instead of Tres, Vaughan, Colly, Flintoff (who all have poor FC records).

I'm not sure about that. In the 80's and 90's it was rare to see England batsman score tons. In the 90's they were a lot more common under Fletcher. Since Fletcher quit we haven't seen many tons. At the end of the day we posted a lot of 350+ first innings scores and chased down some decent 4th innings totals so Fletcher must have done something right.


Was that why for the only time in an Ashes series the England batsman went after Warne in 2005. Yes, he took wickets but England also scored runs from him and that made a big difference to the series.


If you stay back you risk getting caught plumb in front. I agree playing late is the way to play swing, but not necessarily sitting on the back foot .

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Mark.

Well done Bell,what an abysmal dismissal.

I am off to bed as i can't stand watching this gutless rubbish.

40/4 - thats abysmal on that wicket against that attack!

It looks like another series defeat for Moores (and another 2 coming up in the summer!) are the ECB still sure he's the man for the job?

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Mark.

I wonder just how good Vaughan would be if he was not captain?, he must be short of ideas now.

I have just got back from a brew - and Bell has gone, LOL what a performance.

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Ern

This is pathetic.

This is some of the worst batting I've ever seen from an England side, it really is.

Vaughan beaten by a decent ball and trapped on the creae LBW, but he's equally culpable for his dismissal - how many times have we seen Vaughan trapped LBW?

Cook, take your pick - bowled through the gate or nicked off to the slips, bowled through the gate AGAIN this time - how many times have you seen me comment on this type of dismissal for Cook? He's been worked out!

Strauss pathetic again. Playing an attacking shot and just not in the right position to play it.

Bell, just clipped one back to a medium pacer.

These are supposedly the best batsmen England have, getting turned over by a group of bowlers not much better than County journeymen. That's a bit unfair on Southee as he's a decent enough bowler - but this is his first Test match!

Peter Moores is slowly making me want to stop watching Cricket, I find no enjoyment in watching this pathetic display.

What makes me even more irate is reading the placatory comments from Hugh Morris supporting Peter Moores with comments like this side and management team are just bedding in.

Is that the reason this England side is being beaten by a New Zealand side shorn of all their best players that they should be dominating?

If they can't even compete against the No7 ranked side in the world - what hope against Australia?

John you have a sense of humour.
I agree with most of this paragraph, however it back up the fact that the England batting is fundamentally flawed.
Look at Englands averages in New Zealand BEFORE tonight, and Bell would be averaging over 40 had he not had a not out.
BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Averages
Only Collingwood and Ambrose have come out of this series with any credit thus far. Collingwood deserves his average with sheer grit and application.

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Ern

I agree. On a perfect batting strip and against a bowling attack that can be at best described as "rubbish", England have capitulated. Bad batting is responsible for the demise. I do not see how England can come back into this match - the initiative has been gifted away to New Zealand.