Story The Silent Planet tour

[FishBowlMan]

I've still no idea how these run-rates are meant to work - they seem to have no bearing as a decider. I'm sure it will work out in the end.

Just a thought, if the 1st decider is the result between the 2 countries, and the 2nd decider is the run-rate, that would make sense. S.A. and N.Z. currently have the same points (6), but S.A. beat N.Z. so they are ahead of them despite having a worse run-rate. That's today's theory anyway

Good win there for England. Both your matches so far have been really close ones, with England just about getting there at the end. Great reading and very exciting.

Thanks Mick. Will take a breather for a day or so. Got to bring some money in.

Looking forward to the next test

I am looking forward to your batting improving somewhat. We can't just rely on your bowling to keep us afloat here y'know!!




Man of the match update

Forgot to mention the man of the match for the Aus - Eng game. It had to be a batter really, as the pitch was so bowler friendly. The 2 main candidates were Graham Thorpe and Matthew Hayden. Even though he finished on the losing side, the judges gave the award to Hayden for 60* in the 1st & 65 in the 2nd. Well done Matthew

 

[m_vaughan]

The 2 main candidates were Graham Thorpe and Matthew Hayden. Even though he finished on the losing side, the judges gave the award to Hayden for 60* in the 1st & 65 in the 2nd. Well done Matthew

Fair enough. I too think Matthew played really well on a bowler friendly track.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Way to go on your win! Good luck for the next.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Initial waffley blurb. Once upon a time... and all that

Hello and welcome to coverage of the 7th game in the Silent Planet tour. Today we are in Essex - at sunny Chelmsford to be precise to see England's game with New Zealand.

The first thing to report is that Geraint Jones has been dropped, and has been replaced in the team by Chris Read. James Foster has come into the squad as cover, and Jones has been sent back to Kent to work on his batting.

Its a lovely hard pitch here, the sun's out, but its quite mild - should be a batsman's paradise.

Fleming calls "Tails!" and the coin comes down as heads. "We'll bat" says Vaughnie, with a big grin on his face.

A better batting display is expected from the England boys today. They must be looking at batting through into tomorrow for well over 400 runs.


Lunch - day 1

Definitely England's morning. Trescothick and Strauss have put on 89 without loss from 27 overs. The pair have struck 9 boundaries between them. At lunch, Strauss is unbeaten on 46, and Trescothick is 38.

Tresco started as though he were Graham Gooch - outscoring Strauss at a rate of nearly 3 to 1. Andy caught up towards the end of the morning session as he took a shine to Macmillan's medium pace. No clouds means no swing and easy pickings.

Bond is the most economical bowler so far - his 8 overs yielding only 16 runs. The weather looks set fair for the afternoon session and England's openers look to capitalise on this excellent start.

New Zealand will be aware that England have generally lost at least one wicket early in a session in each of their previous innings in the tour so far. The next few overs would be an excellent time to strike.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Tea - day 1

1st ball after lunch Strauss hooks for 4 to bring up his 50. After that, pretty quiet really - pushing the odd single & 2 here and there. Couple of nice shots for boundaries. Tresco brings up his 50.

Styris into the attack. 2nd over, comes round the wicket to Tresco. Misjudges line and pace and is clean bowled.

Butcher joins Strauss at the crease and at tea 1s 14 not out. Strauss is unbeaten on 77 and England are 149 for 1. This is easily their best start to their innings for a long time. With 132, Strauss and Trescothick have smashed England's previous record partnership of 40 made against South Africa A in Johannesburg.

 

[FishBowlMan]

COP Day 1

Definitely England's day, although New Zealand have taken a couple of wickets in the final session. Strauss has carried his bat today, and scored more than half of England's runs in the process. He finished unbeaten on 125 out of England's 243 / 3.

Butcher looked in good form again - he was done by the angle as Styris (again) came round the wicket and drew Butcher into a cut shot that went straight to Fleming. Vaughn was disappointing again but had this interesting theory as to the problem.

MV: "In my next innings, I will bat at 3. By the time I get into bat at 4, Tres, Strauss & Butch are all lefties and suddenly, as a right-hander, I find it very hard to adjust to the bowling angles. I then struggle to score, and usually give my wicket away as I did today. I totally misjudged the line of a ball from McMillan, and edged a cover drive straight to Astle in the gully."

Interesting theory Michael - we'll see if it works! A quick word with England's hero today - Andrew Strauss.

AS: "Fantastic batting conditions today, its been great. The Essex crowd have really been behind me today - lots of lager sold I guess. We're in a good position tonight, and I hope we can capitalise on that tomorrow!"

 

[The_gas]

Some nice screenshots there. I think u need to keep strauss at the crease and let the other batsmen play around him to make a big score here. Bet u wish u could carry on for a while :onpc

 

[FishBowlMan]

Some nice screenshots there. I think u need to keep strauss at the crease and let the other batsmen play around him to make a big score here. Bet u wish u could carry on for a while :onpc

It's a cracking pitch - and Freddie's in next ... If these 2 can put on another 50 or so, I think some fun might be had . Ya know - I may do some more tonight - I can catch a later train tomorrow lol

 

[The_gas]

Lol go for it what time will the later train be leaving?

 

[Dhoni]

nice bro....great work so far

 

[FishBowlMan]

Lol go for it what time will the later train be leaving?

About Tuesday o'clock at this rate.


Day 2 Lunch-time report

Chelmsford is overcast this morning, but the game has been anything but dull. With some scintillating batting, England have added 134 runs this session, 92 of those from the bat of Graham Thorpe! I cannot remember the last time Thorpey has been in such free-flowing form. Certainly a far cry from the grizzled battler that helped win the series with Nasser Hussain in the Windies.

His massive slice of luck came when he was on 47. He edged to slip and was caught... off a no ball. Things certainly going England's way so far this game. Since then, Graham seems to believe this is a 1-day game!

Thorpe is 96 not out, having struck 14 boundaries including a huge 6 that is probably still rattling round the multi-storey car park across the road from the ground. Cuts, drives, glances; all seemed to race from the bat this morning. Freddie will have to go some to top this display

Strauss, meanwhile, has shored up the other end magnificently. He's added 41 runs himself and is currently on 166*

McMillan seems to have bowled unchanged today. He's gone for around 3 an over, while Chris Cairns is having a 'mare. His 15 overs having cost 73 runs. Styris is heading for 4 an over, but at least has 2 wickets to show for his pains.

England are 377 / 3

 

[m_vaughan]

Wow!! Looking nice for England. Good innings from Straussy and Thorpy.

 

[SaiSrini]

Why no updates for the past week or so??

I hope ur busy FishBowlMan!! Hope to see updates here in this thread. I am enjoying this story!

 

[Jamee999]

Nice thread and story, let's hope Strauss can get to his 200.

 

[jmcdonald]

Is this thread finished or is FBM been very busy?