I found out that if I do this I can have all Baggy's reports on one thread without effort so I've moved everything and deleted the original. Hope it works.

From Big Jim

Cheers Baggers,the usual excellent stuff.I left it last night with KP and Bell at the crease,no need to go to Cricinfo now.
Be wary of drinking in the morning in that heat,it has been known to make pasty Englanders fall asleep in mid afternoon and wake up looking like a roasted beetroot.
Didn't seem to be stopping Batman and Robin last night though.

Excellent point (about) a needless injury.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:15:17:33:25 by Grockle.

Agreed. It always seems very strange to me that our lot 'warm down' playing rugby sometimes. Makes no sense to me!

I was a bit confused about hearing reference to the Basin Reserve as the third oldest Test cricket ground until I decided that what was probably meant is that it is the third oldest ground on which Test cricket is played. That I cannot verify, but I can say that the first three grounds to be used for Test Matches were MCG, the Oval and SCG. Wellington comes 19th in the list and is not even the first NZ ground, which was Jade Stadium Christchurch, these matches taking place some 53 after the first Test between England and Australia.

LoL



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:15:20:33:03 by Loyal of Lhasa..

We're dropping catches for fun,there can be no excuse for spilling those.

Broad looking good,Fleming gone.
Time for the radio I think.
Enjoy the day Baggy.

NEW ZEALAND v ENGLAND SECOND TEST
BASIN RESERVE, WELLINGTON 13 – 17 MARCH 2008

DAY 4

The sky may have been grey but spirits are light when we arrive at the Basin to see Anderson warming up with the rest of the England squad. His twisted ankle has passed whatever tests it was put through and he is fit to . . . bat.

England obviously didn't think 421 was a big enough lead with two full days to play so out come Panesar and Anderson to add what they can to the England total. They can add 16 runs in 21 balls over about 14 minutes. Was it really worth it? New Zealand need an unlikely and record-breaking 438 to win with 85 overs left to play today – England may have liked more than 5 overs with the new ball at the end of the day to finish things off and give themselves an extra day off – something that would be appreciated by their thousands of travelling supporters too.

Panesar edges to Taylor at slip, leaving Anderson on 12 not out. Ten minutes later he is back opening the bowling with Sidebottom. His success in the first innings carries no weight with the captain however and he gets the privilege of running into an almost gale-force wind, the like of which Wellington is famous for. There doesn't seem to be the helpful seam movement of the first innings, and as the heavy clouds roll away I wonder again if England have missed out by batting on this morning. Bell survives a very good lbw appeal by Sidebottom in his second over. But his opening partner How compensates a couple of overs later, nudging him to Bell at short leg. 18-1.

It is England's only success of the morning though Collingwood was unlucky not to snare Fleming, batting for the last time on his home ground. He edged his first ball but Ambrose, standing up to the wicket, misses. New Zealand go to lunch 42-1 off 21 overs. During the lunch interval we see the final of a national under – 18 fast bowling competition. Names to look out for for the future are winner Jimmy Needham (17) and runner up Lachlan Ferguson (16) both from Auckland, They both exceeded 130 kph – only a couple3 of kph slower than Harmison was managing at Hamilton.

After lunch Collingwood and Panesar continue and New Zealand pass 50. Bell is dropped by Collingwood at second slip – a fairly easy chance off the bowling of Broad. The youngster copes well with the disappointment – his early afternoon spell is more hostile than those overs before lunch and he gets his man – Bell edging to the keeper. Sinclair joins Fleming and anxious to get off the mark calls him through for a single that isn't there. The ex captain is only saved by the inaccuracy of Vaughan's throw – a direct hit would have seen him well stranded. He aims a steely glare at his batting partner and leaves the next ball from Broad – which nips back a little and just hits the top of off stump. Broad should buy Sinclair a drink at the end of this match. 70-3.

These runs have been scored over about 33 overs – hardly a run rate to cause any anxieties in the England camp. But Sinclair, joined by Taylor, ups the ante a bit. Their 50 partnership comes in just 68 balls, in comparison to the Bell/Fleming second wicket 50 off 148 balls. Maybe there is a little anxiety creeping in now – Cook misses a difficult chance off Sinclair, then in the next over Pietersen drops a sitter (albeit one which swirled in the blustery conditions for a while) after a Taylor miscued hook. At tea New Zealand are 145-3 off 49 overs, Sinclair 39 and Taylor 35.

After tea Monty continues from the city end whilst Anderson gets the luxury, for the first time in the innings, of the wind at his back. He rewards his captain by getting Sinclair with his first ball – a ball exceeded in its horribleness by the horrible shot. Bell has not yet been afflicted by the dropped catch gremlins. 151-4. Vaughan brings Sidebottom on immediately from the City end. Whether it is Taylor reaching his 50 (65; 8) or the effect of running into the wind on his hair I don't know, but the spell lasts a single over and Panesar is back into the wind and Sidebottom gets the wind at his back gain from the Adelaide Road end. It works – he gets Taylor lbw in the 57th. 173-5.

Ambrose makes his second mistake in the 62nd, failing to stump Oram off Panesar. The gremlins finally seek out bell in the 66th when he misses Oram at short mid wicket, Panesar again frustrated. The clouds have been gathering and eventually the umpires offer the light, gratefully received by Oram and McCullam. But their respite lasts only five or so minutes before things brighten up and they are called out. Broad is on as soon as they come out, but Vaughan is missing – rumours of a tight hamstring. He is back on again as conditions are darkening and with only a couple of overs to go until the new ball he brings on Pietersen for Broad. It is enough to get the last two overs completed with the old ball before the skies darken enough to send them off. The new ball is called for and Sidebottom steams in with the full force of the wind and the full voice of the Barmy Army behind him on the hill. Fifth ball he gets his man – Oram caught by Pietersen, easily taken once he had a reaction catch rather than one to think about.

Only one more ball is possible, New Zealand finish the day 242-6 off 81 overs. McCullam is still there on 43, Vettori is yet to score. They need 196 to win. But that final wicket will have settled a few nerves amongst those England players and supporters who watched Nathan Astle bat new Zealand to within 100 runs of an improbable run chase in Christchurch 6 years ago.

Thanks as ever Bagpuss. I hope for everybody's sake we can get this finished by lunchtime, so that we can get some sleep here and you can enjoy the delights of Wellington. Very nice botanical gardens and lovely Nineteenth Century architecture up on the hill.

I trust you are travelling by train whenever possible, for that is a fine way to see one of the world's liveliest countries.

LoL

Finally Thank heavens! Well done boys. A bit of credibility returns

Agreed,a much better performance.
They appeared to play with much more energy and purpose this time,it was good to see.
Still not convinced about Ambrose behind the stumps but overall I thought he did pretty well and will get better.
Sidebottom was superb and Broad looked dangerous.
Bodes well for the future and skipper Hildreth.

NEW ZEALAND v ENGLAND SECOND TEST
BASIN RESERVE, WELLINGTON 13 – 17 MARCH 2008

DAY 5

This time yesterday I hadn't envisaged being back at the Basin today but here we all are – all the England supporters, that is, the full house of Saturday and Sunday has thinned out to leave about 3-4 thousand England supporters and an occasional Kiwi. Yesterday's cloud cover and fierce winds have also disappeared leaving a bright sunny morning – better for the bowlers and the crowd on the Hill.

The ball is only one over old and Broad and Sidebottom get a bit of movement to help them. Anderson is on the field but I suspect the choice of Broad is more to do with resting the sore ankle than any snub. Sidebottom is the barmy Army's new favourite and is cheered and serenaded every over. He repays with the wicket of Vettori, caught by Cook for a duck, in the fourth over of the morning.

The last meaningful partnership is broken and everyone knows, be their allegiance red and white or black, that the fat lady is tuning up in the background. McCullam provides us all with some fun in the closing arias, reaching 50 (80; 5/2), before losing partner Mills, who is lbw to Sidebottom, giving him 5 in the innings. Gillespie stays with McCullam long enough to take the New Zealand total past 300. With lunch looming Vaughan throws the ball to Anderson who responds with the wicket of Gillespie, caught behind by Ambrose off the last ball of the over. McCullam, on 85, sees the long ears and fluffy bobbed tail of Chris Martin at the other end and decides its now or never if he's going to reach a century. Panesar is hoisted over wide long on, where Sidebottom takes he catch just in front of the Barmy Army. England have won by 126 runs to level the series.

Tonight there is Guinness to be drunk. If you are adventurous try adding a double shot of Tia Maria for a unique experience. Happy St Patrick's Day. Tomorrow the circus moves on to Napier.

In amongst the thousands, have you encountered anyone from Weymouth CC? My bridge patner is out there.

A far better performance but still far too many spilled catches - Strauss betting the habit.

Ambrose didn't look too secure behind the sticks. Is there a viewing problem at the Basin Reserve? Is the background an issue? Or were we just awful?? Collingwood is usually a very safe pair of hands but grassed an easy slip catch.

Things now set up well for the final Test and England should have the momentum.

Haven't managed any train journeys LoL - the passenger rail network has been run down until there are just the three main routes - Christchurch to greymouth or Picton in the south island and Wellington up to Auckland in the North. Very few seats on these and expensive when compared to other forms of travel - flights if booked early or bus. Plus with the tours being squeezed so much with back to back Tests there is little time to stand and stare, let alone see many of the wondrous sights this country has to offer.

I haven't knowingly met a bridge player from Weymouth, though have met up with a bridge playing doctor from Scotland, who I met in Palkistan and again in Sri Lanka before discovering his brother is a goo friend of my mother at Exeter bridge club. Small world.

On the local radio commentary they did say that the Basin reserve is a difficult ground for sighting catches - a combination of 2/3 of the ground surrounded by hill, with continuous milling around of people, and the frequent swirling winds I would have thought. There were two chances missed by Collingwood, one of which he obviously didnt see at all, both were when he was fielding at second slip in the over between those he was bowling himself. Relevant?

Ambrose did a good job ibn Hamilton - hardly noticed him which I think is always a good pointer. One missed catch standing up and a missed stumping. Time will tell but lets not get on his back yet. I think it helps having Strauss in at first slip.

Fact - the last time England won the first test in an away series was in Port Elizabeth, South Africa 2004/5. The victory came off the back of the most horrible loss in a three day practice match at Potchefstroom. The South African team they played in the first Test was criticised for (a) being selected along racio-political lines and (b) being hopelessly underprepared. An apparentlt equally unprepared England took advantage.

Since this match England have played 5 series away from home - including the current one. They have lost the first match of the Test series on each occasion.

Are they underprepared? Or do other nations always plan their itineries to play the first match at a favoured ground?

That's now TWO Tests in a row which disprove the adage "Catches win Matches". Didn't stop Angus Fraser using the phrase on breakfast radio this morning.