Thetownend.com

First test starts in 10 minutes...

Lyth and Wood debuting for Trott and Jordan. Looking forward to seeing how Wood goes, he's properly quick.

That said, New Zealand are actually pretty good and Boult vs Cook could be brutal.

I remember watching Southee's test debut and he reminded me of Derek Pringle - who I never really rated as a test player.

He's really improved over the years

Wood is definitely a punt...18 wickets last year at 34, doesn't suggest a world beater.  Apparently he can reverse swing it, when I've seen a bit of him in the one dayers, looked like a typical English medium pace seamer.

The bloke, who is proper left arm quick, Footit at Derby....82 wickets last year at 19 doesn't get a look in.

Foottit was bowling to them in the nets yesterday so he's not totally out of mind- he is indeed quick, but don't underestimate Wood, he can bowl 90mph and then some, he's just not 6'8 like most seamers seem to be now.

Let's see, but the niggling doubt that English cricket is currently run by a bunch of clueless buffoons, is difficult to shift.

What do you mean, currently? You've got a few years on me, when was this magical time when the ECB were competent?

25/3. Oh dear. Save us Joe Root.

make that 30-4. 'triffic  :crash:

"Straussy" out!

The era not too long back where we had Geoff Miller as selector, Fletcher/Flower as coaches, and an ECB capable of setting up 20/20 cricket wasn't too shabby.

This reminds me a bit of a Test in 74, also at Lord's, when I had an hour or so at lunchtime to watch cricket on the Beeb, India were all out 47 in 17 overs. Chris Old and "Horse" Arnold did the damage.

Cracking final day in prospect here, we've been bowled out to set a target of just over 340 on the final day and taken the openers out early.

Cook got a great 150 yesterday and Stokes the fastest over 100 at Lords, excellent fight back all things considered. Good to see Cook in form, I don't think he's a good captain but we need a Cook the batsman without a doubt.

And as far as I'm now concerned, that was the only sport that happened yesterday!

2 in 2 from Stokes.  Shame he couldn't have got a third, one hat trick I could've enjoyed this weekend.

 Well that was good.

 Seems that England have decided against Gillespie, and offered the head coach job to Trevor Bayliss, an Aussie, who I've not really heard of.

 Seems he's a decent track record as a white ball coach, whereas Gillespie is more a long game man.

 Good luck to the fella.....

In fairness, we need a lot more help in ODI stuff than in tests! Gillespie being interested but not getting it is odd, but Bayliss is neither a cheap option nor a patsy.

Great result today, Stokes batting up the order seems to have inspired him and he's showing the talent he's shown in the county game- a first class average of 35 doesn't sound incredible but considering his home games are at Chester-le-Street on which 250 is a decent score, it's worth a lot more on a normal ground. Good to see most of the team contributing.

I don't have a problem with Bayliss, as long as he's not a yes man for the ECB.....worked previously with Farbrace, whose come out of this game pretty well, so could be a good combo.

I was tempted to stay in London and go to the Test today. I didn't - pah.

Brilliant conclusion too.

Good ol' collapse this morning

Don't get why we haven't just come out and had a swing this morning.

Terrific stuff in helpful conditions. If England hadn't gone for the bang it in halfway down option when there was movement about they may not be in so much schtuck.

We really are comically bad at bowling at tail enders, aren't we?

Southee has just taken 18 off 4 balls from Broad. Cracking series this though, would happily watch us play NZ in a five test series.

And there was me thinking Leeds would bound to be getting worse weather than us. Congrats Kiwis, well merited victory, such a shame there isn't another game.

Bayliss has got a job on his hands....a lot of improvements needed before we'll be able to compete at the top again.

 Bit more like it so far today....looking at the pitch boundaries etc, I reckon 370 is about par, so a decent chance of winning, but we've a few bowlers who can travel as well, so could be close.

 Easy in the end....good to see Rashid bowl well, should have played in the Caribbean.

England played like Australia, New Zealand played like England normally do..

Who are these guys and what have they done with the England one day team?

Clearly bringing in the Overton twins tipped it England's way....and also meant the mighty Cidermen would do the double over Notts.

Interesting debut at Taunton for Notts offie Matt Carter.....10 wickets in the match, but a bit of tap in the 4th innings.

I assume wicketkeeper Bates, making his debut for Somerset is Michael, who's been turning out for Wilts, having been released by Hants......very good keeper, but just OK with the bat atm.

Yeah it's that Bates - he really is a brilliant keeper, and seeing as Somerset were fielding Barrow who can neither bat nor keep, he's at least good at one thing.

Somerset badly need a keeper Tresco, is creaking behind the timbers in one day stuff.....not ideal.

Win or lose, this is the kind of cricket we've been desperate for, for years.

Win or lose, that style of cricket brings crowds. Looked pretty full at Trent Bridge, looks like we're going places. Ashes maybe comes a summer too soon.

Reminiscent of when they split the one day captaincy between Atherton and Hollioake.  Very encouraged by the one dayers' attitude.  Still unconvinced by the management and the Test team.  Could be a cracking decider on Saturday.

Off to watch Gloucs vs Somerset tomorrow in Bristol. Should be a good t20 contest!

Decent series win that, down to the wire
From 45 for 5 to Bairstows quickfire 83 sealing the win
And he was only in due to Buttlers injury  :eek:

Best one day series I've ever seen us play that. Superb. NZ deserve a lot of credit (and have had a lot too) but so do we. Played some really good entertaining cricket.

And what's been done with the T20 side? Having wicket taking bowlers certainly makes a difference.