I don’t think we’re going to be shown any interviewsso I’ll sign off and leave you to follow Australia v Pakistan. Thanks so much for your emails and tweets, especially during the fallow period. I’m off to put on my bed socks (presumably that translates down under). Good morning / afternoon / night!
Play abandoned for the day! NZ 173 – 3) Latham 101, Nicholl 5)
Well that’s it –the rain has killed off any prospects of play for the rest of the day in Hamilton. New Zealand head home the happier side, a fabulous century by Tom Latham and a stylish fifty by Ross Taylor. England got Williamson early, but dropped Latham and will have to deal with a Ben Stokes knee twinge that has so far restricted him to two overs.
Oh Phil,now that is an image that doesn ‘t translate so well across hemispheres:
Phil Withall(@ phil_withall)
@ tjaldredFor Australians following the sentence should be “Men in thongs wrestling umbrellas” ……
Gez Johns(@ Gez 1802)
@ tjaldredfurther point of order … it’s jandal – and yes that’s the sky tower and it’s not raining in Auckland.pic.twitter.com/YjgL89 pcKH
Now you’re just showing off.I glanced out of my window and it is still pitch black. And will be for another three hours. Be gone November!
An email, from across the pond!
Greetings from not-so-sunny California where I have just had my first ever Thanksgiving dinner. England’s performance rather matching my indigestion,writes James Pinder.
Since the protocol seems to be to offer a provocative opinion, should England make an example of someone, Admiral Byng style, pour encourager les autres? I mostly think that would be a deeply silly idea but I can’t deny a certain urge to see something, anything, done. Perhaps that’s the awful truth, there are no quick fixes and we are doomed to be mediocre for the foreseeable.
Firstly, congratulations on the thanksgiving dinner James – I would love to experience one in my life. Trad turkey and trimmings? Any vegetarian options? As for an example – I guess Jack Leach has been dropped, but only (I think) because Stokes has a dodgy knee. Joe Root being stripped of the captaincy would be the grand gesture, but I’d have thought they’d give him South Africa and Sri Lanka to prove his mettle (as long as he wants them.)
Over in Adelaide,Joe Burns has been prized out by CWC 2019 superstar Shaheen Afridi. Australia 8-1. Actual action over on the OBO with superstar Geoff Lemon. But do stick with me for gentle chit chat and footwear trivia.
Abramowitzhas chastised us Robbie. He points out that Jandel is in fact spelt Jandal. Ah, which google tells me is a shortening of Japanese Sandal. What you learn doing OBO coverage.
But Robbie –it is not so satisfyingly 0nomatopoeic. Unless shoes go Jan-del in New Zealand?
It is still raining by the way.
Just seen some pictures from Hamilton – men in flip-flops wrestling umbrellas.It is chucking it down.
Did I sound desperate?Good.
With some annual festivities coming up at school, us students have got this Friday offwrites Abhijato Sensarma.I wasn’t aware that England are playing, so I decided to finish off Rick and Morty’s third season this morning (genius show, by the way). Now I realize there are three matches to look forward to today, even if England’s day’s play is possibly over. Went through the OBO and have a question in mind – how long do you think Archer will be persisted with in the eleven if he hypothetically doesn’t perform as well as the other pacers in the team, especially once Anderson returns to the side?
I’d think Anderson will have to be wrapped in cotton wool on his return, and I doubt even he has many years left in the tank. I think Archer is gold-dust and they’ll persevere – they’ll just have to learn how to use him properly. He’s bowled well today, by all accounts.
In the Sky box,the commentators are lining up in various states of dishevelled-ness from shirt and tie, to Mike Atherton, (one button undone), to Ian Ward (two buttons undone and a chaise-longue just out of picture). Out of the window, the covers are still on and the rain falls. Mail me, go on. All-time great Kiwis, what you’re getting your dad for Christmas, mince pie recipes, should Parky / Lockie Ferguson have played. Anything. ************
Really interesting discussion on TMSat tea between New Zealand chief exec David White and Simon Mann that I half-caught. Was impressed by White’s realism and his lack of greed – NZ’s T 20 competition he sees as mostly for domestic players, and he thinks the proliferation of T 20 competitions around the world is unsustainable and only a few o f them are likely to survive. Also talking about NZ holding Test matches at the smaller grounds like Hamilton and Mount Maunganui – says that it is the future, and that it is the way NZ cricket is, a few thousand people lolling on grassy banks, enjoying themselves. Sounds perfect.
And it is raining at Adelaide too.
New Zealand cricket chief executive David White is our guest at tea.# BBCCricket# NZvENGpic.twitter.com/ZRaDNq1A9U
(November) , 2019
Test Match SpecialSpectators scramblearound for their picnic bags and head for the trees. This could be a bit of wait I’m afraid. But Brian Withington is ready for any weather.
I’m idly wondering if the film I watched between 12: 30 and 4am yesterday morning has anything to offer in terms of England’s selectorial dilemmas. Capos coming and going, and the enduring presence of a deadly Irishman? Before leaping to any Eoinesque conclusions, I think instead that the digital de-aging technology might offer a solution. Time to recall a rejuvenated Graham Gooch, an opening batsman whose batting form actually improved with captaincy.
Over in Adelaide, Australia have won the toss and will bat first. It’s a day-nighter, pink ball n all.
Updated
Rain
54 .3 overs: NZ – 3 (Latham) , Nicholls 5)The clouds are gathering and the lights are on … ah, here come the groundsmen, pulling out what looks like a safety curtain over the pitch, one of them losing his sunglasses in the process. The umpires wander about with brollies. And we have a delay.
There are reports of thunder in Hamilton, but over in Adelaide, Pakistan and Australia are about to start the second Test. The OBO coverage is underway too, do check in.
Updated (at) . 02 PM EST
Tea
54 th over: NZ 173 – 3 (Latham 101, Nicholls 5)Well played Tom Latham, who doesn’t fall for the Joe Root joker the over before tea. Careful, fluid, determined and, in the words of Mark Butcher in the Sky studio, “effortless. “Just the one stroke of luck when Stokes put him down on 66. That’s tea, just off for a quick coffee break, see you in ten!
The CricViz Analyst(@ cricvizanalyst)
Tom Latham has reached a superb century in Hamilton. He has been very patient – defending with caution outside off stump & scoring heavily (71%) through the leg side when bowlers have erred too full & straight. He’s whipped clinicaly through mid-wicket.# NZvENGpic .twitter.com / KoSLGTDvP7
(November) , 2019
Updated
Tom Latham reaches
156 balls, 15 fours – the last of them a beauty that he, with twinkle toes, hits back over Joe Root’s head. Helmet off, he smiles broadly and raises his bat. Lovely innings.
53 rd over: NZ 168 – 3 (Latham 95, Nicholls 5)The merry-go-round turns and we’re back to Jofra Archer again. Nicholls is surprised by a short one, but ducks safely under.
“er, Ben Stokes is the son of an international rugby player”says Peter Roy. Oh yes, dear Peter, you’re right. In my mind his dad had never played internationally, but coached in the UK. Very bad me.
Wiki:Gerard“Ged” JamesStokes ((born ) is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970 s and 1980 s.
52 nd over: NZ (- 3) Latham 95, Nicholls 5)The sun is out at Hamilton and though the clouds are high and fluffy and gathering there is no sign yet of the showers hovering around the radar. Latham cuts Woakes handsomely for four with a crack of the bat
51 st over: NZ 164 – 3) Latham 92, Nicholls 5)What a beautiful shot from Nicholls! Broad strays and he whips the bat and the ball flies through cover and across the field for four.
Great fact on Daryl Mitchell from Mike Atherton – he’s the first son of a former All Black to play Test cricket. Have any sons / daughters of international rugby players played cricket for England?
Updated (at 9.) PM EST
50 th over: NZ (3) Latham 92 , Nicholls 1)Latham tips the ball off his hips as Woakes drifts onto his leg stumps, and that’s a juicy boundary to ease him into the nineties.
James Fitzpatrick has sent a northern hemisphere email. Hi James!
Watching the slow demise of English testCrickethas my Sleep pattern in a happy muddle, as I toss and turn in another humid night in Dublin.I have to wonder if England have the right people at slip. People carrying an injury, or low in confidence might be better elsewhere what is your opinion?
Odd fact: Alec Stewart was born 08 04 1963 and his test run total is 8463 ….
Root has been pretty awesome hasn’t he? (or did he drop one too that I missed?) My money would be on Stokes to catch most of the time, but that’s a good point about his knee and whether he is less mobile that he usually is.
49 th over: NZ 156 – 3) Latham 88, Nicholls 1)Ah, Broad has replaced Stokes after just two overs – perhapsthatwas why England decided to go in with the five seamers. Though no Leach to do the donkey work of course. Who gets that burden? Root? Denly? A maiden for Broad.
48 th over: NZ 156 – 3 (Latham 88, Nicholls 1)Those on the telly who’ve been watching since the start conclude that Woakes has been England’s best bowler today. That was a calamitous momentary loss of concentration by Taylor, who’s played so nicely. England now looking slightly less cross with the world.
Sam Spijkers-Shaw has spotted an OBO flaw:“It seems, much like England and their keepers, that you and Tim have got your wires crossed with the runs scored by Taylor / Latham.Just thought I’d point it out .Ta! ”
Whoops, thanks Sam. Poor Taylor, falling just short of his century …
Updated
WICKET! Taylor c Root b Woakes 53
At last! The ball after reaching fifty, Taylor has a flash at Woakes and is well caught by Root at first slip – his third catch of the day.
47 th over: NZ 146 – 2) Latham 48, Taylor 84)Ah, Stokes does get another over, perhaps ignore my medical evidence, though he is still grimacing. Nevertheless, he digs in a few short ones, then a fuller one which Latham knocks for four.
46 th over: NZ 144 – 2) Latham 47, Taylor 83)Chris Woakes, who has a very handsome new beard, replaces Curran. Latham is respectful, until a couple of balls after the lbw review, when he drives through midwicket for four. Lovely shot.
REVIEW!
England review an LBW from Chris Woakes against Latham … umpire Dharmasena originally says not out, we watch the third ump deliberate …. it pitches outside leg, by a fraction …. andEngland lose a review.
Updated (at 9.) PM EST
45 th over: NZ – 2) Latham 47, Taylor 79)And so it came to pass that Ben Stokes was thrown the ball, dodgy knee not withstanding. Actually that knee does seem to be troubling him both in walk back and follow-through. Not sure he’s going to be bowling many overs here. Anyway, Latham plays a couple of lovely shots, one superbly stopped by a spreadeagled Archer just short of the boundary and the other a straight midwicket drive for four to bring up the hundred partnership in (deliveries.)
44 th over: NZ – 2) Latham 47, Taylor 72)Inscurries, scampers,bustles Sam Curran. Ross Taylor leans into a front foot drives and sends the ball skimming across the green outfield. Zak Crawley chases it admirably but the ball bounces off his leg and over the boundary.
43 rd over: NZ – 2) Latham 43, Taylor 71 )Archer removes his hat and, one short sleeve, one long, continues his spell. Bowling to two slips and a gully, he slides in. He varies the length and Taylor (mostly) plays him carefully back. Outside in the darkness, the milkman drives past.
Updated
(nd over: NZ) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** – 2 – Latham 42, Taylor 70)Good early morning, afternoon, eve, my fine feathered friends and thank you very much Tim. I switched the telly on to see Jofra Archer slowly shaking his head as he deliberately put his hat back on. A drop and a bit of dodgy umpiring to mull over in that first post-lunch hour. Curran bowls an uneventful over and here we are.
That’s me done.Thanks for your company, and here, cup of tea in hand, is the ever-sparkling Tanya Aldred.
(st over: NZ – 2) Latham 69, Taylor 41)Archer is fully fired up now. He touches 89. 5mph with a delivery that whistles through Latham and ends up in the hands of Root. Where most of us would say “Ow!”, Root says “Owzat?” But the ump is unmoved. And that’sdrinks, with New Zealand winning that hour, although they’ve had some near-misses. David Lloyd, who’s not the narky type, still isn’t convinced that Taylor’s bat was anywhere near that ball from Broad.
(th over: NZ) ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** – 2) Latham 68, Taylor 41)England could do with a maiden, and Curran provides it.
39 th over: NZ 123 – 2) Latham 68, Taylor 41)That was much better from Archer, stung by that sudden flurry of runs.
“Evening Tim,” says Simon Richards. “Who should’ve been left out is a good question. The neighbor’s cat who wakes me up sneaking in to nick my cat’s food …… or Jack Leach? ”
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