If you want a handy metaphor for both the nature of NZ cricket and its place in the sport's landscape, you could probably do worse than this (extended) XI of the World Cup featuring zero of the side that was the tournament's beaten finalist.
Maybe I need to crack open the 2005 ashes boxset but it's hard to separate the two things. His personality is in no small part how he had the career he did.
(Goes to YouTube to watch the 2005 ODI at Bristol)
"Tactically you've got to understand the situation" - from a player with his record of ridiculous dismissals 😂
KP used to be one of my favourite players growing up but his lack of self awareness and ability to say stupid things every time he opens his mouth really sours things for me
Feels like Archer bowls shorter more generally since his return. Maybe the injury and slight change in arm angle has impacted his ability to bowl a yorker?
If you're not confident in bowling it the data shows a missed yorker is the easiest ball to hit for 6 so it's risky
Sanju Samson player of the match over the bloke who scored a 100?? Erm, sure.
He was also on the list for player of the tournament... A guy who has played half the matches cannot win player of the tournament for scoring two 80s
Sensational batting performance by England. India have bowled pretty well (other than Varun), if England bowled even fractionally better they would have won this game.
Brook's drop looms large
No centuries a few months ago and now he has one in all 3 international formats.
Big games and Bethell rises. Seen it in the 2nd innings of Test matches, now in a semi final
Bumrah is bloody good
If that is the end of Buttler's international career, it's a sad ending. England's best ever white ball batter out to an ungainly hack across the line.
Looking completely broken after often being THE game changer
Doesn't it feel great to have that as an option.
(I'd still have TMS as a little background hum just in case)
Watching that Axar catch and thinking back to Brook's drop... 😬
I don't doubt that I'll be enjoying the Women's T20 World Cup later this year much more than the mens
Despite complaining about boundaries etc, I will thoroughly enjoy it if England chase this down 😅
I've got a feeling Phil Salt gets a decent score 🤷🏻♂️
The margin for error as a bowler is so small. Give them something, anything to work with.
I like watching batters using the ground dimensions and pushing for 2s
I don't want to become desensitised to the craft of batting. I remember Pietersen belting 6s during the ODI series pre-2005 ashes and it being awesome inspiring
Maybe it's because this tournament has lasted for an eternity, maybe it's because it's happening to England, but I'm kind of done with just watching batters miscue for 6 over a small boundary.
It's also really jarring after watching batters struggle in Sri Lankan matches
I'm not even sure where you bowl to him. Another day those early swipes outside off stump could have looped to backward point or short 3rd but that's not a plan.
Spin maybe but like a lot of batters now, anything slightly short absolutely disappears
For all the T20 talent in the world, there are very few who can do this.
It doesn't always look pretty but once Allen gets rolling a game gets away very quickly. This alone would make me bowl 1st against New Zealand
Averages 44 and strikes at 157 in T20s Vs England... So basically yeah
👏🏻
I refuse to look at what the numbers actually are but I'm sure Glenn Phillips is basically Bradman Vs England
#ENGvNZ #ICCT20WC
I think that was how Bethell ended up in the team. Smith didn't go to NZ as his wife was giving birth, Cox was going to play + keep, he got injured so Pope kept and Bethell played.
Ultimately meaning Pope's replacement was found.
Cox very much deserving IMO. All formats in another timeline
Options to get in the Test side. Opening the batting (we've seen no desire to drop Crawley or Duckett), oust someone in the middle order (Root, Brook, Stokes... Lol good luck) or keep wicket if they've thrown in the Jamie Smith towel (feels like that's white ball only).
Don't know how Cox gets in 🤷🏻♂️
I'm down the rabbit hole now looking at photos. One of these things looks at least a foot long
Can someone out there find a screenshot? How big are we talking??
Despite being the first side to qualify for the semis I'm not convinced England would be top 4 in people's minds to win the tournament.
The batting surely can't continue to be this middling... (It probably can)
Finding a way to win close games is usually a good sign for a team. Doesn't seem that way with England BUT they're now 2 good performances from being Champions.
Plenty of players in this England team can be match winners.
We didn't expect them to romp all the way did we?
Depends on where you view the pressure coming from. I'm not sure there's anywhere near as much from the ECB higher ups as fans believe.
Doubt even an England win would do it for fans. Knives have been sharpening since the summer
Really broad shoulders
Comment from ESPNCricinfo live blog on England Vs Pakistan. "Dont worry Pakistan. Brook will slow down for his century"
How are there cricket fans who have never seen Brook bat before? 😅
#ENGvPAK
