Aussies vs India and NZ vs England Tests

Is this Sandy, on BBC?:

This seems like an incredibly arrogant declaration to me. Yes it's a very tough chase, but it's not impossible. I have not looked at the forecast, but the weather should be the only reason not to bat on until at least lunch (or they are all out). There are almost three days left!

Tom, Exeter

England . How did this NZ team smash India?

It's a bit of a shame England have been deducted so many points through slow over rates. It's frustrating that they keep being defensive about it as well. I know they get results so in theory it shouldn't matter because it's not like it's a time wasting tactic or anything. However it's costing them points and whilst the WTC doesn't feel like a pinnacle competition, especially as SA will probably be in the final having sent a virtual C squad to NZ because it clashed with the SA20. It'd be good to see them actually try to win it by sorting these issues out.

On a different but more positive note, Brook has moved to the top of batting rankings usurping Root although they may switch back after the final test given they're so close. Brook has an extraordinary away record, averaging almost 90 in 10 test matches with 7 centuries. His home record of 38 from 13 test matches needs to improve though. Hopefully he can increase that significantly in the home series against India and score a few hundreds as well as he only had 1 on home soil currently.

Potts in the 11 to replace Woakes.

England's first innings has cost them massively here and Crawley's terrible series has come to an end. Will he retain his place in the summer? I hope not.

England could break their record of heaviest defeat by runs. 562 is their current record although they are safe from the overall record of 675 runs.

I'd thought Crawley had turned a corner last year but he's back to being terrible on any pitch that isn't a road.

Needs to spend a year or two at County before he's reconsidered but I can see them just sticking with him after investing all this time.

I can't see him ever being consistent enough to be such a mainstay.

Only chance he gets dropped is whether they like Bethel enough to move him to open. There's talk of Smith coming in at 3 and retaining Pope with the gloves but I don't think they'll do that.

I was critical of Bethel but to be fair to him, he has looked to give himself a chance. Even in the first innings here he got 12 off 33 rather than just going after everything like Crawley does. Obviously this has just been a bad team performance so Crawley being bad isn't the issue as he was bad in the first two tests that we won. However he's an area we can improve.

Crawley averaging 11 after 8 innings in the South Africa T20 thing.

comment by J.5.Soldad.0h (U23088)
posted 9 minutes ago
Crawley averaging 11 after 8 innings in the South Africa T20 thing.
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has been awful. Not sure why they are paying him money as an overseas player. Might as well give a village cricketer the chance.

He can only play one way.. foot down the pitch and slog.. no finesse with him