Kash, maybe but the wicket is slow.Nz will be more positive in their foot movement.. Unless the wicket turns square and quickly. Most spinners are easily to negate. We need to get 400+ and quickly.

Poor shot from Bell.

Was Ian Bell's foot movement or lack of. England have been so negative.. He couldnt quite work out what to do with that delivery. Move his bat inside the line or try and hit the ball. Didnt do either and knicked the ball.

How many bad balls have been hit straight to a fielder today from all the batsman. NZ have bowled well but placing a ball is not that hard.

2 runs an over is shocking.

Sorry if i am coming across has harsh. I just don't get the England approach today.. Win toss positive move. Then proceed to bat a snails pace?. Its been current theme. Between both teams in recent months.NZ bowl full and wide and England allow the ball to go by. get onto offstump and hit the ball. When Martin loops the ball up. get closer to ball and and hit it on the full. I recall saying the same old things back in March.

Gone off for rain, thank god for that

NZ bowled very well. On a batting surface, England let NZ bowlers dictate the terms. With the rain and new ball tomorrow, NZ will have their hopes up for sure. But England has a long tail. I'd think 300+ still possible.

sad to say but over the last couple of years the England batsmen have become an opposition captain's dream. They know exactly how we will play. If I was a bit more cynical I would see this as a ruse for the Aussies benefit. The only positive of yesterday's debacle is that we still have 6 wickets left.

A big chance for Root & Bairstow to make their marks on the team and gain some momentum before the ashes.

Theres no need to score quicker according to Trott.. No, no reason. Your team win the toss and score 160 runs in 80 overs.. God help Kevin Pieterson when he gets back in the team. Don't score KP. ITS not allowed.

That's what i've found so frustrating. It's not so much the run rate in it's self, but the complete lack of intent from any batsman to try and dominate or change the situation. I don't think the NZ attack is bad by any means but it's the weakest we will face this summer and not one of our batsman made any attempt to dominate or get the score board ticking, and according to Trott they have no reason to !

Well almost an hours play and nothing has changed.
Am totally losing interest in test cricket.. Test cricket is slow at the best of times. But god this is grating me.
DO something

I'm interested in seeing how Matt prior plays on this pitch. For a guy who scores quickly naturally it will be interesting to see if even he struggles to score on this pitch or can he do what he usually does and change a game.

If Australia have the intelligence when we play them in the Ashes. They wont over attack with their seamers. Just bowl wide and full and and wait for England to bat themselfs into statues.

Beardedwonder.. Prior wont allow the ball to go by outside off stuff thats for sure. He may get out knicking. But at least he will show intent.. Patience is fine. But going nowhere and then getting out.. sorta of beats the objective of being patient.

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This batting is almost enticing me back to the IPL

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I tend to agree Englandwhoelse, however we can't 100% judge the pitch until both teams have batted on it. Granted this performance is poor so far and today is even worse, but as we know it's hard to judge until both teams have batted. I watched Worcester v Kent the other night, worcester could hardly score a run in a 25 over match, got 111 i think, everyone said how poor they were with no intent, until kent batted and they scrapped home by 3 wickets and struggled as well. This is not good so far but lets watch both teams bat on this pitch first. however i fear NZ will bat better.

I know beardedwonder. Its not easy to play on a slow track when teams bowl full and wide. England should at least play further down the pitch. Ie Pieterson and get closer to the ball.. England batsmen sit in their crease and do zero.. NZ have shown they can ball accurate..Even if NZ start bowling short at least if you take a guard further down. At least the batsmen can at least pull the ball.

Wish you could edit these posts..
Anyway there goes Root..

Shame to see Root go, thought he might be digging in for a big score. Prior and Bairstow batting together would normally be exciting to watch !

Maybe in the second innings

And now Prior is out. Quick quick someone slip Bresnan into the 11 before any notices. We need his batting.. After all our top order batmen who average mid 40s+ need help. The longer the batting line up the better.
Nz may bat poorly and lose the game. Wont take away from how England have been preforming the last 4 test matches.

Oh dear.