by Owzat » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:57 pm
1st Test - disappointing bowling from Hoggard and Harmison, we had them in trouble and they more than doubled their total for the last five wickets. England batted too slowly and all the batsmen got starts without going on to make big scores, England fell apart second innings and should be ashamed of their efforts.
2nd Test - strange decision to bowl first by the kiwis, Hoggard and Harmison ditched for Broad and Anderseon. While the batsmen may not be converting 50s Ambrose did and England posted a solid first innings total. Anderson bowled very well for a change, even now his average is still 37, and the kiwis really never got going. From there England couldn't really go wrong, batted long enough to leave a very demanding total of the kiwis and they made a decent fist of it. Ambrose's innings with Collingwood was the difference, if the keeper can't bat then we'd be in serious trouble. There were one or two too many drops second innings, I reckon they should ALL do an hour's catching practice for every collective drop.
3rd Test - shouldn't be any changes, Panesar hasn't done too much this series but I'd stick with a winning formula. Vaughan's record as captain should be coming under scrutiny, while we won convincingly last time out it is rather because of the sizeable first innings lead. Under Vaughan England have lead by 100+ on first innings 16 times, winning all but two which were drawn. Likewise England have never turned around a 100+ first innings deficit, drawing five out of eleven and losing six.
And one other stat, Vaughan had not lost a Test (as captain) having lead on first innings until the defeat in Sri Lanka from 93 runs ahead that cost England the series. Helps that 1/3 of his Tests in charge have come against the bottom three sides who England win without many difficulties against (14 out of 15 wins, the one draw being West Indies scoring 751 and could well be the Lara's record Test)
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