England's Road to Glory

[shefellover93]

Galvin and Eastwood ready to face this year

The Barmy Army are preparing for another season of International Cricket this season with two series' on home soil. First against New Zealand, and than South Africa. Surrey coach Kevin Galvin has once again taken the reigns at the ECB with his faithful assistant manager Chris Eastwood. Galvin was unavailable to comment today due to his Browncap commitments, but we will have an interview with the Irishman soon.

England, who have signed a lucrative £1.6 million with adidas to make their kits, will be hoping to keep the sponsors happy with good performances in the summer
Fixtures:
New Zealand in England
Npower Test Series

Thu 15 - Mon 19
1st Test - England v New Zealand
Kennington Oval, London

Fri 23 - Tue 27
2nd Test - England v New Zealand
Lords, London

Thu 5 - Mon 9 June
3rd Test - England v New Zealand
Edgbaston, Birmingham

Natwest ODI Series

Fri 13
Twenty20 International - England v New Zealand
Old Trafford, Manchester

Sun 15
1st ODI - England v New Zealand
Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street

Wed 18
2nd ODI - England v New Zealand
Edgbaston, Birmingham

Sat 21
3rd ODI - England v New Zealand
County Ground, Bristol

Wed 25
4th ODI - England v New Zealand
Kennington Oval, London

Sat 28
5th ODI - England v New Zealand
Lord's, London

PS. I won't be using video, just match report

[shefellover93]

New Zealand Name 20 Man Squad

Blackcap Coach John Bracewell has named the team to take on England in this year's tour of England. The Tour starts in Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground on 27th April against Marylebone Cricket Club and than plays through a 3 game test series and 5 day ODI series before culminating in a 3 team series with Scotland and England in July.

Bracewell has named a number of main players including Stephen Fleming who has come out of retirement, and old heads such as Craig McMillan


New Zealand Squad in England 2008

Jeetan Patel arrives in Heathrow Airport prior to the Blackcap series in England


Jamie How
Chris Cumming
Lou Vincent
Stephen Marshall
Matthew Sinclair
Stephen Fleming
Ross Taylor
Peter Fulton
Craig McMillan
Jacob Oram
Scott Styris
Brendon McCullum
James Franklin
Daniel Vettori
Kyle Mills
Mark Gillespie
Shane Bond
Jeetan Patel
Daryl Tuffey
Chris Martin

[shefellover93]

Chris Tremlett shines for England Lions
Chris Tremlett emerged from a disappointing winter to press his claims for an England recall with an eye-catching display for the Lions against New Zealand.


The Hampshire seamer endured a frustrating winter with injuries and, despite impressing in three Tests against India last summer, appeared to have slipped back in the England pecking order.

In the swing: Chris Tremlett produced the goods for the Lions

But with Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison having been dropped during the recent series in New Zealand, competition for places has intensified ahead of next week's first Test against the Kiwis.

And given an opportunity to face the tourists for the England Lions at the Rose Bowl this week, Tremlett looked the most accomplished of the seamers attempting to attract the selectors' attention.
He claimed two early wickets to leave the Kiwis, playing their final warm-up match before the start of the npower Test series, struggling on 47 for three in reply to the Lions' first-innings 280.

Tremlett then returned with the second new ball to dismiss all-rounder Jacob Oram as New Zealand reached 261 for nine before the close of the second day.
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Aaron Redmond looked to have done enough to secure a Test debut at Lord's next week with an unbeaten 139.

While Tremlett flourished, Yorkshire seamer Hoggard struggled to make the same impact in front of watching selector James Whitaker as he seeks to add to his 67 caps.

However, he did at least manage to rescue a frustrating day with three late wickets with the second new ball.
Given the first new ball at the start of the day, Hoggard was outbowled by emerging Durham seamer Graham Onions, who claimed a wicket with his second ball when he earned an lbw verdict against opener Jamie How.

Onions' early breakthrough was followed up by Tremlett, who was brought into the attack as a replacement for Hoggard and tempted Jamie Marshall into fending a short ball straight to Luke Wright at short leg.

Tremlett also induced Ross Taylor, New Zealand's best batsman against England during the winter, into edging behind for five.

While the other members of the top order may be struggling for runs before Lord's, Redmond showed a determined application to hit his fifth first-class century.
He batted all day to reach his highest score and shared a 77-run stand with Brendon McCullum which threatened to put the tourists firmly in control.

But with McCullum, who is leading the side in place of injured captain Daniel Vettori, in sight of his half-century he was involved in a mix-up over a quick single and was run out by Michael Carberry's direct hit.
Dejected after running out his side's leading player, Redmond made amends by reaching his own half-century and then survived being hit on the helmet by a hostile short ball from Tremlett.

He showed great resilience to recover from that shock to reach a superb century, which included 17 boundaries, having been dropped on 97 after giving a regulation catch to Graeme Swann at second slip off Onions.
He went on to surpass his previous best first-class score of 135 and put New Zealand on course for a first innings lead.

Hoggard had to wait until the 85th over for his first success when Jeetan Patel edged to second slip. He followed up by removing Tim Southee and Iain O'Brien to leave the tourists trailing by 19 runs.

[joelza1990]

hahaha nice a cricket manager mode good to see. What star level of difficulty?

[shefellover93]

Three

I have gameplay patches that make it way harder tho

[chris louie II]

Nice start

[shefellover93]

First Test Preview

This is the second time in a row these two are playing each other. England took the spoils down under, coming back from a one game deficit. But New Zealand did fight back in the ODI series, winning by one game, the series also included the first tie between the teams in a fascinating game.

Coach Kevin Galvin has returned after his break during the game down under. He handed in his resignation to Surrey in April and is now coaching the team full time. His assistant Chris Eastwood returns also to lend his experience after taking a break from his duties at Hampshire.

Monty Panesar and Ryan Sidebottom bask in England's series victory against New Zealand
This is the first of two tours that England have. They also must face South Africa later this summer, with another 3 match test series. They must keep their full attention on the match.

Galvin has named a new look 20 man squad. With young players such as Mal Loye and Tim Ambrose, both in for their form in the County Championship. He has also included veteran and former workmate Mark Ramprakash in the squad.
He returns back to the Oval for the test match, ironically it will be his first game there this year due to Surrey’s seemingly endless run of away games.

It will be interesting to see if Andrew Flintoff features in this game after his ankle was once again troubling him. It is affecting his batting with his form with the bat hitting an all time low. But his bowling is much improved and he played a key part in Lancs win over Durham. Arguments are raging up and down the country weather he should be included.

This is England’s first game since the tour of New Zealand. While the Kiwi’s have good form going into the match with wins over Kent and the England Lions. But England do have the physiological advantage over New Zealand with their test series win.

England won the last series between the two teams early this year
You can get unparalleled coverage of the series in the Telegraph. We will have a special feature called “Eye On the Ashes”, where we will look at England’s younger players to step up to the plate in a year’s time.

[shefellover93]

England Name 20 Man Squad

Head Coach Kevin Galvin has announced his 20 man squad to do battle against New Zealand tomorrow, the squad includes some old faces and new players, from the Ashes series, the lineup is as follows.

England Squad to Face New Zealand
Michael Vaughan
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Alistair Cook
Tim Ambrose
Dimitri Mascarenhas
Stuart Broad
Andrew Flintoff
Ryan Sidebottom
Paul Collingwood
Stephen Harmison
Matthew Hoggard
Monty Panesar
Mark Ramprakash
Mal Loye
Liam Plunkett
Chris Tremlett
Graeme Swann
Phil Mustard
Mark Butcher

[shefellover93]

England find it Tuff
Day One At the Oval

In overcast conditions but what was a good pitch, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl. Many questioned Daniel Vettori’s decision, but it paid off when in the 4th over Daryl Tuffey bowled Alastair Cook for just one. Michael Vaughan got in and got set, with him and Mal Loye having a good partnership.

Tuffey was out of the attack in the 14th over, replaced by Chris Martin. Yet another stroke of brilliance by Vettori as Martin bowled Loye to break their 11 over partnership. Ian Bell then came in and Vaughan hit his first boundary in the 22nd over. but Bell was out in the next over, bowled by Tuffey, it was Daryl’s second of the session.

New Zealand found the early breakthrough

Vettori brought himself into the attack in the attack but was getting frustrated, Vaughan hitting a couple of shots to the boundary. But Vettori made a major breakthrough when he had Michael Vaughan trapped lbw for 25. That was the end of the session, England having a terrible session finishing 78-4.
Afternoon Session
The afternoon session couldn’t have gone worse for England from a batting perspective. Mark Ramprakash was out after Hamish Marshall caught his sweep. Tim Ambrose came in but only lasted 4 balls when his block shot fell straight into the hands of Daryl Tuffey.

Kevin Pietersen made a start and was looking comfortable before a shot he tried to guide to third man deflected into the hands of Vettroi, Martin was the bowler. Than an over later Vettori claimed his second victim. Hoggard sclicing the ball to him off the bowling of Daryl Tuffey.

Overcast conditions didn't help England

But that wasn’t the only wicket in the 35th over with Stephen Harmison being bowled by an outstanding Tuffey in his second ball. At this stage Monty Panesar was the only man left.
But the Sikh put up an excellent fight, rallying with partner Ryan Sidebottom to make a final wicket partnership of 22 before Panesar was run out on 11. That brought the England Innings to a close, finishing on an appaling 113 after only 39 overs.


New Zealand 1st Innings

What England’s batting lacked, it’s bowling certainly made up for. Stephen Harmison had a dream over, first bowling Lou Vincent in the second ball of the innings. Then bowling the highly dangerous Stephen Fleming in the next ball, both for ducks. Hoggard followed with a maiden, but that was the last full over of the day when rain set in at about quarter to three and ending whatever hope of cricket in the day.

A day of mixed emotions for England, on one hand they will be very disappointed at the atrocious batting performance, but on the other hand, they will be very pleased with the flying return of Stephen Harmsion and Matthew Hoggard

Scorecards

[TheAesthete]

Sounds like a tough first day for England, typical top order not performing again! I think the couch needs to do something about it, maybe shake up the personel or at least give them a talk about concentration. With the rain you might be lucky to get a draw though, a lucky escape for England if you do... (waits for you to bowl NZ out for under 50 lmao)

[shefellover93]

lol thanks for the comment. Unfourtunatley I was just about finished the afternoon session on day 2 when the game stopped working and I can't get it going again. Hopefully it'll be back soon but no play 4tm

[shefellover93]

The Lions Have Come Out To Play
England made a massive turn around in Day 2 to put horrible New Zealand batting and poor bowling to the sword.

Day 2 started off with a bang for the Kiwi's as they put England’s bowlers to shame in the morning session. Stephen Harmison and Mathew Hoggard were hoping to continue their good form but they soon realised what they were faced with when Harmison got smacked for 9 in his 2nd over of the day. That definitely gave an indication as to what the day would be like. Vaughan had enough after the fifth over and brought spinners Panesar and Vaughan into bowl. The partnership was very economical, but was of no threat to Marshall and McMillan in the centre.

Soon Hoggard and Harmison once again had the ball in the hand, but could make no use of it. Hamish Marshall did though, he smacked a six in the 20th over to reach his fifty, the Auckland man reaching the first milestone in the game in only 68 balls.

The Kiwi’s were relentless, smacking every bad ball to the boundary, but soon Hoggard and Harmison tightened up and allowed no more than 5 runs in an over for the last 9 overs of the match.

New Zealand finished the session on 90 for 2.

The afternoon session was quite the opposite of the morning session with wickets galore. In the 35th over England broke the massive 100+ run partnership between Craig McMillan and Hamish Marshall when the former was caught by none other than the captain Michael Vaughan for 24. Panesar replaced Ryan Sidebottom an over later and danger man Marshall was soon following McMillan, 21 runs short of a century after being bowled by Monty.

Monty wasted no time in celebrating the huge wicket of Hamish Marshall


England’s mood was made even better when Ross Taylor was dismissed for a duck, Tim Ambrose making a good catch off Stephen Harmison’s bowling. Than the dangerous Brandon McCullum was gone for one. Two overs later and the captain was walking back to the pavilion, bowled for yet another duck, the Kiwi innings disintegrating. Then two wickets in two overs with Sinclair and Daryl Tuffey the next to go.

In came the worst batsman in the world, and he showed some lost form when he and Shane Bond kept the English bowlers at bay for 10 overs before Martin was caught at silly point, but not before making is record score in test cricket, 19 was the score the Christchurch man made before falling foul to good spin bowling. New Zealand after a good start, completely fell apart in the Afternoon Session and after the first innings lead by only 41 runs.

England couldn’t finish the remaining 4 overs of the session unscathed. Mal Loye with another disappointing innings lasting only 11 balls before he was caught playing a block shot in silly point for a duck. The England selectors will have to think long and hard about his further involvement in this series.

The Evening Session was all England and in a crucial session the three lions stole the show. Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan saw off the early threat of Daryl Tuffey and were going nicely. Cook cut away and started hitting the boundary.

Daniel Vettori couldn't break the 3rd wicket partnership


Soon the partnership was up to 50 and both players were in nicely. It seemed a completely different partnership than the last innings and after Vettori brought himself into the attack and couldn’t take a wicket Cook reached his fifty in the 27th over. He made the total in a spritley 79 balls. New Zealand couldn’t find the key and the pair didn’t play a bad shot all session. McMillan was brought in 4 overs before the end of play but couldn’t make a breakthrough. England finish the day on 108-1, they lead by 67 runs going into day 3.

Scorecards

[ElNino1310]

This is really good mate

Couls you please post scoreboard at end of each day

[joelza1990]

good comeback i thought NZ were gunna run away after lunch.

[shefellover93]

O yea, ****, means to post scoreboard, will edit it now

[chris louie II]

Nice diary

[shefellover93]

Barmy Army Fight On

England picked up where they left off in the second day and in the 36th over Michael Vaughan reached his half century in 92 balls. Vettori brought himself back into the attack 6 overs later. Soon the partnership was worth 150 and Vaughan and Cook seemed unstoppable. Or so it seemed. 4 overs efore the end of the session Vettori bowled a rare ball away from the stumps, Cook tried to smash it to the boundary with a square drive, but only succeeded in nicking an edge, and McCullum behind the stumps was determined to get his man.

Daniel Vettori receives praise from his team-mates after taking the vital wicket of Alistair Cook

Cook gone for 93 of 166 balls. So England couldn’t go two sessions in a row without a wicket. But ending the morning session on day 3 165 runs ahead and 8 wickets in front can’t be bad for the 3 Lions.


England kept their good run of form for this match, Bell got in quickly and three overs in Michael Vaughan reached his century, a wonderful innings of 182 balls means Michael Vaughan has lead from the front.

Michael Vaughan scored a wonderful century to keep England in the driving seat


In the 66th over the partnership reached 50. Bell kept going at a high rate of scoring and reached his 50 in the 77th over, talking only 56 balls. Two overs later the partnership was worth 100 and England reached the Tea break on Day 3 without a wicket falling, now 326-2 with two hours left in the day.

England kept going in the evening session and Bell and Vaughan went past their 150 partnership in the 93rd over. An over later Vaughan reached his personal milestone of 150 and in doing so cemented is place in the England side for another summer. Bell went soon after though, trapped lbw by Craig McMillan for 86. In came Mark Ramprakash and he started to get in and play shots. The pair took England past the 100 over mark But Ramprakash and Vaughan ended their partnership in the 111th over when Shane Bond had Vaughan caught by Chris Martin.

Shane Bond took the massive wicket of Vaughan, the Manchester Man making 161 before going to a catch from Chris Martin


It was Bond’s first wicket after 45 overs bowling and Vaughan ended on an excellent 161 runs off 324 balls.

But England couldn’t see the day off without conceding a wicket. Ramprakash got out much the same way as Vaughan, he tried to glance a delivery by McMillan onto the onside for four, but couldn’t recognise the Christchurch man’s slower delivery and only succeeded in picking out Martin who took his second catch at short fine leg, out for 40 off 68 balls.

England finished the session well, but the Evening Session was much more balanced and New Zealand will feel much better at the end of day 3 with three more wickets gone. Mark Ramprakash will not be happy after giving his wicket away so late in the day. But England will hope Kevin Pietersen and Tim Ambrose will take England out of New Zealand’s reach in this second test.

England finish Day 3 on 425-5

Scorecard

[chris louie II]

England doing well

[shefellover93]

Blistering weather, blistering cricket
A blistering Day 4 met the players as they headed out on to the famous Lord’s turf to start the day’s play

England started well and Pietersen and Ambrose reached their 50 partnership in the 122nd over, KP on 41 off a blistering 30 balls and Ambrose looking well on 28 off 31 balls. Vettori brought himself into the attack and worried Ambrose, the Warwickshire player wobbling under good spin bowling on a 4th day pitch.

Kevin Pietersen played a crucial part, hitting a quickfire half-century


Soon Ambrose was gone, trying to flick a ball to the leg side but only managed to scoop the ball into the hands of Daniel Vettori, Chris Martin’s 3rd wicket of the game. Pietersen kept firing though and reached fifty in the 129th over off 50 balls exactly. But 4 balls later his partner Matthew Hoggard was gone, much in the same way as Hoggard, this time the roles were reversed with Vettori taking the catch off Martin.

Ryan Sidebottom came in and blocked out, England reached the 500 mark after the 135th over, much to the applause to the Oval crowd, but the next ball Sidebottom lost his head and tried to come down the track to Vattori’s bowling. He missed the ball and was smartly stumped by Brendon McCullum for only 1 off 18 balls.

Stephen Harmison didn't last long
Coach Kevin Galvin looked far from phased in the pavilion though, Stephen Harmison came in and played well, playing at bad balls and blocking good balls, he looked more like a man in the middle order than a No. 10.

But Kevin Pietersen was bowled trying to slog Craig McMillan over his head and after 138 overs Michael Vaughan declared, England finishing on 527-9 with New Zealand needing 483 runs to win the test match.

Only one of the Kiwi overs was completed for three runs before the bails were taken off to signal lunch.


England started the afternoon session well and Matthew Hoggard was looking dangerous with the ball, and in his 4th ball of the session he picked up the huge wicket of Hamish Marshall, this was a big wicket for England after Marshall’s last score of 79. Harmison was economical on the other end.

Stephen Fleming came in next and was out after 4 balls without scoring, bowled by a vicious in swinger that took out his off stump, Hoggard taking his second wicket. Harmison was aggressive and hit McMillan with a dangerous bouncer to the ribs,