As England’s international summer begun on Thursday, it was the perfect opportunity to see how England’s batting line-up would cope against a strong New Zealand bowling line-up which included the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Matt Henry.
All I can say is that the Australian bowling attack will be licking their lips after what they saw on Thursday.
In the first few overs Tim Southee and Trent Boult were getting the ball to swing and do all sorts and it was apparent that the top order weren’t ready for such high quality bowling.
England slumped to 4-30 and the cries for Kevin Pietersen to return begun again.
As I was watching I could already envisage in my head Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson doing the exact same thing to this English top order come that first Test in July.
The top order for England are far too tentative and it proved against New Zealand on that opening morning.
Alastair Cook has not been the same player he was back in the 2010 Ashes series for a good time and I just can’t see how he will stand up against the best bowling attack in the world come July.
Adam Lyth has just come in and is looking to see if he can go on and become a top player for England. He certainly wouldn’t have experienced anything like the Australian bowling line-up for his county side, Yorkshire.
Gary Ballance is a very good player but is he a number three for this side and will he be able to cope against the new ball if one of the openers falls early come July?
The middle order certainly isn’t the issue for England. If this English side are to get anything from the upcoming Ashes series then it’ll be very much down to the middle order of Ian Bell, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali.
We saw the top order show no sign of taking the New Zealand bowling on and that simply allowed the New Zealand bowlers to just bowl at the English batsmen. When Root and Stokes came in, they took the game on and made the New Zealand bowlers think about what they were actually going to bowl.
They need to get that mentality into the top order batsmen. It is the only way to get anything out of the Australian bowling attack. If you sit back and let the Australian bowlers bowl at you then it’ll be over before you know it.
It’s very difficult to see this upcoming series being a contest. England simply can’t keep falling to scores such as 4-30 and expect the middle order to recover the game all the time.
England’s middle order will have days where it fails and crumbles and it’s more likely to happen against Australia who have the best bowling attack in the world.
Even if England’s top order go on and have a successful second innings against New Zealand, I simply can’t see it being successful for the long term.
pete_uk
Guest
Yeah terrible quicks, no spin and top order wobbling! hmmm what match was you all watching, Ashes 18 months ago?
Rich_UK
Guest
he Aussie keyboard warriors are quiet today :)
Blades
Guest
Looks like Cook is back!
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Lyth didn't look comfortable out there at all did he? Balance... its hard to say, he averaged something like 65 going into this test and I think his first dismissal was a good delivery, and the 2nd looked like he was going after it a bit too much, like he was desperate to get runs? Either way, he has a horrible style doesn't he!
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Big day for England's batting line up, essentially what you said, that they have a quality middle order who were able to stay with Cook. Having just watched most of the 4th day I think they're better than what we give them credit for, and they were really in control all day - scoring 355-odd for the day. I think NZ bowling wasn't at their best today but England were really on top form and counter-attacked from the start... very different to the first innings. Firstly, Cook played a controlled and belligerent stand... didn't go after anything outside off-stump. Root played a typical Root-esque innings, but the game changed a gear when Stokes came on... Cook was able to sit back a bit and let Stokes steal the show, then when he was out Cook went back up a gear. I know you cant judge off an innings, but it's a good indication. Ultimately there was some pretty expensive bowling from NZ... I don't have the numbers in front of me but they struggled with line and length (much like in the first innings really). They gave Stokes far too many half-trackers, but then when they bowled a bit fuller he was still able to cart them. I seem to think Australia's bowling attack should be far more potent, but what I fear is that if England dig In just a bit, it gets all the more difficult to get them out.... I can see England going for draws and frustrating us and perhaps not the 5-0 McGrath suggested... Back to this test and the 5th day, it's a strange one, it'll be a tough decision whether to declare over night... if they do, it's a run rate of just over 4/over???? Quite an interesting test.
Quitwhinging
Guest
Absolutely not! If you bothered to watch or even read about Robson, you would know he is weak against accurate bowling. Nevermind quality or fast
JimmyB
Guest
I'm afraid since he's played for England, he can't play for Oz. He threw his lot in with England.
Cantab
Guest
Plus no spinner. England's only real strength is their quicks, but even they are not currently performing.
CW
Guest
Sam is an Aussie born and bred. CA should try to lure him home. May just be a good fit for Rogers opening spot.
CW
Guest
Do not entirely agree with your summary there. The Poms were in a huge hole when Bell went. Consolidation was what was needed at that stage. Not flamboyance. Unfortunately, some poor bowling by a couple of the NZ quicks let England off the hook. In particular, some leg stump feeds to Strokes by Boult were very damaging as it allowed the Durham man to get his innings going. The Black Cap pacemen needed to keep it tight and build pressure.One more wicket and the Poms were done and dusted. Most likely for the match.
CW
Guest
The thing that has stuck out like a sore thumb by the England top order bats, Lyth and Ballance. Has been their lack of a solid technique against the moving ball. Both their two dismissals have been brought about by playing back then being late to adjust to the length. The result either bowled or edging into the slips. I also have to say that I can not remember a flatter Lords deck than this one for a very long time.
CW
Guest
Yes Lachlan it was quality swing bowling. Aided, I may add, by a greenish deck. We Aussies, along with the Saffers have the best bowling attacks in world cricket. However, apart from Starc, who is no certainty to play in the first test, we have no specialty swing bowler in the Ashes touring squad. We have left those at home..namely the injured Chadd Sayers and Tasmania veteran Ben Hilfenhaus. Josh Hazlewood can swing the ball. But is more a seamer. He should, though, find the English conditions to his liking.
James Butcher
Guest
Tbf, Root and Stokes came in once the shine had come off the ball, but they batted brilliantly. Credit to NZ for exploiting the conditions and using the new ball well. As far as England are concerned, it was a poor start, but it happens sometimes. Cook hasn't been as bad as some people are making out recently and his dismissal was a strangle more than anything and it was an aggressive shot. Lyth is in his first test match so it's a bit early to be passing judgement yet. Ballance has a very good test record as does Bell who got a Jaffa. I know you mentioned the Aussie bowling attack mate, you did it twice.
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
I mention Australia have the best bowling attack in the world. I'm not suggesting just go for it from ball one, but show some aggression and don't let the bowler do what he wants. Root and Stokes in the first innings the other day provided a great example of it. The top order weren't showing any aggression or even looking to score. The mentality changed when Root and Stokes came in.
ajay dandriyal
Roar Rookie
he recently scored 178 but i don't think robson is a candidate now ? specially dizzy as a coach.
JimmyB
Guest
I think you forgot to mention that Australia have the best bowling attack in the world. So your advice to England is to throw the bat at everything and from ball one?!
John
Guest
What has happened to Sam Robson? Is he still a contender for a top order place for England?