So the Cricket starts at 9:30pm? How does that work? Aren’t Australia and New Zealand in the same time zone? Obviously not. Someone please explain (I’m looking at you, Simon). Excellent news though as I can rest my sore toe, watch the Champions League tonight and then test cricket as my Sky Sports watching ability has been fully restored.
With New Zealand’s top bowler Shane Bond absent because of his deal with the Indian Cricket League, England’s batsmen could really cash in against a weakened Kiwi bowling attack. It’s real opportunity for Andrew Strauss to regain his regular test place after a real run of poor form and, to be fair, poor luck caused him to be left out against Sri Lanka.
The Englishman displaying the most form with the bat is Ian Bell. He hit some exquisite shots in the recent ODI series and I’m backing him to really cash in and better his current top test score of 162.
I’ve also been fairly disappointed with Kevin Pietersen’s form of late. He consistently shows enough ability to be the best batsmen in the world and then gets out cheaply. I have every confidence that he’s got another 2005 Ashes series in him. Perhaps it’s this one. Although if, he’s only one left, let’s save it for those bloody Aussies.
After all that batting talk, we’ll probably lose the toss and concede 500 runs in the first day.