Tri-Series 2007 Game 6: New Zealand crush England

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After England defeated New Zealand in Game 3, it was joked that England had finally found a way to win a game - not play Australia. Even that option is gone as New Zealand just thrashed England by 90 runs. With New Zealand hobbling to 210 and England faltering to 120, it seemed more a contest of mediocrity which England won hands down. Some highlights:

• It's been a season for the new ball bowlers - most innings in the Tri-series has featured top order collapses. Gilly's prediction of 400+ scores must've jinxed the whole summer as teams struggle to reach half that score.


• Daniel Vettori's 4 for 24. I've got a lot of time for Vettori who hadn't taken that many wickets yet this summer - it's good to see him bag a few. His figures were bettered by Flintoff's 4 for 21 but in the end, Flintoff failed when he was needed with the bat.


• Jacob Oram's very welcome return to the side. When the Kiwis were reeling at 5 for 67, Oram and McCullum's 120 run partnership proved the difference... and some. Styris is still to return from injury so New Zealand are getting stronger while England are falling apart. I don't hold out much hope of an Australia Day contest.

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Posted by JC on Tue 23 Jan

6 comments

Tonight England didn't have the luxury of seeing off Vettori like Australia have done so far. Vettori was overdue to take some wickets and this was the ideal circumstance for him, with England forced to play him.

Oram - what a fantastic return. Not merely the runs (and there was nothing 'merely' about them) but that Fleming now has the extra bowler he lacked on Sunday.

Things are looking more positive for the Kiwis. Not so for England.

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Posted by Lliam on 2007-01-24 01:28:44

When these two teams meet again, I'm gunna paint my lounge room wall before play. Then I'll turn off the tv and watch that paint dry. That should raise my excitement levels a notch or two.
As for Flintoff, what does he have to do to claim a victory as skipper?

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Posted by Dan Tas on 2007-01-24 07:42:52

Flintoff only has to do one thing as skipper to claim a victory: resign.

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Posted by JC on 2007-01-24 08:38:55

I have a sneaking suspicion the NZ that beat us in the thriller last year is slowly returning to form. It will be a really interesting World Cup as Australia hasn't found its one day legs. Martyn certainly left a gaping whole in this form of the game.

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Posted by TA on 2007-01-24 13:14:42

Australia's poor showing in the tri-series so far (although 4 wins, 2 with bonus points is not too shabby) is largely due to this rigorous training schedule which has left the players exhausted before the last couple of games. The idea is to train like mad early in the series, then taper off to peak performances in the finals. Then they'll replicate it at the World Cup - hard training at the start when playing the minnow teams then taper for the real games.

Hopefully it should be an interesting World Cup. Sri Lanka are looking good at the moment. If Pakistan could get all their bowlers fit, they'll be a force. And NZ should be full strength by March.

England needn't bother turning up though. They along with the minnow countries which they barely outrank at ODI rankings are merely there for the numbers.

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Posted by JC on 2007-01-24 13:19:39

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