creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Worthy4England]

Effectively, we are watching England's current two greatest batsman at work here. I am confident we can win this....

I'm watching the same thing and I'm not at all confident...

[Worthy4England]

Oh. Need Foakes now to bat at his best

[nicholaldo]

I just don't understand why, in the circumstances, Stokes would risk a shot like that.

Both batsmen are set, there is an abundance of time to play with, and we were just approaching a stage where we could think about winning the match.

[Worthy4England]

I'm a little less annoyed at Stokes (but probably need another look). The ball follows him pretty well.

What an enthralling days play.

[TANGODANCER]

61 need to win and five wickets left. Root back in some form and Stokes managed 54. It's been a one innings test after almost even Stevens of first innings, and we should do it now.

[Worthy4England]

I think they will likely get a new ball before it's done...so I'm sorta hoping we get 40/50 prior to it...

[Prufrock]

Not for the first time it all depends on Joe.

If he can get to three figures (apparently he's never scored a 4th innings ton) then we've every chance.

If he's gone inside 20 minutes it looks tough

[TANGODANCER]

I just don't understand why, in the circumstances, Stokes would risk a shot like that.

I don't think he did, but just reacted instinctively to avoid the ball. You can see from his own reaction he's rather more amazed then annoyed. For me it was just a bit of bad luck. He'd got away with a no-ball that would have seen him walk. All part of the game.

[Worthy4England]

I just don't understand why, in the circumstances, Stokes would risk a shot like that.

I don't think he did, but just reacted instinctively to avoid the ball. You can see from his own reaction he's rather more amazed then annoyed. For me it was just a bit of bad luck. He'd got away with a no-ball that would have seen him walk. All part of the game.

Yeah, I was wondering about this yesterday and whilst Stokes played what might be viewed as a risky one day shot, it really is a very good ball, that follows him as he tries to rock back under it...

[nicholaldo]

I just don't understand why, in the circumstances, Stokes would risk a shot like that.

I don't think he did, but just reacted instinctively to avoid the ball. You can see from his own reaction he's rather more amazed then annoyed. For me it was just a bit of bad luck. He'd got away with a no-ball that would have seen him walk. All part of the game.

No, I don't buy that personally. I think he was trying to play at it but it got high on him.

The garden looks a lot rosier this morning, though.

[Prufrock]

Yes Joe!

[Worthy4England]

Brilliant ton from Root. Great to get to 10,000 test runs (not that I'd know much about that )

But the supporting innings from both Stokes and maybe even more especially Foakes - absolutely vital. What it didn't need was a 30 ball 30 from a WK (Bairstow/Buttler). Needed to drop anchor and he and Stokes did that pretty well.

Fair play to TD for optimism

Great win.

[nicholaldo]

Well done, England.

I don't think we've found the answers to any of our problems but from a difficult position we've managed to get over the line. Let's hope they take some confidence from it.

[TANGODANCER]

Sufficient to say I'm delighted and full of praise for Joe Root (not forgetting Foakes great supporting innings.) Alistair Cook, who Joe has just equalled on 10,000 runs, was generous in his praise, calling him England's best ever. Lovely to get the win in the bag in a riveting test match.

Go Joe...

[TANGODANCER]

Making heavy weather against the Kiwis on day one. Past 300 and only four wickets gone. Three dropped chances.

[Worthy4England]

Not a great catching day. Going to need runs from top 3

[BWFC_Insane]

These new balls really do mean if you put a couple of chances down you are in big trouble. Not to my liking really as it risks makes English conditions not too dismilar to say Aus or the Windies and without the pace and bounce…

[Worthy4England]

These new balls really do mean if you put a couple of chances down you are in big trouble. Not to my liking really as it risks makes English conditions not too dismilar to say Aus or the Windies and without the pace and bounce…

There're some clear differences, but it's not been intentional according to the manufacturer...it's certainly not been "let's design a new ball." You generally find that they do different things, even in a batch of 6, but typically it's thing like starting to reverse after different numbers of overs. But you're hoping they're broadly constant. Manufacturer is scratching their collective heads...

Obvs the main difference between here and Aus is they use Kookers..Smaller seam...less prominent stitching...

[BWFC_Insane]

These new balls really do mean if you put a couple of chances down you are in big trouble. Not to my liking really as it risks makes English conditions not too dismilar to say Aus or the Windies and without the pace and bounce…

There're some clear differences, but it's not been intentional according to the manufacturer...it's certainly not been "let's design a new ball." You generally find that they do different things, even in a batch of 6, but typically it's thing like starting to reverse after different numbers of overs. But you're hoping they're broadly constant. Manufacturer is scratching their collective heads...

Obvs the main difference between here and Aus is they use Kookers..Smaller seam...less prominent stitching...

Yep I know it’s not by design but needs sorting. In Australia you have 20-25 overs max to make inroads or you are in trouble. What I like about test cricket here is that the ball remains a challenge sure batting gets a little easier but it’s not a dead loss for the bowling side. And if its reversing it can even become harder after 30 overs. I just like that unpredictability but these balls just aren’t working for me.

[Worthy4England]

Agree mate, they're clearly not working as evidenced by the number of 500+ innings (already more than full season last year). The Kookers tend to stay harder, longer so your in more trouble in Aus when your pace drops and you're relying on seam and swing...when we've won down their we've generally had a couple of bowlers quicker than Jimmy and Broad (which is why we really needed a fit Wood and the last seen, pre-COVID Jofra. We used Kookers for one pre season practice match in the 80's before judgement was passed...