Intelligence..

Completely agree. Can't believe what I'm watching. Absolute shambles.

Credit to NZ for taking advantage though.

Off to bed. Expect to wake up to find that we're following on, and have lost a few wickets.

Its a known fact that if the surface is flat then you must bowl full and straight and this is what the NZ bowlers have been doing. English bowlers were too obsessed in bouncing the Nz batsman out which failed.

Ian 'only scores a century when it isn't really needed' Bell. Really needs to get his ass in gear.

He bowled first becaus he was out thought by NZ.. they gave the impression the wicket would bounce and it didnt.. the lack of thinking beggars belief.

Cook has not been a brilliant captain thus far, I think it is fair to say. Got out cheaply a lot recently as well.

England batsmen can only play against right arm bowlers.. be it normal seam up or offspinners.. They have issues with technique when it comes to left arm spinners and left arm bowlers.they are to static in foot movement..Take Southee alot of his bowling has been full and wide. England have been unable to score,due to their lack of footmovement. so the scoring rate has been stuck. do something different in your crease.. Same with Martin the left arm spinner. the reluctance to hit him on the full as been shocking.. He flights the ball. get the ball on the fulll and hit it..

Ian 'only scores a century when it isn't reallyneeded' Bell. Really needs to get his ass in gear.

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Exemplified by the series in India. Bell having a shocker. England winning 2-1. Last day of the 4th test, England should have pushed for a win but took the easy "don't get beat" option. Bell labours to an unbeaten century. Series average looks okay. Selectors breath a sigh of relief as their selection can be justified.

Get a grip you lot. England are still a very good team and Cook a good captain. We did just beat india away...Probably the hardest thing in test cricket after the Saffers.

If we can get a draw here then I would classify this as a very good winter. NZ are no mugs. I can see them.becoming a decent team over the next few years.

Yes the England team are good but there is more to it than that. What does the England management do? Because I see zero evidence of any preparation other than hotel rooms!

As with Pakistan last year, this was seen as an easy tour which England would win comfortably. Those plucky Kiwis will put up a bit of a fight but will wilt under the mighty team England. (laughs). England make the same mistakes year after year. And it is generally someone else's fault – KP is disruptive, Freddie was on a bender. Or swept under the carpet – no need to panic yet, we just got ripped to bits by lowly Pakistan but, you know, we are still top of the ICC rankings and you don't get there without a good reason. And on and on.

And now have to bat 1.5 days to save this test. The batsmen look like frightened rabbits. This is only minutes after NZ took our bowlers to pieces. Why is that? Why are the batsmen not looking forward to batting on this track?

At this rate even the Aussies must be fancying their chances.

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