This NZ will be looking at 400+ still 2 days cricket let plus overseas to make up still

This magnificent test match & test series is on a knife edge.

What a thrilling 3rd days play at Headingley.
400+ plus runs & 11 wickets - WOW

Kiwis started brightly but walking wicket Broad showed resilience & fight to push the scores level.

England started brightly with the bowl and Kiwis were in trouble at 141-4 and could have easily capitulated but great fightback by McCullum & the unsung hero BJ Watling who made a superb century.

The weather forecast is not looking great for the next couple of days but Kiwis will need another 120 odd runs.

Weather permitting - there are 6 sessions left which is enough time for a result

New Zealand are in control & this is their best chance of ending 16 years of wait for a test win in England however England are a dangerous team & records are there to be broken.

This match is FINELY Poised.

Just a shame its only a 2 test match series. ECB Mafia really need to reconsider that & think about giving New Zealand a 3 maybe 4 test match series on this evidence. They are the most exciting test team in the world to watch at this moment in time with their magnificent attitude and brand of cricket under McCullum.

This is not a swipe at India but ECB should offer India a 2 test match series especially when you look at the Test Rankings and the awful attitude India showed in the final 3 of the 5 test matches played last summer.

G'licha,

Are you being serious with that analysis?

On a knife edge?

Finely poised?

NZ need another 120?

someone will need to play the innings of their life to get England a victory here. It appears that you have completed negated factors such as 4th innings, record chase, England's history of chases, cloudy conditions, state of pitch, NZ bowling attack and the out of touch England middle order from your analysis altogether.

The only problem for New Zealand is can they bowl England out the 2nd time.

Depending on England's approach its very difficult.

I dont think England will play for a draw - the wicket has been excellent for both bat & ball. Its the attitude & patience that is required.

As a neutral i really want to see Kiwis win but England are such a dangerous team & are extremely difficult to beat especially on home soil that's why England rarely lose many test matches (in a test series) at home

A14

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You have your own opinion.
I have my opinion

I will NEVER EVER under-estimate England - i have many times before & have been made to look like a fool.

I personally believe Kiwis will need at least 450 to bat England out the game.
If Kiwis can get to 385-405 - that might make England interested in a chase.

As for England - Records are there to be broken.
Its how they approach it and the attitude they show.

Ideally if there was no weather interruptions - 6 sessions is lot of time.

Yes its a 4th innings but pitch is still good for batting as well as bowling.

G'Licha,

It was interesting in how Anderson and broad got the odd uneven bounce and surprised the batsmen in the last hour. That unpredictability will only increase as time goes on.

NZ get anything over 375, it's enough for 2 reasons - 1) it's headingley 2) NZ bowlers. No team in the world would chase 375 in the last innings vs current NZ quicks in headingley conditions. No chance.

England approach will be dour. the will let Craig the spin bowler.. England should attack and try and get on with it.. no point hanging around for a batting collapse to happen.
England will lose and they deserve it. I would give Moeen ali the ashes series.. if he doesn't show anything with either bat or ball I would move on from him.,

I find ben stokes amusing.. he bowled a ball half way down the wicket..Wattling blasted it for 6 and he blamed the batter for it..
Stokes bowls way to short for my liking.. Cook stood there and did nothing.. while his bowler kept banging it and getting cut and pulled.

Theres been 4 positives for England in this series. so not all doom and gloom. I like the look of Lyth and Wood.. And cook and broad are back in form.

Nz are a very good team.. their top 6 is excellent.. Wattling is an outstanding player.. they have some handy bowlers aswell.

England will lose and they deserve it. I would give Moeen ali the ashes series.. if he doesn't show anything with either bat or ball I would move on from him
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To be fair, not a lot Moeen can do batting at 8, and you shouldn't expect too much from a spinner at headingley or even lords at this time of the year. But I think the Aussies will take him apart. The Indians made him look like a world beater last year, they were dazed by him

I agree in the sense Moeen is expected to bowl a team out and not concede runs. he needs to have a score of 300+ so he can get into a grove.and bowl a spell..
Im a little unconvinced at his bowling though and he is in the team as a front line spinner.
No one out there better at off spinning though..
I wouldn't go back to Monty as a spinner. hes not good enough in my opinion. bowls to flat..

Looking at Ian bells body language.. Its never been the best.. But he does seem to be coming to the end.. Can see him retiring after the ashes.. Just a personal thought.. could be wrong..

Agree, the ashes will be make or break for players like moeen, stokes, bell and Balance - who is having a shocker this year

New Zealand already have enough runs on the board

A14

Again respect your opinion & you do make valid points.

Its a really tough one to call but for me i seem to be pragmatic.

This is Test cricket & this is why its so fascinating.
Anything is possible.

Kiwis get anything above 380+ game is borderline safe

You mention Uneven bounce - it will be interesting to see how England do especially when their new ball is just round the corner.

If Kiwis survive the new ball then its suggest batting is still good. If England roll the tail out and then it'll be interesting.

Kiwis have to take early wickets in the 2nd innings, They cant rely on the 2nd new ball.

England have a long batting line up. Ballance, Bell & Root owe a score in this match who knows. Cook & Lyth are in good nick & Moeen Ali made a magnificent century last year vs Sri Lanka.

Bowling England out the 2nd time is extremely hard work. England have got plenty of players with character & fight.

Kiwis will have to show patience and desire to win this match.

16 YEARS of wait is on the line.

Anything is possible - Chasing 350+, taking 10 wickets or weather.
This is TEST Cricket & this is why its the best form of Cricket.

G'licha,

You're spot on about 2/3 players owing a few runs.

anyway, brilliant test and series. Ridiculous decision to have 2 test series, ECB did the same last year vs Lanka too. But going forward, looks like 2016 (Lanka 3 tests, paks 4) is split a bit more evenly.

Moeen Ali was made to look like a million bucks last year against India cos we had an extremely weak test captain Dhoni. Glad he retired as his keeping has gone downhill n we all know his overall test batting for last few years. On top of that we had bizarre selection of players like Sir Jadeja who is big time tool I hope we improve under Kohli but if they show attitude like last time then they don't even deserve a single test match series. Kiwis, Lankans and even Pak deserves lot more than India. I support India but I am also fair in my analysis & wish them very best..

Cookie n Dhoni did try to their best to beat each other in tactics ! But Dhoni proved to be big time winner

Wouldn't it be lovely if England dismissed NZ for 350 and reached 350 in the fourth? A tied test match with 350 each in all four innings!!! I will take chance if you offer me 1000:1 odds.

I'd say it was more Kohli making Moeen look good last summer than Dhoni

this is going to be an uphill struggle for England.

4 wickets still in hand with a 361 run lead.

How that pitch deteriorates today and tomorrow, is going to be pivotal.

At this stage England would be happy with a draw

Anderson gets Watling..good catch too BUT

That turn and bounce should be a cause for concern

England aren't winning this

Broad to southee

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