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David Bumble Lloyd at the Test: England have lost their game heads

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It will be a worry for the coaching staff that for the second time in this series England haven’t had their ‘game heads’ on. In Dunedin they were all out for 167 for no apparent reason and here they were 72 for five and going along at less than two an over! What is it? Complacency?  Underestimating the opposition? Lack of preparation? Or are the players playing for their places against Australia?

Out of sorts: Ian Bell, who lost his wicket lbw to Tim Southee, has hit a meagre 78 runs in five Test innings in New Zealand

Another Sky forum at lunch on day three and there are lots of deep and meaningful cricket questions, but Ian Ward back home at the studio always slips in a gardening poser for me. This time a chap said: ‘I’d like to start growing cauliflowers. Where should I start?’ To which the obvious reply was: ‘How about in the garden?’ There must be a place for me alongside Titchmarsh. Or better still, Charlie Dimmock!

Sitting comfortably: Charlie Dimmock - remember her? - relaxes in an English country garden

New Zealand swung the ball while England did not. Why is that? Let’s get into the theory. New Zealand’s Simon Doull offered that England’s seam is pointing towards third slip whereas the home side directed it to first slip. I would say that the shorter, skiddier bowlers are doing more than the tall, bang-it-in ones. Darren Gough would have been good here.

What has baffled me more than anything in this series is England’s reluctance to try to dominate Bruce Martin. This chap is a newcomer to Test cricket at 32 but at one stage his figures were 14-8-12-0. Mike Atherton said he had bowled ‘nicely’ but he was hardly devastating. He ain’t Murali or Shane Warne but hardly anyone tried to hit him down the ground to the tiny boundaries. Come on!

On the attack: Kevin Pietersen - sadly missing from the third Test due to injury - has Bruce Martin wincing in Wellington, but England's batsman have failed to get after him

The battle of the White Rose for a middle-order place is in its infancy but good to see Joe Root getting stuck in and playing an assured innings after a couple of quiet Tests. He has edged ahead of Jonny Bairstow. I know people have said it  was hard for Jonny in only his second first-class game since August but I repeat:  he would rather have been thrown in here than carrying the drinks again.

Up to the task: Joe Root showed maturity under telling circumstances, hitting a patient 45 in 262 watchful minutes

  More... Prior calls on England to draw on memories of India in bid to save New Zealand series England facing humbling series defeat to New Zealand after batting collapse




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