Rounding Off

Peter Fulton = Mark Richardson number 2, slightly less boring in repetition but he does the job in a line up of adventurous players

Can’t see how Eng are going to graft their way to safety with the world’s most obdurate top 3 back in the shed & Steve Finn with the way he hung around patiently in Dunedin

6 wickets away from the biggest upset in modern day test history, hard to see Eng being able to block out the day and soak up the 5^th day pressure with the top 3 back in the hut

Wicket is still playing decently, memories of Dunedin are fresh, and NZ are not used to winning test matches – possible reasons for optimism

England needs an Adelaide. Someone needs to do a Faf and AB. They were 4 down going into the final day in that one too with the RR well under 2

Yes, you don’t make runs sitting in the pavilion

I think vice captain Prior will be the key. He can curb his natural attacking instincts and rein himself in better than most, selfless player

Michael Atherton tore into Stuart Broad for moaning at Monty. Said was picked on as an ‘easy target’ because of his rep as a comical fielder

Root loves a dig in, being one of Boycott’s pupils at Yorkshire. Expect him to relish the challenge and enjoy the game situation.

Cardiff, 2 tests in SA, Brisbane,Nagpur, Dunedin-They’ve have done it several times in recent times when it comes to gritting it out in desperate defiant survival mode

Test of a batter is ability to bat for their life & save tests. Batsmen ultimately don’t win you tests, but they can stop you from losing

How long more can Bell be slow, long and boring? He has a strong enough defence to bat time. I fear he might do something uncalled for.

KP would have been useful in this context, too. Would have taken them on, removed the attacking fielders and given bowlers something else to consider.

70% New Zealand win, 30% draw. More often than not you will lose with only 6 wickets to defend on a day 5 wicket.

Assuming the inevitable occurs, NZ have only lost 1 of their last 8 at home. Misbah’s drought breaking series win here was quietly dismissed.

And that, came against a stronger more experienced attack with Martin and Vettori both available.

Pakistan will play an ICC Champions Trophy warm up match prior to the tournament kicking off.

Edgbaston will be the venue.

County season is in full swing by the time the warm up matches are in progress so the match will be against an international opposition.

Prior to the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy in England, Pakistan played Australia on the first Saturday of September in a 1 off 1 day international.

On this day 21 years ago Imran Khan led his country to World Cup Glory.

4 players whose place has come under most pressure following ODI series poor showing, not just this series but a large string of series:

Younis Khan

Shoaib Malik

Kamran Akmal

Shahid Afridi

I have been against the inclusion of Younis, Malik, Kamran, and Afridi in ODI team and they are the ones who have come under the scanner again.

Kamran Akmal may have scored 40 odd in the last game of the series, but so did Safraz in the harder form of the game. It is nothing to smile about or to justify his selection for the next series. Pakistan need a better wicket keeper and an honest one who does not have past connections with Mazhar Majeed as Pakistan’s security manager on 2010 tour of England reported.

Imran Khan was 39 when he won the World Cup.

Misbah ul Haq will be 39 when he will lead in the Champions Trophy in 2 months.

Old horses. Old is gold.