New Zealand vs. England, 5th ODI

[Mr. Wicket]

I really feel sorry for Sidebottom. This year's been full of cursed luck for him - I think Prior averaged almost 1 dropped catch per test just off his bowling when he was keeping. First sh*thouse keeping to back him up, now sh*thouse fielding and a lineup incapable of differentiating between a 50 over game in 2008 and the 60 over ODI in 1975.

[King]

Hey Ravi - just remember my earlier predictions... I HAD FAITH IN THEM ALL ALONG! :two_thumbs_up:

You sure did but I had watched NZ get absolutely spanked by the Saffies. It was quite obvious I didn't have much faith in your words then. :D

[Mr. Wicket]

Yeah, I had also seen NZ getting beaten by the Saffers. But hey, NZ at home are another proposition altogether. Remember 3-0 last year? :D

[King]

Yeah, I had also seen NZ getting beaten by the Saffers. But hey, NZ at home are another proposition altogether. Remember 3-0 last year? :D

You bet :two_thumbs_up:

[Ram]

I cant understand. How can a batting line-up that has Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Owais Shah and Mascarenhas, lose 1-3 to a team that has Jesse 'debutant' Ryder, Brendon 'lone-star' McCullum, Ross 'not-so-sure' Taylor, Peter 'out of form' Fulton, Scott ' a bit lost since comeback' Styris and Jacob 'star no.2' Oram ? :dontknow:

[King]

I cant understand. How can a batting line-up that has Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Owais Shah and Mascarenhas, lose 1-3 to a team that has Jesse 'debutant' Ryder, Brendon 'lone-star' McCullum, Ross 'not-so-sure' Taylor, Peter 'out of form' Fulton, Scott ' a bit lost since comeback' Styris and Jacob 'star no.2' Oram ? :dontknow:

That is the difference between having a strong team on paper and working as a unit with less gifted players. Kiwis complimented decent batting with decent bowling. England either batted good but bowled poorly or bowled well but batted badly. This series was quite reminiscent of the India v Australia at Perth. The underdogs worked better as a unit.