Battered bowlers left needing answers
Match facts
June 14, 2015
Start time 10.30am local (0930GMT)
Big Picture
Two matches, 1369 runs at 7.72 an over, three hundreds - the slowest off 87 balls - and 42 sixes. Who'd be a bowler? Only one of them, Trent Boult, is currently going at under a run-a-ball after two ODIs of mayhem from the batsmen.
The (expensive) bottom line is that the series is all square with three to play after New Zealand clung on to secure victory at The Oval in the third-highest scoring ODI of all time. For a while, as Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler added 96 in 10.3 overs, then Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett refused to yield before the rain, England were make a terrific fist of what would have been the second highest successful chase after the Johannesburg gluttony of 2006.
Both batting line-ups, with just the occasional exception, have kept up the charge from the start to the end and almost damn the consequences. In many ways, given the records of trying to chase vast ODI totals, England's pursuit in the second match was the most impressive of the four innings even though they fell short.
If the contests are to return to something of an even balance - and those enjoying the entertainment may not be bothered in the slightest at the dominance of bat over ball - then the bowlers need to find some answers. Boult has been head-and-shoulders above the other quicks, although Steven Finn has had his moments. New Zealand's attack is very different without the calming presence of Daniel Vettori while England's inexperienced bowlers are learning the hard way. And, if the trend continues, it is unlikely to get any easier.
Form guide
(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LWWLL
New Zealand WLLWW
In the spotlight
The bowlers are having it tough so they need as much help as they can get from the fielders. It does not matter how big the scores get, the odd boundary saved here or there, or the extra run out pulled off could be the difference. Boult and Tim Southee combined for a piece of brilliance on the boundary edge to remove Rashid which finally ended England's charge; relay catches, palming the ball back from the boundary, are now a regular part of practice. Incidences like that show why.
Whither the yorker? This is, of course, not a new debate, but two matches like we have just witnessed brings the debate firmly back into focus. It is a mighty difficult delivery to bowl accurately, a smidgen wrong either away and it is a half volley or a full toss - both of which go the distance these days. But what has a bowler got to lose by trying a few more? When Chris Jordan nailed one at The Oval he had Grant Elliott lbw; the flip side is that batsmen of the ilk of Buttler have perfected the scoop. Also, if a captain knows his bowler is trying for full and straight he can at least set a field accordingly.
Teams news
Chris Jordan and Liam Plunkett have been ruled out of the series with side and thigh injury respectively. Craig Overton had been drafted into the squad early on Saturday, while David Willey and Mark Wood are the other seam-bowling options in the squad.* The batting order is likely to remain the same unless England decide to swap out Sam Billings for an additional bowling option.
England (possible) 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Sam Billings, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 David Willey/Craig Overton, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Steven Finn
With Corey Anderson having been ruled out of the series - and no decision taken on a replacement - New Zealand's options are a little restricted except for juggling their pace-bowling pack. Mitchell McClenaghan has gone at more than eight an over in the two matches and there may be a temptation to give a debut to fellow left-armer Ben Wheeler.
New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum (capt), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Mitchell Santner, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Trent Boult
Pitch and conditions
Sorry, bowlers, but you are unlikely to get much relief at the Ageas Bowl. It has become a ground renowned for batting-friendly conditions in one-day cricket. However, the forecast is for a cloudy day which may offer the hope of some swing.
Stats and trivia
- Just in case in the batsmen needed any further confidence boosting, last time New Zealand played at this ground they racked up 359 for 3 with Martin Guptill making an unbeaten 189 which was his country's individual record until he broke it himself with 237 not out in the World Cup quarter-final against West Indies.
- Among ODI venues in England and Wales (to have staged a decent sample size of matches), the Ageas Bowl has the second highest run rate - marginally behind Cardiff.
- New Zealand's victory at The Oval was their 300th in ODIs. They are the eighth team to achieve this milestone. They've taken 684 games to get there, which is the most among these eight teams. South Africa got to 300 ODI wins the fastest - in only 483 matches, while Australia (519) and West Indies (540) are next.
Quotes
"We're enjoying this brand of cricket and certainly having the guys in the changing room to play in that way naturally - not making it such a big deal."
Eoin Morgan wants England to keep going with the flow
"It's been a difficult series for the bowlers so far, I think they're looking forward to a pitch with a little bit more help at some stage. But it is something we need to keep working on, I think we made improvements from Edgbaston. England came very hard at us last night, harder than at Edgbaston but the boys got the job done."
Craig McMillan, the New Zealand batting coach, on the tough life of the bowlers
*9.10pmBST: the story was updated with news of Plunkett's injury
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo