Not a Match Report

Just some thoughts.

• It was almost as if the New Zealand bowlers were getting too much swing at the start; the first nine overs produced six wides.  Milne’s first over was a classic.  Went through Ballance three times just to mix up the two wides.
• The deliveries that dismissed the English openers were classics though; fitting of any Test Match opening spell.
• It was a big call to bowl Boult for eight overs at the start. And picking up a wicket with the first ball from his seventh backed that gamble.
• And then the ability to bring Southee back at the fall of the fourth wicket, leading to a fifth two balls later, and complete carnage following that.  His following over was greeted with “Southee Southee” chants reminiscent of the Hadlee chants a generation ago.
• He became the first New Zealander to take seven wickets in an ODI innings.  It is only the ninth time it has happened in all ODIs
• It is the fact that Corey Anderson is going well as a late innings bowler that allows McCullum to do that.
• The last seven England wickets fell for 19 runs
• It seems to be flavour of the month for analysts (mainly ex-players) to suggest Vettori is sluggish in the field.  But he can sure field off his own bowling.
• Milne is pretty handy in the outfield for a fast bowler too.
• Stuart Broad can actually bat.  But today he was spooked out; running up the white flag when Southee and Boult had only three overs left between them
• Is it too early to start talking Nett Run Rate yet?
• Wellington.  You have known for weeks that this game was a sell-out, and that there was extra security for this tournament.  Yet 10 minutes before the game started there was this.