Played Off The Park

I wish I could write "We waz robbed !" or how the boys were just plain unlucky, but Friday was, sadly, very painful to watch.

We simply didn't get enough runs with the bat, but all round New Zealand were the far better team. Their running between the wickets was particularly good and our boys simply had no answer to it.

Freddie didn't look himself, very tame with the ball and the nody language was dour. Perhaps Freddie's impromptue dip in the sea and rescue by sea helicopter on Saturday might end up being a blessing in disguise if it puts some of that fire and passion back in his belly.

Ed Joyce failed miserably once again and you get the idea that the reason he'd playing for England is that he couldn't get in the Ireland squad ! With Andrew Strauss sitting on the bench Duncan Fletcher seems determined to throw away our World Cup chances in vain attempt to prove that the England management WERE righ to select him originally.

Jamie Dalrymple is the other notable failure. Though he has produced some useful cameos down the order for England, he is simply not world class. With no-one truely world class lining up to fill that spot, Ravi Bopara would be an exciting choice. Bopara's bowling would certainly bolster our flagging attack more than Dalrymple's and his lower order hitting would add an exciting edge to the side.

Losng to New Zealand means little here or there as a win against Canada should be straight forward and providing one or two of our big guns fire, Kenya should be little more than a competitive run-out.