Life is a Rollercoaster - England Story

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Second ODI

England remain unchanged for the second match of the series.

England win the toss and put India in to bat.
England keep India under pressure throughout the innings taking wickets regularly with P Patel and I Pathan the only batsmen able to take the attack to England. Swann bowls exceptionally in his 8 overs going for 1.87 RPO which puts the breaks on India's innings. Anderson and Broad prove to be expensive but both pick up 3 wickets as England bowl India out for a modest 207.

England get off to a steady start but still lose Davies and Pietersen early. Cook and Trott take time to play themselves in but soon the rate climbs above 6 RPO.

They put on 84 together before Trott is eventually out in the first over of the batting powerplay for 51. England promote the more attacking Patel and Bopara ahead of Bell but neither provide the desired effect. Bell gets his second consecutive golden duck while at the other end Cook accelerates his innings. He's out though for 85 with England still 24 runs short. Flintoff and Swann get England close with England needing 11 from the last 2 overs. They pick up 3 singles but Flintoff is bowled with the fourth ball of the over. Broad comes in and hits a six next ball. He follows it up with a single to retain the strike and with 1 needed he hits a four off the first ball of the last over to level the series for England.

England win by 2 wickets
Man of the Match - Cook
England Man of the Match - Cook, anchored the innings and provided the acceleration when it was needed.
Other Notable Mentions - Trott, Swann
Poor Game - Davies, Pietersen, Bell, Bopara

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Third ODI

England name the same team as the last two games for the series decider.

England win the toss and bat.
Davies again disappoints while Cook makes 35 at the other end. When England lose his wicket, though, they lose Trotts soon after with Bell picking up yet andother golden duck to round off a desperatly disappointing ODI series for him. Pietersen can only make a run a ball 75.

Bopara and Patel steady the ship until England take the batting powerplay in the 41st over and Patel loses his wicket for 30, Flintoff adds 15 but a tumble of wickets sees Bopara having to cautiously bat out the remaining overs as England set a target of 253.

India get off to a good start knocking England's seamers around with ease in the opening powerplay. Swann stalls India's advance with three wickets while Patel bowls economically at the other end. After Swann's successful spell Pietersen comes on, taking a pair of wickets. But 61 runs from the batting powerplay sees India home.

India win by 3 wickets
Man of the Match - Pietersen
England Man of the Match - Pietersen, should've got a century but batted well enough. Taking the wickets of Singh and Jadeja almost swung the series in England's favour.
Other Notable Mentions - Bopara, Swann, Patel
Poor Game - Broad, Davies, Bell, Trott

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Series Reaction
India win the series 2-1

A series of narrow victories. We competed with India much better than earlier on in the year but it wasn't quite enough to get over the line.

Man of the Series - Pietersen, just edges it ahead of Bopara and Cook but none of the players performed exceptionally really. Had one good innings and a decent start. Probably should've made more runs though. Also bowled well when called upon.


Magic Moment - Broad leveling the series with a maximum.

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The ECB Selection Committee has announced the 18 man Test squad to tour India:

ECB Selection Committee
A Strauss*
T Ambrose
J Anderson
I Bell
R Bopara
S Broad
J Clare
J Cobb
A Cook
S Davies
S Finn
P Horton
G Onions
S Patel
K Pietersen
A Rashid
G Swann
C Woakes

England make one change from the last Test squad with Prior coming in for the out of form Davies to provide competition for Ambrose who was a disappointment in the last series.

Before the Test series vs New Zealand England play a warm-up match against Central Districts.

England Team to play Central Districts
Strauss*, Cook, Bopara, Pietersen, Bell, Patel, Prior^, Broad, Swann, Woakes, Anderson

Central Districts - Bowl

England - 778/8(Strauss 164, Cook 171, Bopara 46, Pietersen 112, Bell 43, Patel 119, Prior 65, Broad 11, Swann 18, Woakes 1*)
Central Distrcits - 200/6(Anderson 0/62, Woakes 1/52, Broad 2/39, Swann 3/45)

Man of the Match - Cook

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First Test

The main selection dilemma for the first Test was who keeps wicket. In the end Prior's 65 in the warm-up match was enough for him to edge out Ambrose. The only other decision to make was at number 6. With Patel's bowling no longer needed the case for Cobb to be reinstated was strong. In the end Patel kept his place in the side on batting merit alone after his 199 in the last Test and unbeaten century in the warm-up.

England win the toss and bat.
New Zealand contain England's batsmen on the first day with the score 230/5 at the close. Strauss, Cook and Bopara all get starts but find scoring difficult and fail to reach 50. Pietersen goes on to make 86 but loses his wicket before lunch on day 2. A 45 and 20 from Broad and Woakes respectively sees England to 351 all out half way through day 2.
Anderson strikes early removing both openers before tea. He takes another two after the break with Woakes matching him to leave New Zealand reeling on 40/6 with only Follett in the top 7 reaching double figures.

A lower order fightback from Oram, Franklin and Vettori help New Zealand avoid the follow-on and reach 215.
Strauss makes 74 and hundreds from both Bopara and Pietersen mean England set New Zealand a chase of 473 with 87 minutes left of the fourth day.

Anderson takes the only wicket to fall before the close of the penultimate day. New Zealand continue to bat well on the fifth day. They reach tea still just 4 down and despite a late flurry from Swann they have no problems batting out the final session to draw the Test.

England Man of the Match - Pietersen, sizeable contributions in each innings.
Other Notable Mentions - Strauss, Bopara, Anderson
Poor Game - Broad, Bell

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Second Test

England retain the same team for the series decider.

New Zealand win the toss and bat.
England have a good opening session reducing New Zealand to 75/6 at lunch. England take a further 3 wickets in the afternoon and an injury to Gillespie just after the break ends the innings at 206 with de Brooder unbeaten on 101.
England lose Strauss before the close. Cook goes early for 34. Pietersen looks set but gets out for 47 while Bopara reaches exactly 100.

England go on to 310 all out on the morning of day 3.
New Zealand reach 143 before Anderson takes the first wicket. It's followed by 4 more before the close on day 3 as New Zealand take a 131 run lead. They carry on until half way through the next day reaching 343 giving England a chase of 240 to win the series with Swann taking 5 wickets.

Cook falls to Vettori early on in the chase but reach the close 100/1. Strauss loses his wicket just before lunch for 64 while Bopara goes on to his third century in three innings as England close in. Pietersen supports him from the other end and the pair reach the victory target just before tea.

England Man of the Match - Bopara, two hundreds including a match-winning unbeaten century in the second innings.
Other Notable Mentions - Swann, Strauss, Pietersen
Poor Game - Prior, Bell

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Series Reaction
England win the series 1-0

A series which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Never really looked like losing a Test. The pitches meant scoring was slow leaving little time to take 20 wickets. The seamers in the first innings of both matches were great but didn't perform as well in the second. Pietersen had another good series but Bopara stole the show with the bat.

Man of the Series - Bopara, 381 runs at an average of 127 is an exceptional performance. Never gave his wicket away cheaply with a lowest score of 42 with centuries in the other three innings.


Magic Moment - First morning of the second Test. Taking 6 wickets in the first session put England in the driving seat and New Zealand never really recovered.

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The ECB Selection Committee has announced the 15 man ODI squad to tour New Zealand:

ECB Selection Committee
A Cook*
J Anderson
I Bell
R Bopara
S Broad
J Denly
A Flintoff
S Patel
K Pietersen
M Prior
A Rashid
G Swann
J Trott
C Woakes
L Wright

Although the selectors were expected to stick with Davies until the end of the season patience has finally run out in the keeper-batsman after his extended run in the side ended after only averaging 17.85 in 13 games this year. Despite not impressing in the Tests Prior comes into the side as his replacement. The only other change is a suprise one. Denly comes in to bolster the batting and could, in Davies' absense, open the batting. He replaces Clare.

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First ODI

Bopara is picked ahead of Denly to open alongside Cook. Patel moves up to 6 with Prior slotting in behind him. The bowling attack remains the same.

New Zealand win the toss and bat.
England start well with Anderson taking a wicket first ball. Broad proves to be expensive but takes two wickets.

As does Trott as England keep up the pressure with Bopara bowling tightly at the other end. Flintoff comes back with 3 wickets to bowl New Zealand out for 160.

England lose just Cook in the run chase, early on for 15. Victory never looks in doubt as Bopara and Pietersen stroll to the required 161.

England win by 9 wickets
Man of the Match - Bopara
England Man of the Match - Bopara, played a well paced patient innings and bowled economically, good all round performance.
Other Notable Mentions - Anderson, Flintoff, Swann, Pietersen
Poor Game - Cook

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Second ODI

England stick with the same team from the first ODI.

England win the toss and bowl.
England tie down New Zealands openers early on but it's not until Broad come on that the first wicket falls. It's quickly followed by another in the same over. England's spinners keep the pressure up with New Zealand's batsmen struggling to score off them. Flintoff returns with 3 wickets, as does Broad. New Zeland bat out their remaining overs but are restricted to 213.

England again chase down the required runs with little trouble, Bopara again seeing the team home from start to finish.

England this time open with a 126 run partnership with Cook making 63. Pietersen, Trott and Bell provide the acceleration making it a comfortable chase with Bopara unbeaten on 92.

England win by 7 wickets
Man of the Match - Broad
England Man of the Match - Bopara, yet another fantastic innings from a man having a dream tour.
Other Notable Mentions - Cook, Patel, Swann, Broad, Flintoff
Poor Game - Pietersen, Anderson

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Third ODI

After winning the first two games of the series England can win the series in this match. England name an unchanged side.

New Zealand win the toss and bat.
For the second time in three games Anderson picks up a wicket first ball. He gets the other opener in his next over. Ryder bats well but falls one run short of a century. Broad and Flintoff take 3 wickets each but New Zealand bat well and set England a target of 243 to win the series.

England make a good start but lose Cook for 29. Pietersen gets a duck but Bopara and Trott form a good partnership. They put on 144 together but Trott gets out for 63 while trying to increase the rate. With England needing 43 from 39 balls Patel is promoted above Bell. Bopara continues his good form by bringing up his first ODI century.

He continues the attack and puts England in touching distance before finally falling for the first time in the series in the penultimate over for 126. England finish the over strongly and head into the last needing just 2. It doesn't start to well for England as Southee takes 2 wickets with his first 2 balls. But Flintoff hits the 2 runs required to seal the series for England.

England win by 4 wickets
Man of the Match - Bopara
England Man of the Match - Bopara, continues his good form with yet another outstanding innings, probably his best yet.
Other Notable Mentions - Trott, Anderson, Flintoff, Broad, Patel
Poor Game - Pietersen, Bell, Prior

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Fourth ODI

England make one change, Woakes in for Flintoff.

New Zealand win the toss and put England in to bat.
Bopara gets his lowest score of the tour so far, only making 15. Cook and Pietersen build a good partnership and add 165 runs before Cook is out for 72.

Pietersen goes on to a century but wickets fall at the other end. He goes on to make 109. A late assault by Patel and Swann guides England to 289.

New Zealand chase well but are hit hard by Swann taking 4 wickets and they start to faulter. Woakes picks up another three to add to his early wicket as England bowl New Zealand out 50 runs short of their target.

England win by 49 runs.
Man of the Match - Pietersen
England Man of the Match - Pietersen, Bopara fails and KP steps in to play a match winning innings. What you want from your best player.
Other Notable Mentions - Cook, Woakes, Swann
Poor Game - Trott, Bell, Prior, Broad

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Fifth ODI

England make one change as they look to whitewash New Zealand. Swann is rested so Rashid gets a game.

England win the toss and bowl.
New Zealand bat well with McIntosh and Ryder getting the bulk of their runs. Woakes picks up 3 wickets while Broad and Rashid both get 2. New Zealand set England a target of 249.

Englands innings is a complete contrast to New Zealand's. Bopara, Pietersen, Trott, Patel and Prior all get starts but none can pass 50.

It proves enough for England to win the game though with Broad hitting the winning runs with an over to spare.

England win by 3 wickets
Man of the Match - McIntosh
England Man of the Match - Woakes, best of the bowlers.
Other Notable Mentions - Bopara, Pietersen, Prior, Rashid
Poor Game - Cook, Patel

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Series Reaction
England win the series 5-0

New Zealand might not be the toughest of opponents but a whitewash is a whitewash and the performance in this ODI series is a complete contrast to that of the first of the English summer against India. Several changes were made for that series and it took time for them to take effect but now the side is better for and is a much better team than that which went to the World Cup. The target next year is to prove it.

Man of the Series - Bopara, carried on his good form from the Test into the ODIs scoring 352 runs at an average of 117.33 with his first ODI century and two half centuries to take his total for the tour above 700 runs.


Magic Moment - Bopara's first ODI century. Having previously scored 2 big 50s he reached 100 in the third game to seal the series for his team.

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2011/12 Season Review - Test Team

Results:
Home India - 1-1
Home Pakistan - 1-2
Away India - 1-1
Away New Zealand - 1-0

Batting:


Bowling:


Player of the Year - Pietersen