The Drifters live in Auckland

England 58 all out
v New Zealand 427-8 declared
England 320 all out
New Zealand win by an innings & 49 runs

1st Test, played at Eden Park Auckland

Monday 26 March 2018

35 New Zealand Beer Ticks

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Getting beat all the time. Batsmen out in the over before the interval or close. A different track when they bat. No one converting. No penetration from the bowlers. Spinner getting dumped into the stands. Get out, a look to the heavens, a swish of the bat, go for a lie down. Nowt happening.

It's a long way back from 27 for 9. At times, as partnerships developed, you caught yourself thinking - maybe England can get out of this. Damn, at times, I thought - England should get out of this now. Never thought - England will get out of this.

No toyless pram. But, that's just not good enough. It's difficult. You've only brought a certain number of players over here. It's only a two match series. I would be tempted to make a statement though. If Root is not careful, his leadership will just pass us all by. In a fog of indifference. He needs to get stamping. This is what I demand. This is how we are going to play. Instead, he's in The Drifters.

I enjoyed Eden Park. Others won't have. They'll have felt it's not a proper Cricket ground. That they've been rattling around in a cavernous concrete bowl. But, I strongly prefer rattling around to being hemmed in. I'm selfish like that. Nice, open concourse, if you're that way inclined, you get a beer & some scran & talk bollocks at the back while watching the action. You can virtually lap the ground at concourse level watching the game between strides.

The PA is fairly gentle & relaxed. You're not bombarded. It's a good experience. I'll be back.

They had a bit of a go with the beer. Of course they can only pour Mock Craft to keep the rights holders sweet. Anything they have got is likely to be at the bland, sugar water spectrum end. But, if you can't quite deliver on quality - at least have a crack at variety. (Putting DB aside) four mock craft, from two imprints is a good effort.

I concluded today's proceedings with;
Monteith's, The Barber Lager at 5%
But, I'm giving a LARGE game summing up shoutout to that Black Dog, Pug Life, Extra Pale Ale I had on Day 1. Very very good (in the circumstances).

I tidied up a bit at Garage Project;
Garage Project, Garagista, Finely Tuned IPA at 5.8%
Garage Project, Hatsukoi, First Press Pilsner at 5%
Garage Project, Brightside, Sunny Belgian Blonde at 7.8%

We had the post match press conference back in the Brewers Co-Op;
Garage Project, The Wolf Man, Imperial American IPA at 9%
Good George Brewing California Pale Ale at 6.1%

And I odds n sodsed;
Emerson's 1812 Pale Ale at 5%
Abbey Brewing Overkill IIPA at 7.5%
Behemoth 6 Foot 5 IPA at 6.5%
North End Brewing Co Become The Ocean Salt Water Goze

633/1315