Plays of the day from the third ODI at Bristol

Will Luke at Bristol21-Jun-2008
From Weybridge to weighing in at international level – Grant Elliott hit a half-century © Getty Images
“This is how Chris Tremlett should bowl” of the day
By his own candid admission to Cricinfo earlier in the season, Chris Tremlett is not the angry bowler the public yearns for. Yet in the13th over of the innings, he produced the sort of lifting snorter thatyou might expect from a fast bowler of 6ft 8in; the type of bouncerTremlett should be producing more regularly, you might argue. ScottStyris was the unwitting victim, trying to get out of the way but theball followed his hands like a magnet. Tremlett’s venom and accuracywas assisted by his pace: he rarely dropped below 84mph, giving everyindication that the Tremlett jigsaw might be coming together at justthe right time. If he can stay fit, that is.Ironic music of the day
Not even the most hard-nosed of England supporters can not feel somedegree of sympathy towards New Zealand during this tour. Frequentinjuries to vital players have left them cruelly exposed, while goodsessions or promising spells simply have been as rare as hen’s teeth.Still, there’s no need to mock, is there? Poor old Scott Stryistrudged back to the pavilion for 4, the gloomy Gloucestershire lightaptly reflecting his and the team’s grim position, while the loudspeakersblared Monty Python’s .The irony was lost on the batsman, and not even AC/DC’srousing could rectify New Zealand’s middle-order muddle.Bowler of the day
It is almost becoming predictable to write about Stuart Broad. Yes, heappears like a proper, orthodox batsman at No.8 as his 64 in the TrentBridge Test helped demonstrate. Granted, he is fast and straight andimpressively accurate with the ball given his inexperience. Oh, anddespite his height, he’s also slick in the field. But is he all that?Well, the signs are increasingly promising from an Englandperspective, and at Bristol today he turned in his most economicalspell. In 10 overs, he conceded just 14 runs, picking up two wickets.Jamie How was bowled attempting to pull, while Ross Taylor – whobarely resembled the swashbuckler of a few weeks ago when he hit 154at Old Trafford – attempted a wild flay and was also bowled. It wasthe mosteconomical 10-over spell by an England bowler since MichaelYardy’s 0 for 18 in 2006.Poor strokes of the day
That there were so many to choose from probably sums up both teams’efforts with the bat, pootling along at the sort of run-rate at whicheven Test crowds would slow-clap their disapproval. Taylorearns the first gong for his careless drive against Broad, who hadsent the previous two deliveries wider of the crease. The sucker punchwas full, straight and Taylor splayed his stumps with a thick insideedge to leave New Zealand tottering on 42 for 4. Daniel Flynn appliedBoycott-like solidity in his 26-ball 2, but just when he appeared tobe quite settled, he pulled a full toss to mid-on. England joined intoo. Ravi Bopara wasted a promising start on 27, slapping to a divingJamie How at backward point, while Owais Shah’s loose flap to slipleft England stuttering on 64 for 5.”League” cricketer of the day
Speaking of Boycott, Geoffrey (accurately or unfairly, depending on yourallegiance) labelled New Zealand’s top-order league cricketersduring the Test series. However, it was a league cricketer who sparedNew Zealand’s blushes in their innings, bolstering their total to 182when, at one point, even reaching 100 seemed a tall ask. Grant Elliottwas plucked from Weybridge in the Surrey Championship to make hisdebut at Edgbaston on Wednesday, and today showed his ability with thebat in making 56 from 102 balls. The league’s loss is most certainlyNew Zealand’s gain.