leicsmac

And the only difference between Hegseth and any Iranian mullah is the name of their deity and the amount of firepower they have at their disposal. Their worldview - and intent to enforce that worldview - is identical. That should worry anyone sane.

... which of course includes this... And apparently continues to serve as the distraction from this...

Thiel is certainly there too.

It's either accidental or deliberate irony that these techbro sociopaths would name their software after an divining item of legend that was turned to evil uses by an entity that thinks just as they do.

Indeed it is, and we saw Brooks inexperience tell today. Still, a very decent try in the end.

Hopefully the NZers can succeed where England did not in the final.

Will still likely be an England record batting second, just too many. 230 would have been doable, 250 not.

At the very least, Bethell and Jacks can say they gave this one a pretty brave try.

One good recent thing though is Bethell - seems to be a real find in all formats.

Ah well, all Black Caps for the final then, right?

I don't think there's much difference in standard between the teams. It's the poor decision making that has screwed them today.

Around 190-200 is where this one will end imo.

Just need about 50 more like that.

It would be Biblical in terms of miracle.

I won't blame them if they do - they don't have the time to just target the other bowlers.

Funny, that. And I'm sorry, but there's no way England are chasing this down.

FYI, England's highest successful chase is 230. I wouldn't put the house on a record breaker here, even if the wicket is a road.

I wonder what is totally beyond England's reach here. 230? Anything above 200 will be tough, I think.

That I did not know, thank you. But that being said, it clearly should have been only one part of the overall decision making here.

Perhaps, though him coming in chasing around 200 might have applied a little more stress than giving him a platform to run riot. Though things in this tournament will have been planned in a way to give the hosts the biggest possible advantage, the truly great teams find a way, like (and I hate saying it), the Aussies in 2023.

I can't in this case, mate. Not against a team in good batting form and where our own has shown frailty under pressure. It's allowed India the chance to put maximum scoreboard pressure on and they're doing exactly that.

Really can't get over the decision to bowl first. Ludicrous.

Looks like NZ will have to spoil the show as the Aussies did back in 2023, then.

Bowling first against a team in good batting form and therefore putting no pressure on them likely cost us the game. The drop has just made it all the more likely.

All the pressure on England already. Why bowl first? Why?