Close – New Zealand lead by 338 runs
Right that’s it from me at the end of another absorbing day’s Test cricket. It couldn’t have been tighter at the turnaround, with England’s lower order hitting some lusty blows – Broad especially impressive – to ensure that the scores were level after the first innings. But New Zealand batted well, gamely as England bowled, and took advantage with some good, fast batting led by the immaculate BJ Watling. The runs came at more than 4.5 an over and, weather permitting, you’d make the tourists narrow favourites to level the series from here. Join us again tomorrow for what will probably be another great day. Cheers for reading and for all your correspondence. Sorry I couldn’t use it all. Bye!
Stumps
75th over: New Zealand 338-6 (Craig 15, Watling 100) Moeen Ali is going to bowl the final over of a day that has brought 431 runs. Make that 435 as Craig eases yet another low full toss through mid on for four – Cook gives up the chase pretty quickly and well he might given how long they’ve been going. Craig sees out the rest of the over.
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Watling reaches his century
74th over: New Zealand 334-6 (Craig 11, Watling 100) Anderson starts with a short one to Watling, who pulls expertly round the corner, keeping it down and going through for the single that takes him to three figures from 136 balls. This has been a very cool, calm innings and one that has made it very difficult for England to win this Test match.
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73rd over: New Zealand 332-6 (Craig 10, Watling 99) Three overs left for England to prise out a wicket, or for BJ Watling to get to his hundred. Or to be blocked out obdurately. Watling drives the first ball, fairly wide, out to deep cover to go to 99, before Craig deflects out to deep backward point for two. That won’t please BJ, who looks pretty eager to get back on strike. Craig fences at a good lifter from Broad, momentarily exciting Buttler behind the stumps as it went through, but bat was nowhere near ball.
72nd over: New Zealand 329-6 (Craig 8, Watling 98) Anderson finds a bit of variable bounce and clatters it into Watling’s glove, but the batsman drops his hands and ensures the ball isn’t carrying to slip. When Jimmy drops short, Watling swivels and absolutely nails a pull out to the man out at square leg. One run and that takes him past Steven Fleming’s record score for a New Zealander on this ground.
71st over: New Zealand 328-6 (Craig 8, Watling 97) Back to pace we go, with Broad on and England looking to knock over one or two more tonight. The first ball is overpitched to Watling and the batsman moves to within a stroke of his hundred with a glorious off drive that whizzes along the outfield for four. That’s as good a shot as we’ve seen in this series. A push to cover gets him one closer. Craig sees out the rest of the over.
70th over: New Zealand 323-6 (Craig 8, Watling 92) There’s a shout for LBW against Craig as he misses one and gets hit on the front pad about eight inches up, but he was backing away to leg, got hit outside the line and it was going further down. The final ball is a jaffer, angled in and straightening, doing for Craig all ends up.
Re. that last over: looks like I was wrong. Apologies to Simon McMahon.
Can we have a 350, plays 350, plays 350, plays 350… #Tie
— Iain O'Brien (@iainobrien) May 31, 2015
69th over: New Zealand 323-6 (Craig 8, Watling 92) Mark Craig is, of course, no mug with the bat and he drives Root nicely out of the rough, through extra cover for four. He rocks back then and finds the gap at mid on for three more.
“Evening Dan.” Evening, Simon McMahon. “So, NZ all out for 350. England all out for 350. NZ all out for 350. England all out for. 350. Match tied. You heard it here first.” And last?
68th over: New Zealand 316-6 (Craig 1, Watling 92) Anderson comes on for Stokes. Luke Ronchi currently has 30 from 21 balls, and the highest average of anyone in the history of Test cricket. He nearly loses that record though as an inside edge drops down and bounces over middle and leg stump. They dash through for a single, then Watling opens the face, drops the hands and guides a wide delivery beautifully between slip and gully for four down to third man. That’s him into the 90s. Ah Ronchi loses his record to the final ball, going for 31 from 23 balls. That’s a fine innings given the circumstances, but his dismissal sees the tail exposed. Ooh he’s millimetres from being bowled first ball as he leaves one angled back in from round the wicket! That was dodgy.
Wicket! Ronchi c Buttler b Anderson 31
Anderson gets one to straighten a touch of the seam, Ronchi hangs the bat out and it nibbles the edge on its way through.
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67th over: New Zealand 309-5 (Ronchi 30, Watling 87) Root returns. Ronchi looks to smite him down the ground, but doesn’t get hold of it and he only gets one. Watling does get hold of his sweep though and thumps it to the fine leg boundary.
John Starbuck writes: “Given what we know of the Kiwis, they’ll want to bat on tomorrow until lunch and set England 400+. Still, this match has seen a few records topped so maybe, just maybe…”
I’d agree with you, if it wasn’t for the weather forecast. They’ll want to force the issue as we’re going to lose a lot more time.
66th over: New Zealand 304-5 (Ronchi 29, Watling 83) We’re into the last 10 overs now of this long old day, although by my reckoning we can only go another half an hour. The batsmen exchange singles, then Ronchi pulls a short one over midwicket for six. After six weeks of watching the IPL, the lack of fanfare is good to see. Another short one is cut up and over the slips, down to third man for four and that’s the 300 up. A push out to cover brings three more and that’s 400 runs scored today.
65th over: New Zealand 289-5 (Ronchi 5, Watling 82) Wide and floaty from Wood, but Watling’s elegant drive is straight to cover. Shame, if you’re him/a Kiwi fan/a connoisseur of cricketing aesthetics. He gets his reward from the next wide ball though, which is cut wide of Root at gully and away for four. A push into the off side brings a single. Ronchi is on strike and wears one in the midriff from Wood as he looks to pull a short one. Wisely, he ducks under the next bouncer.
64th over: New Zealand 283-5 (Ronchi 14, Watling 77) Watling drops into the off side and gets a quick single, pretty comfortably. He looks like he’s going to both drop anchor and rotate the strike here, which seems like a bit of a thing that’s a word that escapes me right now. Ronchi then pushes down the ground for a couple.
Oxymoron, that’s it.
63rd over: New Zealand 280-5 (Ronchi 12, Watling 76) Another single to Watling brings Ronchi on strike and he looks to go up and over the top, slicing it miles up and beyond backward point for two. Ooh and then a thick edge flies at chest height through the big gap between second slip and gully, down to third man for four. Ronchi was brilliant and brilliantly entertaining in the first innings and he’s showing signs of repeating the latter at least today. A nudge out to deep point brings two more from the final ball.
62nd over: New Zealand 271-5 (Ronchi 4, Watling 75) A change of bowling once again as Stokes comes back. Short and Watling pulls him magnificently all along the ground for four through square leg. He drives off the back foot next, pushing it through deep cover for one more; this has been a very good, very composed innings from Watling, who is showing himself a genuine all-rounder in this series. Another short one, wide outside off stump, gets cut past Ali’s dive at backward point by Ronchi, for another boundary.
61st over: New Zealand 262-5 (Ronchi 0, Watling 70) Lovely bowling from Wood and he’s offering absolutely nothing to McCullum. After tucking him up for three balls in this over, and six in the one before, he gets him with the fourth! Ronchi is the new batsman and just about the last – England might yet keep the deficit to around 300 yet. They certainly won’t want to chase much more. Wicket madien.
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Yep, out!
There’s no bat on ball. It was on the knee roll on the front pad, but McCullum was back a long way. It’s brushing the bails by millimetres, so umpire’s call and that’s a big wicket for Wood.
Wicket? McCullum lbw b Wood 55
Wood gets one to nip back sharply and catch McCullum on the knee roll, going back. Given out.
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60th over: New Zealand 262-4 (McCullum 55, Watling 70) Shouts of “catch” as Watling sweeps at one that turns a way down leg, misses, but then accidentally bunts it with the back of his bat in the follow through. There is no catch and it runs away for four rather fortuitous runs.
59th over: New Zealand 257-4 (McCullum 54, Watling 66) A couple of sharp balls that rear up and and jag back into McCullum show that there’s life in this old pitch yet. Just a couple from the over: a cut in front of point from the first ball for the first, to Watling, a push to deep cover, from the last ball, by McCullum, the latter.
58th over: New Zealand 255-4 (McCullum 53, Watling 65) Stokes shows off a mighty arm when Watling swings a short ball out to the deep midwicket boundary; the Durham man slides, stops it, gathers the ball and then throws it back into the middle, on the full while still sat on his arse.
57th over: New Zealand 252-4 (McCullum 53, Watling 62) Root is off, Wood on with 19 overs still to go tonight. We’re not getting those in. There’s a vague hint of reverse swing, but the batsmen look happy enough negating it. Watling cuts a short ball to deep cover point for a single.
“Dan.” JOHN STARBUCK. “Right about now is the time to bring on Ian Bell to turn his arm over, but Captain Cook will have identified Root as his official partnership-breaker so it’s not going to happen, is it?”
Bell has bowled 18 overs in Tests, the last one in 2006. I reckon he’s probably rusty.
56th over: New Zealand 251-4 (McCullum 53, Watling 61) Full toss from Moeen and McCullum whacks it out through cover, but Wood runs around well from point and saves the run. That brings up the 250, which puts New Zealand ahead by, er, 250. Watling flicks to deep midwicket to add another run.
55th over: New Zealand 247-4 (McCullum 50, Watling 60) Nearly a chance here as McCullum screws a drive off a full one that falls just short of Wood, diving forward at mid off, and skips merrily through to the boundary for four. It was hit very, very hard. That takes him to 6,000 Test runs, then the next ball is worked to fine leg to bring up his 50. Watling misses out on a full toss from the final ball, bunting it to Wood at mid off.
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54th over: New Zealand 242-4 (McCullum 45, Watling 60) Ooh Ali sends down a quicker one that zips through off the pitch and beats McCullum’s outside edge. Fuller next though and it’s swept hard and well for one. Watling leans into one a couple of balls later and works it to mid on for the single that brings up the 100-run partnership, from 150 balls. McCullum adds one more from the final ball.
@danlucas86 is Moeen fully fit? Is he getting through his action as well as last year?
— Chris evans (@captbnut) May 31, 2015
Yep I think so. He doesn’t seem to be moving awkwardly; he’s just not getting the same kind of turn, which you’d expect on a day three pitch here.
53rd over: New Zealand 239-4 (McCullum 43, Watling 59) Root continues to go round the wicket and McCullum nudges him past leg slip for one, before Watling bunts him down the ground for the same. The singles are far too cheap for these two. McCullum milks another, then Watling pushes to deep mid on for a couple more. Five fuss-free runs from the over as these two close in on the century stand.
52nd over: New Zealand 234-4 (McCullum 41, Watling 56) These two quite fancy getting after the spinners. McCullum steps down the track and plays a lofted flick over midwicket for four, then goes down and sweeps hard to the boundary fielder for one. Ooh and then a bit of extra bounce takes both Watling and Buttler by surprised. Unperturbed, Watling slog sweeps the final ball of the over – fuller and outside off – a long way over midwicket for six more.
51st over: New Zealand 223-4 (McCullum 36, Watling 50) After Stokes took a bit of tap in his last over, Cook turns to Joe Root. He’s convinced he has McCullum straight away, so much so that Cook doesn’t even hesitate in signalling for the review. It’s England’s ninth of the series and it’s their ninth failure. A single brings Watling on strike and he too misses a sweep at a straight, full one – it’s really not the ball to be playing that shot. They appeal again but this time don’t review. Might well have pitched outside leg.
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Not out
Ahh it’s brushed the glove on its way through. Other than that...
Review! McCullum lbw b Root 35
Root comes round the wicket and hits McCullum in front with a full one as he tries to reverse sweep. Given not out but that looks plumb to me.
50th over: New Zealand 222-4 (McCullum 35, Watling 50) Watling runs the first ball down to third man for a couple, then sweeps hard to the fine leg boundary to bring up his half century; his third in four innings this series.
49th over: New Zealand 216-4 (McCullum 35, Watling 44) Width from Stokes and Watling cuts neatly behind point, but the sweeper comes around to keep them down to two. The run rate has dropped significantly since Guptill’s wicket, down to, erm, a fraction of four. Speaking of four, that’s what Watling gets when he gets up on his toes and cuts Stokes high over the slips. The final ball brings a single.
48th over: New Zealand 209-4 (McCullum 35, Watling 37) McCullum misses out on a big sweep and gets hit on the front pad; they decline to review though, as it might well have been going down leg. McCullum celebrates his reprieve by swishing the ball miles over long on for six. He’s beaten once again by the next ball, but that misses the stumps by an inch, ‘megs the keeper and shoots down to long leg for four byes. Two singles make 12 from the over.
47th over: New Zealand 197-4 (McCullum 28, Watling 36) If the weather forecast for tomorrow is anything to go by, New Zealand can’t afford to simply bed in here as it should then be fairly easy for England to bat out the draw that would secure the series. Just one from this over, a nudge into the leg side from a back of a length delivery.
46th over: New Zealand 196-4 (McCullum 27, Watling 36) With Ian Bell-esque timing I return from a comfort break to see McCullum sweep Moeen’s first ball to deep square leg for a single. As Atherton points out on the TV, this is similar to how he batted in making a triple-hundred against India, although that was to save the game. My guess is that here, these two are going to try and build to a lead of 250 then cut loose.
45th over: New Zealand 195-4 (McCullum 26, Watling 36) Change of bowling as Stokes comes on. With these two not looking particularly interested in playing their shots and the pitch offering little for the bowlers, it’s gone a bit flat. That’s drinks. Also if you refresh the page, it’ll get rid of that phantom over I have once again managed to invent.
A request comes in from Oliver Skett. Congratulations to Andy Gillin and his lovely wife Justyna on the arrival today of their second child, a bouncing baby girl called Elena Lucja, from all at Guardian towers.
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44th over: New Zealand 195-4 (McCullum 26, Watling 36) Watling picks up three, in the form of a two and a one, all on the sweep. He then gets hit on the pad but it’s miles outside off and I reckon he’s edged it anyway.
43rd over: New Zealand 192-4 (McCullum 26, Watling 33) Midwicket goes back and square leg goes to fine leg, out on the boundary. I reckon I can read Broad’s intentions here, and even if I can’t then I can just go back and delete this sentence. Well, he starts with a good length and beats McCullum’s prod, but then the batsman drives in the air through the vacant cover region for one. That’s the 50 partnership. Ah yep, here’s the short one, to Watling, and he keeps his hook shot on the floor, getting a run for it.
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42nd over: New Zealand 190-4 (McCullum 25, Watling 32) There’s a decent-sized appeal for LBW against Watling, but it’s more optimistic than someone getting attached to a Game of Thrones character. Watling chops down to the vacant third man region with no great timing, but Wood, the fielder, is so far away that the batsmen can run two at a canter.
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42nd over: New Zealand 188-4 (McCullum 25, Watling 30) Shot from McCullum as he rocks back, bends the knees and unfurls a lovely cut out to deep point, where it’s almost disappointing to see it fielded and kept to a single. Broad straightens his line, so Watling just nudges into the on side. These two looking comfy now and the partnership is worth 47 very handy runs. They’ll probably want to stick a one in front of that before too much time has passed tomorrow.
Emiel de Bont is fooling no one when he suggests that he was talking about Ravi Bopara in the 35th over.
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40th over: New Zealand 185-4 (McCullum 24, Watling 28) Moeen Ali comes back on having not really done much in this innings so far – not that he’s had much chance, what with this only being his fourth over. McCullum runs the first ball down to third man for two, then, later in the area, clips into the on side for one more.
“Dear Dan, writes Robert Wilson. “Since we’re not allowed to talk about KP, something which evidently frees up your time wonderfully, perhaps you could help me? Last night, in the wee small hours, I suffered a a mild-to-medium concussion. Terrific bang on the head, unknown period of unconsciousness and then several minutes of rambling, open-eyed chatter before I became quite myself. No alcohol involved, a very minor cut. What’s worrying me is that my wife told me that absolutely the first words I said on coming round (and I would NOT lie about such a thing) were ‘I love Wasim Akram’. My question is this...should I see someone?”
I’d be more concerned with your health if you didn’t love Wasim, quite frankly.
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39th over: New Zealand 181-4 (McCullum 21, Watling 27) Over at Taunton, Chris Gayle has smashed a 45-ball hundred. Here, on the other hand, New Zealand have taken three singles with minimal fuss from the over. It’s at times like this that Test cricket feels like a wonderful little club, its members comprising only those who get why this is the better match.
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38th over: New Zealand 178-4 (McCullum 19, Watling 26) Anderson – the Larry David of English cricket – is unhappy with the landing area at the crease. Watling drives him nicely off the front foot, but it’s stopped well by Ballance, I think, at cover. Just the one, off the first ball, to McCullum, off the over.
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37th over: New Zealand 177-4 (McCullum 18, Watling 26) First change of bowling of the session as Broad comes back on. A good move that, I reckon. McCullum drives uppishly at one, but it doesn’t even come close to carrying to mid off. A single, pushed to Anderson at slightly deeper mid off, and Jimmy looks momentarily in discomfort as he slides to collect it. That takes the Kiwi captain to just 18 from 36 balls; a strike rate of 50 compared to 62 over his career.
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36th over: New Zealand 176-4 (McCullum 17, Watling 26) Nice one-day shot from McCullum, opening the face and running it wide of slip, down to wide third man for three. Watling learns from that and does exactly the same, only this time Stokes’s chase is in vain and he can’t prevent it from running to the rope. There’s not much swing for Anderson and Watling punches the final ball off the back foot, through cover for a couple more, making it nine from consecutive overs.
Guys, we are not going to talk about Kevin Pietersen today, OK?
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35th over: New Zealand 167-4 (McCullum 14, Watling 20) McCullum has been uncharacteristically quiet since he began his innings with some wild thrashes. He has a go here but can only bottom edge it away for a single, before Watling hits another gorgeous front foot drive through mid off for four. Two balls later, Wood gives him a rank, wide long hop that the batsman pummels expertly from head height, through backward point for another boundary.
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34th over: New Zealand 158-4 (McCullum 13, Watling 12) Here we go again, sun’s out for now. McCullum gets a thick inside edge down to deep fine leg for one. Watling then sees out the next four balls, before standing tall and effortless punching a drive off the back foot, whistling it through cover for four.
“Right, I’m going to wade right into this zone of silence, which is getting a bit too comfy for my liking,” wades Emiel de Bont. “This England team look very, well, teamy and sympathetic and all that, but not much of a menace to AUS and SA. With Cook regaining form and Root and Stokes obviously promising, what is lacking in the top order is a destructor, a terminator, a batsman who instills undiluted fear into the opposition. Someone, it so happens, who also brings out the best in that most elegant of batsmen, Ian Bell. Can’t you English get over yourselves and do what is best for cricket worldwide? He is whose name must not be mentioned should be restored to perform in the cathedral of cricket, which is test cricket. Really, for a nation that cherishes its eccentrics, why can’t you make allowances for your mavericks?”
Ben Stokes scored an 85-ball hundred in the last Test match. Pietersen’s fastest Test century took 88.
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Covers coming off again
The rain radar suggests that there’s very little on the way. The fear is that this is going to be a stop-start affair, given the tendency for squalls to brush over Yorkshire very quickly. The players are coming back out, anyway.
Apropos of nothing:
Tobacco kills. Say NO to tobacco!
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 31, 2015
Rain stopped play again
Rest of 33rd over: New Zealand 153z-4 (McCullum 12, Watling 8) For crying out loud. Watling clips the final ball of Wood’s over off his ankles for two, but then the rain comes down harder and they go off again.
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Covers off again
Well that was quick. The players don’t even make it off.
Rain stopped play
33rd over: New Zealand 151-4 (McCullum 12, Watling 6) Nice shot from McCullum as he times a full one straight back past the bowler, although Anderson chases, slides and pulls it back in nicely to keep them down to two. A nudge off the pad brings him one more as the rain starts to come down. They’re going off, although I doubt it’ll be for long given the speed at which the win is blowing it across the ground.
32nd over: New Zealand 148-4 (McCullum 9, Watling 6) Just a single from the over, a bumper turned to fine leg off the ribs by McCullum off Anderson. Rod Tucker is having a very close look at Anderson’s follow through – the Burnley man is already on a warning, don’t forget.
31st over: New Zealand 147-4 (McCullum 8, Watling 6) There are still 45 overs to be bowled tonight, though I’d be surprised if we got them all in. The clouds that were rolling in before tea have dissipated for the most part and Watling will be on strike to Wood under sunny skies. There’s a touch of movement off the seam for Wood, shaping a couple nicely away from the right hander. The fifth ball is a touch too full and Watling drives expertly through mid off for four.
Paddy Murphy writes: “Very disappointed to see that the OBO didn’t get a special mention in the Rusbridger farewell editorial yesterday. Surely the original version (now much aped) of the self-deprecating online cricket commentary format, nurtured by greats such as Booth and Smith, with its own loyal and esoteric online supporters, and creator of cricket tours to Eastern Europe, is at least as worthy of a mention in the history of his last 20 years as the “disclosure” that the NSA can read facebook? No disrespect to the Pulitzer prize winning articles, but they’re not exactly Barney Ronay on Peter Siddle are they?”
Nothing without a Gary Naylor observation is Pulitzer-worthy, in my humble opinion.
England just about edged that session, I reckon. New Zealand scored at a good lick, going at more than five an over, but those two late wickets for Wood mean that the door is, like the object of Jeff Tweedy’s affection in a 1999 single, ajar. These two batsmen with throw the bat around, so, while they might score quickly, chances will come if England can improve their catching.
“Come on Dan, a wicket is spelt WICKET! in the OBO. Especially in this match situation. Anything less than caps and an exclamation mark just doesn’t do it justice,” writes Tom Ellis-Jones.
No way. That kind of glitz and glamour can stay in T20, where it belongs.
Tea
30th over: New Zealand 143-4 (McCullum 8, Watling 2) It’s probably a bit greedy to ask, but if England can nip another one out in the seven minutes or so I reckon we’ve got before tea then England will be in a great position to win this match. 2-0 would shut up a lot of the critics, some of whom were criticising Cook for scoring too slowly yesterday – one commenter below the line yesterday even suggested that Cook at his best would be bad for England because they find it boring! Oh no wait, that is tea.
Good old stats - Guptill has made 70, 0, 0 and 70 in this series, which means he averages 35, a score he never came close to
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) May 31, 2015
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29th over: New Zealand 143-4 (McCullum 8, Watling 2) Magnificent stop from Stokes at gully, leaping and grabbing the ball akin to Collingwood v Matt Hayden at Bristol in 2005. I mean, it was on the bounce this time but it’s a brilliant save worth four runs. McCullum bundles into the leg side for a single, but then Guptill goes. Watling gets runs from his first ball, turning it off his pads for two.
Wicket! Guptill c Root b Wood 70
Full, a foot or so outside off and Guptill drives at it with hard hands and heavy feet. It takes the edge and goes straight to Root at third slip, who takes it with ease at chest height.
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28th over: New Zealand 140-3 (McCullum 7, Guptill 70) Stokes is taken out of the McCullum firing line; Anderson returning with the breeze blowing from his left to right, which should help him with that big booming inswinger. His first ball is too straight and deflected down to fine leg for two, but then a shorter one that doesn’t move has McCullum fishing and missing. A couple more leg byes square on the leg side, then McCullum flicks to the same area for one.
27th over: New Zealand 135-3 (McCullum 4, Guptill 70) Full from Wood, too much so, on leg stump and Guptill drives elegantly through mid on for another four. The bowler overcorrects, going short and wide and it’s cut comfortably behind point for a third boundary in four deliveries.
26th over: New Zealand 127-3 (McCullum 4, Guptill 62) The trumpeter is playing the Hokey Cokey as Stokes continues. Which orifice should that trumpet be inserted into, and how far? I’m backing a pretty painful one, given that he used to play a trumpet version of Joy Division, which Ian Curtis really doesn’t deserve. A straight, short one gets flipped off the back foot down to fine leg for a single, bringing McCullum on strike for a couple of balls. Stokes got McCullum with an absolute ripper in the second innings at Lord’s but here gives up a juicy half volley wide outside off and gets spanked through cover for four.
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25th over: New Zealand 122-3 (McCullum 0, Guptill 61) It looks as though Cook has seen enough of Ali as he takes him off after just two overs for 13. Mark Wood the new bowler and he strikes with his first ball, ending the partnership on 99. There was a lengthy discussion between captain and bowler before the over began and you have to say it was probably worth it. McCullum is the new man, so this should be fun. He hit his first ball for six in the first innings, but defends back down the wicket this time. Wood offers him a short, wide one next but McCullum’s big swing connects with nothing but fresh Yorkshire air. Wood has an 8-1 off side field here with only Broad at mid on! Another flash and another miss, with McCullum looking to cut it into the stands. A wicket maiden.
Wicket! Taylor c Stokes b Wood 48
This isn’t a brilliant wicket. It’s a full delivery a touch outside off and Taylor drives uppishly to cover, where Stokes takes it comfortably low down.
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24th over: New Zealand 122-2 (Taylor 48, Guptill 61) Stokes strays on to Guptill’s ankles with a full delivery and gets swished away behind square on the leg side for a couple. You get the feeling that Broad, who looked to have dragon’s blood running through his veins earlier today, such was the rage on his coupon, will be the key man for England if they’re going to make terminal inroads today. Guptill has a big hoik at a shorter one a few balls later, but can only inside edge it on to his pocket. The final ball is defended back to the bowler, who throws down the stumps a touch needlessly.
23rd over: New Zealand 120-2 (Taylor 48, Guptill 59) A cut to deep point brings Taylor on strike, and he misses out on a low full toss from Moeen, only picking out the mid on fielder and scampering through for a quick single. Guppy then chops down behind point for the same result.
22nd over: New Zealand 117-2 (Taylor 47, Guptill 57) A single to fine leg first ball takes Taylor to 46 as an aircraft passes very low over the ground by the sounds of things. One more, square into the on side for Guptill then Taylor nudges to short mid on for a sharp one. Another single, again off the pads, but then Stokes draws a play-and-miss from Taylor with a slightly quicker one, wide of off. Better line for this batsman, that.
21st over: New Zealand 113-2 (Taylor 45, Guptill 55) After a moment taken to replace the bails, which had blown off, we resume. I was about to note that the wind will help Ali here, but Guptill promptly dispatched his first delivery over long off for a sumptuous six to bring up his half-century, his second of the series. A couple more singles make eight from the over, 13 from Ali’s two overall and already the spinner needs to get a lid on things, because they’re going after him.
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20th over: New Zealand 105-2 (Taylor 44, Guptill 48) This is a bit of a testing one for New Zealand. They’re not dead in the water by any stretch of the imagination and, with the batting they have, could easily rack up a lead of 300 and declare tomorrow. Good weather allowing, they could then press on for the win, but those two early wickets mean they can’t afford to fully go hell for leather. Guptill drives the first ball of this Stokes over out to deep point for a single, then Taylor times a beauty back past the bowler for four when the bowler overpitches. Like Mike Ehrmantraut under questioning, he played that with an impeccably straight bat.
New Zealand in this game: 450 runs in 91.1 overs.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) May 31, 2015
19th over: New Zealand 100-2 (Taylor 40, Guptill 47) Cheers Dan. This is the other Dan. A change of OBOer begets a change of bowler as Moeen Ali comes into the attack for the first time today, bowling in rare Leeds sunshine. Not a lot of turn for him and the batsmen work five singles from the over to bring up the 100. As Dan H said earlier, very ODI, that.
18th over: New Zealand 95-2 (Guptill 44, Taylor 38) What England really need is a Stokes horrendous ball wicket special, and Taylor does his best to oblige, heaving across the line and missing by bare. He does his face, that one that looks like he’s in some bodily function discomfort, and carries on as before. One from the over, better for England, and here’s Dan Lucas to guide you through the remainder of this afternoon’s excellence.
17th over: New Zealand 94-2 (Guptill 43, Taylor 38) So what do England do? They need wickets, but catchers behind the wicket means space in front of it, and with batsmen committed to (counter)attack, that’s a problem. Taylor takes two from each of Wood’s first two deliveries after the break, first to square-leg, then to midwicket, and the field’s a little more spread now. Wood’s bowling well, but Taylor still cuts him for twi more to wide third man, and he’s gone for six despite now sending down nonsense. Excuse my going on, but this really is fascinating - the last four overs have gone for 36.
Can one counterattack a counterattack? And so on and so forth.
16th over: New Zealand 88-2 (Guptill 43, Taylor 32) Stokes on for Broad, and have a look! Look a that! Yes, it’s a loosener, yes, it’s short and wide, but yes, this is also the tightest of Tests. But Taylor canes it for six over square-leg because why wouldn’t he? Who wouldn’t? The longer this goes on - so far, this partnership’s worth 65 off 6.2 overs - the greater our chances of a positive result. I’ve not the slightest idea what’s chaseable here - the pitch isn’t deteriorating, especially, but, well, yerkna. Nine off the over, and drinks.
15th over: New Zealand 79-2 (Guptill 42, Taylor 24) Guptill leaves one just outside off, and, after three come to midwicket, Wood sends down another, quicker one - this time, a drive, missed, and he’s relieved not to edge behind. But, in the end, another good over for New Zealand, three more to Taylor flicked through mid-on, and two more down the ground to Guptill.
14th over: New Zealand 71-2 (Guptill 37, Taylor 21) Broad gives Guptill width, and again he chucks wrists, not getting all of it but still sending the ball hurtling to the point fence. Beefy reminds us that England are 0 and 8 at reviews this series, while Guptill drives past wide mid-on and Anderson races in pursuit, diving to scoop backwards, saving one; what a man. Oh, and there’re four more, Taylor looking to cut and not quite managing, but getting enough behind it so that when it slides off the face, it rushes away for four into the vacant third man area. 13 from the over, as there was from Broad’s previous one, and suddenly England could severely use another wicket.
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13th over: New Zealand 58-2 (Guptill 30, Taylor 15) Not out! It’s clipped the trouser on the back hip - but this still might be a crucial spell, mind.
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13th over: New Zealand 57-2 (Guptill 29, Taylor 15) On comes Wood, and really, it’s hard to understand why he wasn’t given a shy in the West Indies. Jordan is talented and likeable, but just doesn’t pose the same kind of threat or different threat. Gosh, and what a ball this is, rearing up, flciking something, and England appeal like they’re sure. Umpire Ravi says nae, and England review; Guptill doesn’t look concerned.
12th over: New Zealand 55-2 (Guptill 28, Taylor 14) Guptill crashes a wide one through point - he’s not middled that by any stretch, but off it flies to the fence, regardless. And then another, which doesn’t carry to second slip - they run three - while Beefy points out that Lyth is by all accounts nifty ion the cordon; he was used there at Lord’s for the slow stuff. Oh, and shot - penultimate ball of the over, Taylor pushes hard down the ground for four.
“Am tickled by Luke Ronchi’s interesting name,” emails his doctorness Colum Farrelly. “Rhonchi are coarse rattling respiratory sounds somewhat like snoring, usually caused by secretions in bronchial airways. “Rhonchi” is the plural form of the singular word “rhonchus”. Note also Whispering Pectroilioquy, everyone’s favourite respiratory sound, being an increased loudness of whispering noted while using a stethoscope on the lung fields on a patient’s torso.
Other musings:
Likability: New Zealanders are generally likeable, are they not? But is it possible to like Stuart Broad? Just wondering.”
I quite like Broad - he’s interesting when he talks about the game, he competes like a nutter, and the Aussies hate him.
11th over: New Zealand 42-2 (Guptill 19, Taylor 10) Guptill runs Anderson down to third man for four - nicely done - then goes to clip one on the pads off the pads, misses, but adds four leg-byes anyway. Anderson responds, but, persuading some extra bounce out of one that moves away - it’d take a better man to get an edge on that. Anyhow, seems like both batters have decided that the only way to play on this is to be positive - defend, and the one with your name on it will get you anyway, you’ll just have sod-all next to your name. Oh, and have a look! Anderson’s final delivery entices Taylor into a drive, he edges, and the ball bursts Ballance’s hands at shoulder-height, at two. Tricky chance, but a takeable one, and England really must tidy up their slipping.
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10th over: New Zealand 27-2 (Guptill 14, Taylor 4) Broad’s first ball to Taylor is right in the slot, slightly overpitched, widish and not doing a whole lot - he takes a fat stride and cracks a phat drive through cover to yon fence.
WICKET! Williamson c Buttler b Broad 6 (New Zealand 23-2)
Arms pumping akimbo, Broad hammers in and forces one to lift - it’s cramping Williamson outside off, and though he’s no need to play, the menace and conviction somehow forced him to. A feathered edge, his head drops, and Buttler’s there to scoop off the turf.
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9th over: New Zealand 22-1 (Guptill 13, Williamson 6) Williamson defends well, forcing Anderson to pitch up even further, allowing a soft-handed push through mid-off for four; what a classy so-and-so he is. This game is remarkably evenly poised.
8th over: New Zealand 17-1 (Guptill 13, Williamson 1) Now the ball’s moving! Broad gets one sweeping in to Williamson, and it clips the thigh - there’s a loud appeal, but that was going down and high. That innings has done him the world of good, he really is pacing in - to the extent that, while transcribing the the observation directly from my mind, I prefixed the verb with an intensifying expletive. This is compelling stuff - rather, compelling stuff, this, is this, this is. Apologies.
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7th over: New Zealand 16-1 (Guptill 12, Williamson 1) Four slips to Williamson, with a third man and no fine-leg; Nas fancies a gully instead. Williamson plays out a maiden.
6th over: New Zealand 16-1 (Guptill 12, Williamson 1) Williamson on a pair, then, and don’t he just know it, nudging into the off-side and racing away. But Root, at short cover, aims for the non-stirker’s and though he hits direct, Williamson’s home. More importantly, and while we’re here, seminal 90s hip-hip/dance classics: my favourite.
WICKET! Latham c Buttler b Broad 3 (New Zealand 15-1)
That round-the-wicket line looked good for Broad before lunch, and he cramps Latham that way here, firing it in and forcing an airy cut than sends a kind of under-glove behind.
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5th over: New Zealand 15-0 (Latham 3, Guptill 12) Already this is better from Anderson, Guptill, who clearly doesnae fancy him, edging a jaffa for four as it swings away - that’s exactly the ball that rinsed him first innings. Then, a straighter one that’s edged into the body, before things suddenly change: first, Anderson takes an official warning from umpire Ravi for running on the pitch, then he’s carved away for four through point. Accordingly, he takes matters up with Rod Tucker, the senior umpire; tick, tick, tick, tick...
The players are middled.
Also, summat for which to look out: there wasn’t much swing about for England in that mini-session, which, given what Boult and Southee found, makes you wonder, both about conditions and the ball Anderson picked. I’d not be surprised to see him lobbying for a change sooner rather than later.
Lunchtime email from Marie Meyer: “On the one hand, I agree with Adam Levine; on the other hand, if memory serves, at the time the schedule was drawn up New Zealand had a pretty terrible side that was near or at the bottom of the table.”
Yes, it’s tricky, also because of the need for seven, and not five or six Tests a summer, against the same opposition. And of course they’re better than one-dayers, but one-dayers need playing, and there’s a limit to how many of the former are doable.
Thus endeth yet another fascinating, coruscating session, with yet another to follow. See yiz in 40.
4th over: New Zealand 7-0 (Latham 3, Guptill 4) Broad’s properly got his fierce phizog on, racing in, arms pumping, but he’s not quite straight enough at the moment; in Anderson’s last over, too many balls were leavable and left outside off, and here, too many are too close to the pads. This allows Guptill to flick a single off his hip, and then, coming around, he finds a better line, just outside off, his final two deliveries well left.
3rd over: New Zealand 6-0 (Latham 3, Guptill 3) Anderson whistles one past Latham’s outside-edge, as we’re told that the little discussion at the end of his previous over was a friendly warning about following through onto the pitch. As Bumble points out, he may well have taken the chance to irate himself for the purposes of competition - he does suffer from chronic white-line fever. And he spirits another one past Latham’s edge that swings in and moves away off the seam - a second consecutive maiden - and there’s time for one more over before lunch.
“I am sure it has already been said before,” emails Adam Levine, “but even if it has it is certainly worth re-stating that it is an absolute travesty that this is only a two test series. Utterly enthralling test matches making way for utterly forgettable and interchangeable one-day dross.”
It’s a tricky one, as one-dayers do need to be played, and do only take one-day. I’d rather watch this, but the players could do without the extra workload, especially given the schedule.
2nd over: New Zealand 6-0 (Latham 3, Guptill 3) Broad begins well, a full one clattering Guptill’s thigh-pad - there’s an appeal, Cook especially vociferous, but the ball was going down. Otherwise, a quiet over - Guptill looks confident enough, getting forward whenever possible, and I wonder if it might be prudent to give Wood an over before lunch, just to see.
1st over: New Zealand 6-0 (Latham 3, Guptill 3) Three slips and two gullies, and Anderson’s first ball is left, passing very close to the off bail. Then, Latham cuts and they run two, a subsequent shove for one into the covers bringing Guptill on strike; he’s quickly off the mark with a push for three, and that’s a good start for New Zealand. As the fielders change ends, Anderson and the umpire appear to share tetch - for what, we don’t know.
Latham, not Guptill, will take Anderson’s first ball. Canny or cowardly, you decide.
Skies look a bit clearer, but England, presumably, still fancy theirselves to nab one here. New Zealand, presumably, fancy theirselves to snatch mo-mentum.
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England are out doing their best to get warm; I love cold, suffering sportsmen. Wood and Anderson embrace, Ballance slaps a ball from palm to palm.
@DanielHarris Im sat in chilly Hdingly. Fav NZ team ever? Not sure about that but surely more scary than these chaps? http://t.co/BQ4rZMdCWo
— Patrick Duce (@PatrickDuce) May 31, 2015
So, New Zealand will have about fifteen minutes to not get out/thrash the new ball to all corners, prior to lunch.
WICKET! Broad b Henry 46 (England 350 all out)
Of course! Of course the scores are level! Of course they are! Very good delivery this, yorker length, and it easily evades the airy drive offered it. But welcome back Stuart Broad!
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108th over: England 350-9 (Broad 46, Anderson 10) Broad levels the scores with a bunt over to square-leg, the only run off the over; Anderson’s beaten off its final delivery by one that nips away from his straight bat.
107th over: England 349-9 (Broad 45, Anderson 10) Broad has an exceptional eye, and he cracks another from off to leg - Latham has to race around the boundary at square-leg to save two. Otherwise, a quiet over; pathetic.
106th over: England 346-9 (Broad 42, Anderson 10) Anderson whips out the reverse-sweep seeking one outside off, and hilariously, is fuming at himself when he misses it. So he goes again two balls later, missing again, and that’s a maiden.
105th over: England 346-9 (Broad 42, Anderson 10) Henry into the attack, and after a wide, Broad fairly batters six over square-leg taken from outside off. Then, after a dot, he paddles uppishly over the infield on the off-side, and, perhaps with the help of the wind, the ball carries away from the pursuit catchers; they run two. And oh ho ho, there’s another four, slices over the slips; even New Zealand’s bunch of placid lunatics must be nearing a rolling boil. Anyway, while we’re marvelling at the brilliance of this and previous Test, it’s as well to praise the groundstaff, who, rather than the dry miseries we might have expected, have prepared tracks with summat in them for everyone.
104th over: England 333-9 (Broad 30, Anderson 10) Craig continues, and after a single each, Anderson first misses a slog-sweep by a hectare, then gets a big stride in and times a drive beautifully through cover for four, then gets down on one knee to mow through midwicket for four. The lead, if there ends up being one, will now be negligible. I could watch this cricket every day until I die.
103rd over: England 324-9 (Broad 29, Anderson 2) Boult still going, and starts this over, his seventh of the morning, with a high bouncer wide. Broad then hooks a single to long leg, Anderson flicks one back, and a sliced, feathered uppercut gets Broad one more just over the keeper’s upstretched glow; looks like he’s found a bit of confidence here.
102nd over: England 318-9 (Broad 26, Anderson 0) England are only 32 behind now; presumably, Broad will go for them.
WICKET! Wood c Ronchi b Craig 19 (England 318-9)
He’s got Wood! Craig tries a quicker one, dragging it down a little too, and Wood, who doesn’t notice, tries a cut, feathering an edge behind. Very well batted though.
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102nd over: England 318-8 (Broad 26, Wood 19) Yep, here’s Mark Craig, and he finds some turn right away, beating Wood and flicking the pad.
101st over: England 318-8 (Broad 26, Wood 19) Wood drives again, straight at Boult as he follows-through, nailing his midriff as he covers up. They run one, and then Broad again moves to leg, digging the bat in to force back past the bowler for four, also eliciting our first “counterattack”. Ah, and there’re four more, pinged square on the off-side and bringing up the fifty partnership from just 35 balls! New Zealand are being hoisted by their own petard here, and what a Test this already is - I’m salivating at what’s to come. But, in the meantime, drinks.
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100th over: England 308-8 (Broad 17, Wood 18) This’ll be Southee’s last over, I shouldn’t wonder. After a leg-bye and two dots, Wood throws hands into another drive, this time through cover, adds fo mo, and no one’s even said “counterattack” 49,601 times. I’m sure it’s en route - but it almost isn’t, when Wood chops onto the final ball of the over and it only just avoids the stumps as it spins back.
“Superb bowling & a 90sesque collapse in one here,” tweets Guy Hornsby. “We’re staggering like a <minor expletive> uncle at a wedding. Oh for 3 tests next time.”
Yep - problem of the ICC carve-up and desire for more than five Tests a summer. I’d happily watch a summer of this.
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99th over: England 289-8 (Broad 17, Wood 14) Nice from Wood again, glancing to square-leg for the best kind of four - one that forces a headlong, fruitless dive from the chasing man as it rushes over the rope. He really did time that very nicely indeed, and there’s another, this time to fine-leg for one, then Broad pulls venomously, earning a one-bounce four just shy of the rope. And next, he shimmies over to leg to flick through midwicket for three more, before Wood adds another two to long leg. New Zealand’s lead is disappearing, and if England can get some time at them in these conditions before better weather tomorrow, they may even regret making such a brilliant start this morning.
98th over: England 289-8 (Broad 10, Wood 7) Wood looks assured, and committed to playing shots - he finds mid-off with a firm drive, but it was full of conviction. Someone’s dressed up as a lamb - “mint sauce springs to mind,” says Beefy. And what’s this! A fielding error from Brendon McCullum, mistiming his slide to Wood’s on-drive and whizzing past the ball. How dare he! They run three.
97th over: England 286-8 (Broad 10, Wood 4) My days, this some thrilling, intense brilliance from your New Zealand. They’ve Watling on the square-leg fence waiting for Broad’s swivel-pull, and there one is - and Watling hares around, then dives headlong, taking ball into hands, but spilling it as he hits the ground. Incredible effort, and nousful planning ; they run one, and Wood drives the next delivery superbly through point for four. Then, after a bye, one slips out of Boult’s hand and flashes by Wood’s phizog for five no-balls, and England look a little more confident; I wonder how long McCullum will persist with his two frontliners.
96th over: England 275-8 (Broad 9, Wood 0) Maybe this is the time for Stuart Broad to bat himself back into nick - given the pitch and the bowlers, there’s not likely to be much short stuff. And he times four beautifully through wide mid-on, then runs three more down to third man - which is more like it, I guess. With so many close catchers behind the bat, the gaps are there. Another fine over from Southee, it’s third ball cracking Wood in the thigh - but off the bat.
“Just wondering about how you’re measuring the likeability of the NZ cricket team,” wonders Danielle Tolson. “Is it the lack of sledging and that kind of behaviour, the qualities that Brad Haddin thought made them too ‘nice’ in the World Cup?”
Not necessarily - I’d not say that or necessarily makes a team likeable, as they might still be bunch of bores. More the manner in which they play, the obvious love of the game, and the imagined conversations I have with them when we’re out. They just seem like a sound bunch, I suppose.
95th over: England 268-8 (Broad 2, Wood 0) Chatter in commentary is that England might have attacked anything wide, given how good the bowling is and the likelihood that eventually they’ll get one they can’t keep out. Is that an attacking approach that’s actually defensive, as in not backing yourself to bat through it?
“Daniel, Daniel, Daniel,” emails my wife Robert Wilson. “Top work on Bell’s dismissal! That was the hex of the decade. And you were so throrough, so pitiless. That’s a true talent. Listen, there’s this awful guy I work with...if I give you his name, would you mind saying something kind and helpful about him?”
I was trying to reassure, like Yozzer said.
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94th over: England 267-8 (Broad 1, Wood 0) Ah. Six overs, 14 runs, three wickets this morning, eight of the 14 via byes and four via edge.
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WICKET! Ali c Guptill b Southee 1 (England 267-8)
And, in the end, England are England are England. Another taxing bastard of a delivery, moving across Moeen, who fences and guides another catch to slip, where it’s again taken with minimum fuss and maximum competence. Superb bowling.
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94th over: England 267-6 (Ali 1, Broad 1) Broad, who examined his helmet on his way to the wicket, glances into the on-side, just wide of short-leg. They could run two, but, unsurprisingly, he accepts one.
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WICKET! Buttler c Taylor b Southee 10 (England 266-7)
Oh this is lovely bowling! Ah England are in grief now! Southee leaps wide on the crease, slants it in, and when it straightens, Buttler, drawn into pushing forward, edges to first slip. Great skill, delivery and nous.
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93rd over: England 266-6 (Buttler 10, Ali 1) This attack is a good test for Moeen, who’s looked a little suss against pace. It’s not the two Mitches - Mitchelayim as they’re doubtless known in Israel - but still. He plays out a maiden confidently.
92nd over: England 266-6 (Buttler 10, Ali 1) Moeen off the mark, glancing into the on-side - and that’ll please Southee, who’ll fancy getting at the right-handed Buttler. Immediately, he’s wicket-to-wicket, but Buttler’s right behind it, playing confidently and then leaving confidently too. But then he flashes, edging low into the gap between slip and gully for four.
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91st over: England 261-6 (Buttler 6, Ali 0) Gosh, Boult is into this and so’s the pitch, a bumper at 82mph whizzing by Buttler’s noz as he plays high at it. They get four byes, and then an inswinger’s just about edged into the inside-thigh - that must’ve stung. In our playground, grabbing and squeezing someone’s flesh there was known as a donkey bite.
90th over: England 257-6 (Buttler 6, Ali 0) So, England are on the verge of a situation, here. It looks lovely for bowling this morning, and Bumble reckons it’s got quicker, so provided the weather holds, we’re set for more wondrous cricket. England have lost five wickets for 42; I say lost, but had them taken is just as much so. Ali, who leaves the ball very well, mainly leaves the ball.
WICKET! Bell c Craig b Southee 12 (England 257-6)
Ach. This is a good ball from Southee - his second of the morning - full and moving away. Bell presses forwards, follows it, and outside-edges to second slip where Craig snaffles well, low down; Guptill went across him from three, but he was sufficiently focused and committed to pay no mind.
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89th over: England 257-5 (Buttler 6, Bell 12) In comes Boult, and his second ball diddles Buttler all ends up, slanting across and bouncing beautifully to carry through to Ronchi at coupon-height. This is an excellent over, but England move along when one flicks off the pads and races away for four byes.
Here we go!
Michael Holding is vex at the delayed start. One can only conclude that it is vexing.
Scrap that, everything you thought you thought is a lie. New Zealand are huddling.
I mean, obviously there’s Steve Davis and Tony Meo, and Alex Higgins and Jimmy White, but otherwise.
Is this New Zealand team the most likeable in cricket - or even sporting - history? Anymore for anymore?
Nasser’s looking at GazBaz and his retreating in the crease - minds me a little of Joe Root in the last home Ashes. But yesterday, he didn’t watch the ball onto the bat, not necessarily evidence of an uncluttered mind. His batting last summer was nothing short of spectacular, but he’s yet to score runs against a quality attack. He - and Bell, for that matter - are probably lucky that Pietersen’s been binned, because they’d be under pressure for their places otherwise.
It’s cold in the middle. Good.
Latest from @bbcweather. Few showers this morning, but improving this afternoon. Tomorrow should be mostly dry, but more showers on Tuesday
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) May 31, 2015
We shall start at 11.15 (provided there’s no further rain).
Missed overs to be made up, along with the additional half-hour, at the end of the day.
Preamble
On Friday, TMS played a long interview conducted by Simon Hughes with Paul Farbrace. After it, in the discussion about how different players need coaching and coaxing in different ways, Hughes observed that Ian Bells needs reassuring as to how good he is literally every day. And then added that if one cast eyes out to the middle, where play was soon to start following a rain day, Bell would inevitably be found loitering, waiting for Botham, Gower and ilk to pass and tell him how he shouldn’t worry about last week’s failure, and he’d be fine this week.
On the face of it, this is normal: it is what it is, you are who you are, and other tautologies. And yet, even now, it’s not entirely easy to compute, because Ian Bell is thoroughly, epochally wonderful. Yes, he’s beautiful to watch and all that, but that’s so of almost every serious batsman; what’s special about Bell is that he’s also shown the ability to grind, and been the difference across a serious series in a way that no Englishman has managed since David Gower in 1985. Quite simply, the 2012 Ashes would’ve been lost without him.
But now, he could handle a score. His place is secure for the start of the next series, but Bell being Bell being tautological, he needs to be confident - and, most importantly, his team needs him immediately.
