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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Will Macpherson

Matt Potts forced off field with cramp to disrupt dream England Test debut after four wickets vs New Zealand

Matt Potts put in an outstanding performance to take four wickets on as England bowled New Zealand out for 132, but had to leave the field injured in the middle of an over.

Potts, who was presented his cap by another Durham quick in Steve Harmison, took four wickets for 11 runs on his first day as a Test cricketer, which looked like being a dream day.

However, two balls into his 10th over, he left the field with cramp, before the over was completed by captain Ben Stokes. He is expected to be fit to bowl in the second innings.

Potts had bowled beautifully to pick up the wickets of Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell before lunch, and Ajaz Patel after it, before leaving the field.

The final wicket was picked up by Stokes, with Trent Boult caught at mid-wicket, before tea.

From the wreckage of 45 for seven shortly after lunch, this represented a decent fightback from New Zealand, thanks to a calculated innings from Colin de Grandhomme and some lusty hitting from the tail.

Jimmy Anderson came in for some particularly heavy treatment, travelling at more than seven runs an over after the break.

Potts was not England’s first loss of the day. Earlier, England lost Jack Leach to a head injury.

The spinner chased a ball to the boundary and landed awkwardly. Assessments showed symptoms of concussion and he was ruled out of the remainder of the match, and replaced by Matt Parkinson, England’s first concussion sub in Test cricket.

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