I suppose that’s an appropriate end to a trying winter for England. But today is more about New Zealand - a resourceful, likeable, sometimes brilliant side who fully deserve this victory. On behalf of all the OBO writers, thanks for your company all winter, and for keeping us sane during the small hours. It feels a long time ago that James Vince made 83 on the first day of the Ashes at the Gabba. Bye!
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Kane Williamson speaks “It was an amazing day of Test cricket. I want to thank Joe and his team - that was a really hard-fought series. We didn’t get off to a great start but the guys showed a lot of steel. Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner were just phenomenal.”
Joe Root speaks “We threw absolutely everything at them. I’m very proud of the way we went about it. We had some great support as well. Fair play to New Zealand; they played very well. We let ourselves down in the first innings of the first Test, but apart from that we played some good cricket. We need to take some of the good stuff from this week into the summer. We’d have loved a third Test - I think everyone would. Those five days were a great advert for Test cricket.”
Trent Boult is the Player of the Series “It’s a phenomenal way to end the season; it’s been great fun. I’m sure we’ll celebrate it well tonight.”
Tim Southee is the Man of the Match “It’s very special to win a series against England. We’ll savour it for a long time.”
Between them Sodhi and Wagner batted out 271 balls to secure New Zealand their first series win against England at home since 1984. That’s more than a whole T20 match, and slow scoring has rarely been as thrilling.
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) April 3, 2018
Ish Sodhi speaks “I’m rapt to be part of a series win. Waggy is a fighter when he bowls and he dragged me along. There were tough periods when they bowled bouncers but it was a pretty true wicket. I was disappointed with my performance with the ball so to be able to contribute is massive for me. All I could hear was the Barmy Army at the end, their songs will be ringing in my head for a while.”
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That was a glorious last day’s play. England took four wickets in the first hour but could only take four more in the rest of the day. New Zealand threw it away with some dodgy attacking strokes and then grabbed it back in the final session. England lose the series with a fair amount of honour, although they have set an unwanted record of 13 overseas Tests without a win.
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Ish Sodhi walks off to a huge ovation. He had a stinker in his day job, with the ball - yet he might be Man of the Match for an immense 56 not out from 168 balls.
MATCH DRAWN! NEW ZEALAND WIN THE SERIES 1-0!
Bad light stops play before another ball can be bowled, and New Zealand have beaten England at home for the first time in 34 years!
WICKET! New Zealand 256-8 (Wagner c Vince b Root 7)
Wagner has gone, caught bat pad off Root. He reviewed it to waste time, a very smart move. England probably have three balls to take the last two wickets. Wagner gets a standing oivation for an innings of seven from 103 balls.
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124th over: New Zealand 256-7 (Sodhi 56, Wagner 7) A long hop from Malan is cuffed for four by Sodhi. New Zealand have lost only one wicket in the last 56 overs, which tells the story of a famous rearguard. Few England fans will begrudge them this victory.
123rd over: New Zealand 252-7 (Sodhi 52, Wagner 7) Wagner plays out another over from Leach. That takes him to 99 - balls faced, that is. And he looks like he could go all night. He only needs to survive another eight minutes.
That’s a proper field...#bbccricket pic.twitter.com/mz8btzfc8T
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) April 3, 2018
122nd over: New Zealand 252-7 (Sodhi 52, Wagner 7) Root off, Malan on. Sodhi flogs him over midwicket for four to reach a marvellous fifty from 158 balls! His grandkids will hear plenty about 3rd April 2018.
121st over: New Zealand 248-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 7) England can actually get more than two overs in, because there are around 15 minutes remaining of the final hour. They just don’t look like taking a wicket, though. This pitch, inspired by Mac Millings XI, has gone to sleep. Wagner survives another maiden from Leach, including an optimistic appeal for a bat-pad catch. New Zealand have scored one run from the last nine overs.
120th over: New Zealand 248-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 7) Yet another bowling change from Joe Root, who brings himself on to replace Jimmy Anderson. The umpires may have told him it’s too dark for the pace bowlers. Another maiden from Root, who even tries a bouncer with his last delivery. This game is done. New Zealand deserve their series victory after a thoroughly heroic rearguard.
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119th over: New Zealand 248-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 7) Leach has switched around the wicket to Wagner, with seven men and Bairstow around the bat. England no longer look like taking a wicket, I’m afraid, and Wagner serenely plays out another over from Leach. He has made seven not out from 87 balls.
118th over: New Zealand 248-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 7) James Anderson goes to the well one last time, replacing Dawid Malan. He gets some inswing to Sodhi, who continues to defend as if a series victory depended on it. A maiden. Four overs to go.
117th over: New Zealand 248-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 7) Broad off, Leach on. Wagner survives a desperate LBW appeal from the first ball of the over. England have no reviews left, though it was missing leg stump anyway. Another maiden. This is an immense rearguard from Sodhi and Wagner.
116th over: New Zealand 248-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 7) Malan continues to Wagner, who looks so calm despite all the pressure. After five defensive strokes, he pushes a single off the last delivery to keep the strike. Six overs remaining.
115th over: New Zealand 247-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 6) Stokes is replaced by Stuart Broad, so there’s still no sign of Jimmy Anderson. Sodhi pushes a short ball desperately close to Stoneman, who is on his knees at short leg. He moved his hands up instinctively and couldn’t then get them down in time as the ball died on him. Had he stayed low he would probably have taken the catch.
114th over: New Zealand 247-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 6) And now for something completely different: the part-time legspinner Dawid Malan is coming into the attack. He has five men and the keeper around the bat for Wagner, who is beaten outside off stump by a brilliant googly. It’s yet another maiden, the 41st of the innings. New Zealand are eight overs from glory.
It’s incredible how many last-hour dramas Test matches involving England produce. #EngvNZ
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) April 3, 2018
That’s one word for it.
113th over: New Zealand 247-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 6) No joy for Stokes, who tries both over and around the wicket to Sodhi. It’s been an immense performance from Sodhi, who has 48 not out from 138 balls. He is hit on the thumb by the last delivery and receives a bit of treatment between overs.
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112th over: New Zealand 247-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 6) In this situation, and for different reasons, I’d like to see Anderson, Broad, Stokes, Leach, Wood and Malan have a bowl. Why can’t Joe Root just bowl absolutely everyone?
The man who is actually bowling is Broad. Wagner flicks to fine leg for four and fends a brutish short ball to safety on the leg side. Another one goes by. New Zealand are so close to a landmark series win.
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111th over: New Zealand 243-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 2) Ben Stokes comes into the attack for the first time today. The weather is holding up, with the sun reappearing overhead. Sodhi survives an LBW shout - too high - and that’s about it. A maiden from Stokes. There are a maximum olf 11 overs remaining.
110th over: New Zealand 243-7 (Sodhi 48, Wagner 2) Wagner has made two runs from 57 balls - not quite Geoff Allott, but still pretty special in the circumstances. Sodhi gets away with another false stroke, fencing a short ball from Broad just over the head of Wood in a deepish slip position. He is still to look a bit tired mentally. What a match this has been.
109th over: New Zealand 242-7 (Sodhi 47, Wagner 2) Jack Leach is on, with Wagner on strike. He is beaten on the inside by a big-spinning delivery that hits him on the body, and then survives an optimistic LBW appeal after padding up. It was missing off stump, though England have no reviews left anyway.
“It’s a theory of mine that for a captain to succeed over the long-term, he needs to quickly identify a core group of 5-6 players that he can rely on for the entire duration of his captaincy,” says Kandukuru Nagarjun. “The great (Imran, Ranatunga, Ganguly, Chappelli, Lloyd, Border, Taylor) and the good (Morgan, Ponting, Waugh, Sammy) seem to have done this. In his year in charge, Root hasn’t been able to do that. With the exception of Bairstow, there’s no one you might say can be relied upon for the next five years. Not even Stokes, for obvious reasons. Woakes and Wood may have regressed. None of the batsmen has really kicked on. So whether Root has any talent for captaincy or not, I fear his era won’t be a notable success.”
Yes, I’d agree with that. You would hope he’ll be able to depend on Hameed and Stokes, but that’s still not really a spine. It feels like England have been in transition for about four years, and there’s no sign of that ending.
108th over: New Zealand 242-7 (Sodhi 47, Wagner 2) Stuart Broad replaces Jack Leach. England are overdoing the short stuff a little; almost every delivery is back of a length. When Broad does pitch it up, Sodhi edges a loose drive over the slips for four. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: acccccccccccccccccccccccccch!
Picked as a bowler, Ish Sodhi bowled 16 overs for 77. But he is fighting valiantly with his second, and lesser, skill to win his team a series. #TestCricket
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 3, 2018
107th over: New Zealand 238-7 (Sodhi 43, Wagner 2) A lifter from Wood finds the shoulder of Sodhi’s bat, with the ball looping agonisingly over gully for a single. Wood has not had much luck in this spell. That’s drinks, which means there are a maximum of 15 overs remaining. But it’s getting a lot darker.
106th over: New Zealand 237-7 (Sodhi 42, Wagner 2) For the first time in the innings, Leach has a full over at Wagner. After some good defensive strokes, Wagner is beaten by the final delivery. A maiden.
105th over: New Zealand 237-7 (Sodhi 42, Wagner 2) The light is still fine - everyone thought we’d be off by now - and Wood has switched ends. Sodhi fences a snorter just past the diving Anderson at gully. I think he got his fingers to it. Root is literally on his knees at silly point, trying to get as low as possible so that he can dive onto the pitch if necessary. There are 16 overs remaining.
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104th over: New Zealand 235-7 (Sodhi 41, Wagner 1) Root rushes through an over to Wagner, presumably so that Leach can change ends. Sodhi and Wagner look exasperatingly comfortable.
“One quick question: obviously it’s not been a great winter with batting failures and an over-reliance on two ageing bowlers (actually, just one, really),” says David Horn. “How should we evaluate Joe Root’s captaincy in this context? He’s not got a great team, but it doesn’t look like he’s got the best out of them either.”
He’s had some nice, eye-catching fields but this still doesn’t feel like his team and I’m still not sure what type of captain he is. I think he’s done okay. It feels like he’s still learning, and that we’re still learning about him.
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103rd over: New Zealand 235-7 (Sodhi 41, Wagner 1) A maiden from Leach to Sodhi, who looks almost immovable.
102nd over: New Zealand 235-7 (Sodhi 41, Wagner 1) Wood has given everything today. I still think he could pitch it up a bit more but he has been sharp and menacing. Wagner cuts into the off side and turns down a run. New Zealand have decided that Sodhi will take the spin and Wagner the pace.
GET BEN STOKES ON. PLEASE.
101st over: New Zealand 235-7 (Sodhi 41, Wagner 1) Leach replaces Root and induces a wild, weird hack at fresh air from Sodhi. “Where did that come from?” says the commentator Ian Smith. Another maiden.
“Coming towards the end of the (winter) season and they’ve been working you hard,” says Brian Withington. “Any chance you’ve lined yourself up a bit of R’nR’? Maybe a spot of care-taking at an out of season mountain hotel somewhere remote - put the finishing touches to that novel you’ve been planning? Just watch out for twins cycling down the corridors (and leave the axe behind).”
100th over: New Zealand 235-7 (Sodhi 41, Wagner 1) Sodhi flicks Wood just wide of the diving Vince at square leg; then Wagner fences just short of Cook at silly point. Ach! The clouds are starting to gather again. England are running out of time.
99th over: New Zealand 234-7 (Sodhi 40, Wagner 1) Joe Root replaces Jack Leach and starts with a couple of poor deliveries that Sodhi slaps for four. Not a great over, all told.
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98th over: New Zealand 225-7 (Sodhi 31, Wagner 1) This is a bit one-dimensional from Wood, with lots of short balls, but it’s threatening nonetheless. Wagner fends a nasty delivery short of the man at short leg and drops the next ball short of silly point. Well batted.
97th over: New Zealand 225-7 (Sodhi 31, Wagner 1) England would like to have Leach bowling at Wagner rather than Sodhi, who is playing him excellently. Sodhi takes a single off the fourth ball and Wagner comfortably survives the last two deliveries. I’m really surprised England haven’t tried Ben Stokes, even with his dodgy back. This situation is crying out for his force of personality.
96th over: New Zealand 223-7 (Sodhi 30, Wagner 0) This is a zesty spell from Wood, who pins Wagner on the shoulder with a terrific short ball. Another maiden.
“Miller’s Crossing contains enough wisdom to apply to every situation in life,” says Phil Podolsky. “‘Do you always know why you do things, Leo?’ - I’ve been thinking about that line for years now. The simple Leo always knows why he does everything he does; Tom, who knows all the angles and plays, is aware that his motivations are more complex than he can articulate, at least before he analyses his actions with the benefit of hindsight. I mean, beautiful.”
95th over: New Zealand 223-7 (Sodhi 30, Wagner 0) There are a possible 27 overs remaining, though we won’t get all of those because of the light. Leach has switched over the wicket to Sodhi, who is beaten by a nice delivery and then sweeps firmly for four. Leach moves back over the wicket for the last two balls; Sodhi blocks. He has played so well.
94th over: New Zealand 219-7 (Sodhi 26, Wagner 0) The new batsman is Neil Wagner, who digs out a cracking yorker first ball. A wicket maiden from Wood. When de Grandhomme was caught, he whacked his bat into the ground in frustration.
WICKET! New Zealand 219-7 (de Grandhomme c Leach b Wood 45)
Got him! Mark Wood has struck with the second ball of a new spell! Colin de Grandhomme was suckered into a hook that he top-edged towards fine leg, where Jack Leach took a calm low catch. That’s a dreadful shot from de Grandhomme, who had defended so well, and England have fresh hope.
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93rd over: New Zealand 219-6 (de Grandhomme 45, Sodhi 26) A maiden from Leach to the strokeless Sodhi. This is an outstanding defensive innings.
De Grandhomme has defended 43 of the 91 balls he's faced in this innings (47.2%), a higher percentage than any Test innings in which he's faced 10 or more balls. His next highest was 28.5% v Pakistan in his 2nd Test #NZvEng
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) April 3, 2018
92nd over: New Zealand 219-6 (de Grandhomme 45, Sodhi 26) de Grandhomme pulls smoothly for four to bring up an admirable fifty partnership, and top-edges another pull for four next ball. England are struggling. Surely it’s time to bring Ben Stokes on and tell him to write his own script.
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REVIEW! New Zealand 210-6 (Sodhi not out 25)
Broad tries a bit of leg theory to Sodhi, who flicks loosely outside leg stump and survives an appeal for caught behind. England are going to risk their last review. I think this is more out of desperation than expectation. Yes, he missed it by a mile. England are all out of reviews.
91st over: New Zealand 210-6 (de Grandhomme 37, Sodhi 25) Jack Leach replaces James Anderson, who has the usual immaculate figures: 25-7-37-1. England will hope the new ball bounces more than usual for Leach. But his first over is blocked calmly by de Grandhomme, who seems to have morphed into Trevor Franklin.
90th over: New Zealand 210-6 (de Grandhomme 37, Sodhi 25) Broad continues to the dogged Sodhi, who flicks off the pads for four. Nah, it’s not happening.
“Perhaps a drawn game, either through lack of wickets or bad light, would be in the best medium- to long-term terms interests of the England team,” says Jason Ali. “Individuals and organizations only instigate major change when the pain they are experiencing is so intense they are crying. My feeling is that a victory in this Test would lead to those in charge going ‘things are not too bad’, thus we’ll very likely end with more of the same for the coming 12 months. Losing two away series would necessarily force people to take stock.”
I take your point but I’m not sure it would. They have been pretty slow to react to the failings of the last few years. I think it will take a home series defeat (maybe to India this summer) for major change to occur.
89th over: New Zealand 206-6 (de Grandhomme 37, Sodhi 21) The light is fine, for now, but England have not looked like taking a wicket with the second new ball. I would get Leach and Stokes on.
“ACA have referred to the Australian cricketers’ ‘extraordinary contrition’ and that they should get their bans reduced,” says Ian Forth. “This reminds me of John Turturro in Miller’s Crossing. ‘All I have to do is blub and you won’t kill me’.”
Look into your heart, Cricket Australia!
88th over: New Zealand 204-6 (de Grandhomme 35, Sodhi 21) de Grandhomme clouts a pull for four off Broad to bring up the 200. England need to change something. If I were idly trying to tempt fate, I’d probably suggest they will never, ever take another wicket in Test cricket, ever.
Phil Neale, the team operations manager, and the non-playing squad members scattered around the boundary to help get the ball back. All hands on deck for England #NZvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) April 3, 2018
87th over: New Zealand 199-6 (de Grandhomme 30, Sodhi 21) Good judgement from de Grandhomme, who leaves a ball from Anderson that bounces just over off stump. Just a single from the over. These two batsmen look very comfortable.
“Well,” says Adam Hirst, “I suppose a damp squib finish would be a massive improvement on the rest of the winter. Huzzah!”
86th over: New Zealand 198-6 (de Grandhomme 29, Sodhi 21) There’s very little happening for Anderson and Broad. It might not be long before Joe Root goes back to Jack Leach. I’d be tempted to give Ben Stokes a burst off the short run.
“Mac Millings missed Peter Sleep,” says Kandukuru Nagarjun. “Maybe the Australian spinner of the late ‘80s was too prosaic for Mac, but he could bat at 10 in the XI.”
85th over: New Zealand 197-6 (de Grandhomme 28, Sodhi 21) England appeal unsuccessfully for a catch down the leg side when Sodhi flicks at Anderson. There was a noise but replays confirm it was ball on pad. There’s a short break in play while Sodhi has treatment to his arm, where he was hit by Broad in the previous over. This is becoming very frustrating for England.
In other news, here’s some other news.
84th over: New Zealand 196-6 (de Grandhomme 27, Sodhi 21) Stuart Broad replaces Mark Wood. His first ball is flicked fine for four by Sodhi, who then wears a short ball on the arm. He is playing a gem of an innings. It’s worth repeating that New Zealand haven’t won a series against England since 1999, and they haven’t won one at home since 1983-84. This is kind of a big deal.
83rd over: New Zealand 192-6 (de Grandhomme 27, Sodhi 17) James Anderson’s second ball after tea is a cracker that beats Ish Sodhi’s reverse curtain rail. There’s still no sign of movement, though, which will annoy England like a dodgy espresso. One from the over.
“In 30 years of watching, listening to and playing cricket, I had never heard of cow corner until today,” says Matt Deasey. “It’s a marvellous name, any idea how I could not be aware of it?”
Absolutely none. You’re welcome!
The Mac Millings XI
“My goodness, Rob, you’ve been putting in quite the very many shifts lately - how do you do it?” sniffs Mac Millings. “Now, I’m not one to try and undermine you, but (by mere coincidence) here is my All-time You Are Feeling Very Sleepy XI. I must be tired, too - one of them’s not even a cricketer!
- Nick GoodKnight
- Zzzzzaheer Abbas
- Inzamam-ul-Knaqered
- Exhausted Dexter
- Faf Duvet Plessis
- Harry “Forty” Winks
- VVS Relaxman
- Listless Ames
- Snoreman Cowans
- George Pillohmann
- Alan Mullullaby.”
That’s one of the great Millings XIs. But after the way he batted before tea, Sluggish Sodhi won’t be happy to miss out.
Fantasy County Cricket
Now, the folks who congregate below the line on our county blog have organised a Fantasy League for the upcoming season. If you’re interested in joining, click here. The code you need is RZIFESUJ.
Tea
82nd over: New Zealand 191-6 (de Grandhomme 27, Sodhi 16) Crikey, Mark Wood is going to continue with the new ball ahead of Stuart Broad. That’s quite a decision from Joe Root. Sodhi gets away with a leading edge from a very full delivery before de Grandhomme pumps a drive through mid-off for four. Surely Broad will replace Wood after tea.
That’s the end of a fascinating afternoon session, and an increasingly frustrating one for England. With the light closing in, they don’t have long left to win this match. See you in 15 minutes for the last session of this long, life-affirming winter.
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81st over: New Zealand 184-6 (de Grandhomme 23, Sodhi 13) James Anderson takes the second new ball. There’s not much sign of movement in his first over, which is defended comfortably by de Grandhomme and Sodhi.
80th over: New Zealand 182-6 (de Grandhomme 22, Sodhi 12) Wood bowls around the wicket to Sodhi with the funkiest of fields: two men at gully, leg slip, leg gully, short leg, short square leg and short midwicket. Sodhi jumps inside the line of the short stuff and digs out the yorkers. Well played. A maiden, and time for the second new ball. There are seven or eight minutes until tea. I think this is slipping away from England.
79th over: New Zealand 182-6 (de Grandhomme 22, Sodhi 12) This is horrible for England, because they don’t know how much time they have left. A race against time is nerve-racking enough without time playing silly buggers. JUST GIVE IT TO US STRAIGHT, TIME: HOW LONG IS LEFT?
Leach replaces Root and rushes through a forgettable maiden to de Grandhomme. After a loose start, de Grandhomme is winning the battle to control his baser attacking instincts.
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78th over: New Zealand 182-6 (de Grandhomme 22, Sodhi 12) Wood continues. I would bowl Leach here, purely to save time and get to the new ball. At least Wood comes off a short run. Sodhi fences a good delivery not far wide of Stoneman at short leg. Ach, this is turning into a really frustrating period for England.
“After the pain and suffering of this winter/summer tour (depending where I happen to be) it will be a relief to get this over with,” says Jeremy Bunting. “Two rather dull questions to you: is Leach a discovery or just overlooked? And (a chance for you to rant) surely there is too much International cricket with its commercialisation and money-grabbing. How can England be successful if they are knackered?”
Yes, everyone knows the schedule is a scandal. No time for ranting, there’s a light meter to scrutinise! Leach is a slightly complicated case; he would probably have played earlier – or at least been in the squad – but for the doubts over his action. It’s been an encouraging debut and he should start the next Test against Pakistan, though England will also consider Moeen Ali’s excellent home record.
77th over: New Zealand 177-6 (de Grandhomme 18, Sodhi 11) Some clouds are starting to gather, which is not remotely good news for England. They need to get to the new ball as soon as possible. Root is running back to his mark after every delivery. Bumble, on commentary, reckons England will get no more than 10 overs with the new ball because of bad light.
76th over: New Zealand 176-6 (de Grandhomme 17, Sodhi 11) Neil Wagner is padded up, which suggests Tim Southee might not be fit to bat. He was suffering with a virus yesterday. Mark Wood, meanwhile, replaces Jack Leach and is pulled round the corner for a single by de Grandhomme. Sodhi then digs out a lovely yorker. Four overs until the second new ball.
If England are trying to reach the new ball with spin, worth a few from Malan? A leggie, even a part-time one, can make something happen against the lower order #NZvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) April 3, 2018
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75th over: New Zealand 174-6 (de Grandhomme 16, Sodhi 10) This is good stuff from Root, who turns one past the inside edge to hit de Grandhomme on the pad. England go up for LBW but he was outside the line. A maiden. These are almost bonus overs for England, so quickly is Root bowling them, because we know time will catch up with England at some stage in the evening session if the match is still going on.
74th over: New Zealand 174-6 (de Grandhomme 16, Sodhi 10) Leach beats Sodhi with a gorgeous delivery from around the wicket that curves in and spits away off the pitch. “That is a NUT!” says one of the England fielders, Bairstow I think.
73rd over: New Zealand 172-6 (de Grandhomme 16, Sodhi 8) There are 49 overs remaining, though we probably won’t get all of them in. Root, who is running back to his mark between deliveries, bowls an over to Sodhi in double-quick time.
72nd over: New Zealand 171-6 (de Grandhomme 16, Sodhi 7) Replays confirm that my eyes are knackered: that delivery from Root to Sodhi was missing leg stump and bouncing over. Leach hurries through another over. He and Root are threatening to take wickets and hurrying England to the second new ball.
71st over: New Zealand 169-6 (de Grandhomme 14, Sodhi 7) Root appeals unsuccessfully for LBW and a bat-pad catch in the same delivery to Sodhi. The LBW shout looked really good to my knackered eyes, but England chose not to review.
Extra bounce does for Latham as that ball from Leach appeared to disturb the surface - balls of that length have typically been bouncing around 70cm at the stumps but the wicket ball would have bounced 1.2m #NZvEng
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) April 3, 2018
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70th over: New Zealand 165-6 (de Grandhomme 14, Sodhi 3) Sodhi is dropped by Stoneman at silly point, a sharp chance off a leading edge. He has missed a few chances in this innings. Leach is bowling nicely - this has been a really promising debut - and his last ball to Sodhi is inside-edged just wide of leg stump.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Phil Withall. “I’ve been on hold to my work’s IT department for 18 minutes so far and have used that time to work out that Anderson, Muralitharan, Kumble and Warne have bowled enough deliveries to complete 288 full days of Test cricket or, to put it another way, 57 Tests. Remarkable achievement.”
69th over: New Zealand 162-6 (de Grandhomme 14, Sodhi 0) A maiden from Root to de Grandhomme.
68th over: New Zealand 162-6 (de Grandhomme 14, Sodhi 0) Those who remember the nightmare of Danny Morrison will not be counting poultry, but England have a great chance of winning this game. The new batsman is Ish Sodhi rather than Tim Southee, presumably because of his superior defensive awareness.
WICKET! New Zealand 162-6 (Latham c Vince b Leach 83)
Jack Leach has taken a huge wicket! He switched ends and struck with his third ball when Latham top-edged a sweep towards deep backward square leg, where James Vince charged in and dived forward to take a superb low catch.
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67th over: New Zealand 162-5 (Latham 83, de Grandhomme 14) Thanks Tom, hello everyone. On the 35th day of a long Test-match winter, England may finally be about to win a game. They need five more wickets and will have a new ball in 13 overs’ time.
Joe Root is coming into the attack after the drinks break. His first ball is a beauty that gates de Grandhomme and bounces over the top of off stump; de Grandhomme responds by scrunching a boundary through the covers. There is plenty of rough for Root outside off stump, and another sharply spun delivery brings an unsuccessful appeal for LBW. That’s a very encouraging start from Root.
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66th over: New Zealand 156-5 (Latham 83, De Grandhomme 10; target 382). Wood continues his line of attack at Latham - short-ish and round the wicket, and the batsman continues to fend him off or duck the bouncers. There’s a bit more variable bounce out there now, mind. Another maiden and that’s drinks.
And with that, I shall hand you over to Rob Smyth, who will describe the remainder of England’s winter. Thanks for your company and comments. Bye.
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65th over: New Zealand 156-5 (Latham 83, De Grandhomme 10; target 382). Another slightly iffy shot from De Grandhomme, driving uppishly at Leach but being slightly foxed by the spin out of the rough and slicing through the vacant gully region. Another good over from Leach.
64th over: New Zealand 154-5 (Latham 83, De Grandhomme 8; target 382). Wood continues to probe away at Latham with that slanted round-the-wicket angle, but the opener has answered every question put before him today, and continues to do so here. A maiden.
63rd over: New Zealand 154-5 (Latham 83, De Grandhomme 8; target 382). The expected reversion to spin sees Leach return to the attack, and De Grandhomme offers up a half-chance with a sliced drive that lands just - just - in front of the man at point, who I think is Root. You’d have to give that as an opportunity not taken though.
62nd over: New Zealand 152-5 (Latham 83, De Grandhomme 6; target 382). We’ve had no spin in this session yet, but Wood’s brought his own variety (and, of course, a wicket) and he continues for now. De Grandhomme isn’t one to hold back though, and a controlled pull brings him a single that takes the hosts to 150. Latham’s legside flick then adds another two to the total.
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61st over: New Zealand 149-5 (Latham 81, De Grandhomme 5; target 382). Anderson charges in at Latham with an assertive offside-heavy field, and a rare-as-hen’s-teeth half-volley is punished with a perfectly timed cover drive for four. He’ll deserve a hundred.
60th over: New Zealand 145-5 (Latham 77, De Grandhomme 5; target 382). Another worrying moment for New Zealand as Wood’s ferocious short ball is gloved up in the air by Latham but it sails beyond Bairstow and lands safely. They run three. Wood goes round the wicket at the right-handed De Grandhomme, who turns one away for another single. Latham picks up another single. It’s an untypically expensive over, not that that matters massively, as it was a decent one that kept both batsmen on their toes.
59th over: New Zealand 140-5 (Latham 73, De Grandhomme 4; target 382). The Sky team were just comparing Latham’s rearguard here with Matt Prior’s draw-salvaging one in Auckland five years ago before Watling’s wicket fell, and you can certainly see him still at the crease at the end, in one circumstance or another. Latham adds another to his total with a push to extra-cover. Anderson rounds off a decent over with a quicker ball that almost gets past De Grandhomme’s bottom edge.
58th over: New Zealand 139-5 (Latham 72, De Grandhomme 4; target 382). Wood replaces Broad and serenades Watling with some chin music straight away - well, six-inches-above-his-head music to be strictly accurate. But his willingness to mix it up reaps dividends when he induces a reckless flick to legslip from Watling, stepping outside off, to end the partnership. That was a bit of a brain-fade in any circumstances. De Grandhomme is promptly off the mark with a four.
Wicket! Watling c b Wood 19, New Zealand 135-5
Watling falls into Wood’s trap, making room outside off-stump and flicking it to Anderson at leg slip. It’s a much-needed breakthrough for England and another fateful moment of sloppiness from the hosts.
57th over: New Zealand 135-4 (Latham 72, Watling 19; target 382). It’s not quite happening for England in this session yet – not that Broad and Anderson are doing much wrong (though they’re not finding the sought-after zinger), it’s just that Latham and Watling are coping comfortably, more so than New Zealand have at any point in this innings. Another maiden from Anderson, his seventh.
56th over: New Zealand 135-4 (Latham 72, Watling 19; target 382). Latham comes perilously close to playing the sort of uppish lazy legside clip that did for Raval first up, but his timing and placement are better and he gets three instead. Watling then produces a shot of the day contender, meeting a full delivery with a pitch-perfect straight drive down the ground for four.
Fun fact: the last ball of the last over took Jimmy Anderson to the highest total of legitimate deliveries in Test cricket delivered by any seamer.
55th over: New Zealand 128-4 (Latham 69, Watling 15; target 382). Latham unfurls a neatly timed back-foot drive through the covers off Anderson for three. Jimmy’s getting some good reverse now but Watling’s defences are up to it. In the background, three sunbathing England supporters on the grass banks appear to be fast asleep. If I can stay awake here in cold wet London, they can.
54th over: New Zealand 125-4 (Latham 67, Watling 15; target 382). It’ll be the old firm initially in this session, with Broad resuming at the other end. His first ball is just a fraction wayward and Latham duly nudges it to fine leg for a single. It’s not quite as on the money, this over, as Broad was earlier in the day but he still looks likely to make stuff happen.
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53rd over: New Zealand 124-4 (Latham 65, Watling 15; target 382). Anderson returns to the attack, and gives Watling a bit of a hurry-up by jagging his third ball into the batsman’s midriff in a tight maiden that Watling is happy to defend. It’s still bright and sunny in Christchurch but those overs will still need to be got through at a fair old lick.
Cricket is about to happen again.
A lunchtime email from Sachin Paul, on England’s bowling stocks: “For me, Wood just doesn’t do enough for a third seamer. See the role Cummins or Morkel play in the other test that’s going on. If we are to go back to anything resembling our glory days of the Strauss era, we need a Bresnan-like container in there.” To be fair, injuries have always denied Wood a decent run of matches, and you might have hoped Woakes would be that container after his stellar summer in 2016 but he’s struggled away from home in particular since then. I like Wood think we can expect a few more debutants in that role in the coming months (my own big hope, and I have a county-based bias on this I admit, is Jamie Porter).
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Lunch, New Zealand 124-4
52nd over: New Zealand 124-4 (Latham 65, Watling 15; target 382). Wood bowls the last over before the break, round the wicket again and straight and true at the left-handed Latham, but the New Zealand opener has been near-flawless this morning while watching some of his colleagues get out to poor shots. He dabs a short ball outside off-stump down past backward point for two and deserves to make it through the session unbeaten. New Zealand’s survival hopes may rest on him. England might have wanted one or two more wickets after such a sensational start, but they’re handily placed nonetheless, and have bowled well. Right well those of you in New Zealand amble off for a cold beer or some such, I’m off for a cup of tea and a biscuit. See you for the afternoon session.
51st over: New Zealand 122-4 (Latham 63, Watling 15; target 382). Runs! Some of your actual The Queen’s Runs, Watling clipping Stokes through midwicket for two. The remainder of the over is accurate and varied and gets the respectful dot balls it merits.
50th over: New Zealand 120-4 (Latham 63, Watling 13; target 382). Ever since I said New Zealand might exceed 100 runs in this session they’ve stopped scoring, Latham opting for blocks and leaves off Wood, who’s extracting some presentable pace and bounce. There’s a sense this is just winding down for lunch at the moment.
49th over: New Zealand 120-4 (Latham 63, Watling 13; target 382). England could do with another wicket before lunch, and Root brings Ben Stokes on to see if that might do the trick, as it so often has before. He starts with a maiden, but a so-so one, as maidens go. He finds reverse swing but not pinpoint accuracy.
48th over: New Zealand 120-4 (Latham 63, Watling 13; target 382). The Barmy Army trumpeter serenades Wood with the Blaydon Races as the Durham man charges in, switching to around the wicket at Latham and inducing an uncertain edge with one that jags away from him just a fraction. It doesn’t carry to slip though. It’s the highlight of another good over, which is a maiden.
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47th over: New Zealand 120-4 (Latham 63, Watling 13; target 382). A rare loose over from Leach, and more productive sweeping from Latham, this one down to fine leg and fumbled over the ropes for four. Another single puts Watling on strike, and he too finds the boundary, piercing the field with a square cut.
46th over: New Zealand 111-4 (Latham 58, Watling 9; target 382). Mark Wood gets his first bowl of the day, and begins with a bouncer at Watling. He then has a vigorous lbw shout after swinging one into the right-hander’s pads but it was going down legside. A decent first over, and a maiden.
45th over: New Zealand 111-4 (Latham 58, Watling 9; target 382). Latham can sweep to all areas, and he takes Leach on with a sweep beyond wide mid-on for four before being slightly taken aback by some low bounce to one outside off-stump that thuds his shins. England post another man out on the sweep, Stoneman at deep square leg, but Latham sees out the over.
New Zealand have a decent chance of scoring more than 100 in this session, which is quite sprightly for an expected last-day dig-in. But they’ve lost four wickets of course.
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44th over: New Zealand 107-4 (Latham 54, Watling 9; target 382). Watling’s flick to square leg off Anderson is misfielded, which enables the batsmen to rotate the strike for the first time in a while. Latham rotates it again with a nudge off his slips for one more, to ensure he continues to monopolise Leach’s attentions at the other end.
“That stat about Jimmy got me thinking about the best Test bowing records after 32,” continues Tom Bowtell. “Turns out Jimmy’s only 12th in the list, but he pretty much matches Ambrose and McGrath, which supports his case for being a late-career great. Sir Richard Hadlee’s figures after 32 are ridiculous.” It is indeed easy to forget that much of the first half of Anderson’s career was spent discussing the “good Jimmy/bad Jimmy” dichotomy.
43rd over: New Zealand 105-4 (Latham 53, Watling 8; target 382). Review! Big shout for leg-before from Leach as he pins Latham in front with one that drifts back considerably. And England send it upstairs. But ball-tracking shows it going down leg comfortably. Bairstow looked to be the most voluble advocate for that decision - will it come back to haunt him, and England? A maiden.
42nd over: New Zealand 105-4 (Latham 53, Watling 8; target 382). It suddenly feels like you can’t mention reverse-swing without prompting the world to clutch it pearls, but it’s beginning to be in evidence here, though Watling is able to deal with it when Anderson over-pitches, clipping a fine boundary through the onside.
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41st over: New Zealand 101-4 (Latham 53, Watling 4; target 382). A rare edgy moment for Latham against spin as he thick-edges a fine ball from Leach just wide of Stoneman short leg, who dives the wrong way. Latham is then beaten outside off-stump by a beauty. This is what you want to see though - a front-line spinner bowling to attacking fields.
40th over: New Zealand 99-4 (Latham 52, Watling 3; target 382). So Anderson gets another go at Watling – who he dismissed in the first innings with his best ball of the whole winter - and manages to still find enough movement both ways to keep him honest. An uncertain flick of a full-length delivery for two is the only scoring stroke of the over.
39th over: New Zealand 97-4 (Latham 52, Watling 1; target 382). Leach v Latham is shaping up to be a defining battle of the day - perhaps the defining one. The former is finding more unpredictable turn now while the latter has looked the most accomplished player of spin, and he demonstrates the fact by bringing up his 50 with a firm sweep to the deep square leg boundary for four. Watling gets off the mark with a push to mid-on.
38th over: New Zealand 91-4 (Latham 46, Watling 0; target 382). A change of ends for Anderson, who come on for Root. Latham takes a flicked single on the legside, before a similar nudge off his hips brings Nicholls two. But Nicholls lets himself down with a loose drive to Cook at slip to give Anderson his first wicket of the innings. Watling comes in – he held it together for New Zealand in the first innings; can he do so again?
Wicket! Nicholls c Cook b Anderson 13, New Zealand 91-4
Anderson returns and strikes! Slanting one away from Nicholls, who edges a lazy drive to Cook at slip.
37th over: New Zealand 88-3 (Latham 46, Nicholls 11; target 382). Leach has a silly mid-off and short leg brought in for Nicholls and gets some decent turn out of the rough into the left-hander. He finds his edge too, though unfortunately for the bowler he doesn’t find Stokes at slip, who’s a fraction slow onto it and it runs away for two. But that was an extremely good over, probably Leach’s best yet, so no cause for despondency.
All gone a bit quiet on the email front: has everyone piled round John Starbuck’s to tuck into his Talisker?
36th over: New Zealand 86-3 (Latham 46, Nicholls 9; target 382). Nicholls carves out another couple off Root, who’s not yet asking enormously fiendish questions of the batsmen but is keeping them honest enough. England hurrying through the overs here, which slightly raises faint hopes of getting through all our outstanding overs today.
35th over: New Zealand 83-3 (Latham 46, Nicholls 6; target 382). Latham gets forward and sweeps Leach emphatically over square leg for four and ends the over with a well-judged cut past backward point for another boundary - he’s looked confident against spin. Latham could be the key man here.
34th over: New Zealand 75-3 (Latham 38, Nicholls 6; target 382). Iffy finger or no, Root brings himself on, to give us spin at both ends. It’s accurate enough, if less threatening than Leach, though Nicholls can get off the mark with a two thanks to a misfield at point, and then follows it with a square cut for four, punishing the one really bad ball of the over.
33rd over: New Zealand 69-3 (Latham 38, Nicholls 0; target 382). Leach, buoyed by becoming the first English bowler under 30 to take a wicket in this match, continues, and he’s got his pecker up now, finding those rough-ish areas outside the left-hander’s off-stump. They don’t do anything dramatic but force Latham to be cautious and defensive, especially when the last two balls of the over shoot up at him and with greater pace. Good stuff.
32nd over: New Zealand 69-3 (Latham 38, Nicholls 0; target 382). This is still looking like a new-ball spell from Broad, movement and swing aplenty. Latham’s trying to push the score along though, taking two followed by a hurried and risky single that is almost punished by the sub fielder Livingstone (on for Cook).
“Evening Tom.” Morning Tom Bowtell. “It’s been great to see Broad roar back in this Test. Here’s some more encouragement for him/hope for England fans: Broad’s currently 31 and 282 days old. Since he was 31 and 282 days old himself, Jimmy Anderson has taken 187 Test wickets at 21.31.” The question of whom Broad might bowl in tandem with once Anderson’s gone remains unanswered mind.
31st over: New Zealand 66-3 (Latham 35, Nicholls 0; target 382). Leach induces a slightly risky uppish sweep on the legside from Taylor but it drops safely and brings a single. Latham sweeps more convincingly for another, but Taylor’s not reading the spinner half as well and perishes, caught at square-leg by Cook. The left-handed Nicholls comes in and fends off a good final ball of the over. A much better over from the Somerset man.
Leach is into the attack for England - Taylor has fared worse against left-arm orthdox bowlers than any other type of bowling in his Test career #NZvEng pic.twitter.com/hEa6sLiaZL
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) April 2, 2018
Wicket! Taylor c Cook b Leach 13, New Zealand 66-3
Jack Leach has his first Test wicket. Taylor sweeping unconvincingly into the hands of Cook at square leg. England are purring.
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30th over: New Zealand 64-2 (Latham 34, Taylor 12; target 382). Broad continues, and continues to look fired up, but Latham is careful and watchful. A fine over, and a maiden. Michael Atherton makes the point that England’s five slips, which are shorn of Joe Root due to his finger problems, do look absurdly close together and that the slip cordon has chopped and changed a fair bit over the winter.
29th over: New Zealand 64-2 (Latham 34, Taylor 12; target 382). Leach gets brought into the action early, replacing Anderson, and his first ball, short outside off, gets the treatment from Latham - a square cut for four. Another push brings two. There are close catchers in behind the stumps and on the legside but space on the off, which enables the opener to add another single. A bit of a warm-up of an over there, but we’ve a long day ahead. Possibly.
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28th over: New Zealand 57-2 (Latham 27, Taylor 12; target 382). Broad jags a shortish ball back into Latham who does well to nudge it away square on the legside for a single. And then … ANOTHER DROP: Taylor pushes hard at one outside off and edges it low to Vince at third slip. It’s not an easy chance but it should have been taken, and it’s two runs instead. And the next one’s four, a decent outswinger thumped through the covers by Taylor to the boundary. Broad is unhappy. This is why AB Parker was taking all sorts of risks back there.
It was another good over mind.
27th over: New Zealand 50-2 (Latham 26, Taylor 6; target 382). Latham’s single off Anderson takes New Zealand to 50. Jimmy maintains a probing line and length though there are already worries in the commentary box about the state of his shoulder. One more day to go …
26th over: New Zealand 49-2 (Latham 25, Taylor 6; target 382). Broad is accurate again, and there’s no question now that this is going to be purely a game of attack against defence from hereon in. There’s zip, there’s bounce, there’s accuracy. But Taylor’s an assured opponent and he gets off the mark with an effortless push down the ground for four, only for Broad to come back at him with a beautiful away swinger that Taylor gets nowhere near. A tentative squirt on the legside for two completes another excellent over.
25th over: New Zealand 43-2 (Latham 25, Taylor 0; target 382). Anderson opens up at the other end, to five slips for the left-handed Latham, as England scent further blood. He starts with a no-ball but other than that finds some decent movement in the air and off the seam, and some bounce too. And there’s just the one run from the over.
“Game over,” roars AB Parker, making himself personally responsible should England fail. “Game. Set. Match. Broad is awesome.”
24th over: New Zealand 42-2 (Latham 25, Taylor 0; target 382). Broad gets first use of the ball and delivers a staggering opening, taking wickets with a bad ball and a belter with the first two deliveries of the day. Taylor dabs away the hat-trick ball and sees out the over.
“Are you and Rob and everyone else going to have an End of Tour party, even if it’s only virtual?” asks John Starbuck, standing on the virtual doorstep pretending to be a mate of the host, “I’m drinking Talisker, if it helps.” Whether that’s a request for someone to get a round in, or a boast, is not clear. Anyway, our party’s started already.
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Wicket! Williamson c Bairstow b Broad 0
And another! Williamson is out first ball, and this one’s a snorter, just back of a length, jagging away via the captain’s edge to the keeper. Stuart Broad is on a hat-trick with the third ball of the day. Astonishing,
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Wicket! Raval c Stoneman b Broad 17, New Zealand 42-1
Broad strikes first ball! And it’s a nothing delivery really - clippable and and on or outside leg-stump, but it’s flicked straight to Stoneman at midwicket, and England have a dream start
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The players are on their way out …
Chris Bates emails from the ground: “Less dew this morning than several other days. Do you know who took the decision not to start half an hour early today? Beggars belief. Surely should have announced an early start and delayed then if necessary. Bearing in mind the clocks went back here at the weekend it would have been the same time start as Friday and Saturday. What’s changed since then? Cricket really appears to be run by complete idiots at times. Anyway enjoying a great time in Christchurch. Fabulous ground so should stop moaning I suppose.”
Nah, moaning is the essence of all sport, at scenic grounds and uglier ones alike.
And talking of England’s support in New Zealand …
We’ve just dropped off the proceeds of last Friday’s brilliant event to the Cholmondeley Children’s Centre. Read about them here https://t.co/EndaXewUZt and thanks everyone for their fantastic contributions #cricketfamily #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/wNTd9yEZgv
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) April 2, 2018
My sources in the crowd at Christchurch report: “We are sat on the Grassy bank at Hegley Oval. There is no dew and it’s warm and cloudless at the moment. Crowd is a bit thin and it’s mostly England fans here. Hoping for a good day.”
It looks like a nice morning in Christchurch anyhow, from my expert vantage point in front of a screen in That London. Nice enough for them to be playing right now, perhaps, rather than the evening gloom. A chipper Jack Leach, in pre-session TV chat, quips about getting first use of this new-ish ball. He’ll have a role to play certainly, particularly against the left-handers.
Anyway, while we wait, here’s Tom vd Gucht: “Bit of a boring cricket based thought I’m afraid, but whilst faffing around during Pointless earlier today, I had a cursory glance at Test debutants from the 00s and the last ten years and was struck by how few of the players selected since 2010 have kicked on to play integral roles in the test side in comparison to the previous decade.
“In the 00’s, 18 out of the 44 players given a debut went on to have a substantial Test career of more than 20 Tests (I’ve included Simon Jones and Tim Bresnan as they slipped out of contention due to injuries) whilst only 6 of the 38 selected since 2010 have managed to crack test cricket and two of those have been dropped for this match.
“Is it because the selection panel now has too many county stalwarts, like Mick Newell, rewarding county pros who have ‘earned’ their chance based on years of county graft whilst before Fletcher was more interested in whether he felt players had ‘it’ - the indescribable quailities needed to make it at the highest level, spotted in the likes of Tresco. Or were we just lucky to have a rich crop of talent coming through during that period? It seems a bit sad that players with the talent of Morgan and Buttler haven’t kicked on in tests too.”
Not sure really. England have had particular problem areas in recent years rather than across-the-board failure, which neither fast-tracked academy youngsters or county stalwarts have cracked - notably opening batsmen and front-line spinners. The question of how much first-class cricket is actually being played, and when and how, seems ever-pertinent.
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The England twitter feed does its bit to gee people up by invoking one of the finest Tests of this decade:
Day 5, Christchurch 2018: NZ need 340. England need 10 wickets.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 2, 2018
Day 5, Lord’s 2015: NZ’s target was 345. England needed 10 wickets.
This is what happened... #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/YDzwbdGVvP
Preamble
Evening/morning everyone. Welcome to the final day of English cricket’s perpetual winter, and one that presents England with a fighting chance of a first away win since that rather nervy win in Chittagong a year and a half ago, when Gareth Batty, no less, was their leading wicket-taking spinner. The spinner upon whom England will rely to take wickets today is a debutant, though Jack Leach has been due his debut for a while, yet it’s just as likely the tourists will expect a bulky share of today’s heavy lifting to be done by Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson, who have taken all but two of the New Zealand wickets to fall in this series. Though perhaps Ben Stokes might, if possible, pluck something out of the bag, as he did on that last victorious away occasion in Bangladesh.
To win this, New Zealand need to surpass their record run-chase, made at Christchurch in 1994 against an attack containing such hapless no-marks as Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. But an attritional draw will suit them just fine, and that’s probably the likeliest result after yesterday’s truncated final session and the general autumnal vibe about the place.
And Hagley Oval – with its kids playing on the outfield during breaks while nerdy adults inspect the wicket, its spectators lounging on grass banks – exudes an unmistakable air of England’s premier autumn-based competition, the County Championship. The pushing of red-ball cricket to the seasonal margins is not just an English phenomenon. Though my co-commentator Smyth did quip earlier that sooner or later Edgbaston will stage a Boxing Day Test, a proposal with possibly alarming commercial potential - a shivering, boozed-up Hollies stand in Santa suits may yet be the future (If anyone from the ECB is reading this, pretend you read none of this).
Anyway, play is due to start at 11.30pm British so-called Summer Time (10.30am local time). And an intriguing day awaits. So stay up, snuggle up and go nowhere.
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