While English cricket seemed to be in a state of what we might euphemistically call “flux” the Kiwis continued their gentle start to their tour at Taunton.
They might have been chuckling discreetly at all the frantic comings and goings at ECB towers with the first Test only 11 days away. Yet questions could mischievously be asked about the New Zealanders’ man management as well. This has nothing to do with the fact that six of the Kiwi Test squad are still in India fulfilling their Indian Premier League contracts but there was debate over whether the tourists have the correct personnel in their Test squad.
Their party has been augmented by a few youngsters acting as cover for the IPL men and one of them, Ben Wheeler, contrived to take four for six in his first seven overs (and five of those came from wides, which flew over the keeper’s head). Meanwhile Doug Bracewell, who is in their Test squad, was carted for 30 runs from his first three overs. A question familiar to another international side resurfaced: do they really have the right men in the right slots?
Wheeler is a 23-year-old left-armer from Blenheim in the South Island and in his first spell he was irresistible. When left-armers get it right they can cause mayhem. Here Wheeler, bowling a full length, conjured late swing into the right-handers and not for the first time this summer Somerset’s batsmen were bewildered. After six overs the home side were nine for three as the ball swung unerringly into pads or stumps.
Somerset’s lower order restored the situation, even though no one could exceed Peter Trego’s 40. Thus New Zealand’s first innings lead was restricted to 33 and a fast-moving game managed to divert onlookers from the latest missive from Lord’s. Only in the final session did the bat begin to prevail with the New Zealanders 149 for three at the close.
