England have the character in the dressing room and time left in the game to record the highest run chase in their history, according to their optimistic interim bowling coach, Ottis Gibson.
With New Zealand on 338 for six at the close of the third day in their second innings following parity in the first, Alastair Cook’s side already know they must surpass the 332 achieved against Australia in 1928 when they eventually begin their fourth innings at Headingley.
But Gibson, who rejoined the setup in April this year on a series-by-series basis after the departure of David Saker, is of the opinion that a target of around 370 will be still within their grasp should they mop up the tail early on Mondaythis morning.
“You would have to say that the balance of power lies in the Kiwi dressing room at the moment,” said Gibson after stumps. “The world record run chase is 418 and anything under that we are capable of. We saw they got quick wickets [on Sunday morning]. If we can do the same and chase 370, then perhaps, with the amount of time left in the game, who knows?
“If we have two days to do it and with the character there is in the dressing room, then that is possible. Guys like Joe Root and Gary Ballance [both of Yorkshire] didn’t get going in the first innings but they are playing at home. It will be a big ask but, with the time left, anything is possible.”
While Gibson’s positivity is commendable, the likelihood of New Zealand levelling the series in this second and final Test remains odds-on after their impressive approach with the bat that has seen a run-rate of 4.5 achieved in both their innings and the crowd, which thinned out from Saturday’s near full house, get full value.
“It is exciting to watch from the stands – you are getting your money’s worth – but in our dressing room we have be mindful of teams coming at us,” said Gibson. “We have to be able to stem the flow of runs and find a way to take wickets. New Zealand play the way they play and that is led by the captain [Brendon McCullum]. We are more conservative in our approach but that doesn’t make us less of a side. Let’s see how tomorrow and Tuesday unfolds.”
New Zealand’s BJ Watling, playing here as a specialist batsman after a knee injury prevented him being named as wicketkeeper, scored his fifth Test century and is 100 not out after Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor put on 99 for the third wicket in 14.3 overs.
“BJ played beautifully but then that’s what BJ does. He comes in and fights hard and he played a very fluent innings,” said Guptill, who scored 70 from 72 balls. “We’re not going to see too many better than that.”
The New Zealand seamer Tim Southee, who took four for 83 in England’s first innings, including three strikes early on day three, also praised Watling.
“BJ Watling is just a gutsy, determined player and it’s nice to see him get the rewards for the hard work he puts in. If you’d said yesterday afternoon that we would end the day in the position that we are, we would have grabbed it with both hands.”
