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| Cook and Bell launch England fightback after New Zealand pile on the runs | Cook and Bell launch England fightback after New Zealand pile on the runs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| On the evidence so far sending players off to the IPL is a rather handy way to prepare for a Test series. Unfortunately England do not have that luxury. But New Zealand, who after three days hold most of the cards in this Test, do. | On the evidence so far sending players off to the IPL is a rather handy way to prepare for a Test series. Unfortunately England do not have that luxury. But New Zealand, who after three days hold most of the cards in this Test, do. |
| The tourists are in the ascendancy mostly due to the expertise of those Sunrisers of Hyderabad Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, with a bit of help from the Rajasthan Royal Tim Southee. Williamson completed a polished century on Saturday, albeit one where he decelerated as if modifying his game to Test cricket along the way; meanwhile Boult, who was outstanding with the ball in England’s first innings, started the rot in their second alongside Southee. | The tourists are in the ascendancy mostly due to the expertise of those Sunrisers of Hyderabad Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, with a bit of help from the Rajasthan Royal Tim Southee. Williamson completed a polished century on Saturday, albeit one where he decelerated as if modifying his game to Test cricket along the way; meanwhile Boult, who was outstanding with the ball in England’s first innings, started the rot in their second alongside Southee. |
| So, at the end of another chastening day, England were 74 for two at the close, still 60 in arrears, and hoping that their senior citizens, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, can counter the threat of Boult and Southee again in the morning. That was beyond England’s two young Yorkshiremen on Saturday night. Boult remained unconcerned that Adam Lyth had cracked three boundaries in his first seven balls. He knew batting was not really that straightforward. Next came a perfectly pitched away-swinger and Lyth edged to Southee at second slip. | So, at the end of another chastening day, England were 74 for two at the close, still 60 in arrears, and hoping that their senior citizens, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, can counter the threat of Boult and Southee again in the morning. That was beyond England’s two young Yorkshiremen on Saturday night. Boult remained unconcerned that Adam Lyth had cracked three boundaries in his first seven balls. He knew batting was not really that straightforward. Next came a perfectly pitched away-swinger and Lyth edged to Southee at second slip. |
| Gary Ballance was no more reassuring. He bats remarkably deep in the crease at the start of his innings, a system that has worked well for him in the past. But, if he is out of kilter, he looks as vulnerable as Bambi on ice. Here a fine delivery from Southee brushed his off-stump. At the time Ballance’s front foot was still way behind the popping crease. If a little further forward and hit on the pad he might have avoided being lbw. Before this match Ballance averaged 62 in Test cricket, so it is hard to argue with his method. But he has never suggested permanence in this match. | Gary Ballance was no more reassuring. He bats remarkably deep in the crease at the start of his innings, a system that has worked well for him in the past. But, if he is out of kilter, he looks as vulnerable as Bambi on ice. Here a fine delivery from Southee brushed his off-stump. At the time Ballance’s front foot was still way behind the popping crease. If a little further forward and hit on the pad he might have avoided being lbw. Before this match Ballance averaged 62 in Test cricket, so it is hard to argue with his method. But he has never suggested permanence in this match. |
| From 25 for two Cook and Bell, who was in one of his skittish moods (not the worst way out of a trough), were prepared to counterattack but against Boult in particular batting never looked straightforward. The left-armer moved the ball consistently. | From 25 for two Cook and Bell, who was in one of his skittish moods (not the worst way out of a trough), were prepared to counterattack but against Boult in particular batting never looked straightforward. The left-armer moved the ball consistently. |
| It had been an exacting time for England in the field as well. On Friday their frustration stemmed from the fact that the ball seldom deigned to deviate. Hence the Kiwi upper order purred along to 303 for two. | It had been an exacting time for England in the field as well. On Friday their frustration stemmed from the fact that the ball seldom deigned to deviate. Hence the Kiwi upper order purred along to 303 for two. |
| On Saturday, just as annoyingly, the ball did jag around under constant cloud cover, yet it took a long time to terminate the innings. Another slip catch went begging – with Bell the culprit again – and there were two hairline reviews, which the batsmen survived. | On Saturday, just as annoyingly, the ball did jag around under constant cloud cover, yet it took a long time to terminate the innings. Another slip catch went begging – with Bell the culprit again – and there were two hairline reviews, which the batsmen survived. |
| There was also much more skilful batsmanship from a side brimful of self-belief. Alongside Williamson, Brendon McCullum flickered and BJ Watling, despite his leg injury, scuttled in the jaunty style of keepers around the world. Extras bolstered the score obligingly with 67. England have only conceded more, 74, in Port of Spain in 2009. As a consequence they are going to have to play very well over the next two days to sustain any hopes of winning this mini-series. | There was also much more skilful batsmanship from a side brimful of self-belief. Alongside Williamson, Brendon McCullum flickered and BJ Watling, despite his leg injury, scuttled in the jaunty style of keepers around the world. Extras bolstered the score obligingly with 67. England have only conceded more, 74, in Port of Spain in 2009. As a consequence they are going to have to play very well over the next two days to sustain any hopes of winning this mini-series. |
| Williamson, 92 not out overnight, glided to his century within the first two overs. After picking off runs in Moeen Ali’s opening over he dabbed delicately down to third man against Jimmy Anderson before a very modest celebration of his 10th Test century. For him his work was only just beginning. Williamson has the wonderful capacity to bat in a cocoon of apparent serenity, oblivious to distractions from the other 12 players out there. However, with conditions much more demanding, Williamson proceeded more slowly after reaching three figures. | Williamson, 92 not out overnight, glided to his century within the first two overs. After picking off runs in Moeen Ali’s opening over he dabbed delicately down to third man against Jimmy Anderson before a very modest celebration of his 10th Test century. For him his work was only just beginning. Williamson has the wonderful capacity to bat in a cocoon of apparent serenity, oblivious to distractions from the other 12 players out there. However, with conditions much more demanding, Williamson proceeded more slowly after reaching three figures. |
| Ross Taylor left 50 minutes into the session. He had batted dutifully, but against Stuart Broad, who delivered a testing spell with the second new ball, he was superbly caught down the leg side. Jos Buttler took off, stuck out his left-hand and there the ball resided. | Ross Taylor left 50 minutes into the session. He had batted dutifully, but against Stuart Broad, who delivered a testing spell with the second new ball, he was superbly caught down the leg side. Jos Buttler took off, stuck out his left-hand and there the ball resided. |
| McCullum entered; bars emptied. He punched his first ball through the covers for four. Then there was a period of relative reconnaissance before he started skipping around the crease. Boundaries then sped from various parts of his bat. One leg-side flick off Ben Stokes most definitely came out of the middle because it flew into the grandstand. Stokes could only snarl, McCullum may have raised an eyebrow. | |
| McCullum and Williamson provided quite a contrast, one flashing, the other dead-batting. At this point a perusal of England’s slip cordon was instructive and mildly alarming. | McCullum and Williamson provided quite a contrast, one flashing, the other dead-batting. At this point a perusal of England’s slip cordon was instructive and mildly alarming. |
| They were standing in the same place for both batsmen. Yet it was obvious than an edge from their respective bats would have different consequences. The chances were that the ball would fly from McCullum’s edge but dribble from Williamson’s. | They were standing in the same place for both batsmen. Yet it was obvious than an edge from their respective bats would have different consequences. The chances were that the ball would fly from McCullum’s edge but dribble from Williamson’s. |
| McCullum’s last edge carried all the way to the third-man boundary where an alert Joe Root held a fine catch. This was probably not how Mark Wood dreamt his first Test wicket would come but it would do nicely. Thereafter, Wood was on song, prompting Cook to give him a 12-over spell interrupted by lunch and an hour of rain. Wood impressed with his zip and zest. In the afternoon he dismissed Corey Anderson after another exceptional leg-side catch by Buttler, who is currently happier when 18 yards behind the stumps. Later he dismissed his fellow debutant Matt Henry. | McCullum’s last edge carried all the way to the third-man boundary where an alert Joe Root held a fine catch. This was probably not how Mark Wood dreamt his first Test wicket would come but it would do nicely. Thereafter, Wood was on song, prompting Cook to give him a 12-over spell interrupted by lunch and an hour of rain. Wood impressed with his zip and zest. In the afternoon he dismissed Corey Anderson after another exceptional leg-side catch by Buttler, who is currently happier when 18 yards behind the stumps. Later he dismissed his fellow debutant Matt Henry. |
| Williamson surprisingly fell to Moeen, an old-fashioned batsman out in an old‑fashioned way, caught at slip nurdling an off-break. Two balls later Moeen took a 21st-century wicket: Mark Craig lurched forward defensively and was lbw on the front foot. Moeen bowled better than in Barbados, partly because the pitch was not offering him as much help. This situation was far more familiar to him. | Williamson surprisingly fell to Moeen, an old-fashioned batsman out in an old‑fashioned way, caught at slip nurdling an off-break. Two balls later Moeen took a 21st-century wicket: Mark Craig lurched forward defensively and was lbw on the front foot. Moeen bowled better than in Barbados, partly because the pitch was not offering him as much help. This situation was far more familiar to him. |
| Watling wagged with the tail, snatching runs through the vacant third man region, surviving a catch to gully, which was ruled unclean, and being hit on the head by a Wood bouncer. | Watling wagged with the tail, snatching runs through the vacant third man region, surviving a catch to gully, which was ruled unclean, and being hit on the head by a Wood bouncer. |
| Having struck an unbeaten 61 he withdrew to the dressing room for good with Tom Latham keeping wicket again. Watling would be content not to have to participate in this game again. | Having struck an unbeaten 61 he withdrew to the dressing room for good with Tom Latham keeping wicket again. Watling would be content not to have to participate in this game again. |