If it sounded a bit village it is because it pretty much was. When Ben Foakes came out to bat ahead of Ben Stokes on day three in Mount Maunganui, the promotion was not some tactical masterstroke, but rather because his captain had just sat on the toilet.
A future after-dinner story that emerged from England’s 267-run win over New Zealand in the first Test, the wicketkeeper frantically scrambling to strap on his pads and then producing such a calm half-century, also said a bit about the team’s disposition.
