Righto, that’s us for today. Check back for the report, which will be here and on the site shortly, and otherwise join us again tomorrow for what promises to be another belting day of Test Match CricketTM.
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A couple of things to read:
Steve Finn adds that when Stokes made his decision, the sky was overcast, and he thinks it was the correct course of action; both think England are still in a good position to win the game. But if NZ can find 250 more runs, there’ll be pressure, though of course this side have form for making bigger targets look very silly via the deployment of one-day batting against Test-match fields.
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Back in the studio, Alastair Cook says he’d not have enforced the follow-on and rarely did as captain – “Oh indeed,” as Omar Little might’ve said. He – cook not Little – reckons the wicket’s flattened out and the bowlers have to keep going, which is tough, but the call makes sense because England need to get 20 wickets.
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End of day three: New Zealand trail England by 24 runs with seven second-innings wickets intact
83rd over: New Zealand 201-3 (Williamson 24, Nicholls 18) Williamson needs five more runs to overtake Ross Taylor as NZ’s most prolific Test batter, but he won’t be bothered about making that happen tonight – it can wait until what should be a belter of a tomorrow. Meantime, Robinson bounds in in his slightly awkward style, four slips hoping for an error; Williamson makes sure it’s not his by taking a single to point, then Nicholls plays away four dots. That’s another fine day, and tomorrow should be terrific: there’s a fair bit of responsibility on this partnership but also plenty of batting to come, and both teams will fancy themselves for the win from here.
82nd over: New Zealand 201-3 (Williamson 24, Nicholls 18) I reckon it’ll be this one from Leach, the next one from Robinson, and done for the day. Williamson begins it with a single to cover, then Leach pushes Nicholls back via top-spinner; he’s bowled well this evening. The deficit is 25.
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81st over: New Zealand 200-3 (Williamson 23, Nicholls 18) Yup, and it’s Robinson who gets it, his second ball lifting into the pad and hitting Nicholls on the knee-roll off a length; really nice, but going over. So he goes around, then Nicholls punches through mid off and broad hurtles after it, dives, drags it back … and it’s four already. That is not unfunny, but what a competitor – five minutes till the close, 36 years old and work to do tomorrow. Not a well boy.
80th over: New Zealand 196-3 (Williamson 23, Nicholls 14) Williamson comes well down to Leach and gloves one that bounces more than expected into the turf, quickly swiping bat to avoid ball running onto stumps. Maiden, and here – presumably – comes the new ball….
79th over: New Zealand 196-3 (Williamson 23, Nicholls 14) Williamson plays out four dots from Root, then takes a big step towards the pitch and adds one to cover. He’s so calm, totally aware of how good he is in the most prepossessing manner imaginable and regardless of recent travails. One more over, then the new ball.
78th over: New Zealand 195-3 (Williamson 22, Nicholls 14) Another probing over from Leach, it’s penultimate, flatter delivery knocked to cover for one -– the onlu run off the over, and England are sprinting round to get that new sphere. The difference is 31.
77th over: New Zealand 194-3 (Williamson 21, Nicholls 14) Root really should bowl more than he does, conceding just one from this – to Williamson, who knocks to cover. Twenty-two minutes to go, three overs to the new globule.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
Williamson’s bat was well away from the ball, which brushed his arm guard. So nothing doing this time, but there’s turn and bounce out there…
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77th over: New Zealand 193-3 (Williamson 20, Nicholls 14) Root continues, his first delivery draws Williamson forward then pushes him back, and there’s an appeal for a caught behind and the ball rips away from him! Not out says the umpire, so England review! Foakes likes this one!
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76th over: New Zealand 193-3 (Williamson 20, Nicholls 14) Nicholls sweeps, misses, and there’s a loud shout from Leach when he hits the pad … but it was outside the line. Then, the final delivery, he goes again, hitting Pope. Maiden.
75th over: New Zealand 193-3 (Williamson 20, Nicholls 14) Root returns, presumably so England can get a few overs in with the new berry this evening, and Nicholls follows his first delivery around the corner for two. In comms, they’re wondering if Stokes has hurt himself, then Nicholls adds a two and a one. He’s batted nicely here.
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74th over: New Zealand 188-3 (Williamson 20, Nicholls 9) England should get a couple of overs with the next ball, and are looking for quick change-overs to make sure. Nicholls sweeps Leach for one and there’s minor excitement when Williamson plays him down into the pitch, then again when, after a single, Nicholls inside-edges when looking to bunt into the off side … just shy of an irate Pope’s dive. The partnership is 21, the deficit 38.
73rd over: New Zealand 185-3 (Williamson 19, Nicholls 7) Williamson has started really well, all the calm, authoritative touch-play for which he’s become famous on display. He takes Robinson’s first ball for one to square leg, then Nicholls whiffs at a short one and misses, doing well to keep shoulders in sockets – before adding one to cover.
72nd over: New Zealand 183-3 (Williamson 18, Nicholls 6) Leach continues as in comms, they note that Stokes appears to have more faith in him than Root did. Ultimately, he’s England’s best spinner so if theyr’e going to pick him, they’ve to trust him as they did, say, Ashley Giles. Maiden.
71st over: New Zealand 183-3 (Williamson 18, Nicholls 6) Robinson finds a bit of extra bounce and Nicholls looks one way then gloves, from in front of his coupon to midwicket, where no one is. They run one, and that was a better over from yerman, that ball I described leaping chest-high from off a length. The pitch has misbehaved a little this last hour but England’s lead is just 43.
70th over: New Zealand 182-3 (Williamson 18, Nicholls 5) Williamson flips one to midwicket, then Nicholls presses forward and squirts to Pope at short leg, but all he can do is flick out a hand; the ball bursts his fingers, and a further single follows.
69th over: New Zealand 180-3 (Williamson 17, Nicholls 4) Stokes cycles through his seamers one stage further, again replacing Anderson with Robinson. Williamson takes a single, then in response to come extra bounce, Nicholls leaps to cut and does well to miss. We’re into the last hour and have 11 more overs with the old ball, so might get a couple with the new one right at the end of the day.
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68th over: New Zealand 179-3 (Williamson 16, Nicholls 4) Nicholls comes down looking to whack Leach to Neptune, then goes back and twizzles two off the pads. They’re the only runs from the over, and this partnership has started well; hour of the day to go.
67th over: New Zealand 177-3 (Williamson 16, Nicholls 2) You can feel how hard Williamson is battling through the screen – like he owes his side and himself a score, withdrawing the bat as one from Anderson whooshes past off-peg. Maiden, and I’ve a confession to make: at drinks, I monstered the Biscoff spread my nine-year-old is saving to make hamentashen next week. I’m sure she’ll understand: can’t watch Kane Williamson bat hungry!
66th over: New Zealand 177-3 (Williamson 16, Nicholls 2) Friends, we’re at next hour is crucial stage: If NZ can bat the next hour and seven minutes without losing a wicket, the scores will be similar and they’ll have the batters in hand to set something – especially if Williamson is still out there But if England can add two or more wickets, they’ll be strong favourites to close out the series. As we mentioned earlier, the breakthroughs have come more from isolated balls than workings-over, and Leach’s latest over is seen off for two singles easily enough.
65th over: New Zealand 175-3 (Williamson 15, Nicholls 1) Nicholls guides one to midwicket to get away, then Williamson glances four to fine leg. He’s batted nicely so far, positive in defence as well as attack, and that’s drinks.
64th over: New Zealand 170-3 (Williamson 11, Nicholls 0) Williamson cuts hard and they run one; Brook misfields, and they run another. That’s his highest score in the series.
63rd over: New Zealand 168-3 (Williamson 9, Nicholls 0) Even though we’ve been playing cricket for a fair old while, there’s still a raging bunsen misnomer: all a spinner needs is for the ball to do enough, sometimes, to put doubt into the minds of the batters, and that’s what we’ve got here. So full marks to the curators, who’ve prepared a pretty sporting track, and Anderson, who’s got Williamson nine times in 30 matches, sends down five dots before a single to backward square means it’s Williamson on strike again for the next over.
62nd over: New Zealand 167-3 (Williamson 8, Nicholls 0) Suddenly, England can break the back of the match this evening; that’s a wicket-maiden from Leach, who’s been really good since tea. There were signs before, but hew’s found his line since, I think.
WICKET! Young b Leach 8 (New Zealand 167-3)
They’re coming now, and Leach is leading England’s charge! I know! He coaxes another to grip and spin, Young goes back when he should come forward, is diddled by the turn, and can only fence before losing his off-bail! That’s a terrific delivery!
61st over: New Zealand 167-2 (Williamson 8, Young 8) Yeah, I didn’t think it’d be long: Anderson returns, and when he stays straight, Young whips off the toes for three.
Talking of Will Young, by the way, this interview is good. “I quite religiously only look at my diary the night before,” he sagely says. “Living day to day, so I don’t worry about what’s coming up and panic.”
60th over: New Zealand 164-2 (Williamson 8, Young 5) Leach keeps at it and persuades one to grip that then leaps up and away from Young, who fences as it rushes past and top-edges wide of slip! That was a good ball but unfazed, Young cuts a single away and gets down the other end; Williamson then gets a straighter one that still does enough, gripping and spinning past the outside edge! Leach is bowling nicely here…
59th over: New Zealand 163-2 (Williamson 8, Young 4) It’s nice and sunny out in the middle, which suggests we’ll get a full day’s play, so 100 more minutes from here. Oh and that’s very nice, Williamson swivelling on his front foot to pull Broad for four through square leg. He’s due something here, and he’s started confidently … though as I type that, he sort of waves the face then follows one that leaves him. Though it’s slowed up, there’s still a bit in the pitch.
58th over: New Zealand 159-2 (Williamson 4, Young 4) Leach, replacing Root, spins the ball from hand to hand purposefully, but Young plays out a maiden, largely looking to survive.
“Call me old fashioned,” emails Kim Thonger, “but might this game simply be heading for an outcome that used to be perfectly acceptable, an entertaining and honourable draw? And if this trip to New Zealand had three scheduled Test matches we’d still think the third game set up nicely. But there is no third game, and that’s the problem. Two games is not a series? Discuss.”
I agree, but something’s got to give and the players need some rest and home time.
57th over: New Zealand 159-2 (Williamson 4, Young 4) Yup, it’s Broad, but while he races in, let’s note what a fine match this has been – so far – for Joe Root, whose role in the side looks to have been clarified: all the stuff he’s always done. Genius! Young earns three to square leg, and I wonder if we see Anderson from the other end – he got both of these first dig.
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56th over: New Zealand 156-2 (Williamson 4, Young 1) Suddenly we’ve got two new men at the crease, the lead is 70 when Young nudges his first ball to extra, and England are on a roll. I daresay we’ll see a quick reintroduced here…
REVIEW! OUT!
Yup, that’s close – Latham was in line, fractionally – umpire’s call job. One has, as so often and as we postulated earlier, brought two, and it’s the golden arm of England’s golden boy that does the trick this time.
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WICKET! Latham lbw b Root 83
Latham gets down on one knee, has a huge mow, misses … and Root charges off clebrappealing like a man who’s learnt from the master, certain he’s got his man. The umpire concurs and the ball hit him on the back thigh, so I reckon that’s gawn, but he reviews…
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56th over: New Zealand 155-1 (Latham 83, Williamson 4) Root replaces Broad after just an over and I wonder if we’ll see one of his sneaky bouncers to see if anything happens. Er, we don’t, but….
55th over: New Zealand 155-1 (Latham 83, Williamson 4) Latham snaffles a single to backward square, giving Leach five balls at Williamson – with two slips and a silly mid off. He sends the last of them to mid on, Broad making a diving stop, and it kind of feels like the wickets will come off odd good balls and poor shots, rather than evidently imminent as a consequence of excellence.
54th over: New Zealand 152-1 (Latham 82, Williamson 2) This looks a smart change: Broad on for Stokes, and Latham turns him away on the on side which hands Williamson the strike. I’m sure Broad has been brought on partly because he’s got the upper hand in the matchup, but the four balls he has are faced down easily enough, the last getting the batter off the mark, two turned away to fine leg.
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53rd over: New Zealand 149-1 (Latham 81, Williamson 0) Williamson has only scored 10 in the series and he defends his first ball uppishly, wafting a flat past Pope’s outstretched right arm. That was a nervous jab, and suddenly there’s pressure!
WICKET! Conway c Pope b Leach 61 (New Zealand 149-1)
Better? This is much better! More bounce and turn with Conway, early onto the shot looking to turn into the on side … where Pope holds another jazzer, diving forward! Conway is devastated!
53rd over: New Zealand 149-0 (Latham 81, Conway 61) Latham turns a single into the on side then Leach finds a little more bounce across Conway, who presses forward and gets nowhere near the ball. But it leaves him and this is better…
52nd over: New Zealand 148-0 (Latham 80, Conway 61) Stokes has apparently been warned twice for intimidatory bowling, so if he errs again he’s off for the remainder of the innings. But of course he begins his second over with a short one, then Latham guides a short wide one inro the ground and watches as it scoots away to the fence at backward point. A single follows and England looks devoid of ideas here; as I type that, Conway pulls Stokes to deep backward square, where Duckett pulls off a decent diving stop as they run two; a front foot no -ball with a single, followed by a single, complete the over.
51st over: New Zealand 138-0 (Latham 74, Conway 58) Stokes might’ve hurt himself – which isn’t to say he won’t haul his body through another 42 overs unchanged. It’s Leach from t’other end, and Conway turns him to fine leg for three, then Latham deflects around the corner and just wide of the diving Pope at leg gully. A single follows, and the break has done nothing to alter the balance of play: the batters are in charge.
50th over: New Zealand 134-0 (Latham 73, Conway 55) Stokes races in and sends down a toe-crusher … yeah not really, a bouncer that’s so high it’s called wide, he goes again, Chris Gaffaney indicates he’s had his two for the over … and he still goes again, conceding a no ball. Maverick in the house! Rebel over here! Another no ball, then Latham eases a single to cover, Conway does likewise, and things have livened up a bit but England still look no closer to a breakthrough. The lead is 92, and we could find ourselves with an exciting finish sometime tomorrow or Tuesday.
We go again, Benjamin Andrew Stokes with the ball – to play some sweet, sweet teeth music.
49th over: New Zealand 128-0 (Latham 72, Conway 53) On which point, during lockdown I pondered whether there was anything the whole world likes, or at least doesn’t dislike, and Fleetwood Mac was my best answer. Anyroad, Root tosses one up and Conway swipes into Pope’s toe as they run one. Three dots follow, but Root does coax some decent turn away from the bat with the session’s penultimate delivery. That’s tea, and NZ trail by just 98. Do we got ourselves a ball-game?! Stick with me to find out!
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48th over: New Zealand 127-0 (Latham 72, Conway 52) Conway takes a single to mid on, then comes down, flicks to short leg and pope dives to grab then flicks back towards the stumps in one electric movement – he is very very good at this, and England are settling not just a team and a method but specialists in the field. One over before the break, I imagine, and Fleetwood Mac pumping over the PA.
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47th over: New Zealand 126-0 (Latham 72, Conway 51) Root changes ends, which tells us, as if we didn’t know, the extent to which England are struggling. Conway, becalmed of late, takes one to deep point, and surely Stokes will invite himself to have a go after tea – which is in five minutes, so probably two overs’ time. I’m planning my assault on anything I can find in the cupboards.
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46th over: New Zealand 125-0 (Latham 72, Conway 50) At what point do England trust Rehan Ahmed? What will he have to do to usurp Leach as no1 spinner? Leach isn’t conceding many runs, but he’s not asked many questions either – even if this little spell has been a bit better. And of course, as I type that, he drops his last delivery short and Latham annihilates it – as Pope, as short leg, ducks – to the rope at midwicket. He’s really upped the rate these last few overs.
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45th over: New Zealand 121-0 (Latham 68, Conway 50) Robinson’s having a difficult innings, still without a wicket in the match … and flayed away by Latham for four to deep backward square. That was not a good delivery, but after a single, he goes around to Conway and finds a fuller length that tempts the drive … but a bit of deviation off the seam means the ball is too good for the bat. NZ trail by 105, and at some point will start thinking about setting a target.
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44th over: New Zealand 116-0 (Latham 63, Conway 50) It’ll always be the case that whenever England struggle with the ball, the likes of me will be saying the attack looks a bit samey. I daresay if Wood or Archer were in the party, one or other of them would be in the side – not a clue who you drop? – but Leach, replacing Root, finds some turn and bounce, Latham rising on tippy-toes to play it down into the ground away from Pope’s dive silly point. Then, after five dots, Latham reaches for one, clouts it with his toe-end back at Leach … who gets fingers on irt by his left ankle, but can’t hang on and they run one! That was a tough chance, but a chance nevertheless and the best England have created in some time.
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43rd over: New Zealand 115-0 (Latham 62, Conway 50) Robinson has three slips and he’s not finding the length or lift to excite them. Maiden.
“Re: your comments in the lunch hour about the three matches where the team enforcing the follow on lost,” says Mike Gibbs-Harris, “I just thought I’d point out that in 1894, Australia (who lost) were 21 for 3 on the first morning before scoring 586 in their first innings.”
586? I only ever had poxy 386 (for those who like 90s PC-based humour – I’m sure there’s a constituency).
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42nd over: New Zealand 115-0 (Latham 62, Conway 50) Conway retreats in the crease, drives Root for one and that’s his fifty; Latham celebrates with a boundary – cut away, cut away for four.
41st over: New Zealand 110-0 (Latham 58, Conway 49) Robinson into the attack and Latham takes two to backward square for his 26th Test fifty, then celebrates by going with soft hands at the next ball; Crawley, at three, can’t stop it racing away for four. And have a look! The next delivery, Latham pulls hard in front of square and there’s no need to run for that! Four more, and it’s surely Stokes on next change.
40th over: New Zealand 100-0 (Latham 48, Conway 49) Latham forces down to the man at cover fence and they take one, raising the hundred partnership, achieved with SB Pressure charging in like a demon.
39th over: New Zealand 99-0 (Latham 47, Conway 49) Latham drops behind square on the off side, and Duckett, at backward point, dies to keep them to one. No matter: Conway collars Anderson’s next effort to the fence at deep square, and these two are in almost total control out there; Anderson is feeling a hammy, but my guess is it’s an ache rather than a strain.
38th over: New Zealand 94-0 (Latham 46, Conway 45) Yup, it’s time for Root, who gets a bit of turn away from the bat, then Latham swipes lazily and they run one to mid on – the only scoring shot in the over.
“I wanted to come back on the reactions to forcing the follow on, which seem to have missed the point of the new attitude to the English team,” says Tone White. Not to enforce but to go for a safer and bigger lead would have been the Root way. What Stokes is doing is opening up the game: hopefully going for a win but if not, no matter, we have an interesting match. The chance to enjoy the New Zealand openers getting runs on the board is a benefit to cricket, whether England win or not. It seems there are many who are stuck in the past and have not digested what Bazball is all about!”
Yes, I agree – the attacking and entertaining option was to enforce, I expected England to and I’m glad they did for the reasons mentioned.
37th over: New Zealand 93-0 (Latham 45, Conway 45) We learn that there’s no rain forecast, which is great news, as Anderson drags his body in again. This is drifting, and I can imagine Stokes allows that to happen for much longer, four dots, two leg byes, another dot – the pad is contacted, by the ball pitched outside leg so the appeal is strangulated. New Zealand trail by 133.
36th over: New Zealand 9-0 (Latham 45, Conway 45) Latham looks pretty secure out there, missing when he trues to brush off the hip but running a leg bye anyway, and Conway takes a single for himself to square leg. We’re in the business of sharing love here, so can I please recommend The Traitors to those who’ve not dug in. A perfect gameshow/reality show hybrid, and that comes from someone who’s watched a load of both.
35th over: New Zealand 89-0 (Latham 45, Conway 44) I’ve been wondering if my job has been made harder by England suddenly being good. When they’re rubbish, there’s plenty to discuss in terms of how to resolve it, and as much cheap humour and remember-when rumination as one could possibly want. But now what? “Oh look, Harry Brook just whacked it miles, Mark Lathwell never did that”; “maybe they should just tell Joe Root his specific role in the team is batting exactly like Joe Root”. Anderson continues and Latham flays him through point for four. Brook then goes off for some running repairs on a hand situation, then Latham edges … and for a second it looks like Pope’s dropped an easier one than yesterday’s ripper … but it didn’t carry. And have a look, Latham then turns one to backward square, your mum’s favourite position, takes a single, and that’s 5000 Test runs for him. Effort, you’d take it.
“I really want to go to bed,” says Paul Ansorge, “but this feels very one gets three to me. Maybe wishful thinking but the scars of the 90s have mostly worn off and I’m now absolutely convinced we’ll win every game.”
Agree, it seems unlikely England don’t win this from here at some point, and that a breakthrough now could speed stuff up. But there’s not much threat of a wicket in terms of the play.
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34th over: New Zealand 84-0 (Latham 40, Conway 44) Latham twizzles one to square leg, then Conway, a slip and a silly point around him, comes down and mishits over the top … and safe.
33rd over: New Zealand 76-0 (Latham 39, Conway 42) It’s actually nice to see resistance from New Zealand, who we know are a fine side struggling a little without some staples. And nice that England have been forced to find something – they’ve got improving to do, too. But in the meantime, Anderson finds a little bit of lift with his fourth ball, which Conway shoves away, the only action of another maiden.
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32nd over: New Zealand 76-0 (Latham 42, Conway 39) Thanks Taha and good morrow everyone. This is, I think, the first time in a decade of doing these that I’ve attempted a shift of this ilk without the most lavish newsagent’s picnic you’ve ever seen. I’ve changed. Anyhow, Leach wheels in to Conway who plays out a maiden, and I wonder if we might see Joe Root and Ben Stokes soon.
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31st over: New Zealand 81-0 (Latham 39, Conway 42) Anderson returns and nabs Conway’s edge… but it flies under the hands of Crawley in the slip cordon and runs away for four. Gower, on comms, reckons it carried.
And that’s enough from me – thanks for all the messages. Daniel Harris will take you through to the close.
30th over: New Zealand 76-0 (Latham 38, Conway 38) Yep, the rhythm is there as Conway shimmies down the crease to launch Leach over long-on for six. The left-arm spinner is then too short later on in the over and Conway shows off his backfoot game, punching hard through the covers for four. Conway is now outpacing Latham, having been 2 off 28 at one stage.
29th over: New Zealand 66-0 (Conway 28, Latham 38) Broad goes slightly short and Latham gets on top of the bounce to punch through the off side for a couple. Another short ball is pulled away by Latham, this time just for a single. Conway drops one into the off side for one – after a cautious start it feels as if the two openers have settled into a decent rhythm now.
28th over: New Zealand 62-0 (Conway 27, Latham 35) Latham collects one before Conway sees out the rest of Leach’s over.
27th over: New Zealand 61-0 (Latham 34, Conway 27) A flashy leave from Conway, who gets his body out of the way before throwing his hands up in the air too – that perhaps demonstrates the dangerous bounce on offer. When Broad goes too full Conway capitalises, whipping one off the pads through midwicket for four.
26th over: New Zealand 57-0 (Conway 23, Latham 34) Latham with a lovely bit of timing as he threads Leach through midwicket for four. The left-hander gets one wrong moments later though, trying to cut a wider delivery from Leach that fizzes back in sharply.
25th over: New Zealand 53-0 (Latham 30, Conway 23) Broad dances once past Latham’s edge but no bite.
“Could our old friend Mr Hubris be making Bazballs aquaintance for the first time here?” writes Will Ellen.
“The only feasible way of New Zealand winning this match and drawing the series 1-1 was to be put back in. And thats precisely whats happened.
“They have 4 outstanding batsmen in their line up: Conway, Williamson, Mitchell and Blundell, and plenty who can chip in. Against a bowling attack with two players with fitness issues and two who arn’t exactly in the first flush of youth. Question is, if they set England, say, 230 in the 4th innings can their bowlers get the 10 wickets before the inevitable onslaught completes the job?”
That’s a pretty massive if. New Zealand’s openers have been excellent but enforcing the follow-on was the right and logical call, IMO.
24th over: New Zealand 52-0 (Latham 29, Conway 23) The fifty partnership comes up in the 24th over of the innings – these two are putting up a very decent fight.
23rd over: New Zealand 49-0 (Latham 27, Conway 22) A beautiful shot from Conway as he leans into a fuller ball from Broad and drives through cover for the first boundary of his innings. To close the over Conway produces an even better shot, displaying a sumptuous off-drive to the left of mid-off for four more.
22nd over: New Zealand 41-0 (Conway 14, Latham 27) Conway takes Leach’s final ball of the over for a single to get the scoreboard finally moving this session.
“Kia ora Taha,” writes Graeme Simpson. “Thanks for the updates. Hopefully, our Black Caps can dig in and take the game into day 4. Went to college just up from the Basin 50 years ago and it’s a magnificent cricket venue.
“Amid all the Bazball celebration of batting, how your bowlers have performed seems to get a bit lost. What is it? 210 of the available opposition wickets taken in the last 11 complete tests? And looking at 230 out of 240 when this 1 is over. Incredible. Very proud of Baz, Stokes and Patel!”
No hopes for a remarkable New Zealand comeback, Graeme?
21st over: New Zealand 40-0 (Conway 13, Latham 27) Latham and Conway not opting for a change of tempo after lunch – that’s two maidens on the bounce as the former sees off Broad.
20th over: New Zealand 40-0 (Latham 27, Conway 13) Turn and an inside edge from Leach’s first delivery, and he immediately looks more dangerous than he did in the morning – he’s bringing some revs, bounce and a challenging length too.
Time to get going. Jack Leach has the ball…
Ed Page wants everyone to just chill out (sort of): “Not sure where all the nervousness about England losing after enforcing the follow comes from. The side being made to follow on has only won 3 times in test history and, whilst England have won twice after following on, they have never lost after enforcing it. Never say never though.”
Here’s that list of three for anyone curious.
“England are bowling pretty well at Latham and Conway but they need some funkier fields and more unconvential bowling to get rid of them, now the openers are more or less set,” says Colum Fordham.
“Either Leach decides to use a bit more flight or else they should bring on Joe Root, especially against the left-handed Latham.”
Graham Stewart writes in again: “I take Geoff Wignall’s points, but it does seem to me that we are seeing what often happens when teams are asked to follow on; the bowlers have lost that little bit of zip and the batsmen are determined not to give their wickets away so cheaply second time around.
“Also it’s not as if we are running out of time in the match; we’re not even half way through the allotted time (even with time lost to rain) and we’re already into the third innings.
“One of the sub-texts of cricket is to do what the opposition really don’t want you to do, and in this case I think it would have been for England to bat again. I’m a big fan of the way England are playing their cricket these days, but sometimes gung-ho is not always the best approach.”
Lunch: New Zealand 40-0
New Zealand are up against it but they’ve had a decent last hour. The two openers have taken us back to a time before Bazball: keeping steady, watching closely, holding on. England are still in control of this match but Latham and Conway have shown why they’re gun Test-match openers.
19th over: New Zealand 40-0 (Conway 13, Latham 27) Robinson keeps on coming from around the wicket, giving it his all to get Latham to mess one up. But the experienced left-hander stays strong – and that’ll be lunch.
18th over: New Zealand 38-0 (Latham 25, Conway 13) Close. Leach gets Conway poking with a straightish line and the ball flies past Stokes at leg slip.
Geoff Wignall returns: “Ordinarily I’d agree with Graham Stewart’s follow on reservations.
“But on this occasion: the bowlers only had to deliver 53 overs in the first innings, 17 of them from the spinner; they have had the recommended few hours with their feet up - overnight after a rain shortened day; and a wicket this green is unlikely to wear too badly.
“With uncertain weather and no way of winning without taking 10 more wickets the follow on makes sense to me. Better to be chasing a (probably smallish) target than trying to judge the right moment to declare.”
17th over: New Zealand 32-0 (Conway 9, Latham 23) Latham stays watchful as Robinson tries to tempt the left-hander into a prod.
16th over: New Zealand 32-0 (Latham 23, Conway 9) Leach continues and is too straight as Conway tucks him into the leg-side for one. He’s darting them in rather than tossing them up, and there’s little trouble for the two left-handers as they exchange singles.
15th over: New Zealand 30-0 (Conway 8, Latham 22) Nearly a chance for Pope at a close-in leg slip, as Conway turns Robinson around the corner for one. The openers are hanging in there right now, playing the old-school way – they just need to get themselves to lunch now.
14th over: New Zealand 28-0 (Latham 21, Conway 7) Leach is called upon early and Latham clips one just past Pope, in at short leg behind square. A decent start from the spinner, who gives away just one.
13th over: New Zealand 27-0 (Latham 20, Conway 7) Robinson gets the ball to pop off the wicket and smack Conway on the hand – not the first time the left-hander has suffered there in this innings.
A ball flies past Conway’s outside edge to leave Stokes very excited – but he opts against a review.
“I’m always nervous when England enforce the follow on,” writes in Graham Stewart.
“Normally it means the bowlers have put in a hard shift (and a successful one) and then they’re asked to go out and do it all again. Just because you’ve rolled the opposition over once does not necessarily mean you’ll do it again with the same ease. And when you have your two main strike bowlers with a combined age north of 75, shouldn’t you be thinking about giving them a chance to put their feet up for a few hours? And lastly, you’re making your batsmen bat last on a wearing pitch. Bad idea, if you ask me, and smacks more than a little of cricketing machismo.”
12th over: New Zealand 23-0 (Conway 5, Latham 18) Conway, on 2 off 28, decides enough is enough and advances down the pitch to Broad, lifting his backfoot as he punches, unconvincingly, past cover to get three.
11th over: New Zealand 20-0 (Conway 2, Latham 18) Conway finally doubles his tally of runs but Anderson continues his squeeze with a string of dots to Latham.
10th over: New Zealand 19-0 (Latham 18, Conway 1) Now it’s Latham’s turn to stay quiet as Broad serves up a maiden.
“Hello Taha.” Hello Geoff Wignall.
“Nick Lezard can relax. Even if NZ get 400 in this innings, England would still be strong favourites. Spoiler: NZ won’t get to 400.”
Paging Nick Lezard:
@tahahash Over 4, *the* Nick Lezard?! Of Down and Out? Honoured to be reading the same OBO. Test cricket is surely good for the insomnia?
— Simon Fuller (@leovialli) February 25, 2023
9th over: New Zealand 19-0 (Latham 18, Conway 1) Conway’s getting a real test here, unable to get off 1, and a fine diving stop from Ben Duckett at gully keeps him on strike. He’s leaving on length, getting his stomach well out of the way of some Anderson jag-backers.
8th over: New Zealand 19-0 (Conway 1, Latham 18) Broad, after running through the tail earlier this session, has the ball now and Latham greets him with a boundary.
“NZ DJs? A few years ago a batsman was hit in the er... abdominal protector,” says Gary Naylor. “While still on his haunches, across the ground came the unmistakable melody of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.” Cracking stuff.
7th over: New Zealand 15-0 (Latham 14, Conway 1) Short from Anderson and Latham – thwack – nails the pull shot for four. Authoritative. A nice single too from Latham as he plays close to the body and drops one into the off side. Anderson then has Conway pushing at a ball he shouldn’t be pushing at – but no edge.
6th over: New Zealand 10-0 (Latham 9, Conway 1) Robinson gets the edge of Latham but the ball stays low and drops short of Stokes at fourth slip. A very tight leave from Latham off the penultimate ball of the over, with Robinson getting the ball to move back in and whisper into the ear of off stump.
5th over: New Zealand 9-0 (Latham 8, Conway 1) Anderson sends in six and Conway is respectful. A maiden.
4th over: New Zealand 9-0 (Conway 1, Latham 8) Conway gets off a pair with a single off Robinson. The new-ball pair still look as if they’re trying to figure out which spot to land it on.
Nick Lezard sounds a little edgy about the follow-on being enforced: ‘I still remember my father’s reaction to England enforcing the follow-on in the (I think) 4th test of the 2005 Ashes series: “now we’re in trouble,” and the horrible thing is that even though he turned out to be wrong, I could see what he meant.’
3rd over: New Zealand 8-0 (Conway 0, Latham 8) Latham picks up a couple of twos, getting his pull shot going after Anderson goes short.
2nd over: New Zealand 4-0 (Latham 4, Conway 0) Robinson has a go from the other end and gets the seam wobbling past the outside edge of Conway. The Sussex quick then gets a bit of lift off the surface, rattling the left-hander on the glove.
Steve Perrin writes in: “Don’t know if it’s the same person but when I lived in Welly the Basin Reserve DJ frequently played T Rex’s ‘I Love to Boogie’ when a boundary was hit. Always looked forward to that one. Go well”
Cheers, Steve. Let’s have a listen.
1st over: New Zealand 4-0 (Conway 0, Latham 4) The master goes a bit too straight, and Latham tickles the ball down the leg side for a boundary. He’s got the ball hooping, though.
Anderson has the new ball – let’s get going.
An odd aside. Anyone else enjoying the work of the Basin Reserve DJ? A bit of Oasis, some Black Keys too during that first hour. A couple of missteps too but I’m all in with the Indie commitment.
England enforce the follow-on
It won’t be Crawley and Duckett padding up. New Zealand have been told to bat again.
WICKET! Henry c Anderson b Broad 6 (New Zealand 209 all out)
A mix-up between the two batters off the first delivery, with Henry not interested in a single as Wagner jogs halfway down the wicket. No damage, though.
Maybe they should’ve got that run though: back of a length from Broad and the ball climbs on Henry, with the ball popping off the shoulder of the bat to Anderson at short third man.
53rd over: New Zealand 209-9 (Henry 6, Wagner 0) Wagner tries a reverse sweep but doesn’t get anywhere near it, leading to an enthusiastic lbw shout from Foakes. The tailenders survive as Leach darts them in, conceding one.
52nd over: New Zealand 208-9 (Henry 5, Wagner 0)
WICKET! Blundell c Leach b Broad 38 (New Zealand 208-9)
Broad begins with a bumper to Matt Henry, who hops across his stumps to get inside the line and swat the ball away to fine-leg for four. Blundell, on the other hand, tries aggression but can only smash the ball straight into the hands of Leach at mid-on.
A couple of questions on how many New Zealand need to avoid the follow-on – I’ve done the maths and I’m pretty sure they need to get to 236.
51st over: New Zealand 203-8 (Henry 0, Blundell 38) Leach returns immediately and Blundell nails one down the ground – but the bowler does well to get his hand in the way. That’s gotta hurt a bit.
50th over: New Zealand 201-8 (Blundell 36, Henry 0) So Broad does the trick.
From Tom V d Gucht, just moments before Southee fell. “Although Southee is a talented and threatening late-order hitter, it feels a bit like Baz Ball is slipping into Rootball and Cookball whereby we struggle to finish off troublesome opposition who wrack up annoying, quickly scored runs- ala Tino Best....” I’m sorry, but we are not making Cookball a thing.
WICKET! Southee c Crawley b Broad 73 (New Zealand 201-8)
Southee doesn’t care – he whacks Broad’s first ball over mid-off for four! And then Leach drops him! It’s a hoick across the line from Southee and a top edge flies to fine leg where the spinner can’t hold on. And that takes New Zealand past 200.
Ahhh, now he’s gone. Southee tries to whip to the leg side but can only hit it up high and into the hands of Crawley at short midwicket.
Ah, what do I know. Stokes turns to Broad to try and stop the destruction.
49th over: New Zealand 195-7 (Southee 67, Blundell 36) Tim Southee is on one. Robinson goes short and Southee, backing away, gives it everything on the pull shot to send the ball over deep backward square for six.
“How close will Stokes want to get to the follow-on mark before he revises his strategy?” writes John Starbuck. “Nerves, but not just yet.” I reckon he’s going to stick with Leach here: keep tossing them up before Southee gets one wrong.
48th over: New Zealand 188-7 (Southee 60, Blundell 36) Another straight six from Southee! He’s tucked into Leach and taken him for 19 in the over.
Half-century for Tim Southee
Huuuuuuuge. Southee comes down the pitch to Leach and whacks the left-arm tweaker over extra cover for six. That was brutal. And then another six! Southee goes straight this time round, and that brings up a half-century off just 39 balls!
47th over: New Zealand 169-7 (Southee 41, Blundell 36) England go up for a review… Southee had moved across his stumps to Robinson for a leg-side whip that didn’t come off. Replays show an inside edge on it, though. Blundell then produces another sublime cover drive for four, seizing upon a fuller delivery from Robinson.
46th over: New Zealand 163-7 (Blundell 31, Southee 40) Leach continues, with Ollie Pope nice and close at silly point to Blundell. He’s not in for Southee, though, who’s obviously going to try and cause some serious damage. Alas, no boundaries off this one.
45th over: New Zealand 159-7 (Blundell 29, Southee 39) Southee gives himself a bit of room for a wallop and smashes Robinson through the covers for four. The bowler closes the over with a sharp bumper that clips Southee’s helmet on its way to Foakes’ gloves. An entertaining start, this.
44th over: New Zealand 155-7 (Southee 35, Blundell 29) Jack Leach gets a go from the other end, and Stokes nearly pulls off a stunner. Leach tosses one up, Southee comes down the track to try and send it over long-on for six, and Stokes, running back from mid-on, gives it everything, covering plenty of ground before unleashing the dive. He can’t nail the grab, though, with the ball trickling away for four. Southee goes straight again moments later, nailing it sweetly for another four. He’s properly going for it, is Tim.
43rd over: New Zealand 146-7 (Southee 26, Blundell 29) Robinson begins with a no ball. Oops. Off the first legitimate delivery, Southee shapes up for a whack, slapping through the covers for three – he may as well go for it. Tom Blundell receives a ripper to start with, Robinson getting the ball to jag away from the right-hander. And then an edge. Blundell prods at one and it drops just short of Brook at third slip. The keeper-batter then produces a gorgeous cover drive, the ball racing away to the boundary.
We’re about to get going. Ollie Robinson’s got the ball, Tim Southee’s on strike. Let’s play!
A happy Jack Leach had a chat with BT ahead of play: “Stokesy and Baz are definitely pushing me to bowl with that freedom and look to take wickets, and I’m still on that journey I feel. Yesterday was a real nice experience and obviously look to keep that going. I guess it’s a new way of thinking, I’m always looking to create chances, I’m really enjoying that side of things.”
News from the ground:
Sunshine and spitting rain currently - change in wind direction taking the cold bite away though. Going live on @btsportcricket shortly #NZvENG with @msmith850 in the chair, alongside @finnysteve & Sir Cooky pic.twitter.com/hH32il4qyS
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) February 25, 2023
If you want a proper catch-up, here’s Ali Martin’s report from yesterday.
Preamble
Ben and Baz’s show rolls on. Day two brought further joy for England, placing them in total control at Wellington. No, Harry Brook didn’t get his double, but Joe Root had his fun, showing off that reverse-scoop to finish unbeaten on 153 as England declared on 435-8.
The great old-timer then made the fresh cherry dance: James Anderson ripped through the top order with three nick-offs to Ben Foakes, leaving the hosts on 21-3. He’s just ridiculous, isn’t he?
Unfortunately for New Zealand, they struggled to copy England’s homework from the first innings, with Jack Leach (3-45) ensuring there was no middle-order counter-attack. At 138-7, Tim Southee’s men are in all sorts.
Sadly, the weather’s been a bit of a pain these last couple of days, with the rain interrupting proceedings. The forecast today looks better as the day progresses - let’s hope there’s not too much damage in the morning either.
I’ll be here to keep you company regardless of what happens. Feel free to send in an email/slide into my DMs. Go well!
