The night before this series opener there was a reunion for the New Zealand side that first beat England in 1978, with David Gower, though not in that touring team, providing an English voice on the panel. When the subject of Geoffrey Boycott’s seven-hour 70 came up, Gower joked that was “seriously fucking rapid” by his old mucker’s standards – before apologising for using the word rapid.
What followed from England on the opening day here was not exactly breakneck either; Ben Stokes winning the toss, electing to bowl and his side labouring through only 83 overs. The cricket itself, though, was packed with incident for the 8,000 or so lucky souls who lined the grass banks of this gorgeous boutique venue. Kane Williamson top-scored on 93, showing those hands are no less Oil of Olay soft for missing the 3-0 series win in India, and 319 for eight felt evenly poised.
