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England defeated New Zealand 2-0 yesterday in a two-Test series. But they did not only defeat them, they annihilated the helpless Kiwis.
They smothered them to smithereens.
Not even the rain on days one and five and defensive tactics by England’s captain Alastair Cook on day four in the second Test provide the tourists an escape clause.
New Zealand’s quickies Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Neil Wagner bowled well, restricting the home team to reasonable scores. But their batting collapsed every time to deadly spells by speedsters Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Jimmy Anderson, and by off-spinner Graeme Swann.
New Zealand started off well dismissing England for 232 and 213 in the first Test at Lord’s, with Southee excelling with10 wickets in the match, 4-58 and 6-50.
But their batsmen were frozen by the English pace trio to be routed for 207 and 68. At one stage they were seven for 41 in the second innings.
It was a technical knock-out as man of the match Broad captured 7-44.
This must have produced chill to Australian batsmen as they await facing the terrific trio of Broad, Anderson and Finn in July-August.
In the second and final Test at Headingley, Leeds, it was the off-spinner Swann who was the Kiwi’s nemesis as he took 10 wickets in the match (4-42 and 6-90) as England won by 247 runs.
Swann’s 10 for 132 is the best return by a spinner at Headingley since England’s Derek Underwood terrorised Australia on a turning tract in 1972. Swann was the man of the match in the Headingly Test.
England’s Player of the Series was young Joe Root for his 71 in the first Test and 104 in the second.
NZ’s Player of the Series was Tim Southee who bowled consistently and with fire.
England’s skipper Cook scored a dogged century at Headingley but was criticised for not enforcing the follow-on, for not forcing pace and declaring an hour too late on day four.
But his decision was justified as England won both the Tests and the series comfortably.
As the triumphant captain Cook said at the presentation ceremony last night, “We put in a really good performance here and one to 11 everyone put their hand up. It was great for Rooty to get a hundred, it swung all day on the first day.”
“Swanny to get 10 wickets was a great effort too. It’s good momentum for the Ashes and gives us confidence for that series.
“If you’re picking up one percenters we could have batted quicker on Sunday evening but we set out to get a 470 lead and we did that. I was a little nervous this morning but luckily we got the time we needed.”
Apart from their opener Nick Compton, every player from England performed well. And they won comfortably despite the absence of their star batsman Kevin Pietersen.
England is now fine-tuned to take on Australia to retain the Ashes.
Be afraid, Australia; be very afraid.