One of the most bizarre dismissals in cricket history has been followed by an all-too-familiar counter-attack from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell as New Zealand fought back on day one of the final Test against England.
The visitors battled to reach 5-225 by the close at Headingley – but only after Henry Nicholls had been barely able to believe his misfortune when he got out in the most freakish manner just before tea on Thursday.
The Black Caps batter’s straight drive careered into the outstretched bat of non-striker Mitchell, who was attempting to take evasive action at the other end, and rebounded all the way across to mid-off where Alex Lees was alert enough to take a simple catch.
There were looks of bewilderment across the faces of England’s players – notably, bowler Jack Leach, who claimed his second wicket of the day – as Nicholls trudged off for 19, leaving New Zealand stuttering on 5-123 at tea.
However, that brought together Blundell and Mitchell, who have shared partnerships of 195 and 236 already in this three-match series in which England hold an unassailable 2-0 lead.
They put on an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 102 to be there at stumps, giving the tourists renewed hope of a consolation victory. Blundell was on 45 while Mitchell was on 78 and closing in on his third century of the series.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Mitchell capitalised on being given a life when on eight by England captain Ben Stokes, who chose to not review when the New Zealand batter was trapped shin height in front of the stumps from a full delivery by Matthew Potts that swung in.
Had Stokes reviewed, Mitchell would have been on his way and the tourists would have been 5-97 and without their best player over the past month.
Stuart Broad set the tone for an impressive bowling performance by England, ending the day with figures of 2-45 off his 17 overs as the pacer relished the responsibility of being the senior man in England’s attack in the absence of fellow veteran Jimmy Anderson.
After New Zealand won the toss, Broad removed Tom Latham for a duck off the sixth ball of the day and got another edge to remove Kane Williamson for 31 before lunch.
Between those wickets, the first ball of Leach’s left-arm spin drifted and straightened up, trapping Will Young LBW for 20.
New Zealand had plenty of work to do at 3-65 at lunch, but Devon Conway (26) had only got started when he dragged a seaming delivery from debutant Jamie Overton onto his stumps with a loose drive.
Overton was applauded from the balcony by twin brother Craig, who was edged out of the starting team but came on briefly as a substitute fielder early in the day to ensure the siblings were out there at the same time for an over or two.
“We used to talk about this as kids — playing Test match cricket is the ultimate goal,” Jamie Overton said.
“He was delighted for me.”
Mitchell played with the same energy he has shown since touching down in England, sweeping and pulling well before the second of two spiralling sixes off Leach took him past 50.
Meanwhile, Stokes stayed mysteriously out of the attack, perhaps to save energy with the series won and with a one-off Test against India coming up next week.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Interesting scenario here. NZ building with a lead of 200. Eng have been aggressive this series whilst still collapsing at the drop of a hat. Would think nz need v at least 300 lead but the time remaining is also a factor. May as well just bat out for today
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
S Billings - professional substitute keeper
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Kiwis in strife on the morning of day 4. Only 140 odd ahead, how many do they need for this English team in their current mood? Quite a bit more based on recent experience. Pitch looks to be holding out nicely, very few demons. England well ahead and on track for 3-0
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Exactly. It's become a game within a game. I don't think it adds to the spectacle having Stuart Broad whinging to the umpire every over. One ball, that's what you get for the next 80 overs. Treat it accordingly
badmanners
Roar Rookie
It was pretty funny in the second test how the Kiwis asked for a ball change from a ball which was soft but swinging and ended up with a ball which was hard but only went gun barrel straight! They didn't trouble the English batsmen from there and went on to lose the game.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Bairstow is a great counter attacker. But a successful side can't be reliant on that occasional brilliance. Or that of Stokes, who actually only produces good innings very rarely. This has been going on for years now with England and yes, I suspect the Australians will have their measure next winter, across a full Test schedule. There's nowhere to hide in a 5 match Test series.
They ended recovering thanks to some biff ball from Bairstow, and some bowler that thinks he was picked to debut as a batsman, but your comment is still valid. The England top 5 bar Root are very ordinary. I can see an Australian bowling attack, that if it stays fit, will annihilate this England line up in England. I will be supporting Aussie, even though us Kiwis do not always see eye to eye with you Aussies -- sometimes we just have to unite against those pommy gits.
I think the Australian attack will make mincemeat of the English in England during the next Ashes series. This is a NZ attack that has been beset by injuries, with the current best strike bowler in the world (Jamieson) now injured, and some biff ball from Johnny Bairstow has now got England out of the mire two test in a row — frankly England have been lucky….yeah yeah to some extent you make your own luck, but the English luck in this series has been ridiculous. So, while I am a New Zealander, and desperately peeved we are making this English team look good, when we should have handed them a 3-Nil hiding, can you Aussies PLEASE make good with that ANZAC spirit and absolutely give these Pommy upstarts a good SMACKING in the next Ashes series over there in England. Go Aussie go, I will be supporting you here in Auckland all the way. Cheers.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Hi Jeff, sadly I'd just turned in as you started commenting. Wish they had a live feed for these tests Couldn't believe the score when I woke up, what an attack by bairstow and who would have thought jamie overton would have kept up. Unbelievable from 6-55 Bairstow and Stokes really enjoying the confidence under Mccullum to swing the bat
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yeah. I figured that response or something similar was going to be the best you had to back up your position. Thanks for the confirmation. Lazy is as lazy does. – I anticipated a juvenile and shallow response. And you delivered. Kudos to you. You didn’t let my low expectations down. – I can see why you comment under a “guest” account. I’d be embarrassed too to put my name to an engagement where I could be held to account for similar commentary. Perhaps one day you will have the fortitude to back up your commentary by not hiding behind anonymity. – We’ll see.
Homer Gain
Guest
If this is satire it isn't working.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
So you’re saying England hasn’t had top order collapses ad nauseum over the last 5 years? – Filling out 15k-20k capacity grounds is hardly a ringing endorsement re the health of the Test format more broadly. – Full house! Please. You come across as just parochially naive. – I never said Test cricket is dying. I said ECB is killing off the format at its local level. If you can’t see what has been building and is now happening re the England team over the last decade, then you are an apologist with no care for the future of the game in the UK. – I know the stats of how poorly England’s top order has performed re wickets down before posting 100/150. Do you? England constantly rely on one top 6 player, or sometimes a 7/8/9, to dig them out of a hole. That is NOT sustainable cricket for the Test side going forward.
Homer Gain
Guest
Mmm. I think you lot might have learnt to wait until the end of play before spewing your nonsense. Otherwise you just look silly. And suggesting that test match cricket is dying in the one jurisdiction that can pretty much guarantee full houses whoever visits, is sillier than most.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Great comeback though to reach 200! :thumbup: The dopey kiwis keep selecting these "allrounders", with Bracewell (somehow) keeping his spot ahead of Patel. Williamson just refuses to back decent spinners.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I thought that was slightly dopey of Mitchell. But yeah, great series, almost Hayden-esque how he's had a breakthrough series here a la Hayden in India, 2001.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Not sure, is this the best Roar page to comment on the Test match? England seem to have permanently gone beyond their tipping point. These type of collapses are now the norm, rather than the exception. ECB management has killed the local Test format I fear. Would take a seismic refocus to get England back to sustained Test dominance, and I'm convinced their focus is anywhere but aligned to that outcome.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Make that 6-55 Wagner throwing hand grenades
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
On your bike stokes. 55-5 Aggressive, new look approach or patently irresponsible?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
If I was a kiwi fan I'd be livid at Mitchell giving away his wicket to Leach on the stroke of lunch. Outstanding catch from Stokes! Great innings from Mitchell and incredible series so far, might be the making of his career. Nevertheless, it wasn't in the team's best interest to be playing in the air right before lunch. Live by the sword, die by the sword? Better to play the game of test cricket
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Mitchell is on fire Hard to describe what he's doing well or what it is about his technique. Just seems to be bloddy good form Keep on going son