Key occasions
Lunch: NZ tottering
seventh over: New Zealand 12-2 (Latham 7, Young 1) Will Young, again in the workforce in place of the fourth seamer, will get off the mark with a nudge for a single. Latham hits the primary boundary of the innings, a slash over the slips, performed with conviction. That’s extra prefer it. But because the gamers troop off for lunch, NZ have undone many of the good work they put in earlier. Jimmy Anderson has 4-1-9-2 and England are heading in the right direction for his or her whole-winter whitewash. Time for some toast.
sixth over: New Zealand 7-2 (Latham 3, Young 0) Stokes makes an early change, changing Broad along with his pure inheritor, Ollie Robinson. He beats Latham exterior off, getting some pretty carry. Another maiden. Say what you want about NZ, they haven’t been drawn into enjoying England at their very own recreation.
“Good morning Tim!” says Becky Chantry, sounding alarmingly shiny. “I’m lucky enough to be out in Singapore so have a much healthier time difference to New Zealand to work with.” Aha.
“One thing I’m really enjoying about ‘New England’ is the aggressive declaration choices by Stokes. We’ve got runs on the board, giving our bowlers a chance at NZ before the lunch interval has already paid off. Really enjoying watching the #1 Test bowler in action!”
fifth over: New Zealand 7-2 (Latham 3, Young 0) After beginning off so full, Anderson went quick to Williamson, as if attempting to push him again for the subsequent full one – however the second and wider of two successive quick balls was sufficient to defeat him.
Anderson’s figures for this sequence are simply as placing as Williamson’s: 9 for 58 at a median of 6.44.
ENG males’s final 10 Test scores or 150+ have all been made by Yorkshire batters
Root 153* v NZ 2023
Brook 186 v NZ 2023
Brook 153 v PAK 2022
Bairstow 162 v NZ 2022
Root 176 v NZ 2022
Root 153 v WI 2022
Root 180* v IND 2021
Root 218 v IND 2021
Root 186 v SL 2021
Root 228 v SL 2021— Mark Puttick (@GryllidaeC) February 24, 2023
WICKET! Williamson c Foakes b Anderson 4 (NZ 7-2)
The large one! Williamson flirts exterior off and immediately regrets it as he will get a nick by way of to the keeper. His tally for the sequence is 9 runs at a median of three.
4th over: New Zealand 7-1 (Latham 3, Williamson 4) Williamson faces Broad for the primary time in this innings. He performs his signature shot, the glide previous the cordon, and will get three for it.
third over: New Zealand 4-1 (Latham 3, Williamson 1) Anderson is bowling a full size and the batters are doing their finest to get ahead. Kane Williamson, who missed out in Mount Maunganui, will get off the mark with a ahead push. Latham, following go well with, picks up two.
2nd over: New Zealand 1-1 (Latham 1, Williamson 0) Stuart Broad has a left-hander to bowl to, in Latham, however his radar isn’t fairly proper but – a few good ones on off stump, a pair down the leg aspect. That’s a maiden.
1st over: New Zealand 1-1 (Latham 1, Williamson 0) So it’s 1 for 1, and that’s all the way down to the world No 1 bowler.
“Root’s batting average in Tests,” says Dave Brooker in Comox, British Columbia. “Well, it’s back above 50, innit?” It is: 50.01. Never thoughts the younger bucks, Stokes has bought the previous boys into the groove.
WICKET! Conway c Foakes b Anderson 0 (NZ 1-1)
Ooh, good ball – Devon Conway performs and misses. Or does he? Ben Foakes thinks he’s heard one thing, there’s a loud debate, Ben Stokes is up for a overview, and there’s a spike on UltraEdge! Poor Conway wanders off, shaking his head.
An innings in three acts
First act: England 21-3 off 6.4 overs. Bazball on the brink.
Second act: England 302-0 off 60.3 overs. Bazball again in enterprise.
Third act: England 112-5 off 20 overs. A T20 innings, little bit of a multitude, however Joe Root carries his bat.
Root goes to 150! And England declare on 435-8
87.1 overs: England 435-8 (Root 153, Leach 6) Root performs one final pretty shot, a well-timed whip for 4. As heat applause rings round this very spherical floor, Root waves his bat and runs off, as a result of Stokes was simply ready for that milestone.
86th over: England 431-8 (Root 149, Leach 6) Jack Leach involves the get together with an aesthetic push into the covers for two, adopted by a much less elegant edge over second slip for 4.
“I’m quietly confident,” says Kim Thonger, “that Joe will accelerate now and get his triple century with support from Jack and Jim who might each score as many as 10.”
86th over: England 424-8 (Root 148, Leach 0) Bit of a collector’s merchandise right here: a wicket-maiden. And nonetheless no declaration.
“Oh boy, Scottish football,” says Simon McMahon. “Thanks for reminding me, Tim. But at least we have Andy Murray, who saved 5 – FIVE – match points on his way to the tennis final in Doha this weekend. I’ve no doubt, like someone else, he’ll still be going at 40 too…”
WICKET! Robinson c Southee b Henry 18 (England 424-8)
The ball after being dropped by Tom Blundell behind the wicket, Robinson steps away and provides the gentlest form of catching follow to mid-off.
eighty fifth over: England 424-7 (Root 148, Robinson 18) Robinson hits Southee for two, two, and one other two, with an on-drive, a straight thump, and a proper previous slog which may have gone handy had the person in the deep not slipped. Meanwhile the cameras discover a child in the gang, sporting a psychedelic bucket hat, prepared for its first competition.
“Joe Root obviously saw Stokes on the balcony,” says Brendan Large. “Next two balls were a 6 & 4 from Root. My question is… was that Stokes asking to declare or him double bluffing Root to get him going to his 150?” I want I knew!
84th over: England 417-7 (Root 148, Robinson 11) Henry’s over goes for simply three – two singles and a large.
Here’s Clare Dowding, selecting up on the 78th over. “Re your observation that in the case of the three girls playing their own game ‘the bowler is dressed as a dragon and the wicketkeeper as a witch’ – please don’t go giving the ECB ideas…” Ha.
83rd over: England 414-7 (Root 147, Robinson 10) Thick gray cloud, pea-green pitch, wine-red ball: Ollie Robinson would most likely reasonably be bowling proper now. But if he’s bought to bat, he might as properly have a go. He will get a vanguard over the slips for 4, then plonks over mid-on for two. England are principally enjoying seashore cricket.
82nd over: England 408-7 (Root 147, Robinson 4) Henry returns for the brand new ball. Root’s getting a bit bored with the previous reverse scoop, so he performs one the precise method spherical. He seems to be as if he’s spilt some salt and is throwing it over his shoulder for good luck. Four extra.
Drinks: England 400 up
81st over: England 401-7 (Root 142, Robinson 2) Southee takes the brand new ball, will get it to bounce and beats the bat a few instances. Root thinks “sod it”, performs a flat pull for six – that rifle sound once more – and follows up with a reverse scoop for 4. The gamers take drinks, with England most likely nonetheless on prime however all of a sudden giving New Zealand a sniff.
eightieth over: England 390-7 (Root 132, Robinson 1) Michael Bracewell now has two for 54. He’s like a spin model of Sam Curran, so typically having an influence, however he’ll presumably stand down now the brand new ball is due.
WICKET! Broad LBW b Bracewell 14 (England 389-7)
You miss, I hit. Bracewell tosses it up, Broad hits skinny air along with his sweep and up goes Rod Tucker’s finger. Broad critiques, quickly however fruitlessly.
79th over: England 388-6 (Root 132, Broad 14) Broad finds himself up Wagner’s finish. Just one aged enforcer standing in entrance of one other. Wagner, true to type, bangs it in; Broad, true to type, hooks for 4.
“Ha, magnificent,” says Simon McMahon, generously, selecting up on the 72nd over. “The confectionery stall line has to be probably the greatest ever in all of sports commentary. Cheers, hope you’re well. Thanks to you and all at the Guardian for what you do.” And to you, for all these crisp summaries of Scottish soccer.
78th over: England 381-6 (Root 130, Broad 8) Root hits a beautiful shot, a slog-sweep for six off Bracewell that comes with a crack to silence the visitors on the Basin Reserve roundabout. The digital camera finds three kids enjoying their very own recreation of cricket – all women, aged about seven. Their pitch is even greener than the actual factor, though there the resemblance ends, because the bowler is dressed as a dragon and the wicketkeeper as a witch.
77th over: England 370-6 (Root 121, Broad 6) Root, dealing with Wagner, misses a reverse scoop and finds himself the topic of a overview. Southee goes for it on the final second: if he’s not sure, he’s proper to be, because it hit Root exterior the road. NZ lose their final overview! Broad stands and delivers and will get 4 over mid-off.
76th over: England 365-6 (Root 120, Broad 2) Here’s Stuart Broad, the dayhawk. He performs a lap shot, so blatantly telegraphed that the person at quick leg virtually has time to anticipate it.
WICKET! Foakes st Blundell b Bracewell 0 (England 363-6)
One brings two! Foakes takes a stride ahead, falls over and presents his fellow wickie Tom Blundelll with a simple stumping. Who on earth described him as sober?
seventy fifth over: England 362-5 (Root 119, Foakes 0) So Ben Foakes joins Root, probably the most sober pairing in this England prime seven. Wagner has one for 106, the brand new ball is simply 5 overs away, and NZ are again in the sport.
“What is David Gower on about?” asks Andrew Benton. “Momentum’s old style. Bazball needs no momentum, its about the moment, every moment. Bazball has consigned momentum to history. It’s all about moments now.”
WICKET! Stokes c sub (Kuggeleijn) b Wagner 27 (England 362-5)
Wagner strikes! Stokes has a giant swing, trying to clear the ring once more, however can solely give a easy catch, just a few yards to Kuggeleijn’s proper at mid-off.
74th over: England 361-4 (Root 118, Stokes 27) It’s a double change as Henry palms over to Michael Bracewell for some spin. That’s courageous. He has an attraction for LBW first ball towards Stokes, which could be price a overview if NZ had multiple left. Stokes pulls out the reverse sweep, nails it and will get 4, then tries once more and misses as Bracewell finds some bounce.
73rd over: England 355-4 (Root 118, Stokes 21) The first bowling change of the day as Southee replaces himself – what a self-replacing man he’s. On comes Neil Wagner, who’s been the whipping boy in this sequence. He goes around the wicket to Root, attempting to cramp him for room. Root provides him the cost and whacks over midwicket, however solely will get a single for it. Four singles off the over, which can really feel like a triumph for Wagner.
71st over: England 351-4 (Root 116, Stokes 19) Stokes makes room once more and cuts a size ball for 4 by way of gully. His 19 has come off 18 balls.
“Evening/morning Tim,” says Simon McMahon. “Gower doesn’t seem to be fully on board with Bazball. And he talks too much anyway. Benaud would’ve loved it. But said less about it.”
(Long pause.)
That one’s gone into the historical past books and out once more.
71st over: England 344-4 (Root 115, Stokes 13) Facing Southee, Stokes goes for a yahoo, skies it and must be caught at mid-on – no, the wind is on England’s aspect once more, and the ball simply evades the sub fielder, Scott Kuggeleijn. Southee sticks to his process and prioduces a jaffa, jagging away. Stokes misses it by a full bat-width.
seventieth over: England 341-4 (Root 113, Stokes 12) Root takes a single off Henry, whereupon Stokes steps away to leg, twice – first driving to mid-off for no run, then lofting a lower over the ring for 4. Then he misses a scoop. “He’s trying absolutely every trick in the book here,” says David Gower. “Danger is if you overdo it, you lose a couple of wickets and lose that momentum.” My guess is that Stokes is much more relaxed about that than common, as a result of, with 300 in the financial institution already, he could also be pondering of declaring earlier than lengthy.
“Personally,” says Paul Griffin, “I thought it was quite a streaky triple-century stand, and wonder whether Baz has taken this team as far as he can, or perhaps even lost the dressing room.”
This is what Bazball has performed to us @TimdeLisle. Root and Stokes on the crease and we’re disillusioned.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) February 24, 2023
69th over: England 336-4 (Root 112, Stokes 8) Root, like Stokes, is an older man in a rush. He costs Southee, performs the pull as Southee bangs it in, will get a top-edge however escapes because the wind carries the ball into a spot at lengthy leg. That brings two and he follows it with three through a extra orthodox route, clipped off the toes. Stokes, dealing with his reverse quantity for the primary time because the toss, is respectful, even managing a depart.
68th over: England 331-4 (Root 107, Stokes 8) Here’s Ben Stokes, glancing his third ball off his hips for 4, then dancing down the monitor and cover-driving on the up for 4 extra. So a batter departs with 186 off 176 balls, and the run fee will get faster.
WICKET! Brook c&b Henry 186 (England 323-4)
Got him! After all these edges, Brook lastly middles one however doesn’t preserve it down. It heads for Henry’s midriff and he does properly to take a juggling catch. So in any case that we’ve got a thumping anti-climax, as Brook misses out on his first double hundred. Ah properly, it’s good for the sport.
The 300 partnership!
67th over: England 323-3 (Root 107, Brook 186) At the opposite finish it’s Tim Southee, the second most threatening bowler up to now. Root, standing properly exterior his crease once more, performs a few defensive pictures after which decides he’s had sufficient of this and reverse-scoops for six. That takes the partnership to 302.
66th over: England 317-3 (Root 101, Brook 186) It’s Matt Henry, probably the most threatening bowler up to now. He’s on the spot instantly and Brook is a bit edgy – an edge into the slips, low and protected sufficient, after which a thick inside edge into the on aspect for two. When Henry slips in a bouncer, it’s a vigorous one, if a bit trampoline-ish. When he goes again of a size, Brook performs a lower and will get one other edge – a backside one. He’s going for the total home!
Joe Root has a phrase with Harry Brook, and a smile, as he lets him take the sector first. Root will get a smile again and runs previous Brook. I’m wondering if it seems like batting along with your youthful self.
It’s gray in Wellington however not really raining. The pitch, seen from above, remains to be a pea-souper.
“Boa noite Tim,” says Geoff Wignall. “Looking at those Harry Brook stats, his weakness seems rather glaring: he’s averaging only 100 balls or so per innings. So he’s getting good starts but failing to capitalise on them. If he could just learn to concentrate he might prove a handy addition to the middle order though.” Ha.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to the newest instalment of the OBO. Ben Stokes’s England bandwagon, which had a prang yesterday morning, is again in the quick lane.
At the wheel is Harry Brook, who simply can’t cease making large scores at excessive pace. Yesterday we flagged up the file for many runs by any batsman in his first 9 Test innings, simply as Brook entered the highest 5. By the time the day got here to a soggy finish, he was No 1. He has hammered 807 runs in these 9 innings – the primary man ever to achieve 800 so quick, eclipsing Vinod Kambli of India on 798 – and he’s nonetheless in, threatening so as to add just a few extra.
Brook already has 20 sixes in his six Tests, the identical as Lance Klusener, the fearsome South African hitter of the Nineties, managed in 49. No earlier batsman from any nation has averaged two sixes per Test: the closest is Shahid Afridi of Pakistan with 52 in 27 (common 1.93). Until Brook got here alongside, the closest enjoying at this time was Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies, who has 27 sixes from 16 Tests (1.69), simply forward of Rishabh Pant of India, who has a mathematically satisfying 55 from 33 (1.67). Brook’s common is 3.33. Yes, the person hits sixes at twice the pace of Pant.
There are 732 batsmen who’ve made 750 runs in Tests, and Brook has the best strike fee of all of them. His 807 runs have come off 812 balls, so his strike fee is 99.38. The subsequent finest (by Afridi) is 86.97. That 99 is an aesthetic contact, making Brook the Bradman of the bish-bosh period. His precise Test common is even larger, at 100.87, however we mustn’t get too enthusiastic about that because it’s inflated by a not-out in this innings. When he lastly will get out, his common will plummet – to a minimal of 89.67.
His sizzling spell received’t final endlessly, after all. Brook has already had one dangerous patch in his worldwide profession, throughout final 12 months’s T20 World Cup, when the bouncy Australian pitches bothered him and he mustered solely 56 in 5 innings. He could also be only a bilateral-series bully. He could also be not more than the brand new Kambli, or the brand new Jonathan Trott (on pace).
But to my untrained eye he appears actually particular, as a result of every part occurs so quick, from his grasp of size to the way in which his palms fly into the shot – every part besides his alternative of stroke, which regularly comes deliciously late. His hitting is astonishingly clear. He’s a phenomenon: let’s get pleasure from it whereas it lasts, whereas sparing a twinge of sympathy for any Kiwi supporters in the home.
Play begins half an hour early at this time, to make up a number of the time misplaced to the rain. There are extra showers forecast, however they don’t look too dangerous. Do drop by at 10.30am native time, 9.30pm GMT, to see if Brook can get his first double hundred (in skilled cricket, by no means thoughts Tests). It shouldn’t take lengthy.
Discussion about this post