A Jaunt into the South England v NZ Part 4 - Hamilton
By GrockleA
December 14 2024
An 8 hour train journey to Hamilton for the Third Test - a 'dead rubber' as they call them though probably don't say that to any resident Kiwi fan! This is a game they desperately want to win. They want to say goodbye to a servant of the Blackcap game in Tim Southee and they want to hand the English their backsides to take back to the Northern Hemisphere. Let's see how that turns out shall we?
Goodbye to Wellington and hello to Hamilton
With an few days free in the area around Wellington we got to have a look at the place. The bay via the view from Mount Victoria... it's very impressive. The cultural experience at Te Papa where you get a feeling for the cultural and political balances within the Island society and how it is pretty complicated and still evolving. The Gallipoli exhibition which shows the nightmare that the event was for the ANZACS which is highlighted by the genius of the poeple at WETA studios who bring it to life in a unique and stunning way.
Then it was aboard the 'Northern Explorer' for the 8 hour train journey over the spine of the North Island past the snow capped volcanoes and into the 'city' of Hamilton and to Seddon Park for the 3rd and final Test.
Third Test @ Seddon Park Hamilton Saturday 14th to Wednesday 18th December 2024
The first thing to discuss was the changes to the two line-ups. England replaced Chris Woakes with Matthew Potts while New Zealand brought in Will Young to open as Devon Conway was taking parental leave from the tour. They also replaced Nathan Smith with Mitchell Satner to offer a second spin option.
The Seddon Park ground smacks of a county outfield ground or possibly a National county stadium with one or two permanent buildings and a whole bunch of temporary ones with people setting up their own camps on grass banks in quite a few places. The boundaries are short the climate is overcvast and moist in the morning with the cloud cover burning off in the afternoon when the place bakes. If this can be an international ground then the future of international grounds is grass banking to hide the attendance figures and temporary everything!!
Ben Stokes wins the toss and chooses to put his opposition in. The reasoning behind this is that at that time the overcast conditions suggested there would be something for the bowlers and he as facing a batting line-up with a new opener who had struggled as a unit in the last two games. The logic was there, the reality did not stand up to expectations in quite the way he hoped.
Matthew Potts was straight into his job with the first over from the Pavilion End, renamed the 'Southee End' for this game which would be Tim Southee's last in the colours of his country. He is bowling at Latham and Young in front of a full crowd with 4 slips and two gully based close fielders. Attacking from ball one. It's a decent speedy start with 4 byes and a glanced boundary off the bat. His opening partner is Gus Atkinson from the City End who also starts in a business like and pacey manner.
In the initial overs both bowlers work on the nerves of the bats. Latham has got starts in most of his series innings but has not kicked on while Young has got runs to get him into consideration but is new to this series. He gets away with edges and glances while Latham looks to be the 'rock' of the innings and seems far more stable and sorted. With 26 on the board Potts nearly gets Latham but the ball doesn't carry to Duckett. After 10 overs Potts has 5/1/16 and Atkinson has 5/0/13 with a cumulative NZ total of 37 for 0. This brings the first bowling changes as Carse replaces Potts with Stokes coming on for Gus.
Carse tempts Young but the 50 arrives in the 20th over with nothing going to hand and the score continues to move while wickets do not come as easily as they have in first sessions of the other games. Potts changes ends to see if that creates new opportunities but the bats keep getting away with things and interspersing that with excellent shots, Just before Lunch at 90 for 0, Young passes the 1000 international runs level. Lunch arrives at 93 for 0 and become the first wicketless session of the Test series with Young on 42 and Latham on 36 despite the latter looking the more in control bat of the partnership.
After the break, Gus restarts from the City End to Young being partnered by Carse from the Southee. A solid four from Latham brings the 100 before Atkinson has Young caught by Brook for 42 off 92 balls at 105. A sigh of relief goes through the English supporters though the decision to bowl first is still looked as sceptically given the result of the choice.
Williamson comes out to the middle a little later than he has been used to and from that point of view he may be more of a problem with a base to work from. He immediately gets off the mark with a cut four that exudes confidence. He has to do a lot of work at the start of the new partnership as the English bowlers and fielders look to frustrate Latham by keeping him on 49 for a lot of time.
Latham eventually breaks the shackles and passes 50 with a sliced four but the visitors nearly remove Williamson at 120 as he slashes one again just wide of a flying Duckett They are living dangerously but in this game they are getting away with it.
In the 38th over the skipper re-introduces himself and he has Potts join him in the 39th with the score on 131 for 1. His new man finally gets the breathrough he had deserved and been working for when he has Latham caught by Pope for 63 at 142 for 2. In comes Ravindra and the new pair move the score past 150. The new bat does not break the 'not staying long' duck and is removed for 18 caught by Duckett (who finally gets one coming to him that he can catch) bowled by Carse at 172 for 3. English progress is slow but steady while the Kiwi resistance is solid and strong. Mitchell comes in to partner Williamson but his start is very long and he finds himself on zero for a long time either side of the Tea interval.
After Tea Carse (City) and Potts (Southee) are the pair to resume. Mitchell is still on 0 after 17 balls when Potts sends down a dlievery which is met by Williamson's bat but which spins off the edge into the stumps despite the Kiwi trying to kick it away. It takes out the middlke stump and Kane is gone for 44 at 185 for 4. Blundell arrives and Mitchell almost goes to the predatory Duckett flashing at Atkinson. Once again a New Zealand bat survives and the score moves past the 200 mark via a Blundell edge through the slipps off Potts.
An excellent diving catch from the captain sends Mitchell back to the hutch for 14 from 32 at 208 for 5 and via the bowling of Atkinson and the situation gets better for the visitors when an awful shot from Phillips is pouched by Zak Crawley at 213 and the new man leaves adding only 5 to the overall score. Santner is the next man in as Stokes comes on for the 68th and introduces Carse from the City end for the 69th. This change gets Blundell when after lifting a boundary over the infield earlier, he tries it again but miscalculates the height of Bethel who leaps and snatches the ball out of the air to send him on his way at 231 for 7.
Matt Henry arrives and English strategies seem to change as the new pair move the score past 250 and into the last hour of the days play. It is Matt Henry's birthday today and after the Barmies have sung the song to him the game moves into the different phase as the field moves out and the orders seem to be to use the short ball against the home side's tail
This seems a little strange as the whole day the English plan has hardly changed with tight bowling to an attacking field has kept New Zealand in check and never particularly comfortable. Now they are urged to hit out and they do. Despite the fact that it works with Henry as he puts Stokes over the straight City boundary but the intelligent fielding of Brook means he catches the ball, steps over, putting the ball back into the air, returns to the field and re-catches the ball. However, the six hitting Southee (needing 5 sixes to pass 100 international ones) and Santner with a personal first class best of over 100 take to the attack with vim and vigour moving the score on to 293 for 8 by the new ball at the end of the 80th over. A misfielded four takes the score over 300 and 3 sixes from the veteran have come and gone before he skies one almost directly up to be caught by Carse off Atkinson. He leaves for 27 from 10 balls needing two more sixes in his career and O'Rourke arrives at 303 for 9.
Potts bowls the last over of the day to Santner and the continuing plan gives the new man the chance to pass an individual 50 with a six to helpo his side finish the day on 315 for 9. The last half hour made little or no sense and possibly gifted the tail about 30 runs or more. They took the foot off the gas and let the back of the Kiwi innings open their shoulders. It is still less than the home side hoped for and it should be over early tomorrow. Day 2 may be disrupted in the afternoon by wetter weather but one would assume that New Zealand were hoping that their start in this Test could have moved them past 350 and towards a score of 400 in the first dig of this third game. Not to be and we willk see what tomorrow may bring after the afternoon passed the 28 degree mark and made it hot and sweaty work for the English bowlers of who Matthew Potts was probably the pick. Shoaib Bashir did not get the ball but he may have a say in this match as it moves past the halfway stage.
A better day for the home side but the English will probably feel they have pulled themselves back into the game by the end of the day.
Day 2 Not Quite to Plan
The best scenario for England at the start of the second day is to remove the last Kiwi wicket and start to move the score past them and into a victory situation. Standing in their way are Mitchell Santner and Will O'Rourke at 315 for 9. Gus Atkinson gets to work on O'Rourke from the City End while Matthew Potts starts his day from the Southee end looking to remove Santner. Neither happens quickly as the New Zealand defence is solid even though the bowling is very tight and probing. Santner moves past 1000 Test runs with a pulled four at 325 for 9. O'Rourke is reviewed at 327 but there is no bat contact so the review decision is 'Not Out'. As the over total passes 90 people start to question when this becomes more than merely frustrating? The number 11 finally gets off the mark after 25 balls and the two bats make England change their attack after 10 overs and an addition of 17 runs. Ben Stokes takes over from Gus but it is Potts who opens at the other end who finally bowls Santner for 76 from 117balls at 347. O'Rourke finishes not out 5.
At 12:17 Crawley and Duckett start to put the Englsh plan back on track against Henry from the City and Southee from his own end! Ben goes aerial over the slips to start off with a four while Crawley looksx ready to go with 4 very well executed fours. Unfortunately, luck is not with Zak who is victim to an excellent caught and bowled by Matt Henry with the bowler managing quite brilliantly to get his finger under the ball. The englishman leaves for 21 off 14 at 32 for 1. Henry is on a roll because he also has Duckett plumb LBW for 12 one ball later and Joe Root joins Jacob Bethel as the new visitor partnership at 33 for 2.
The 50 arrives in the tenth over just before Lunch which England reach at 54 for 2 - 288 runs behind.
After the break, competition resumes from O'Rourke and Henry and the England plan is to consolidate during the afternoon moving to and passing the set run total. Once again, this is not how things go initially as O'Rourke temps Berthel and he flips the ball into Phillip's hands departing for 12 at 77 for 3. This brings the World's first and second rated Test batsmen together for the first time as Harry Brook walks out to bat. However, the new man plays on first ball and the dream partnership is not to be today.
77 for 4 sees Pope join Root but he then fails to get out of the way of a ball from O'Rourke and Young is there to take out the Englishman for 32 off 42 at 82 for 5. The young Kiwi did not get the hat-trick but he has taken 3 in very short succession (5 overs 2 maidens 13 for 3) and England are having to replan the way to get into a dominant position in this Test.
Pope almost fails in the same way as his recent partner when a ball from O'Rourke doesn't get up and he is nearly caught popping the ball up. He survives and the 100 arrives in the 22nd over and looks to build a partnership with his skipper Ben Stokes with the follow on point being 47 runs away. Henry changes to the Southee for the 28th and at 139 New Zealand turn to spin for the first time as Santner comes on to bowl the 31st to Pope on 24 (from 41 balls) and Stokes on 20 (from 36). The captain sweeps the first delivery for four with confidence and brings up the 50 partnership.
But the English good news does not last as Santner fools Pope with the bounce and he is caught by Mitchell for 42 at 134 for 6. Gus Atkinson is next in with 13 still needed and he sees Stokes reviewed as out LBW attempting another sweep. His 27 off 43 is not enough and Carse arrives with 20 still needed to pass 247. Gus clips one from Matt Henry to the spinner in a fielding role and is out for 4 from 9 at 141. There is no move in the score when in the next over Carse simply flips the ball back into Santners hands and Bashir joins Potts as the last partnership 6 short of a possible follow on. Potts goes high off Henry for the boundary but he doesn't go long enough. Phillips catches the ball and England are all out for 143, 4 short of the follow on total and with four wickets for Matt Henry for 48. Things have most definitely not gone to plan as the back end of the line-up have not made up for deficiencies in the front end and we go into the second part of the game with the home side going into Tea 204 runs ahead with all their second wickets intact and the possiblity of asking their oppenents to bat again.
New Zealand do not enforce and so the English come out to field while Young and Latham return to the middle to add to the 204 already in the bank. The operning pair seem much more solid than with Conway in the first two matches but after an initial period of settling into the innings, Atkinson makes a breakthrough by bowling Latham for 19 at 35 for 1. Kane Williamson is in early, but not as early as he has been in the past. Heis just before the first bowling change as Brydon Carse takes up his job and the home side move the lead past 250 in the 14th followed by a pulled four from Young to bring the 50 up and then the 50 partnership at 85 for 1.
Little the English do makes any difference to the fact that the Kiwis are adding to a significant lead with 15 overs of the day left and an hour to go to get as many of them in as possible. After an over from Carse, Stokes finally turns to Bashir for the first time in the game at 93 for 1, he sees the 100 arrive but gets into his work while Young passes 50 off 72 balls. The batting pair seem to be in little trouble and are cruising to the end of Day 2 when Young, for no apparent reason simply smashes the ball square into Bethel's grasp without the fielder needing to move. He goes for 60 and with 20 minutes to go O'Rourke arrives to do 'nightwatchman' duties once again in this game. It doesn't work out as well as he does not survive to the close. He is caught by Pope off Stokes without scoring at 125 for 3. Ravindra does have to take the field but the only other event is that Williamson goes to 50 in the last over from the skipper and Day 2 ends, completely against the English plan with New Zealand at 136 for 3, 340 ahead with the game in their hands. Day 3 may be disrupted but England are a very long way from saving this one. Their strategy is in pieces and athe home side is in the driving seat. Time for a rethink Ben!!
Rain Day 3
The weather changes quite drastically on the Monday as the rain arrives and takes out the first session completely with quite heavy showers. Under overcast conditions play re-commences at 1:30 in the afternoon in front of a sparse crowd with the possibility of 6 hours play - probably under lights at least in part - IF the rain stays away.
Williamson and Ravindra resume the innings with a lead of 340 against the attack of Atkinson and Potts. England have a 'cushion' of about 70 runs before any victory in this game would become a historic one. Run chases into the 410s and 20s would be new records but there is more than half the game left for the attempt one would assume.
Tight opening spells keep the bats honest and the conditions are more to the bowlers liking than the bats one would assume. Williamson is the senior partner is this one with a half century already to his name and he looks to push on while Ravindra is still finding his Third Test feet to anm extent with only three to his name. Nevertheless they push the score past 150 via Williamson off Potts in the 37th which also move the overall lead over 350.
The ball is keeping a little low on an erratic basis so batsmen have to be careful. Both these bowlers can be 'skiddy' so it is an issue to be aware of. Then Stokes changes the rules as he introduces Shoaib early from the Southee End for the 41st over to Ravindra. He is using a slip on both side of the wicket and an early ball moves considerably!! Williamson was not comfortable during his first over!! 155 for 3
Carse is also a change at the City End for the 42nd. Williamson nearly chops the last ball on but the Kiwi luck holds!! As the bowling develops Bash is frustrating the bats by getting the ball into them and not giving them space to open up as we move past 45 overs and the lead creeps up slowly to 367 with Ravindra especially struggling to push on. But with a score of 163 for 3, the home men simply have to be patient. There is no pressure in terms of the score or the time available. ALL the pressure is with England making inroads into the New Zealand batting line-up to keep their hopes realisitically alive that there is still a game here to win.
Carse gets one into Wlliamson in the 46th over, although it is in the line, it is 'Umpire's Call' and the call was 'Not Out' so on they go at 163 for 3 with an unsuccesful Brydon maiden. Willimason continues on 73 from 110 balls.
The 50 partnership arrives at 178 and the anticipation of a change in the fortunes of the English bowling has lost the shine a little as the NZ guys just do their job and hit what needs hitting. Carse is a little 'scratchy' this afternoon having animated conversations with his opponents which we haven't seen a lot of in this series. Bash is keeping it tight but there's not a lot happening from the visitor's point of view. Nevertheless he keeps gpoing and Williamson just gets the ball one handed over the leaping Carse. Stokes nearly had him caught the over before so there is still hope of the luck changing. They have no option but to keep banging at the door as there are 2 days left.
Stokes replaces Carse and the lack of options for England are pretty clear. He has tried his four seamers and none of them have been decisive in this innings. They have boewled tight lines but they haven't penetrated the early Kiwi defence and the runs have accumulated. He has to bowl this as his only other option seems to be Bashir at one end. He has tried Bethel once in this series for a small number of overs and has turned to Root not at all. He therefore has 3 strategies. The seam attack he has picked, if that does not work then he has reverted to the short ball and boundary prowling in the hope of an edge or play on. Without those working he can only turn to Bash and get wickets via frustration. Meanwhile New Zealand are happy to spend time out there so that the wicket wears and the spin of Phillips and Snatner can work with a large number of runs to play with.
Presently they have passed a lead of 400 and they have 7 wickets in hand at 201 for 3. The home side have all the advantages in this one and presently it seems like England have few answers for how to change the momentum of this game. Should they have gone for the experience of Jack on a pitch where NZ picked two spinners? Could he have cleared out the last pair at the start of Day 2 and held the six hitting tail in check at the end of Day 1? Maybe? Should they have picked Rehan Ahmed to provide spin variation? Well you have to assume that is why he is here. If you have a theory about that.
Anyway, the other issue is that Ben has now left the field after wincing halfway though the 56th and the over will be finished by Jacob Bethel. It is not looking promising for the captain or the side's chances of putting up a spirited attempt to get back into this Test.
Pope takes over the captaincy duties and decides to leave Bethel on. Williamson comes down the wicket to his first ball and goes to a hundred from 138 balls with a straight six. The lead moves to 430 as Ravindra gets over early jitters and starts to move towards his own 50. The spin is not worrying this pair anything like it did and England are now effectively down to 3 seamers with a soggy old ball for 20 odd overs. Williamson's average here is 97.86 so there is little surprise to be honest. There would be a Tea interval coming up but the sessions have been elongated with this one being 2 hours and 40 minutes so going to past 4 o'clock. There are 50 minutes to go in the session when Matt Potts is re-introduced for the 60th over with Ravindra on 44 from 89 balls. But the change works as Ravindra looks to whip the ball into the onside but it does not go onside and he perishes to an outside edge which Carse pouches at mid off. He leaves at 235 for 4 with a score of 44 from 50 and Mitchell takes his place. He smashes his second ball for four and goes past 2000 runs in the process.
Williamson does give a chance in the next over as Bashir puts one out wide which spits back. It fools the Kiwi but wrong foots first slip and goes between him and the keeper. It brings up the question of whether a more established keeper would have anticipated it? No criticism of Pope but an interim gloveman with captaincy responsibility is being asked to do a lot and others may have got that one using muscle memory and experience? Catches win matches as they always say.
A lead of 450 arrives and is passed. England's fortunes are not getting any better and the home side have to be looking at a declaration total sometime in the last session to get two loooks at the opening partners with a new ball in these conditions. Matt Henry may be fundamental at the start of the next phase with Santner doing what he has been picked to do if New Zealand win this one. Kane Williamson has hit 5 consecutive centuries at Seddon Park and no other player has ever done that so its a special innings for the home support and players.
The 250 innnings total arrives as Mitchell makes it clear that he is not going to die wondering as he swings and misses a Potts delivery. Tea arrives with New Zealand ahead by 478 at 274 for 4 wth Williamson 123 not out and Mitchell working with him on 18. Atkinson is the tightest English bowler but he presently is not bowling and Ben Stokes is off the field with a possible hamstring injury it seem. It is not looking all that good for a 3 nil whitewash of the Blackcaps.
Shoaib opens the mammoth 3 hour session and has a chance first ball after Tea. Umpire says NO and on Review the impact is seen as outside off and Williamson is NOT OUT. Some excitement straight after the break though Ollie was somewhat 'bullied' into checking it by the field.
Bethel continues at the Southee end while Stokes is being checked concerning his left hamstring. He has bowled a bucketload of overs as this series has gone on and has probably bowled himself onto the treatment bed. Some watching were wondering whether he had done himself during the Wellington game when he failed to finish an over because of a 'twinge' but he did not leave the field then.
There's a bit of movement on the pitch now which will make Santner smile as he spins the ball far more than either of the England slow men. But as of yet that movement is not working for the English though they are trying to exploit it. Meanwhile Mitchell and Wiliamson bring up their 50 run partnership at 285 for 5.
The lead passes 500 as it starts to look very easy for the NZ batting partnership. Williamson is looking majestic and Mitchell is getting a better look at the ball than he has during the whole series. England are 4 overs from a new ball and seem to be hoping that the slow pair can hold the Kiwis until that happens. However the home side are aware of this as well and are making hay while the sun (which has now appeared) shines. They must be looking at a declaration in the next hour to have a significasnt evening session against the visiting line-up. Williamson moves to a 196 ball 150 with a four at 318 and the score is belting along now. Williamson has 37 50s and as many hundreds so he converts at a very impressive rate. He is also in the mood to move this score along and is in the form to do it at the moment. England have no answers to his class presently.
Bash has worked hard but his 24 overs have gone for over 100 runs conceded for the second game and Bethel is on 0 for 44 from his 7 overs as he starts his 8th. However there is a reward as Willaimson looks to slog sweep Bash and top edges a catch to Ahmed on the boundary for 156 off 204 balls. This brings Blundell to the crease at 327 for 5. Southee may not be able to hit his 100th six in this game as he may not get anywhere near the crease before the declaration. A supreme knock from a supreme player who was in control from about 25 runs into his innings and looked quality from then on until his departure.
The new ball is available after Bethel's 9th but Pope says 'No Thanks' which seems sensible as the first ball of the next over is reviewed for 'caught' as a ball hits Blundell's toe as he attempts a sweep. The review shows it is absolutely nowhere near the bat and as it is outside off there is no LBW assessment and on we go. Bash bowls on and Mitchell is caught on the fourth ball but also reviews. He is right as the ball hits the ground before Brook gets his fingers underneath. It's all fun isn't it?
Mitchell floats to a 78 ball 50 without many noticing and the lead moves up to 572 with loads of time available tonight and 7 overs in they still have not taken the new ball. He is having a no pressure little knock looking for balls to smack out of the ground, as he does with the six that takes him to 60. The second one is taken by Potts who ends up on his back just inside the boundary. He goes for 60 from 84 and becomes Bethel's first Test victim. 375 for 6, a lead of 579 as Phillips joins Blundell in the middle.
The floodlights are on, though we can't see any real difference but it is 5:50 and if they want to play until 7pm there might be restirctions on who can bowl. There were no floodlights in Wellington - a surprise to many from Europe. These are like Taunton's, LED lights that do not seem to be on unless you are in their direct line though they are all on and cover the whole playing area.
Bash is getting near to 150 from his 31 overs but he keeps at it and Phillips gets under one and sends it straight down Carse's throat. In comes Santner at 380 for 7. Phillips goes for 3 from his 9 trying to get on with it. Santner is not waiting around as he hits the young Somerset man over his head and out of the ground. It also takes Shoaib to 2 for 151 from his 31.
We are all wondering when the declaration will arrive when after 91 overs Harry Brook comes on to bowl from the Southee End. Santner gives him 4 balls and sends the 5th over the boundary. Harry's over was 'interesting'. The next over takes the lead over 600 at 398 for 7. Someone in the crowd has offered up the fact that Brook has a Test wicket and it is Kane Williamson at Wellington in 2022!! So it isn't even the first time he's bowled in-country. They give him the new ball FINALLY at 93.4 overs!! He swings it and it is driven for four by Blundell. The 400 arrives.
Bash is continuing with the new ball so there is no urgency to blast the seamers at the batting. Finally Potts is re-introduced and bowls a blistering maiden. After him, Bashir shows good variation with the new ball as well as the cloth rag. Santner isn't slowing down against Potts as he takes him for two boundaries, it's kind of decent shot, edge, decent shot, edge etc.
Joe Root gets the 100th over and Santner gets more batting practice just before Root gets him on 49 from 38 overs caught by Bash. 443 for 8 and out comes Tom Southee needing 2 sixes for 100 in his career. The England crew form a guard to welcome him to the crease for the last time in an international match. He is off the mark with a single.
This also means he has the strike against Bash and is asked by Pope if he wants Bethel or Brook next over. The lead moves to 655 as the innnings goes over 450. Bash now has the most expensive figures against New Zealand for an English spinner at 2 for 170 from his 36.
He gets Bethel but first he has to get Tom Blundell off strike and that happens with the second ball. Southee holes out going for it. He is caught by Crawley for 2 at 657. Out comes Matt Henry. Bethel then bowls Henry and the innings is over with a target of 658 set for England with about 45 minutes to have a go at them this evening. A bit of fun but also a bit of daftness.... Bethel finishes with the best figures of 3 for 72 from his 14 and a bit. Bash was the workhorse with 2 for 170 from his 36 overs.
The Last Reply
Henry's 'rabbit' comes out to bat and has a torrid first over including a four and a 5th ball review which is 'Not Out' to an onfield LBW decision before Crawley ends the first over four without loss!! Southee starts an innings for the last time from his own end to Duckett. Ben is not impressed and smacks the ball straight back past the veteran for four. But the older bowler comes back and when the England man swings at a wide one he brings it back in, Duckett gets a bottom edge straight into his stumps and he's gone for four at 8 for 1. He had no reason to play that ball at all and he paid for the idiocy.
Crawley lasts for 5 overs but he's plumb at the start pf the 6th to that man Henry at 18 for 2. He goes for 5 off 17. It was 'Umpire's Call' as Matt gets him for the 6th time. Mr C is not happy - it was very marginal but 'Umpire's Call' is 'Umpire's Call' once it was given out. Out comes Root to be at the non striker's end with probably an over to go from O'Rourke. Bethel has looked good but it is all marginal when you are the second pair and you are in with only 6 overs having been delivered. Crawley was unlucky but Duckett was just daft. O'Rourke is on the money immediately and it could be a hairy last over which the new number three negotiates and they will face chasing 640 tomorrow morning with Root yet to face and Bethel on 9.
Endgame - Day 4
The day starts with tight bowling and strong solid defensive batting as the two sides tussle. It's more like a red ball fight with New Zealand looking for wickets and England stubbornly holsing the line. After about an hour the score moves to 50 with a solid 50 partnership coming at 76 for 2. Henry and O'Rourke are pushing but both Root and Bethel look up to the task and supporters think 'just maybe' as supporters do.
The Kiwis turn to Santner for the 20th over and although he gets spin immediately, the score reaches 100 for 2 and Bethel moves to an individual and solids 50 at 106 for 2. Root joins him at 120 just after the 100 partnership at 118. THIS is what you expect from a Test side looking to save a game with 2 days to go. No heroics with the bat, no loose shots, no attempting to hit anything you don't need to.
That stops being the case with the loss of Root for 53 from 64 after a review that shows what a good ball the Santner one was at 122 for 3. In comes Brook and the game hinges on this. After this partnership we will know where we are. The majority of runs in this series have been scored before and with Harry at the crease, after that it has been a bit patchy to say the least. So the game is effctively done when O'Rourke (who is bowling very well indeed with pace and from a height the English are finding very hard to deal with) gets the young bat to field one to Mitchell who takes the catch and he returns to the dressing room for 1 run from 6 at 133 for 4.
Pope is next in and he helps bring up the 150 in the 33rd over. Bethel has been a real base for this innings and it is out of character when he goes after one from Southee (though they have seemed to believe that going after the veteran is the thing to do. It isn't when you are 600 and odd behind and need to stay away from 'going after' anyone unless you really think you have a chance of winning this one) and gives Philips the catch that sends him on his way for 76 from 96. This effectively makes it inevitable that England will fail in whatever plan they had - unless it was to get to the golf course tomorrow or even later today. 166 for 5 brings Atkinson to the crease and he works with Pope to take the contest to Lunch at 193 for 5.
The 200 arrives straight after the break as Santner takes the first and Henry returns for the second. We then have another piece of sheer foolery from the English Vice captain. Needing over 500 runs with 5 sessions to survive and just after an interval. Our VC decides to 'ramp' the best New Zealand bowler, fresh after some food. He misses the ball and Matt, bowling straight castles him. Sheer madness nothing else.
215 for 6 as Carse takes over as Gus's partner. He is also up the wicket early for some apparent reason but by now it makes little or no difference and we are just waiting for the merciful end. Gus has batted well but after a valiant 43 from 41 he is also fooled by Santner and is caught by Phillips at 231 for 7. Almost done.
Potts lasts 2 balls caught by Southee, also off the bowling of Santner and at 231 for 8 it is obvious that there is no reason at all to aask the captain to bat so Bashir strides out as the last man in a futile effort to extend the game. His 2 from 6 is the last gasp as Carse goes up the wicket to Santner and is stumped for 11 as he misses the ball.
England are all out for 234. New Zealand win by 424 runs. Santner takes 4 for 85 and the Man of the Match Award. Tim Southee ends a truly magnificent international career with a win at his home ground. Kane Williamson is the NZ Man of the Series and Harry Brook takes the same award for England - though he probably is not looking forward to returning to Hamilton.
England take the series 2-1. A more realistic result than 2-0 or 3-0. Both sides gave the other a Test with the victor being the side that won in Wellington to be honest. The English have answered some questions and created a few more in the 'who to take to Australia' debate. THIS is NOT the finished item of an Ashes side. The skipper is crocked. The strategy at times in this series was childlike. The bowling is fragile - not sure that Carse or Atkinson finished this one fully fit and this is 3 Tests. The openers didn't really fire. Crawley was well found out by Matt Henry. Bethel was a bonus and did well - but he needs more time at the crease and a discussion about where he is expected to bat in a side when Smith returns as he will. What is the role of Pope in that case? Harry Brook is a must pick without much doubt. Spinners? LIttle chance for Bash to shine and the two others were not used though Leach would have been my choice for the Third Test because he would have dealt with the Kiwi tail on Day 1 and would not have gone for 170 on Day 3. He also would not have accepted bowling 32 overs in a day FROM THE SAME END while 'joke bowling' kept the bats interated at the other end. There was little variation to question the home side's batting yesterday and once Santner had been picked it was probably a better option for the already shaky Stokes to get Ahmed into the side to offer some variation to the seam attack he had bowled into the ground other than Brook, Root and Bethel.
New Zealand lost this by failing to catch in Match one and then failing to turn up in Match two. We showed the frailty of our squad when they did arrive in Match 3 and there is a lot of work to do against India in the sumer if we are to be a credible opposition to the Aussies in the winter of 2025.
It's been fun. Now to get home for Christmas!!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:02:19:39:02 by Grockle.
England replace Woakes with Potts & I believe the Kiwis have brought in Young for a parental duty bound Conway - whose form has been absent in this series anyway. I missed that NZ had also picked Satner after Smith was announced as signing for Surrey. I'm sure the 2 aren't related š
The weather forecast could be better from Day3 onwards but we'll see I suppose
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:12:14:06:04:30 by Grockle.
amazed that Stokes choose to bowl! Dull morning, couldāve had a few wickets, one tough drop but lots of playing and missing or not needed to play at.
Delighted when Young was out - still have nightmares over that day st Taunton back in April (?) when he and Joe Clarke batted all day - so pleased that didnāt happen again!
Sought shade at tea - Gatt seemed cool in his shorts and getting free wine! Met a few locals who had good recommendations of places to go and see.
After tea - got a great view standing by the sight screen, we had a few slogged sixes, Brookās catch right in front of us, and a little shade too.
Thought Stokeslet them slog 40 too many at the end while hoping for catches on the boundary - exciting to watch, but hardly tight sharp cricket.
Potts and Atkinson bowled best - Carse looked exhausted after tea - Stokes short and meh. Canāt believe those four bowled all day in the hot sun with no Bashir or Root!
A bit end of termy, series won etc. But a great day at the cricket. Ground lovely, very Taunton - have told my wife that SCG Aus v India on 3 January will be a million miles from today!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:12:14:07:29:47 by Shepton Paul 2.
My view of the first day is up but agree with most of your post, especially the seemingly daft plan to change the bowling strategy with a guy with 95 sixes and another with a high first class score of 126 to his name at the crease. Hmmm what shall we do? Try and bounce them with the short ball and put everyone on the boundary. Worked for Henry, finally worked for Southee after he'd done some damage and didn't work for Santner by the end of the day.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:14:12:03:40 by Grockle.
Funniest moment today: Bash coming in under Southeeās skier and clearly encouraging Carse to take it while he himself hung back - it went miles up and I donāt blame Bash for not fancying it. Also, while Carse was down with cramp near the end, Brook was giving Bash batting tips - hilarious!
If we come tomorrow, Iāll look for you Grockle.
The Henry-Crawley contest is extraordinary. Henry got him out (for very low scores) in all six innings. I have not heard the details of today's innings but after the first five innings Crawley had faced 22 balls from Henry, scored five runs and been out five times!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:14:12:04:55 by Grockle.
However, I think I was twice out to Don Pringle, father of Derek, in Nairobi.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Have to agree with LoL that Jack would have been a better choice in this Test. Bash bowled some good stuff, but youth and inexperience allowed his skipper to make him bowl 32 overs from the same end while offering nothing but silly bowling from the other end while his main strike bowler bowled 8 overs in the day!!
Jack would not have allowed that, would not have gone for 170 and may have had a better time against the tail in the first innings rather than that ludicrous 'Bang it in and let em hit it' we had at the end of the Kiwi first innings.
I'm done for the moment. Day off in Hamilton tomorrow. Early start to Auckland on Thursday for a mid afternoon flight via Singapore arriving in London early morning on Friday. Then train and bus home to Bicknoller and Crimble. I'll be about but will say my 'Seasons Greetings' now and see you all closer to the New Year.
If you can get to the southern islands. It has been great fun and the place is brilliant in many different ways. Hope those who were at 'Walkers and Talkers' with Keith Parsons today had a great time.
On to 2025 my friends
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:14:12:06:52 by Grockle.
LoL
Seventy-eight Seasons a Somerset Supporter
7am to 5pm in Auckland is 10 hours
5pm in Auckland to 10:30pm in Singapore is.... 11.5 hours
10:30pm to 11:45pm in Singapore is 1 hour 15 mins
11:45pm in Singapore to 6am in Heathrow is....15 hours and 15 mins
and 6am to 2pm Bicknoller time is 6 hours
A grand total for the day and a bit of 44 hours?
Yeah I'm full of beans!! I'll leave the thread open for some speculation on who might be the England players in this squad who mighht have played all 17
There is a whote ball compendium of games in India at the end of January. I would be interesting to also contemplate who might be in those two groups (I'am asuming they'll pick 2 groups). I wonder if anyone will be in all three groups?
Right I'm going to bed because I have absolutely NO idea what the time is supposed to be according to my body clock but I do have to re-learn to drive tomorrow morning to get to an optometrist appointment in Minehead in the early afternoon.