CLOSE OF PLAY: New Zealand 120/3, a lead of 204
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Very much New Zealand’s day, they are well in front with batting still to come. The match isn’t beyond England, yet, and there was a window of opportunity when they had the tourists on 51 for three.
The pitch is drying up and starting to play silly buggers – because of that the hosts need quick wickets tomorrow. Any lead of over 300 will be, I fear, too much for Stokes and Co.
OVER 35: NZ 120/3 (Ravindra 60 Mitchell 26)
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Archer rushes through his over in a bid to allow England to get one more in before stumps and it...doesn’t work.
OVER 34: NZ 119/3 (Ravindra 60 Mitchell 25)
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It was this time on the first day when Ravindra got himself out, I am not expecting to see the same ungainly hoick this time, stay in until the close is the order of play. What is weird is that Bashir bowls a head-high beamer than the left-hander prods over Smith for four - think the spinner was trying something out the front of the hand. Whatever it was it didn’t exactly work...
One over to go, I reckon and the lead for the tourists is over 200. 203, to be exact.
OVER 33: NZ 109/3 (Ravindra 53 Mitchell 24)
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Fifteen minutes to go and it’s no shock to see Archer given the ball. Can he grab the wicket England need?
The long and short it is, at least regarding this over, ‘nope’. But the noteworthy thing is that Smith is up to the stumps for him. Archer, one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket, with a keeper standing up to him is a definitive Things you don’t expect to see...It was Archer who asked for it and Smith looked slightly dumbfounded, understandable. Archer gets one to spit at Mitchell, it wraps the batsman on his finger and the man with the special spray comes out. After the slight delay Smith goes back to his normal position, fair...
OVER 32: NZ 109/3 (Ravindra 53 Mitchell 24)
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Bashir continues, he’s bowled well to Mitchell but without ever looking like getting a wicket. He against gets decent drift and turn, but the ever-watchful Kiwi isn’t too rushed or perturbed, getting outside the line and playing from there. Mitchell then, last ball of the over, sweeps and nearly succeed in finding the hands of Archer at short fine leg.
OVER 31: NZ 107/3 (Ravindra 52 Mitchell 23)
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You feel England need to strike before the close and as I type that Stokes drifts onto Ravindra’s pads and the elegant left-hander doesn’t look this gift horse in the mouth, clipping with ease for four. That brings up his 50 and it’s been a good one, one that he owed his side after horror hoick late on the first day. There’s more frustration for Stokes as Mitchell prods forward and gets a thick edge for four. The lead is up to 191.
OVER 30: NZ 98/3 (Ravindra 47 Mitchell 19)
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More good stuff from Bashir with Mitchell looking to be a bit more proactive. Then Gay, with some brilliant fielding at mid-on causes some confusion in the middle. There’s no run out but the commitment is still good out there from the hosts.
OVER 29: NZ 96/3 (Ravindra 46 Mitchell 18)
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New Zealand have scored 14 runs in the past seven overs when this one starts. England have controlled the run rate but the tourists are in control of the Test. Ravindra and Mitchell don’t seen unduly concerned and you get the sense they’ll be more than happy to get to the close with the lead near or over 200. Stokes goes over and round the wicket to Ravindra this over and it’s more of the same, namely a maiden.
England need an injection of something
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An hour ago, the door was ajar for England. But the game is drifting away from them. Bashir is bowling tidily, but not threatening. They need a burst from a big quick.
OVER 28: NZ 96/3 (Ravindra 46 Mitchell 18)
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Duckett has been running a lot since he returned from the Ashes and that pays off here as he saves a definite four, and three runs in the process. That’s the only run of the over and this session is meandering somewhat to the close.
OVER 27: NZ 95/3 (Ravindra 45 Mitchell 18)
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Smith is standing up to Stokes who’s bowling a good line and pinning Mitchell to the crease. The England captain then fires one down leg and there are four leg byes.
OVER 26: NZ 91/3 (Ravindra 45 Mitchell 18)
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Three singles are followed by a peach from Bashir that sees lovely flight, drift and turn. Ravindra was beaten in the flight - an example of what Bashir can do.
OVER 25: NZ 88/3 (Ravindra 44 Mitchell 16)
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With about 45 minutes to go it’s noticeable, bar the odd exception, that there hasn’t been much exaggerated movement this innings. Heavy roller? England bowlers not hitting the right marks often enough? Either way England could do with a few misbehaving deliveries before stumps. Ravindra nurdles for two down to deep backward point and those are the only runs of the over. The tourists are 172 in front.
OVER 24: NZ 86/3 (Ravindra 42 Mitchell 16)
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Another controlled over from Bashir (he’s made a good start) is ended with a lovely arm ball that beats Mitchell on the outside of his bat.
OVER 23: NZ 84/3 (Ravindra 41 Mitchell 15)
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Things are quiet out there in the middle, that suits New Zealand who know they just need to keep the scoreboard ticking over and build the lead, which is currently 168. Stokes is hanging the ball outside the off peg to Ravindra who isn’t taking the bait.
OVER 22: NZ 84/3 (Ravindra 41 Mitchell 15)
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Bashir to Ravindra: four fullish balls, four dots. That’s a good linge and length, what Stokes and England need. Two from the over.
OVER 21: NZ 82/3 (Ravindra 40 Mitchell 14)
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Stokes comes on to bowl and is met with a cover drive by Ravindra for two. The captain then challenges the left-hander’s outside edge. Every run is precious and Tongue’s half-hearted (down with one hand) effort on the boundary isn’t really the order of the day. It turns a two into a four for Mitchell and Stokes is less than impressed. Understandable.
A big reception for Ben Stokes as he returns to the attack. He’s held himself back a little too long, I reckon, although that was a very fine spell from Atkinson.
OVER 20: NZ 74/3 (Ravindra 37 Mitchell 9)
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First ball Bashir bowls a wider line, gets some drift and turn. That’s much better, a maiden.
OVER 19: NZ 74/3 (Ravindra 37 Mitchell 9)
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Three from this Atkinson over, and the tourists are effectively 158 for three. England far from out of it, however.
OVER 18: NZ 71/3 (Ravindra 36 Mitchell 7)
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Time for spin, so it’s Bashir on. He couldn’t find a consistent length in the first innings and England have precious few runs to play with here. Stokes needs his spinner to find his length sooner rather than later now. Mitchell sweeps for three first up - a very full ball. Ravindra then clips for two - a full toss. The third sees the left-hand defend on the back foot, before Bashir errs on line, a legside push is easy for Ravindra. Two dot balls conclude the over, from which NZ scored seven.
OVER 17: NZ 64/3 (Ravindra 32 Mitchell 4)
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Lovely stuff from Atkinson has he challenges the edge of Ravindra’s bat with each of his opening four balls of the over. England have one slip in at the moment - time fore more? Excellent over.
OVER 16: NZ 64/3 (Ravindra 32 Mitchell 4)
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Great shot from Ravindra who gets on the tips of his toes before cut with a flourish that gives the man on the boundary no chance even though he (Gay, I think) only has to move 15 yards. That came after a cute leg glance for four. The left-hander is looking ominous and if he score 80+ then the tourists will have a score they should feel confident of defending. The lead is up to 148.
OVER 15: NZ 55/3 (Ravindra 23 Mitchell 4)
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England are right in this game after that Nicholls wicket, first ball of this over. The crowd sense it, the score is effectively 135 for three, the tourists are still on top but a few quick wickets now and you never know. Mitchell’s first ball sees him duck into a shortish one and take one on the shoulder - ouch. He then gets in behind the next one before squeezing one for four down to third man. Another promising over for the hosts - plenty is happening.
That’s better, Harry. That catch, I reckon, was slower and lower. But well done, son, that takes a bit of character and concentration.
WICKET!
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Nicholls c Brook b Atkinson 16
This time the edge off Nicholl’s bat finds the hands of Brook in the slips. England needed that.
FOW - 51/3
OVER 14: NZ 51/2 (Nicholls 16 Ravindra 23)
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Oh dear...Nicholls is beaten all ends up, the edge is found and the ball flies through the vacant first-slip area. There was a slip, alas Brook was at a wide first-slip or second (wherever floats your boat). Tongue then wraps Nicholls twice on the pads. The first appeal is hopeful (going over), the second is more serious. It’s not given, but that doesn’t bother the bowler who then beats Nicholls’s bat again, this time not inducing the edge. That was a fine over and England were unlucky not to add to their tally.
Oh no. That is a shocker from Harry Brook, who watches Nicholls’ edge fly by. He’s a very good second slipper, but is struggling in that lone slipper role. Did he think he had a first slip!?
OVER 13: NZ 44/2 (Nicholls 11 Ravindra 23)
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Ravindra is looking good. There are no flourishes from his elegant bat the first four balls of this over but he gets in behind the ball confidently. He then stands up tall before cutting with more than a hint of menace, Gay fieldswell to prevent any runs in the covers. Maiden over from Atkinson.
OVER 12: NZ 44/2 (Nicholls 11 Ravindra 23)
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Tongue continues - it seems as though New Zealand have taken the sting out of the England response - and as I type that Ravindra edges, but it’s low and in the vacant third slip area for four. I don’t think it would have carried had a man been there.
OVER 11: NZ 36/2 (Nicholls 9 Ravindra 17)
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Archer’s spell is over and what a good one it was: full of menace and pace, two for 12 was his reward. It’s Atkinson to replace him, he starts with three dots before he pushes one up and Ravindra, who’s started confidently (no sign of a brain dead shot of the sort he played in the first innings), drives imperiously through the covers for four. There’s an issue with the ball and wisely (and hugely surprisingly because it’s so sensible) drinks are taken mid-over. The final ball sees a peach of a ball that lifts and beats Ravindra’s outside edge.
OVER 10: NZ 32/2 (Nicholls 9 Ravindra 12)
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Tongue continues his toil, good solid over, one from it.
OVER 9: NZ 31/2 (Nicholls 9 Ravindra 12)
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The lead is 113 when Archer runs in first ball and Nicholls steers one behind point for two. Both NZ batsmen got runs at the Oval but not in the first innings here, and their mission will be to wrestle the initiative back for the tourists.
OVER 8: NZ 29/2 (Nicholls 7 Ravindra 12)
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Nottinghamshire man Tongue replaces Atkinson. He starts with four dots before Nicholls and Ravindra scamper a single. It’s important this pair try and impose themselves and not go into their shells. Ravindra certainly doesn’t do that has he biffs (best word to describe it) a ball down the ground for four. Not one for the MCC textbook but hugely effective.
OVER 7: NZ 24/2 (Nicholls 6 Ravindra 8)
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Archer to Nicholls and the Kiwi gets in behind the first three balls. Then the England pace ace gets another, a la with Conway, to rear up off a length. This one, however, moves away rather than into the batsman and Nicholls breathes a sigh of relief. This is great stuff from Archer, he’s finding rhythm and alarming bounce.
OVER 6: NZ 23/2 (Nicholls 5 Ravindra 8)
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This has been a good surface. Good to bat on, then deteriorates and overall a good contest between bat and ball. Ravindra is the new man in, New Zealand could do with him inducing a bit of positivity to proceedings while England have their tails up. And that’s exactly what he does, getting of the mark with a drive down the ground for four. That comes either side of two twos and the lead is over 100.
OVER 5: NZ 12/2 (Nicholls 2 Ravindra 0)
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Having just written that the pitch isn’t doing much Archer gets one to go through the top, it gets huge on Conway who is hit on the back of the helmet. He was trying to leave the ball under his arms but it was a brute of a ball - little he could do with that. There’s a mandatory concussion check, after which Conway is OK to continue, phew. So what’s the pitch going to do now and how will the opener react? Archer bowls outside off stump and Conway leaves it well be - it’s also a no-ball. Conway then gets one on his legs and flicks to leg for two. Then he is out with the extra ball...
WICKET!
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Conway c Root b Archer 5
The opener was roughed up by Archer (see next post) and he edges to first slip. England on top.
FOW - 12/2
Sarah Taylor settling in well
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Lovely to see Sarah Taylor in action again - lovely to see, too, how she has settled in as England’s fielding coach, as the first woman employed by the England men’s Test team in an on-field role.
Followers of women’s cricket will remember Taylor as England’s wicketkeeper/batsman. As their number three she was the one who would use her feet to slow bowlers, in the days when few ran down the pitch, while as a keeper she was one of what I would call the “salmon” type: like Jack Russell or James Foster or Ben Foakes, so lithe and athletic in diving around.
At the interval on day three Taylor had the mundane task of warming up England’s 12th man Matt Fisher and the groundstaff lads who might be needed to field in an emergency, while England’s bowlers warmed up by bowling on a strip at one side of the square, and the head coach Brendon McCullum gave slip-catching practice - as a lefthander, of course, because New Zealand’s top four are lefthanders - to England’s slip fielders.
How normal it was, which is just how it should be. Taylor hit flat catches and high skiers, easy at first then stretching the fielders, often with a smile on her face. None of them threw the ball back softly just because she was a woman. She wore a baseball mitt on her left hand, and caught every ball thrown back to her. Simple as that.
OVER 4: NZ 8/1 (Conway 3 Nicholls 1)
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Atkinson with his second over, and Nicholls is off the mark with a back-foot punch to extra cover for one. Three overs in and, as yet, the pitch hasn’t done anything to scare the Kiwi batsmen.
OVER 3: NZ 5/1 (Conway 1 Nicholls 0)
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Stuart Broad on Sky commentary reveals that when England chased down over 300 to beat New Zealand at Trent Bride four years ago Latham was out for four in the third innings...good omen? Spooky? We’ll find out...meanwhile, Archer sends down his second over that Nicholls and Conway defend assuredly. One from it.
Looking busy
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England’s fielders are running around like mad men between balls, an attempt to gee themselves up for a session that could save a regime.
OVER 2: NZ 5/1 (Conway 1 Nicholls 0)
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Looking at the replay of the wicket that really was a lovely ball - pitched on off (coming round the wicket) then straightening. Little Latham could do with that. Atkinson tries to follow that up. There’s plenty happening - there’s a bit of awkward bounce, the crowd is vocal and, although they’re 88 runs in front, a sense that the tourists are under pressure. Good over, one from it.
OVER 1: NZ 4/1 (Conway 0 Nicholls 0 )
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The heavy roller’s been on, will that quieten this pitch? It’s Archer first up and and his second is a lovely delivery: bounce, carry and movement that beats Latham’s outside edge. The opener then edges the next one, but it’s a thick edge, low all the way to the boundary for four. Archer responds by then beating the inside edge - tasty. A good over is topped off with the lbw - perfect start.
That is a terrific first over from Jofra Archer. Rod Tucker is a brilliant umpire - not sure what took him quite so long there.
WICKET!
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Latham lbw b Archer 4
Perfect start for England as Archer traps the opener plumb. No review it was that clear cut.
FOW 4/1
Bowlers name? Brook...
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As England prepare to take the field, Harry Brook has done some slip catching and is now warming up his medium-pacers.
England in trouble and in need of early wickets
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England never really recovered from losing three for 10 in the morning.
Harry Brook played responsibly but it was another unconverted fifty thanks to a superb delivery from sub Zak Foulkes. A brutish ball did for Jofra Archer which showed there is hope for the England bowlers on this pitch.
Can Stokes drag his team back in the game on a surface will suit his skills? An 84-run deficit feels like a series-winning one for New Zealand. Batting last is going to be very difficult. England were on the wrong end of a toss at exactly the worst possible time.
Tame from England
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That has been a very tame batting display from England today. New Zealand bowled so much better, but they have taken eight for 131 on the day. Not quite as stark as New Zealand’s 10-wicket collapse, but not far off. Anyway, England need to bowl like kings this afternoon if they are to avoid defeat because a deficit of 84 looks a lot given the deterioration of the pitch.
England are in a mighty mess: a deficit of 84 runs is a lot on this pitch, especially with Will O’Rourke to face in the fourth innings.
O’Rourke has all the tools: pace, bounce, a horrible natural length and angle into the bat, stamina and increasing consistency. A huge claim but, if he stays fit, O’Rourke has the potential to become New Zealand’s second greatest fast bowler, after Richard Hadlee.
ENGLAND 354 ALL OUT
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Foulkes gets his third, Tongue flicking to mid-wicket and the hosts are 84 runs behind on first innings.
This has been a great day for New Zealand who have more than got their noses in front. The pitch is ‘doing things’ Brook, Archer and Stokes’s wickets illustrate that.
It will be tea now and the tourists will get their second innings under way after the interval.
OVER 88: ENG 354/9 (Tongue 2 Bashir 0)
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Atkinson batted well for his 23 off 86. But the ball before did for him more than the actual wicket-taking one which was pushed wide by O’Rourke and the England man pushed the bat at ball when he didn’t have to.
The deficit of 84 is A LOT looking at this increasingly misbehaving pitch.
WICKET!
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Atkinson c Mitchell b O’Rourke 23
O’Rourke gets one to spit at Atkinson who shakes his bottom hand before he departs. That appears to unsettle him as he then prods at the next one and succeeds only in edging behind.
FOW - 354/9
OVER 87: ENG 354/8 (Atkinson 23 Tongue 2)
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Smith, despite that wicket, makes way for Foulkes who made the old ball move a lot. What can the sub bowler do with this seven-over old ball? Not much on the evidence of this over.
OVER 86: ENG 352/8 (Atkinson 23 Tongue 1)
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Atkinson chips one to short extra-cover, it’s short of the fielder though. That was more the batsman playing playing across the line rather than and demons in the pitch. It still stands that the new ball hasn’t done that much BAR that ball which did for Archer.
OVER 85: ENG 350/8 (Atkinson 22 Tongue 0)
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The new ball hadn’t done much until that back-of-a-length brut of a ball. Interesting pitch now. It’s talking and England’s are still 88 runs behind.
WICKET!
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Archer c Mitchell b Smith 15
That was unplayable. A brute of a ball from Smith, it’s lifts moves away and Archer actually does well to get a glove on it.
FOW - 350/8
OVER 84: ENG 348/7 (Atkinson 22 Archer 13)
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Another chance for New Zealand and that was the easiest of the lot. Atkinson flicks the ball, loopilly, to short mid-on and he drops is - that was village cricket (sorry, know it’s a cliche, but it was) from Sears. He sees the funny side, but O’Rourke, the bowler, does not. Never drop a dolly off a fast bowler...I make it two catches and a possible run out for the tourists in the past three overs. They’ve had their chances to wrap this inning up and secure a big (in the context of match and deteriorating pitch) lead.
OVER 83: ENG 348/7 (Atkinson 22 Archer 13)
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Smith starts the over with four dots, before Atkinson drives elegantly straight to mid-off. Ravindra (I think) has a shy at the non-striker’s end and only just misses. The replay shows Archer was gone had he hit...This partnership is 27 and that is crucial in the current context...England trail by 90.
OVER 82: ENG 347/7 (Atkinson 21 Archer 13)
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It’s O’Rourke with the second over of the new ball, he’s only bowled four overs today, so he’s fresh. He decides to dish out some short stuff to Archer (brave, but you know the England man will do the same...) and it doesn’t really get up that much. Then the Kiwi pitches one up, Archer drives uppishly and O’Rourke drops a tough (ish) chance...
It’s time for drinks.
OVER 81: ENG 345/7 (Atkinson 21 Archer 11)
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New Zealand take the new ball straight away. Smith takes the new cherry and Archer pushes the second ball for two. One more single comes from the over and England are now 93 runs behind the tourists’ first-innings total.
OVER 80: ENG 342/7 (Atkinson 21 Archer 8)
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There’s a sort of half-hearted appeal from the Kiwis, Sears to Atkinson, it’s not given and for some reason the tourists decide to go upstairs...and after a minute ball tracking confirms it was going way down leg...the next ball Atkinson swipes at one and edges for four to compound Sears’ misery - his insistence that it was lbw mean the tourists have no reviews left.
OVER 79: ENG 338/7 (Atkinson 17 Archer 8)
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Santner has found his length straight away after lunch. He’s hitting the same spot and gets a bit of grip and turn. You suspect that will only increase as the day progresses.
OVER 78: ENG 336/7 (Atkinson 16 Archer 7)
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Sears to Archer and it looks as though there’s a hint of reverse swing, yet more things for the England batsmen to ponder/worry about. The hosts trail by 102. Must get to at least within 45ish, I reckon.
Foulkes with all the tricks
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Zak Foulkes has evolved! He was a nippy inswing bowler, at his best against left-handers. Now he is using wobble seam to make the ball go away from right-handers eg Harry Brook. Has Matt Henry been doing some coaching?
OVER 77: ENG 335/7 (Atkinson 16 Archer 6)
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On comes Santner. We’ve seen what this changing pitch is doing for the seamers, now we’re going to see what gifts it serves up to the spinners. Two singles from Kiwi’s left-armer’s over.
OVER 76: ENG 333/7 (Atkinson 15 Archer 5)
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BREAKING NEWS: England have their first boundary since lunch. It comes courtesy of two things (i) A square cut from Archer, and (ii) Ravindra’s less than impressive fielding on the boundary rope.
A deficit of, say, 80 runs would feel like a lot on a pitch that is now giving indications of cracking up and gaining inconsistent bounce.
Remember: New Zealand are missing four seamers who would be selected ahead of Zachary Foulkes.
OVER 75: ENG 327/7 (Atkinson 14 Archer 0)
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Foulkes continues to pose serious questions of the England batsmen’s technique and temperament, a lead of 60-70, looking at how the pitch is increasingly behaving would be more than useful...
OVER 74: ENG 323/7 (Atkinson 10 Archer 0)
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One from this Sears over with England still trailing by over 100 (115 to be exact) the hope at lunch would have been to make this a one-innings game, that doesn’t look likely right now.
OVER 73: ENG 322/7 (Atkinson 9 Archer 0)
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Foulkes is bowling almost cutters and making the ball talk. Blundell is up to the stumps and it’s hard for the England batsmen out in the middle. That wicket-taking ball really deviated and while Brook may well have wanted to stand out of the crease to negate that, he couldn’t due to Blundell breathing down his neck. So much for pace being the be all and end all, there’s plenty of room for skill.
WICKET!
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Brook b Foulkes 58
This is a peach of a ball, very little Brook could do. The ball held its line and clipped the top of off - this pitch is no longer the batsman’s paradise of Thursday and Friday.
FOW - 322/7
OVER 72: ENG 320/6 (Brook 56 Atkinson 9)
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No fireworks from the batsmen since lunch and, while Atkinson tries to whack Sears rather ungainly through extra cover, that remains the case this over - one from it.
Cracks appearing
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Word is that this pitch is starting to really crack up now. No surprise, of course, given the heat this week and the fact it started so dry.
OVER 71: ENG 319/6 (Brook 55 Atkinson 9)
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O’Rourke is back on the field and there are apparently no injury concerns. He obviously wanted a little bit more time for his lunch to digest - the older you get the more sensible that is...Anyway, Foulkes and Blundell again do well. The former finding the movement that is ever more noticeable, the latter showing great hands standing up to the stumps. Three singles from the over.
OVER 70: ENG 316/6 (Brook 53 Atkinson 8)
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Sears takes the second over after the break and that’s possibly because O’Rourke isn’t on the field, he only bowled four overs this morning so perhaps there’s something wrong with the bowler? Sears had a few problems with his run up and worn turf this morning, during the lunch break those areas were reseeded - it wouldn’t win a prize at the Chelsea Flower Show but let’s hope the ‘precious fast bowlers’ (as Atherton has just described them) find the impromptu horticulture to their liking.
OVER 69: ENG 315/6 (Brook 52 Atkinson 8)
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It’s Foulkes with the first over after tea and he starts with Blundell up to the stumps again and Brook starts with a loose shot that flirts with edging behind. Two balls later and the Kiwi gets one to jump up at Atkinson, this pitch is definitely starting to show there are a few tricks in the surface. More good wicket-to-wicket stuff from Foulkes and I reckon that will be the order of the afternoon. One from the over.
The afternoon session in upon us
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Big session coming up for England and Harry Brook, can they get close to, or even go past New Zealand’s 438?
Brook stands between tourists and probable triumph
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England lost four for 91 as the Test turned New Zealand’s way. Only Harry Brook lies between the Kiwis and a series-winning, first-innings lead.
Brook, so far, has played his most responsible innings for England and could yet swing the match back the hosts’ way. Joe Root’s problem with the nip-backer and the keeper breathing down his neck continued, out leg before to Nathan Smith. Jacob Bethell played a poor shot, nibbling at a ball angled across him he should have left, and Jamie Smith’s miserable match continued with a driven edge to slip.
No heroes performance from returning captain Ben Stokes. It turns out the New Zealand attack is a bit stronger than the Northants team he hit for 95 last week.
Repairs under way
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With the players now off for lunch, the groundstaff are busy repairing that patch in the run-up from the Stuart Broad End.
That is all from me but I will hand you over to the very capable hands of Greg Wilcox, who will take you through for the rest of the day.
England 314/6 for lunch on day three
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Atkinson gets one on his pads off Smith and flicks away through square leg for four.
Five runs come from the over and that brings the morning session to a close. England head into lunch at 314/6 but still plenty of work to do for England after the break. They need Brook to go big and get a century. They still trail by 124 runs.
OVER 67: ENG 309/6 (Brook 50 Atkinson 4)
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This could well be the final over of the session, unless New Zealand can rush through the over.
Foulkes bowled an unplayable ball to Atkinson in his previous over that bounced and moved a lot and follows that up with another unplayable delivery. Brook misses it by a mile but it runs away for four byes.
Brook then takes a quick single up to mid-off to bring up his fifty off 66 balls. That is his 18th Test half century.
Atkinson leaves the final ball and there will be time for one more over.
Harry Brook has played with great responsibility this morning – and still rattled along at a strike rate of 76. England’s fortunes in this match are tied up in their vice-captain’s.
OVER 66: ENG 303/6 (Brook 49 Atkinson 3)
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There are a few balls starting to misbehave, which will be of concern to England considering they are over 130 runs behind. Just two runs come from Smith’s latest over.
OVER 65: ENG 301/6 (Brook 48 Atkinson 2)
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Foulkes strikes Atkinson on the pads but the appeals for LBW are turned down. It looked to be high as Atkinson went for a pull shot. New Zealand think about a review and eventually Latham signals for one. The line is good but it will come down to height. It is going over so New Zealand lose their review. It always looked like a strange review and New Zealand never looked completely convinced themselves. Latham himself signalled it was high yet still went for the review.
A maiden over from Foulkes. Root and Bethell, both having been dismissed early this morning, are on the England balcony doing some work to their bats.
OVER 64: ENG 301/6 (Brook 48 Atkinson 2)
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Nathan Smith returns to the attack, this time from the Stuart Broad End having bowled at the Radcliffe Road End earlier. He immediately finds Brook’s outside edge but it falls short of Mitchell. It gets through Mitchell and Brook is able to come back for two.
Smith has been on it today and has been difficult to face.
A single for Brook through the cover region brings up England’s 300. Still plenty of work to do for England with the bat.
OVER 63: ENG 296/6 (Brook 45 Atkinson 1)
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Brook gets one on his pads and clips through mid-wicket. He wants to get back for two and calls Atkinson through. Atkinson only just makes his ground in time and was perhaps a little too casual.
OVER 62: ENG 293/6 (Brook 42 Atkinson 1)
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Atkinson gets off the mark with a single but there is plenty of drama involved. Sears gets one to lift at Atkinson and the ball loops off the shoulder of the bat. It lands safely in the point region and Atkinson comes through for a single but had to hurry as Conway fired at the non-striker’s end.
I do not think I can stress just how important Brook is here; if he does not score a century, England are facing a 50+ deficit.
OVER 61: ENG 290/6 (Brook 40 Atkinson 0)
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Gus Atkinson is in at number eight. New Zealand have taken four wickets in the first 90 minutes of day three and England are still 148 runs behind with just four wickets remaining.
Wicket
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Stokes b Foulkes 15 That is a big wicket that breaks what threatened to be a strong partnership. It is a good bit of bowling from Foulkes, who gets one to nip back in quite a long way to go through Stokes’ defence and into the stumps. FOW 290/6
You wouldn’t really have deduced from the way he batted today that Ben Stokes had scored a fluent 95 for Durham last week.
OVER 60: ENG 288/5 (Brook 39 Stokes 14)
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There is a patch that is ripping up as Sears runs over it during his run-up from the Stuart Broad end. A member of the groundstaff had been on in between overs to do some repair work and is now summoned back on. This could be a problem as Sears is running right over it.
Sears has bowled another no-ball, this time avoiding the part of the run-up which is ripping up. Now umpire Nitin Menon is having a word with the two captains. Are they thinking about stopping play whilst the groundstaff repair it? We are going to continue. Sears is not looking entirely comfortable in his run-up but is now coming inside the piece of turf that is the problem.
Brook finishes the over with a couple and that is eight runs from that slightly dramatic and unusual over.
OVER 59: ENG 280/5 (Brook 34 Stokes 12)
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That is poor bowling from Foulkes. He bowls too short and down the legside, with the ball sitting up for Brook to pull away to the short boundary for four.
This pair are rotating strike well and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
OVER 58: ENG 272/5 (Brook 28 Stokes 10)
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That is a lovely shot from Stokes that probably deserved four as he connects well with a drive but good fielding from O’Rourke running to his right at mid-off keeps it to one.
Sears is struggling a touch with keeping his front foot behind the line as he has already bowled a few no-balls early in his spell.
OVER 57: ENG 268/5 (Brook 26 Stokes 9)
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There will be a bowling change at both ends with Smith heading back to the dressing room. Zak Foulkes, who was a concussion replacement for Blair Tickner yesterday, will bowl from the Radcliffe Road End. Blundell is up to the stumps off Foulkes.
Time for a drink.
A blow to England’s solar plexus, that first hour. Another wicket before lunch and NZ will be back on top, as they were on day one.
OVER 56: ENG 267/5 (Brook 25 Stokes 9)
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The first bowling change of the morning sees Ben Sears come on at the Stuart Broad End to replace O’Rourke. Not the best of starts from Sears as his first ball is a no-ball.
As he did in the previous over, Stokes goes for the drive but the ball takes the outside half of the bat. It falls just short of Conway, who gets a hand to it but Stokes comes back for a couple. That is a more convincing shot as Stokes flicks off his pads through mid-wicket for another two.
A short leg for Ben Sears to Ben Stokes would be a nice option, given how Stokes likes to flick the ball to the on side. New Zealand are one wicket away from seizing a decisive advantage. England need the sixth wicket pair to add another 100.
OVER 55: ENG 261/5 (Brook 24 Stokes 5)
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Smith, from around the wicket to the left-handed Stokes, sends one down the legside and it is almost impossible for Blundell up to the stumps to prevent the ball from racing away for four byes.
Stokes then goes for the drive but the ball comes off the outside half of the bat. Conway in a fourth slip position just gets his fingertips to it low down but cannot take the grab and the ball runs away for four. That would have been some grab had Conway taken it.
OVER 54: ENG 252/5 (Brook 23 Stokes 1)
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Smith and O’Rourke will not be able to bowl forever so it may be a case of negotiating this period for England and it will get easier. Stokes gets his first run from his ninth ball with a single down to fine leg.
O’Rourke then bangs one in short and it just sits up for Brook, who powerfully pulls through square leg for four to bring up England’s 250.
OVER 53: ENG 246/5 (Brook 18 Stokes 0)
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Brook timed that brilliantly. He gets one on his hips from Smith and flicks through square leg. The ball races away over the wicket ends to the shortest boundary on the ground for four.
Brook then guides one behind point for another boundary, despite O’Rourke’s best diving effort.
OVER 52: ENG 235/5 (Brook 9 Stokes 0)
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Just the one run comes from O’Rourke’s over as Stokes is still yet to get off the mark.
OVER 51: ENG 234/5 (Brook 8 Stokes 0)
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England captain Ben Stokes strides to the crease and, like he did when he bowled, receives a great reception from the Trent Bridge crowd. On so many occasions Stokes has delivered big performances for England and they will need him to do so again.
Ben Stokes greeted like a returning hero by the Trent Bridge crowd. Huge pressure innings for him, given England are still 204 runs behind.
Wicket
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Smith c Mitchell b Smith 1 One Smith gets another as England’s bad morning gets even worse. Smith, with just one run to his name, goes for a cover drive but only succeeds in edging to Mitchell, who takes a good low catch at first slip. The pressure on Smith ramps up. New Zealand have been fantastic this morning but England will wonder how on earth this first half an hour of day three has gone so badly. FOW 234/5
Pressure back on Jamie Smith’s place in the side after a distinctly average performance in this Test. England did briefly consider Ollie Pope in the keeper-batsman role when he was unavailable at the Oval but in the end went for James Rew. I think that is Pope’s best position for England - keeping and batting six. Could he come back? I suspect they will try Jordan Cox next.
OVER 50: ENG 229/4 (Brook 3 Smith 1)
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These are testing times for England, with O’Rourke’s latest over going for just the one run.
England still trail by 209 runs.
OVER 49: ENG 228/4 (Brook 2 Smith 1)
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This feels like an important innings for Smith; not only in the context of this game and series but also in the context of his career. He was one of a number of players who had a rough winter down under and now has something to prove, with his place under some pressure. Had James Rew had a great Test last week at The Oval, the pressure on Smith would be even higher.
OVER 48: ENG 226/4 (Brook 1 Smith 1)
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Jamie Smith joins Brook in the middle with both batsmen yet to get off the mark. Smith gets a single through square leg from his first ball but it nearly leads to a run-out as he thought about coming back for two, which was never on.
A few balls later, O’Rourke fires in a great yorker but Brook gets his bat down just in time.
Brook gets off the mark with a single into the offside. New Zealand have been right on it this morning. Inside the opening quarter of an hour today, the momentum has shifted.
Wicket
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Bethell c Latham b O’Rourke 74 Both set batsmen are gone in the first 13 balls of the day and New Zealand have made the perfect start to day three. Bethell felt at a few outside his off stump during O’Rourke’s first over and this time it leads to an edge, which Latham pouches well at second slip. That was a decent ball from over the wicket but Bethell will be thinking he could have left that. One run and two wickets thus far today. FOW 224/4
Two wickets in 13 balls this morning has silenced Trent Bridge. Let’s see what Jamie Smith has in the locker after two clangers with the gloves. Kiwis on top.
That’s a Joe Root shot from Jacob Bethell, the attempted steer past the slips, the one aspect of the master which should not be copied.
OVER 47: ENG 224/3 (Brook 0 Bethell 74)
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Harry Brook is in at number five and Blundell is still up to the stumps. The New Zealand keeper being up has caused the likes of Root and Brook some issues over these last few Test matches.
This is a great start from Smith, right on the money from his first ball and no freebies for the batsmen. A wicket maiden for Smith.
Wicket
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Root LBW Smith 21 Nathan Smith will start from the Radcliffe Road End and makes the perfect start for New Zealand. Smith beats Root on the inside edge and the ball crashes into Root’s pads. It looked pretty out in real time but Root reviews. In the end, the ball is only just clipping the edge of leg stump but Root has to go. Based on real time, it was fair enough to give that out. FOW 224/3
A lovely bit of bowling from Smith. That’s three LBWs in a row with the keeper up for Root. More of the same incoming for Harry Brook.
OVER 46: ENG 224/2 (Root 21 Bethell 74)
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Will O’Rourke will bowl the first over of the day from the Stuart Broad End. O’Rourke sends the first two deliveries of the day down the legside and the first run comes from a bye as Blundell uncharacteristically cannot gather.
That line down the legside he bowled to the right-handed Root though is then a challenging line for the left-handed Bethell.
Just that one bye from the first over of the morning.
Ready for action
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Jacob Bethell (74) and Joe Root (21) stride out to the middle for England, who begin day three 215 runs behind New Zealand with eight first-innings wickets remaining.
You would imagine New Zealand are going to have to rely on Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke in particular with the ball.
Stuart Broad on Ben Duckett
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“He played fantastically well. When you have had a lean period of time, which he has in Test cricket, not scoring a hundred since Headingley last year, coming back to your home ground, somewhere you have scored hundreds before, you feel like the crowd is with you.
“He settled beautifully. The only thing is, he might well be very disappointed, because he is a player that can go and get 200. He was flowing. He was on fire.”
Simon Doull on Sky Sports
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“You look at today and it is probably a better day for bowling than batting, because the heat has dropped down a bit. But if New Zealand do not have an amazing first two sessions, England could get a lead of 150 and the game could be well and truly beyond New Zealand by then.”
Cooler conditions
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Today the wind has some cool in it, whereas yesterday it was warm. Spectators seem more energetic as a result, all ready to applaud England’s phenomenal fightback to further heights.
The bowlers will be relieved!
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Good morning from Trent Bridge. Conditions have changed just a little. It’s a bit cooler, there’s a gentle breeze, and a thin, high covering of cloud. So maybe a slightly better bowling day. England have a real opportunity today, with a slightly patched-together New Zealand bowling attack on show now.
Stuart Broad on Sky Sports
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“The two wickets at the end of day one really gave the changing room a lift. We talk about the word momentum in cricket; if New Zealand had got through that first day two down, England will have come back the next day feeling like they still had a lot to do.
“Led by Ben Stokes yesterday morning, he showed exactly why he is loved in the changing room, why he is loved by fans. Eight overs, three for 13. He led with energy, led with drive. It was baking hot yesterday and he kept charging in. He is a leader, and he can influence games by his drive, character and skill.”
Starting to turn it around?
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These numbers show the challenges Ben Duckett has had with the bat in Test cricket in the last year so that might explain why he was so emotional when he reached his ton yesterday:
Where does Stokes rank amongst greatest all-rounders?
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Our very own deputy cricket correspondent Tim Wigmore has taken a close look at where Ben Stokes ranks amongst the greatest all-rounders in Test history after becoming just the fourth Test player to score 5,000 runs and take 250 wickets. I won’t spoil where he ranks in the top ten but here is the man who is fifth on that list:
5. Ian Botham, England
Few cricketers have ever matched the force of Botham. He did not even consider his 149 not out at Headingley in 1981, perhaps English cricket’s most celebrated innings of them all, his best knock of the series. Botham reserved that accolade for his 118 at Old Trafford two Tests later. Three times Dennis Lillee bowled bouncers at his nose; each time Botham’s hook cleared fine leg for six. In the Test in between, at Edgbaston, Botham’s fourth-innings spell of five for one in 28 deliveries secured another turnaround victory.
This mesmerising sequence embodied Botham’s capacity to combine his best batting and bowling. Nobody has both scored a half-century and taken a five-wicket haul in more Tests than Botham’s 11. Bombay in 1980 was Botham in excelsis: taking six for 58 and seven for 48 with rapid outswing bowling, either side of slamming 114. In 26 Tests under Mike Brearley’s captaincy, Botham averaged 41.36 with the bat and took 150 wickets at an average of 18.76.
Stokes up to ninth
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When Ben Stokes dismissed Mitchell Santner yesterday, he entered rarefied ground. Only three other men; Jacques Kallis, Kapil Dev and Ian Botham, have scored 5,000 Test runs and taken 250 wickets.
Ben Duckett on his post-Ashes weight loss
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“I’ve certainly been doing a lot of fitness since I got back from the winter and certainly got my rewards today in the heat. It’s been a good block for me, a refresh after a tough winter. I started running. I had a four-week block when I got back from the winter when I didn’t necessarily hit many balls. It’s tough at times when you’re on the road, constantly playing all formats – you don’t get many windows where you can and lose the amount of weight I lost.
“For me now it’s really important I use that hard work I’ve done and maintain it. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed and it’s been great for my mental space and getting away from the game. I went to the gym and I ran a lot, and a bit of weight came off. It’s an area of my career where I haven’t necessarily helped myself and been great at. I mentioned it after the Ashes: I’m not getting any younger, so I want to keep doing this and keep having days like this for as long as I possibly can.”
Kevin Pietersen turns 46
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Where would he rank in your best-ever England batsmen?
Scyld Berry: Jacob Bethell has just overcome two massive hurdles in his Test career
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On a boiling afternoon at Trent Bridge, when the wind itself was warm, it might have been a mirage. Or it might have been a vision of England’s future as a Test team.
Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell made a fine pair as they added 179 against New Zealand at a run a ball. If Emilio Gay does not succeed as a Test opener, Duckett and Bethell might form an opening pair as they make a complementary couple: Duckett, not so wacky as he was before his salutary last winter yet still whacking it, and Bethell, the embodiment of modern orthodoxy.
A vacancy would thereby be created at No 3 in England’s order, and that could fit Jamie Smith, who has been batting in that position for Surrey this season. Smith as a specialist batsman, that is, because he and Rew have been dropping important chances right and left.
A day to pile on the runs?
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The third and final Test at Trent Bridge is finely poised coming into day three after England fought back strongly to have the better of the second day. Just over three sessions ago, late on day one, New Zealand appeared to be in complete and utter control of this match as they were flying along with the bat. At one stage in their first innings, New Zealand were 317-0, with their openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham both hitting centuries as England were toiling in the field.
However, England did a remarkable job of wrestling back momentum, with wickets late on day one backed up by a good performance with the ball yesterday. England restricted New Zealand on a pretty flat wicket to 438, with New Zealand losing their 10 wickets for just 121 runs despite that exceptional first-wicket partnership. Captain Ben Stokes, on his return to the side, led the way for England with the ball, taking four wickets.
Despite England’s reply getting off to the worst possible start with Emilio Gay falling for a duck in just the second over, Ben Duckett led the hosts’ response with the bat emphatically, scoring a century on his home ground as he made 113 off just 99 balls.
“It meant a lot,” Duckett told Sky Sports after day two. “It has been a bit of a journey since last summer. Playing here at my home ground means a lot to me. I was quite emotional. It was a bit of a shame I was not there at the end of the day, but I would have taken that at the start.
“I have felt it has been coming. I did not go to the IPL. I have spent a lot of time here working on my game and have scored runs in the County Championship. It has not gone my way in the first couple of Tests but, with the age I am at now, I try to believe in my game, knowing one is around the corner. I nicked off on eight; on another day I would have been back in the hut, but I knew that when that happened it could have been my day.
“This is obviously an incredibly good pitch to bat on, but people do not talk about having to field for 120 overs and then go straight back out there. I did not have much time to think but, with it being a good pitch, I knew there would be boundary options and I knew how fast you could score here. I did not want to go into my shell, so I stayed natural to my game and put the bowlers under pressure.”
England resume on 223/2, 215 runs behind, and will be hoping to pile on the runs on what is set to be another sunny day in Nottingham. Jacob Bethell will resume on 74 not out, eyeing up his second Test century, and will be joined at the crease by Joe Root, who is on 21. Play on day three from Trent Bridge gets under way at 11am.