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When a captain is even turning the timing of his statements into an art form, he clearly isn’t doing anything wrong.
Ben Stokes was at it again on a second day of the final Test as all went well for an England side that already looked certain of their seventh successive win and 11th in just 12 matches since the start of their remarkable Test transformation.
There was indisputable cricket logic behind Stokes’s decision to declare the first day of this series at Mount Maunganui and allow Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad to bowl in New Zealand under the lights.
But it was less clear what England would win when their captain called them out today on the second morning with Joe Root on a majestic touch at 153 and England with power to add to their 435 for eight. As it turned out, it was another masterstroke from Stokes.
He gave England two chances in New Zealand with the new ball on either side of lunch and Anderson ruthlessly exploited both, making the most of the conditions on the ground where he was first paired with Broad, over a thousand wickets and 15 years ago.
England were well and truly on top in Wellington as New Zealand fell to 138-7 on the second day.
There was indisputable cricketing logic behind Stokes’s decision to declare on the first day of this series.
With Anderson taking the first three to fall, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson in the seven overs before the interval and Will Young afterwards, New Zealand fell apart on 21 from three, as did England on the first day. Only the Black Caps didn’t have a young genius in Harry Brook and an old master in Root to rescue them.
When Jack Leach, another selection success for Stokes, took three wickets of his own, helped by Ollie Pope’s sharper reception, the Black Caps slumped to 96 for six, and although they had recovered slightly to 138 for seven by the time they rain shortened a second day in a row, it would be a huge surprise if England were denied now.
This was another outstanding day for England even though Brook perished quickly, 14 short of his first double century and, most frustratingly for him, 24 short of his father David’s highest score for his hometown of Burley in Yorkshire.
It doesn’t matter. Where the child prodigy had dominated on day one, Root has now taken over, accelerating to his 14th score of 150+ in a Test career that has brought him 29 Test centuries with orthodoxy and some balls, both backhand and to the right, thrown. in.
Root, who questioned his role in ‘Bazball’ England after the first Test, was back to his best here and timed his innings to perfection. This is exactly how he needs to play.
Only the contribution of the captain was something of an English disappointment. Stokes was in too much of a hurry again, almost from ball one and reaching the 27th before finding the middle with an ugly shot at Neil Wagner.
It was understandable that Stokes was so intent on setting the tone for the way he wants England to play when he first met Brendon McCullum, but now everyone has gotten the message. He’s too good not to at least give himself a chance to succeed before he swings.
Jack Leach took three wickets in Wellington, helped by Ollie Pope’s sharper catch
It took James Anderson just five balls to dismiss Devon Conway, who got the slightest of edges.
It’s a minor quibble because Stokes’ leadership is proving to be inspired. Truly, he is becoming another Mike Brearley in the sense that he doesn’t have to bat or bowl to have a big influence on the way he plays England.
But it helps when you have someone of the caliber of the newly crowned, at 40, the world’s best bowler in the ICC rankings at your disposal. Especially because of his intelligence.
Anderson quickly realized that it was too cold and windy at Basin Reserve to swing, which he needed to make an impact in that 2008 win here, so he concentrated on seaming to devastating effect.
The most successful closer in World Test history struck with just the fifth ball of the innings as Conway gained such a slim lead that umpire Chris Gaffaney and, to be fair, some of the England fielders missed it. Pope on point and Zak Crawley on slip seemed the most convinced Conway had touched him and when checked by Stokes they were proven right.
Anderson was to follow that with a classic piece of bowling to Williamson, staggering towards him and moving the next ball to provoke a loose shot from the out-of-form former New Zealand captain.
And when he returned refreshed after the interval to produce an absolute beauty to take Young’s lead, Anderson had done it yet again and was moving within sight of 700 Test wickets. Amazing.
When Stokes was asked before this Test if he would consider leaving out his spinning wheel on ground that always suits the seam and on a field as green as the gardens, he simply replied ‘no’. He has absolute faith in Leach and with that comes confidence for the slow left-arm that he can always play his part in this England attack.
James Anderson took key wicket from Kane Williamson as he moves towards 700 Test wickets
Leach didn’t play brilliantly here, but he did well enough, being helped when Pope grabbed Henry Nicholls with a reverse sweep across his chest on short leg and then surprisingly got a one-handed catch at one point. silly when Daryl Mitchell practically threw a defensive punch forward. .
Perhaps there was a portion of good luck for Leach too, on his first wicket Tom Latham was confirmed by TV umpire Aleem Dar on review despite it being unclear whether the ball hit the top of his glove or arm guard. on their way. to the root in the slip.
Broad came on the scene to seize a return opportunity offered by Michael Bracewell, but first Test centurion Tom Blundell is still there and Tim Southee chipped in with a couple of meaty shots for six against Broad. But the only real question at closing was whether England would enforce the follow-on or bat again on the third day; either way, they should win handily.