N Rowland Sports Writer

Day 1 report New Zealand vs England 1st test

After the staggering win in Pakistan, England jetted off to the Southern Hemisphere for a two-match test series against familiar opponents New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui for a day-night game.  

Ben Duckett commenced his innings and was sprightly and fluent. He scored 84 off 68 as he continued his excellent reintroduction into the team.

Unfortunately for England, his opening partner, Zak Crawley failed to match Duckett as he was quickly dismissed by Tim Southee for 4. His dismissal was unsurprising. He had already been dropped, bowled off a no-ball and looked generally very scratchy.

The more of these innings there are, the odder the decision of the England hierarchy to stick with Crawley appears. His fluent, high-scoring innings are all too rare for a test opener. In contrast, Duckett can be proud of his efforts as he gave England a positive first session and him a good start to the tour.

An anticlimactic ending to his innings saw Duckett drive Blair Tickner straight to Michael Bracewell at cover and trudge off without the century he had looked destined to achieve before lunch on day one.

This brought together the aesthetically pleasing pair of Ollie Pope and Joe Root at the crease. However, unlike at Trent Bridge against the same opponent, it was not a lengthy partnership and Root’s dismissal was particularly ugly.

He opted for the reverse scoop but instead of the ball flying for four as had a previous effort at the same shot, it flew into the hands of Daryl Mitchell and prompted a debate about whether the ‘Bazball’ approach is suited to Joe Root.

The real highlight arrived in the form of Harry Brook, England’s latest Yorkshire-born prodigy. He played beautifully, as he had earlier in the winter in Pakistan and was unlucky to miss out on three figures. However, his 89 off 81 was invaluable to England and set the platform for their eventual score of 325-9 declared.

Brook’s lofted six down the ground off Tim Southee was a particularly delectable part of the innings. For all the debates about the impact of white-ball tournaments, Harry Brook is certainly someone that has benefitted, and he is a joy to watch.

After the unfortunate end to his fun, England’s aggression ended rather quickly as their maverick captain, Ben Stokes declared on 325-9 and gave his bowlers a period under the lights of the Bay Oval.

And that they did. Ollie Robinson had Tom Latham caught at short leg by Ollie Pope, Jimmy Anderson trapped Kane Williamson leg-before-wicket and had Henry Nicholls caught at slip by Zak Crawley, leaving New Zealand at 31-3.

This was a dreamy end to an entertaining day, when Stokes and McCullum’s England once again made all the running and left their opponents startled. New Zealand had England 154-4 at one stage but failed to capitalize and then were punished by the newest star.

The loss of the three NZ wickets at the end was vindication for Stokes’s declaration – the second earliest in the first innings of a test match after Intikhab Alam’s at Lord’s in 1974.

Another record broken; another convention changed. It’s bold, it’s brave and it’s working. And in Harry Brook, England have a real gem perfectly suited to Bazball.