England’s bowlers the happiest

There were three groups of players who had something to gain from the two-day pink-ball practice match at Seddon Park between England and a New Zealand XI this week, but only one of them would have been happy with their efforts.

You won’t find any team scores from the match here, because they are confusing to look at, if not outright barbaric. You should note that England allrounder Ben Stokes didn’t feature, sidelined with a minor back injury.

The New Zealand XI, featuring four members of the Black Caps’ test squad, batted on Wednesday, and England batted on Thursday. Once each side was all out, they simply started again, which meant three Kiwis and (five) Englishmen were seen twice in the same day.

No Black Caps bowlers featured – they’re over in Mount Maunganui, having a camp with their wicketkeeper, BJ Watling – but it was England’s bowlers who probably came away the happiest. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood got rid of all four Black Caps batsmen – Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme – cheaply, then they got Raval cheaply again at the end of the day.

When they face off at Eden Park, in the first test starting next Thursday, that should count for something, even if only in their respective heads (though Wood is unlikely to feature).

It is true that the England bowlers were less impressive later on in the day, as Tom Blundell (retired out for 131) and Kyle Jamieson (nominally a bowler, retired out for 101) carted them around the field, but their earlier efforts will have left them content.

The Black Caps batsmen would have been glad to see England’s batsmen come and go cheaply on Thursday, against a seam attack led by Seth Rance and Jamieson, and also featuring Scott Kuggeleijn and Doug Bracewell, who suffered a hamstring injury after bowling just seven overs.

Liam Livingstone, on tour as the spare batsman, was one of two Englishmen to spend serious time at the crease, and was aggressive as he made a brisk 88 – 14 of which came after his side had lost 10 wickets.

Opener Alastair Cook made 30 in his first dig – out inside edging a drive into his stumps – and 19 in his second – out caught behind, playing at one he could have left – and faced 97 balls, but other than his efforts there was nothing of note.

His partner, Mark Stoneman made one in his first innings, before edging a ball that moved across him from Seth Rance, and he doubled his score in his second innings, before giving a catch just as quickly. Joe Root, James Vince, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, and Moeen Ali made 58 combined in their first innings, though Root and Vince were more solid when they returned under lights.

The New Zealand XI won’t have its Black Caps test squad members for the two red-ball days, where England’s batsmen will be hoping to find some form.