CHRIS MAKES MOST OF OPPORTUNITY
They took three between them on a truncated day one in Hamilton, which ended with the Kiwis on 173-3.
The returning Chris Woakes got two – and they were big wickets too in Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.
They came as a huge boost to Woakes, who had not expected to play any part in the twomatch series after missing out in Mount Maunganui.
Rather than have to sit and hope for the best when it comes to making the squad in South Africa, he has been given the chance to force the issue.
James Anderson is fit again and on his way to Potchefstroom early to get some bowling done along with MarkWood and Olly Stone, who are two fast men England would love to see on the park sooner rather than later.
It means that the likes of Woakes, Sam Curran and Saqib Mahmood on this trip could all face the possibility of twiddling their thumbs over Christmas.
“I’m obviously really pleased with the two scalps, the two big players for them,” said Woakes.
“Whenever you get an opportunity, it is an opportunity to put your case forward.
“That South Africa tour is looming, there’s guys coming back from injury so I’m obviously grateful to get the opportunity to try to put in a performance out in the middle.
“I was a bit surprised to get the call-up. With it being just a two-match series, when you’re not picked for the first one you probably feel that something has to go drastically wrong or an injury to get a go. Considering I haven’t had much match practice on the tour, I felt in reasonably good rhythm.”
Woakes might have had more success were it not for a couple of reviews that did not go his way, while Stuart Broad has every right to be stuck in a permanent double teapot pose after what looked like a clear-cut lbw was overturned on some flimsy evidence. There was more luck available for Tom Latham,
BEN STOKES is facing an uncertain bowling future after a recurring left knee injury flared up again after just two overs in Hamilton.
The 28-year-old was yanked out of the attack after limping and holding the knee throughout his 12-ball contribution, leaving England with a four-man pace attack to carry the load.
His knee will be assessed over the course of the game by England medics but they are well aware of the issues with who used the extra life gifted by Ben Stokes at second slip to go on to make his 11th Test ton.
Stokes is England’s best fielder and is following in the footsteps of former Durham team-mate Paul Collingwood in the stunning catches department, but he is taking some serious bites out of his credit bank on this tour. At least Joe Root cut relaxed figure at first slip an area where Stokes had surgery in 2016.
The knee locked as a result of a torn cartilage during a Test match against Sri Lanka, but Stokes admitted he had been suffering with the problem for “two to three years”.
A year after the surgery he had problems bowling on it during the Champions Trophy, and now it has worsened again with England in desperate need of all the firepower they can get. “Ben’s overs are a to pouch every chance that came his way, much to Woakes’ delight.
“Catches are important in Test cricket,” said Woakes. “When you get a half-chance it can change a game, but drop catches and they can hurt you. We’ve put a couple down.”
Jofra Archer was the bowler on the receiving end of the drop but he bowled a couple of genuinely hostile spells and looked like he had come through the disappointments on and off the field in the first Test. not just a bonus,” said Chris Woakes. “He’s a world-class bowler when he’s at his best.
“Of course we’ll move his overs, whether he can bowl again or not I don’t know. He’s obviously got a bit of pain in that left knee.
“I don’t know exactly what it is but of course we want a Ben Stokes at full tilt if we can because he’s world class.
“He’s one of the hardest trainers. Hopefully we can get that right. The medical team will be working really hard to do that. There’s a bit of a gap between the end of this Test match and the start of the South Africa one, so hopefully get him as close to 100 per cent as possible.” ❑DAVID WARNER and Marnus Labuschagne both scored centuries as Australia dominated Pakistan on day one of the second Test in Adelaide.
Their unbroken partnership of 294 saw Australia reach 302-1 at stumps with Warner on 166 and Labuschagne on 126.
ON THIS DATE IN SPORTING HISTORY 1956: