New era produces same old story as wickets tumble
ENGLAND began the Ben Stokes era with a chaotic day of cricket in London – with 17 wickets tumbling on a frantic start to their first Test against New Zealand.
Led for the first time by the captain and coach pairing of Stokes and Brendon McCullum, with new director of cricket Rob Key also watching on, England looked to be putting a gloomy winter behind them with a rousing bowling display on day one at the home of cricket.
They rattled through the Black Caps batting card, skittling them for 132 in just 40 overs as the bowling honours were shared by the 39-yearold great James Anderson and 23-year-old debutant Matthew Potts, who took four wickets apiece.
A day of outright dominance appeared to be in the offing when Alex Lees and Zak Crawley pieced together an opening partnership worth 59, but things disappeared over the cliff edge as they lost seven for 41 after tea. After two sessions setting up a formidable position, they limped to the closing line at 116 for seven.
Stokes had publicly declared his side were working from “a blank canvas” following a dismal sequence of one victory in 17 attempts, but the flimsiness of the batting painted a familiar picture.
And there was another layer to England’s disappointment too, with the luckless Somerset spinner Jack Leach suffering concussion after an awkward fall in the field.
He was replaced by leg-spinner Matt Parkinson, who became England’s first-ever Test substitute after making the late dash from
Manchester and finds himself pitched into a contest that sits on a knife-edge.
Durham debutant Potts said after his first day in Test cricket: “It was a great debut, nice to get some wickets early on as well to settle the nerves.
“Credit to Jimmy and Broady, they bowled a fantastic line and length. We bowled aggressively, pitched it up and looked to take wickets, which had been one of our goals going into this game. It was really good.”
On making his first appearance for his country, Potts added: “It’s a massive thing. A lot of my success is down to my family. It’s testament to their hard work as well as mine.
“It was a great achievement. I am really over the moon with it.
“I had a little bit of a tear in my eye this morning and I can imagine my mum and dad will have done as well.”