Mitchell makes his mark
Where will Daryl Mitchell’s test career go from here?
That’s something the Black Caps debutant will only ponder at the end of the second test against England in Hamilton, which is favoured to culminate with New Zealand scoring a series victory.
A string of Kiwis have made their test debuts at Hamilton’s Seddon Park and they run the gamut from legends to longforgotten – from Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum and Nathan Astle to Robert Kennedy, Greg Loveridge, Peter Ingram and Reece Young.
Mitchell’s future remains a story to be written but he left his mark on his home turf with a bold and blunt 73 as New Zealand were eventually dismissed for 375. England ended day two of the second and final test in the series 39-2.
In as an injury replacement for Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell and habitual contributor BJ Watling added 124 for the sixth wicket to help their side compile a useful first innings after being inserted the previous day.
More importantly, the pair used up 53.4 overs of time and England energy, knowing a draw would be enough to secure a series triumph.
Mitchell’s selection wasn’t appreciated by the public – here’s one Stuff commentator’s hot-take prior to the 28-year-old being handed his first cap.
‘‘It is a bizarre selection. Surely there are other players out there that could be given a shot, instead of an average ‘team filler’ that hasn’t shown me anything to suggest that he’s a quality NZ international that adds something to the side.’’
Quite.
So there’s a reason why head selector Gavin Larsen has the big say in who plays, and the allrounder repaid that confidence with a 159-ball stay that featured eight fours and a whopping six with his trademark lofted straight drive off part-time leggie Joe Denly.
To England, Watling has been as unwelcome as Christmas carols in a mall in midNovember. As he did in his Bay Oval double ton, Watling had a let-off when the bustling Sam Curran drew an edge that fell just short of the gloves of stand-in keeper Ollie Pope when Watling had just the single run to his name.
So desperate were the tourists to get rid of the belligerent gloveman that they wasted their last umpiring decision review when New Zealand were 202-5 in the 70th over when there were three good reasons Kumar Dharmasena gave it not out lbw.
There was the false dawn of promise yesterday morning for England when overnight centurion Tom Latham added only a majestic boundary to his Friday tally before perishing to a cracking delivery from Stuart Broad.
When Henry Nicholls fell to a bouncer trap soon after, England’s tails were fluffed up but Mitchell and Watling forced them downwards, taking the hosts through the second new ball period and a bouncer barrage.
There are very few similarities the duo share – maybe just a knee-bend bob movement shortly before the ball is bowled. Watling looks like he’d be content to block and nurdle all day, while Mitchell seemingly has the need to wage an innerbattle to convince himself not to thrash the cover off a variety of deliveries.
Watling fell at 55 on the brink of tea, made from 192 balls and including seven fours, when Stuart Broad produced a steepling short one.
England opener Dom Sibley caught a Tim Southee delivery flush on the helmet that required medical assessment and a new lid but he fell soon after lbw to the same bowler.
Matt Henry got rid of Denly soon after but opener Rory Burns was dropped twice in England’s initial reply.