English freak show catches out Kiwis
Everything goes Stokes’s way until Mitchell and Blundell dig in yet again
For once Ben Stokes was happy to see the ball come off the middle of Daryl Mitchell’s bat as it led to one of the most extraordinary dismissals in Test history on another productive day for England.
Mitchell, who has had a prolific series since his late inclusion ahead of the first Test, was the non-striker when Henry Nicholls hit Jack Leach back towards him firmly on the stroke of tea on the first day of this match.
But such is his golden form he could not seem to avoid it, almost driving the ball to a disbelieving Alex Lees at mid-off. He completed a simple catch, while Leach and England’s fielders tried to work out what had happened.
Cue a look of astonishment from Stuart Broad, who put his hand to his mouth in similar style to his famous reaction when Stokes pulled off an incredible catch off his bowling at Trent Bridge seven years ago. Almost everything, it seems, is going England’s way.
Not quite everything though, as, by the end of another absorbing day, Mitchell was still there, even though he should have been given out lbw from Matt Potts.
Mitchell, a century-maker at Lord’s and Trent Bridge, was on just eight when Potts trapped him seemingly plumb only for umpire
Marais Erasmus to say no. Stokes looked certain to review only for Ben Foakes to talk him out of it, suggesting the ball was going down leg side. It was not. It would have hit middle.
That was the only blemish for an England side determined to be just as positive and attacking in the field as they have been with the bat in already winning this series, after Kane Williamson won what seemed an important toss.
From the moment Broad, enjoying a new lease of life under Stokes’ captaincy, took Tom Latham’s edge with the sixth ball of the day, this was another impressive performance from England on a flat pitch in what seemed to be largely perfect batting conditions.
At the centre of it all was Stokes, even though he did not bowl a ball as New Zealand finished on 225 for five. The old firm of Mitchell and Tom Blundell again combined to hold England up with an unbeaten 102 for the sixth wicket, their third century stand of the series. It has taken just two matches for Stokes to be absolutely in command of an England team transformed by the leadership of their captain and new coach Brendon McCullum. Here Stokes backed his bowlers, gave them attacking fields, made perfectly-timed changes to the attack and always looked in command of what was happening on the field. Truly, everything he is touching so far is turning to gold. No one benefited more from the captain’s support yesterday than Leach, who came into this Test with much to prove to keep his place as England’s premier spinner, not least with Moeen Ali and Adil rashid now apparently ‘unretired’ from red-ball cricket. Stokes introduced the left-armer, a cult figure in Leeds after his supporting role with the bat in the 2019 Miracle of Headingley, in the 13th over and was rewarded when he trapped Will Young with his first delivery.
It was just the eighth wicket Leach has taken in the first innings of a Test but by the time he took his ninth, with considerable help from that deflection, he had produced a controlled display laced with attack and not spoiled by two sixes by Mitchell.
In all there were 37 overs of spin from Leach and Joe root on a ground usually associated with first-day swing, Leach even returning with the second new ball. Stokes insisted he was fit to bowl despite the knee problem suffered at Trent Bridge.
He similarly handled debutant Jamie overton well, giving him a defined role with the old ball and introducing him at the right times. Not least when the third ball of his second spell, this time from the Kirkstall Lane End, brought his first Test wicket.
It was appropriate, too, that the younger of the twins from Barnstaple dismissed a man called Devon, taking advantage of Conway’s penchant for inside edging to have him bowled via bat with a ball clocked at 87mph.
older twin Craig emerged on the England balcony to add his applause for his sibling.
overton regularly bowled in the late 80s, peaking at 90, troubled the New Zealand batsmen with his short deliveries and looked the point of difference England so badly need in the absence of the pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer.
only when he bowled a big full toss to Mitchell that flew for four byes did overton err.
Potts was also excellent and economical but the pick of the attack was Broad, who announced on Wednesday night he is expecting his first child with partner Mollie King and rose to the extra responsibility caused by the absence of strike partner Jimmy Anderson, as he often does.
‘He’s big, he’s bad, he’s going to be a dad,’ sang the Barmy Army in a revision of their homage to Broad, and the man who turns 36 today followed his early wicket of Latham by dismissing Williamson with a beautiful piece of bowling.
Broad bowled an inswinger to the New Zealand captain and followed it with one that shaped away and took his edge. It was another failure for a world-class batsmen having a miserable time in Tests. It was 548 Test wickets and counting for Broad.
While Mitchell and Blundell are there, New Zealand could post a formidable total, packed with batting after inexplicably leaving out spinner Ajaz Patel.
But it is Stokes and England who will be happier after day one.