Kane is able again

By Aiden McLaughlin

For all the talk and permutations regarding how Will Young could keep his place in the starting XI for this first Test against England, one idea was simply never on the table and today was another in the long list of examples why.

Kane Williamson may have missed the historic series victory in India, but when he’s fit, he remains the first name on the Blackcaps team sheet.

As so often, Williamson was the difference today, the glue that kept the New Zealand innings together, after they were asked by Ben Stokes to bat first on a windy, hot day in Christchurch. Tom Latham said that he also would have had a bowl, but was fully aware that if his top order, himself included, could successfully navigate the new ball, there was plenty of potential for runs on this Hagley Oval pitch.

Unfortunately, his opening partner Devon Conway couldn’t play to the required tune, playing forward to a Gus Atkinson delivery in just the second over of the day, with the bowler taking a superb knee-high catch off his own bowling.

Latham showed plenty of composure however, and with Williamson, they put on 58 for the second wicket before the captain edged Brydon Carse to wicketkeeper Ollie Pope during an impressive opening spell, 10 minutes after the first drinks break. His 47 off 54 balls had given the home side the early advantage and Williamson and Rachin Ravindra were able to guide their side to lunch with the scoreboard at 104-2.

In the afternoon session, Wiliamson was able to complete another two fifty-run partnerships, as the Blackcaps started to take control; firstly, he and Ravindra put on 68 before the later misjudged a full delivery from Shoaib Bashir and Zak Crawley took the catch at short midwicket. That brought Daryl Mitchell to the middle. Mitchell contributed 19 to a 69 run partnership before he top edged a Carse delivery soon after tea and was caught by Harry Brook at fine third.

But even at 199-4, with Williamson still there, the home side could still see an opportunity to take control of the Test and push well past 300 by the end of the day. Those hopes were largely dashed when Williamson was dismissed having scored 93 off 197 balls, with the score at 227-5. Attempting to play the cut, there was a little bit of extra bounce from Atkinson and Williamson couldn’t beat the safe hands of Crawley at backward point.

Glenn Phillips hadn’t got off the mark when Stokes spilled him at mid-off soon after Williamson’s dismissal, and it was a drop that would prove important for both sides.

As the sun started to hide behind the clouds an hour into the evening session, Tom Blundell was dismissed for 17, caught by Atkinson at point off the hard working Bashir. That brought debutant Nathan Smith out and with Glenn Phillips. Smith couldn’t stay around for long however, Bashir again successful, with Root taking the catch on the leg side, with Smith having made just three.

Shortly afterwards, there was another scare for home supporters as Phillips was given out, caught behind off Stokes, but Phillips immediately asked for a review which showed he hadn’t made contact. The same combination were convinced Phillips had nicked another one when the batsman was on 35, but the review again backed Phillips as England lost their second review.

The lights came on at 5.45pm, but at that stage only 74 overs had been bowled, meaning the almost compulsory extra 30 minutes kicked in at 6pm.

Henry was next to go, taking on Bashir, only to find Duckett at long-on, having made 18 off 32 balls.  This brought Southee to the middle, with just one over remaining until the second new ball was taken. When it was, the score stood at 312-8, with Phillips having reached 40 off 52 balls. Phillips and Southee’s ninth wicket partnership added 21 runs as they reached 319-8 off 83 overs by the time 6.30pm came along. 350 will be the first aim on day two. Any more will be a bonus and then it’s time for the bowlers to get stuck in.

 

#Statchat

• Kane Williamson passed 1,000 Test runs against England today, finishing with 1,088 when dismissed for 93
• It was the first time Williamson had been dismissed in the 90’s (in Tests) since 2018
• It was Williamson’s fifth half century in 30 Test innings against England, to go alongside four centuries
• Williamson now averages 38.85 in Tests against England. The only two countries against whom he has a lesser average are India (37.86) and Australia (36.95)
• Bashir, the only specialist spinner picked across the two sides, finished today with his side’s best figures, 4-69
• There were 35 extras in New Zealand’s total today of 319
• It was approximately the 3,000th day of Test cricket where 90 overs failed to be bowled in a day*

*A complete guess, but jeez, it feels like it. Perhaps if Stokes and McCullum love Test cricket as much as they say, they should try and do something about that.

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