6 in 6 for the McCullum and Stokes cricketing revolution
Another statement of intent victory ahead of an Ashes Summer.
Another statement of intent victory ahead of an Ashes Summer.
After a lifetime of watching Test Match cricket it was a rather easy prediction to make in conclusion to yesterday’s wrap-up article. New Zealand needed a sporting miracle to eclipse them all, to bat all day today and the vast majority of tomorrow all whilst accumulating the gargantuan total of 331 runs needed for victory was never a sporting chance, and certainly not with just one established batsman, a batting all-rounder and two debutant bowlers amongst their batting tail of veteran bowlers. So it was an easy prediction to proffer that England would secure their 6th consecutive Test Match victory (and 10th from 11 matches in the McCullum and Stokes revolutionary era) and I predicted a comfortable 250+ run by the Lunch Break.
I was 18 minutes away from an almost perfect prediction:
1.10am MICHAEL BRACEWELL caught Brook bowled Leach (25)
10 minutes and just 16 balls into the first session of the day, all-rounder Bracewell rather jabbed at a delivery from spinner Jack Leach that, in the cricketing vernacular, “stopped in the pitch” forcing him into a limp looping shot that Harry Brook at the short mid-wicket position could’ve caught with his eyes closed. Bracewell hadn’t added a single run to his overnight total of 25 and his established batting partner Daryl Mitchell had added just 5 to a New Zealand total now standing at 68–5.
1.17am SCOTT KUGGELEIJN lbw bowled Anderson (2)
James “Jimmy” Anderson at his record setting, record breaking and Hall of Fame best once more with a beautifully in-swinging delivery that beat the debutant’s defence before rapping on his pads, again in the cricketing vernacular “dead” and “plumb” in front of all 3 stumps. I called it immediately, even at 1.17am on a Saturday night now turned English Sunday morning and although Kuggeleijn referred the on-field decision as out, the DRS replay vindicated all concerned, even an England cricket fan watching from the other side of the world. Anderson’s beauty of a delivery was on course to topple the debutant’s middle stump and the very next ball, the 40 year old master struck again.
1.20am TIM SOUTHEE caught Root bowled Anderson (0)
A “golden duck” for the New Zealand skipper as Anderson’s probing delivery outside off stump was too good for Southee, and he nicked a regulation if low catch to Joe Root at 1st slip. Although the England great would not secure that rarest of Test Match hat-tricks, both he and Jack Leach had reduced their hosts to 71–8 and taken 3 wickets between them in 20 minutes and for the cost of just 8 runs.
1.50am NEIL WAGNER caught Foakes bowled Anderson (9)
Wagner was somewhat peppered during his half an hour stay at the wicket by the same short pitch bowling he subjected the England batsmen to during his expensive stints with the ball in hand. Now with bat in hand, he ably supported the still not out Daryl Mitchell at the other end for 30 minutes before flashing at a wide delivery from Anderson and edging a flying catch to Ben Foakes behind the stumps.
2.42am BLAIR TICKNER bowled Anderson (8)
Whilst established batsman Daryl Mitchell “farmed” the strike and protected the debutant and last Kiwi batsman, in the process clubbing Jack Leach for 2 huge boundary 6’s on his way to a very credible 57 not out, Tickner batted in support for over three quarters of an hour before Anderson made a mess of his stumps and England had their sixth consecutive victory and by a whopping 267 runs.
Stuart Broad didn’t add any wickets to the 4 he magnificently ripped out last evening but his partner in cricketing chaos matched him this morning, with Anderson finishing with the ridiculous figures of 10 overs, 3 Maidens, 4 wickets for just 18 runs conceded.
Harry Brook was named “Man of the Match” for his swashbuckling knocks of 89 and 54 and arguably epitomises the esprit de corps and the attacking verve and vitality of the McCullum and Stokes English revolution. Ben Duckett has secured the opener’s spot next to Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root and captain Stokes make up the opening 6 with Harry Brook and with veteran legends Broad and Anderson going absolutely nowhere and Jack Leach the team’s number one spinner, this leaves just my individual uncertainty as to the long term fitness and ability of Ollie Robinson and the obvious question:
Where does Jonny Bairstow figure in this team?
The answer maybe incredibly unfortunate for Ben Foakes behind the stumps.
Time will tell, but what a conundrum to have for a team on a winning run of 6 consecutive victories and 10 from 11 matches and all ahead of an Ashes summer with our noisy Australian cousins. To paraphrase Terrence Stamp in The Limey “You tell them we’re coming!” for this England team under McCullum and Stokes are coming, and if you don’t jump aboard the revolutionary train it’ll leave you at the station.
Viva la revolucion!
Afterword from captain, Ben Stokes
“I am pretty blessed to be in charge of this bowling group at the moment. But I’ve also got a seriously skilled and very brave batting line up to watch. They’ve got to take a lot of credit for the sort of record I have as a captain.
It’s probably going to end up in a selection nightmare at some point. It’s great to have so many world-class players to choose from. I don’t like to look too far ahead, but we’ll have a good crop of players to choose from in the Ashes”.
Thanks for reading. There’s a wealth of articles on England’s recent tours to Australia, Pakistan and the West Indies within my cricket archives here or alternatively, here are my daily re-caps from this Test Match at Mount Maunganui:
England take charge after Day 1 in Mount Maunganui
12 wickets tumble under the New Zealand lights.medium.com
Blundell century keeps New Zealand hopes alive in Mount Maunganui Test
But England retain a slender lead entering Day 3.medium.com
Broad rips through the Kiwis as the “Bazball” revolution gathers pace
England 5 wickets away from another astonishing win.medium.com