England v New Zealand: third Test, day one – as it happened

Reaction and remark from day one

Ali Martin’s day one report

Otherwise, that, I’m afraid, is us. Thanks all on your firm and feedback – examine again right here or on the location for our report and accoutrements, then be a part of us once more tomorrow at 10am BST! Love.

Some different information strains from the cricket world in the present day:

This has been such a enjoyable sequence, and that’s one other glorious day of it. England’s assault was very good within the first two periods, then New Zealand got here again properly within the night – not as a result of the bowling was poor, however as a result of Mitchell and Blundell are high-quality batters in nick. Tomorrow needs to be quite a lot of enjoyable.

ninetieth over: New Zealand 225-5 (Mitchell 78 Blundell 45) Stokes offers Leach a brief leg and a leg slip, then Mitchell turns to midwicket for the one which raises the century partnership – the third of the sequence for these. In goes a foolish mid off, then Blundell gloves one that bounces simply huge of slip, giving delicate arms a brand new, and possibly sorer that means. A bunt to cowl then provides two to the whole, and a ahead defensive later it’s stumps. Very properly batted mates.

89th over: New Zealand 222-5 (Mitchell 77, Blundell 43) A ultimate roll of the cube from Stokes: Potts returns on the Kirkstall Lane, for his twentieth over. Again, although, Mitchell strains him up properly … however as I sort that, he stomps right down to drive and half-bats in direction of brief midwicket, just for the ball to drop in entrance of Pope! A single follows, taking the partnership to 99, and Leach will now see us to stumps.

88th over: New Zealand 221-5 (Mitchell 76, Blundell 43) Leach returns having acquired a wicket with the ball nonetheless arduous this morning; I’m wondering if Stokes knacked himself in observe yesterday. Either manner, it’s one other maiden, the insertion of Bairstow at foolish level failing to coax the error, and I’m wondering when the final time was {that a} spinner bowled 30 overs on day one at Headingley. So far, Leach has 29.

87th over: New Zealand 221-5 (Mitchell 76, Blundell 43) Overton is cramping as Broad runs in – he’ll sleep like a metaphorical child tonight, having, presumably, slept like an actual child final evening – barely, earlier than waking up crying. mitchell takes one to sq. leg, then Blundell does likewise to high-quality earlier than easing two away by level. These two are so good collectively, and have – to this point – navigated a doubtlessly nasty interval with talent and composure.

86th over: New Zealand 217-5 (Mitchell 73, Blundell 42) Potts triers a fuller size to Mitchell, and Nasser approves. But there’s not a lot happening right here and a single to leg is all of the over has to say for itself.

eighty fifth over: New Zealand 216-5 (Mitchell 72, Blundell 42) Mitchell punches to mid off and takes a single to Stokes, who shies and misses – however even when he’d hit, his man was hame. It’s the one run from the over, and this has been a wonderful fightback from these two; no matter occurs tomorrow, their workforce needs to be within the recreation.

84th over: New Zealand 215-5 (Mitchell 71, Blundell 42) I do know why Stokes saved his quicks for the brand new ball, however it means they’re bowling at two set batters; particularly odd given Athers advised us just some minutes in the past that the captain was bowling flat-out yesterday in coaching. Perhaps we’ll see him for one or two earlier than the shut, however within the meantime a usually wholehearted over from Potts yields a maiden – however one which causes Blundell few alarms.

83rd over: New Zealand 215-5 (Mitchell 71, Blundell 42) Broad replaces Overton and his loosener hits Mitchell on the kneeroll; there’s a an attraction however no assessment when it’s rejected. I feel he was on eight when England opted to not ship Potts’ refused inquiry upstairs, however he rubs that in additional by taking two to mid on, and two singles observe.

82nd over: New Zealand 211-5 (Mitchell 68, Blundell 41) It’s Potts from the opposite finish – Overton is at Broad’s – and Blundell sees out 5 dots comfortably sufficient, refusing a single with Mitchell midway down the monitor. Good job too, as a result of the ultimate ball has him up on his tippytoes to information 4 by backward level; what a pairing that is.

“Your recent correspondence on childhood cricket rules (over 71) reminded me of the extensive list of local laws that my brothers and I played to,” emails George Browne. “We grew up on a farm, where the cricket area was in a sort of courtyard formed by barns/stables on the leg side and straight, while the off-side of the courtyard was the farmhouse itself. Among the rules were:

– WFT (Window Full Toss) – any ball leaving the bat and making contact with a window without previously striking another surface (ground or wall) was Out. Given that the kitchen window was about 10 yards form the bat at around short extra, with another at point, it really taught you to keep your shots down when driving or cutting. There were also windows at mid-on, off, midwicket and square leg.
– RFT (Roof Full Toss) – hitting the ball onto a roof was Out
-OTR (Over the roof) – striking a ball over any of the roofs square of the wicket was out, unless it was a straight hit over the Big Barn roof, in which case you were deemed to have hit a six, but had to go and fetch the ball.

The stumps were chalked on a wall and there was an area of wall that, should a nicked ball hit it, was deemed ‘automatic keeper and first slip’. The pitch was 16 yards long, the bowlers’ run up about 5, and we used taped tennis balls. With two seam-bowling brothers hooping it about, I learned that leaving the ball was key to batting for more than about three deliveries!”

Autowicky! I’d forgotten about that, what an amazing legislation.

81st over: New Zealand 207-5 (Mitchell 68, Blundell 37) Overton begins properly, stuffed with size, then strays down leg earlier than a waist-high full toss utterly eludes Mitchell’s gaze, practically pings Foakes, and hustles away for 4 byes.

“Regarding Matt Dony (59th over), verbally distracting an opponent is a yellow and indirect free kick to the other team!” chides Matthew Stephenson.

Only if you happen to get caught, although I need to additionally say that Matt’s e-mail got here with the topic “ungentlemanly conduct”. How on earth is that also a factor?

eightieth over: New Zealand 203-5 (Mitchell 68, Blundell 37) Leach rattles by a seventh maiden, ending a marathon spell, and England take the brand new ball; curiously and, I’d say, cleverly, Stokes permits Overton to remain on and take it.

“Sound advice on crocodile wrestling,” says John Starbuck, “to which one might add: Climb a tree and call for help. This won’t however work against a Komodo dragon or indeed a python or big cat. There must be specialist trainers in self-defence against various creatures (plus, of course, people armed with fresh fruit).”

Climbing a tree is just partially helpful – I imagine that if you happen to can’t get assist, the croc will wait till you’re too drained to remain up there. Tangentially, a mate of my brother-in-law retains snakes that wander about his yard. He stored discovering one of them stretched out subsequent to him on the mattress so took it to the vet, the place he was suggested that he would possibly get rid, given it was measuring him up for potential consumption.

79th over: New Zealand 203-5 (Mitchell 68, Blundell 37) Mitchell eases a brace to third man, geese a bouncer, and top-edges a bouncer on the pull; the ball sails fie of high-quality leg for 4.

78th over: New Zealand 197-5 (Mitchell 62, Blundell 37) Leach is in for what is going to certainly be his penultimate over of a surprisingly bus day. His first ball yields a single to cowl, for Mitchell, after which 5 dots. The partnership is now 76.

77th over: New Zealand 196-5 (Mitchell 61, Blundell 37) Mitchell faucets Overton to leg for one.

REVIEW! NOT OUT!

77th over: New Zealand 195-5 (Mitchell 61, Blundell 36) I mentioned earlier that Overton missed his calling as a crocodile wrestler however forgot to say that, ought to one ever discover onself in a wrestling match with a crocodile, when it tries to roll one, don’t underneath any circumstances try to roll the opposite manner, for this may lead to damaged bones. Go with the roll, then hope Overton – or Peter Willey – is within the neighborhood. If not, equally, don’t try to maintain its mouth open for this is not going to be doable, however do try to maintain it shut, and may there be a chase, run zig zag. Anyway, two singles, we study that DRS is again, then Mitchell misses a leg-side look and there’s an attraction for lbw! It’s rejected, and England assessment!

76th over: New Zealand 193-5 (Mitchell 59, Blundell 36) New Zealand will as cognisant as England that they new rambutan is imminent, and when Leach drops brief, Blundell zetzes him by cowl for 4. His ultimate ball, although, is extra testing and Blundell tries to look it across the nook; Foakes takes it properly down leg aspect and there’s a loud shout, however when the umpire says no, no chance of DRS to examine ought to England have wished to. I don’t assume there was bat concerned, however.

seventy fifth over: New Zealand 189-5 (Mitchell 59, Blundell 32) Overton begins with an inswinger stuffed with size; Mitchell edges into his pads. Two singles observe, Overton diving to save lots of runs when his fifth supply is hammered again down the bottom by Mitchell.

“Perhaps tests should be held in sunny north-east Scotland,” emails Mike Rodgers, “it’s 25 degrees and sunny here yet again. Our local club, MCC (Methlick Cricket Club) would, I’m sure, allow its ground (Laird’s) to be used.”

We go once more…

“Not sure if you listen to Bob Mortimer and Andy Dawson’s surreal, football-adjacent podcast, Athletico Mince,” says Simon Harding, “in which Steve McLaren’s hair island is an oft mentioned topic.”

It’s a Jim Robinson/Alan Dale and that’s that.

The rain has stopped and play shall resume at 5.35pm BST

“Funny you mention your powers of Neighbours recall,” says Darrien Bold, “as driving down a winding Cornwall road earlier my wife pointed out a bloke who looked like Lou Carpenter and I was straight in there with ‘Tom Oliver?’”

Oh properly performed – although on this case, I’d most likely have gone with “Ian Branfoot”.

The essential covers is on the sq., however in any other case it’s simply tarpaulin on its instant neighbours. It’s nonetheless mizzling, however hopefully we’ll get extra cricket presently.

Talking of Jim Robinson, what number of cleaning soap characters have a haircut named after them? What individuals now name a “hair island” is, not less than amongst individuals I do know, referred to as a “Jim Robinson”.

“Yes, it was the Bungle Bungles,” returns James Debens. “She used to go with Bob Dylan (pictured here, right) and they lived off witchetty grubs and painted portraits of one another. Here’s Helen’s oil on canvas of Uncle Bobby.”

I bear in mind this episode, Mrs Mangel as a Cluedo character – genius.

Rain stopped play

74th over: New Zealand 187-5 (Mitchell 58, Blundell 31) England are simply ready for the brand new blob now, and Blundell performs out a maiden from Leach, then the gamers go off for rain.

73rd over: New Zealand 187-5 (Mitchell 58, Blundell 31) Mitchell cracks Overton’s first ball arduous to the person at midwicket, as we study that DRS remains to be down – the little minx and so on and so on. Three additional dots observe, Mitchell making respectable reference to he third however choosing out the fielder. No matter, he twizzles the following ball to high-quality leg for 4 then wears the one after on the pad; there’s a shout, however it was above the kneeroll.

73rd over: New Zealand 183-5 (Mitchell 54, Blundell 31) Overton returns, however earlier than he can bowl a ball, the umpires name for drinks as a result of DRS is down.

72nd over: New Zealand 183-5 (Mitchell 54, Blundell 31) Mitchell turns Leach to huge lengthy on and so they amble a single, the one run from the over.

“Didn’t Helen Daniels off Neighbours used to go and paint in the Bongo Bongos?” wonders James Debens. “Is that a euphemism then? … And is bongo bongo is the old bunga bunga? I remember Frank D’Arcy was this Pan-like figure enticing elderly ladies to the depths of the bush.”

Helen went to the Bungle Bungles, I imagine. I can bear in mind Neighbours episodes and actors from 35 years in the past, not a clue what I had for tea final evening.

71st over: New Zealand 182-5 (Mitchell 53, Blundell 31) Blundell defends the ultimate ball of the over.

REVIEW! NOT OUT!

WICKET! Blundell c Foakes b Root 31 (New Zealand 182-5)

71st over: New Zealand 182-5 (Mitchell 53, Blundell 31) “Oh no!” says Root as sends one outdoors off, the sphere set for straight bowling, and Blundell clatters him for 4 by cowl.

“They were always grub-hunters in my day,” studies Tom Levesley on daisy cutters. “Which leads me down a path of childhood cricket rules – did anyone else do peg leg to solve an argument about lbw or caught behind? You face the next ball holding the bat upside down and using the handle to play the ball. Survive that and you’re not out. Beats the review system any day.”

Yup and agree, although our guidelines had been hit it you’ve acquired to run one, miss it you’ve acquired to run two.

seventieth over: New Zealand 178-5 (Mitchell 53, Blundell 27) Mitchell bangs one to cowl, then skips down and takes it on the pad. There’s an enormous attraction, a protracted chinwag, and no assessment, earlier than Overton barrels after a drive to cowl and slides to show 4 into three. So Mitchell compensates by blocking, then coming down and, figuring out there’s a protracted on in place to guard in opposition to his favorite shot, he will get outdoors the ball to tickle Leach for six over lengthy off as an alternative, elevating his fifty within the course of. He’s batted superbly this sequence.