How can two people of the same nation influence a trajectory that all but goes south for their team when all hope is to ascend forward?
Confused?
Well, the men in question who serve as two key components to the title of this article are the Kiwis, Bendon McCullum and Ben Stokes who in their capacity as the opposition coach and captain ended
their home country’s chances to ascend to a second World Test Championship Final.
Yes, Bazball paid dividends and may I say in an encouraging capacity in the recently concluded first Test between New Zealand and England amid the scenic landscape of the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, where the latter were rather instrumental in annihilating the former. The English thrashed the Kiwis by a whopping eight wickets as Brydon Carse, Harry Brook and captain Ben Stokes all came to the party dashing all hopes for the hosts to consider a possibility of ascending to the WTC final after making a strong case with the series win over India.
New Zealand with the defeat, succumbed to number four on the World Test Championship table, losing points in the bargain and victories in the remaining two tests against the English would see them only reach 57.14 percentage points which perhaps won’t be enough to contest the final.
So as the Blackcaps ponder over this crucial loss, let’s look at how this Test panned out stoking the
English fire:
Young guns in Harry Brook and Brydon Carse lead the way for the English When one talks about leading young batters in the international game, one name that immediately springs to mind is Harry Brook who perhaps has been flying the Union Jack high irrespective of the format.
Just look at his numbers and one will have their answer.
A strike rate of 106 in ODIs with an average just a shade under 40, a strike rate of almost 150 in T20Is
and the cherry, his five-day statistics with an average of 60 and a strike rate of 88 which further received a healthy dose of 177 more runs, an innings that perhaps changed the course of this Test in England’s favour.
He was also ably complemented by another young talent in Ollie Pope whose 77 along with captain Stokes, piling his own 80 odd were equally crucial to England surmounting a massive 499 in the first
innings.
A lead of 151 over New Zealand’s 348 which truth be told is a gold mine in the five-day format. New Zealand perhaps could never recover from this blow as they wilted for 254 in their second innings courtesy some devastating pace bowling from another upcoming talent in English cricket, Brydon Carse who surmounted his career best figures of 6 for 42 in the second innings taking his overall tally to 10 cherries for the game. Truly a remarkable feat as England ascended comfortably to conquer the target of 104 with just two wickets down.
A comprehensive victory if you were to ask.
Pride at stake for the Kiwis as the series is still up for grabs
With the hopes of contesting the WTC final all but lost for the Kiwis, there is still a series that could
be potentially conquered for Tom Latham and his men. England have never beaten New Zealand at home since 2008 and this itself should be motivation galore for the Blackcaps to not squander this cherished home record.
Perhaps an added incentive could also be Tim Southee, one of the talismanic Kiwis to ever feature in the national team as a fast bowler. His coming to the party in the next two-matches as he bids farewell to the five-day format post this spectacle.
One would undoubtedly hope this does happen and the likes of Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra and others complement Southee to soar at Wellington and Hamilton, the venues for the remaining two Tests.
So, with plenty of cricket still to be played, the enthusiastic fan would undoubtedly hope this thrilling
series continues to captivate, further solidifying Test Cricket as the ultimate form of this beautiful game.
