SEDDON PARK — Ben Stokes played down talk of the Ashes in the build-up to this final Test against New Zealand. Yet his England team showed exactly the kind of character they’ll need in Australia next winter to fight back with the ball on a contrasting first day in Hamilton.
Stokes’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss wasn’t looking that clever when the hosts went into lunch on 93 without loss on a pitch showing few demons.
Indeed, on the kind of scorching-hot day his team will encounter regularly in Australia next year, it looked a very good time to bat.
However, England drew upon the reserves of self-belief built up during wins in the opening two Tests to hit back spectacularly in the final two sessions to leave the Black Caps 315 for nine at the close.
Among those who did their case to be included in this team’s next overseas assignment Down Under this time next year no harm were Matt Potts, taking three for 75 in his first appearance of the series, and Gus Atkinson, who became the 11th England bowler to take 50 Test wickets in a single calendar year.
This was far from perfect from England. Indeed, as good as the comeback was from Stokes’ men, they dropped three chances in the field, the first two by Ben Duckett at third slip reprieving Tom Latham on 12 and 53 either side of lunch and Joe Root giving Tom Blundell a life on nought.
They also let New Zealand’s tail get away from them as Mitchell Santner’s 50 in 54 balls – brought up with a six off the final delivery of the day – helped the Black Caps add a combined 72 for their eighth and ninth wickets.
Those errors were counterbalanced by three superb pieces of fielding during an evening session where England took six New Zealand wickets to put themselves in a strong position.
The first from Stokes, taking a brilliant, diving catch at cover to get rid of the dangerous Daryl Mitchell on 14, gave Atkinson his 50th wicket in his 11th Test since his debut in July.
The second from Jacob Bethell was even better, the 21-year-old leaping to take a rising catch above his head in the covers to end Blundell’s stay at the crease on 21. The fact it came from a rank wide ball from Brydon Carse made it even more satisfying, especially as it reduced the hosts to 231 for seven.
Harry Brook, the world’s No 1 ranked batter, rustled up the third to break a 41-run eighth-wicket stand when not only taking a steepling catch at fine leg after Matt Henry hooked a Stokes bouncer but negotiating the boundary rope, too, as he took a smart relay catch.
As frustrating as the drops were – and it must be pointed out none of them were simple chances – it is the three catches that energised this team’s spirit that bode well for Australia.
England have not won a Test there for 13 years, a barren run that takes in 15 matches. They will likely have to be perfect to overcome that grim record and have a fighting chance of regaining the urn against Pat Cummins’ team.
They will also need to keep plugging away and believing in themselves like they did here when times get tough.
The morning at Seddon Park was the first time in the Bazball era England have failed to take a wicket in the first session after choosing to bowl first at the toss, a run that includes 19 Tests.
The opening stand of 105 between Latham and the recalled Will Young was remarkable considering the Kiwis’ best of the series up to this point had been 18.
Heads dropping was understandable, especially when the series is already wrapped up and players’ minds may be drifting towards their flights home next week and Christmas with their families.
To come back so well, though, in these circumstances points to a spirit within this group that will stand them in good stead for the huge Tests to come in the next year against India at home and away to the Aussies.
The wicket that sparked the mayhem in the final session came from Potts dismissing Kane Williamson for the fourth time in five Test innings. The first three had come during Potts’ debut series in the home summer of 2022.
Even though this dismissal was a freak – Williamson seeing the ball roll back onto the stumps after he defended with loose hands – it was a sweet moment for Potts, recalled here for Chris Woakes, especially as the former Kiwi captain was looking in imperious form in reaching 44.
A ninth-wicket partnership of 31 in 15 balls included a cameo from retiring local hero Tim Southee that included three sixes took the home total past 300. But the late burst of runs could not take the shine off England’s day.
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