Ben Sutherland, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Well it looks like the current England v New Zealand test series is going to be a goodun. Not only do we have an ex NZ captain in the form of Brendan McCullum coaching England, we also see them helmed by new skipper Ben “Bluey” Stokes. Will the weight of captaincy lift over the eternally youthful (as in he still looks like he’s 15) Joe Root? Lets find out…
After a brilliant start by England with the ball, including a wonderful effort from debutant Matthew Potts, it looked like Ben Stokes reign as new English captain was about to be minted in blood (too much?) with Kane Williamson’s boys all out for 132. Of course we’re forgetting that England had to bat. Like an 18 year old at a leavers party they swaggered out with confidence before collapsing in a drunken heap at the feet of the only one at the party they wanted to impress – New Zealand. NZ went on to put on a second innings score that whilst modest by most standards seemed out of reach of their hapless opposition. Game on? Well almost.
Once again much of the English batting failed to materialise in any meaningful way with the top 3 scoring less than 40 runs between them. After the fall of Pope you’d be lying if you weren’t waiting for another crumpling of the middle and lower order, but fresh from lifting the lead cloak of leadership off his back, walks in Joe Root. “Oh you need a century boys? You stay where you are… I’ll get that for you”. Like a steel tent pole holding up a tattered canvas, Root took command (partially aided by Ben Stokes) and drove the team to victory. I imagine he gave Stokes a sly wink and a whispered “You’re welcome” as he passed him in the dressing room.
Looking forward to the next test on the 10th June!
