Less than a year after beating India at the same venue to claim the inaugural WTC trophy, New Zealand’s five-wicket loss on Sunday left them seventh in the standings and another blow at Trent Bridge to seal their title. Could prove to be the terminal for defence.
The Black Caps could do with all hands on deck to turn things around but all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme is unlikely to be available for the match starting Friday after he suffered a heel injury while bowling on the third day.
Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell thinks about the first Test against @englandcricket and looks forward to Friday’s second Test… https://t.co/64tIDLChEr
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New Zealand have options to cover de Grandhomme’s fast bowling, but he could miss out on his lower-order batting.
However, the Black Caps’ problems run high.
With the captain, the top four scored only 50 runs at Lord’s Kane WilliamsonThe long-awaited return from a hard elbow injury with scores of two more 15.
Congratulations @root66 https://t.co/64mZKorMgm
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The opening combination of Tom Latham and Will Young has become difficult. In the last three Test matches, no batsman has scored more than 15 runs in an innings.
Despite those shortcomings, New Zealand were at 250 for four on the third day in their hands, losing their last six wickets for just 34 runs and paving the way for a century. Joe Root To guide England to an unexpected victory.
Middle-order batsman Daryl Mitchell (108) and wicket-keeper Tom Blundell (96) put on some positive things for Nottingham in the north of New Zealand with a scintillating 195-run partnership in the third innings.
The selectors are hopeful that Henry Nicholls has recovered from his calf injury and can add Steele to the top-order.
Yet it will take more than a few cameo appearances to turn the series around for a team that has consistently struggled to play as a unit since their impossible WTC win last June.