Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
More pain for England on the road. I’m even starting to feel a tad sorry for their fans. This is now their 12th Test in a row away from home that they have stunk it up, which includes 10 defeats. Five have come by an innings – three came when scoring 400+ in the first innings, and one here after being bowled out for an embarrassing 58 on a pitch that was far from unplayable. With the bat, they lack proper footwork. With the ball, penetration. It’s time for an overhaul.
Take nothing away from New Zealand, though. Two washed out days meant that winning was always going to be a tight proposition, and they deservedly got there in the end. Trent Boult, Kane Williamson, and Tim Southee, three of New Zealand’s big four I mentioned were key to victory in my preview, all stepped up and put brilliant performances.
Here are my player ratings out of ten from New Zealand’s brilliant win, and England’s embarrassing loss.
New Zealand:
1. Jeet Raval: Had a tough outing, nearly running out Tom Latham on the first ball of New Zealand’s innings, then got dropped, then was dismissed for just three. 1
2. Tom Latham: Batted 112 balls for 26, and struggled to find the gaps. He showed good patience, but the issue was missing out on the loose balls, and as a Test opener, you need to put them away. He’s still a fine player, and contributed to an 88 run-stand with skipper Kane Williamson to suck more life out of England. 5
3. Kane Williamson: All class. Another masterclass with the bat, after sending England in, taking an unbelievable catch and walking back to the change rooms having bowled the opposition out for 58. With bat in hand, there aren’t many other players you’d rather watch when in full flow. He is technically brilliant, playing the ball under his eyes, with a magnificent transfer of weight either front or back. He now has the most centuries by any New Zealand player with 18, going past the great Martin Crowe. 10
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| Humble. Classy. Kane Williamson |
4. Ross Taylor: Arguably in career best form in the ODIs, Rossco was a little scratchy in this Test with the bat. 4
5. Henry Nicholls: Possibly a career defining knock from Henry Nicholls. He displayed excellent patience throughout his innings, striking in the 30s for much of his innings. He then lifted the tempo when his team needed him, finishing 145* off 268 balls. In this innings, his career average lifted from 31 to 38. 10
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| A breakthrough game for Henry Nicholls |
6. BJ Watling: Such a reliable, steady player for New Zealand. With the gloves, he was solid on his return to the Test side after injury, taking four catches in the match, and making a start with the bat. He never got the best opportunity to get going with the bat thanks to the rain, but a good comeback to the Test side nonetheless. 7
7. Colin de Grandhomme: Was key in ensuring England didn’t go close towards gaining an all-important second innings lead, thanks to 24 very economical overs, costing just 40. Also contributed with the bat to keep New Zealand’s momentum going in the first innings. 7
8. Todd Astle: Came into his own on the last day, taking three wickets, including the one to win the game. Despite his wickets, he perhaps didn’t land the ball as well as he would have liked at times, and was helped by England’s inability to score off scoreable balls (cough, cough Jonny Bairstow). Nonetheless, an encouraging performance. 7
9. Tim Southee: Contributed to the carnage in England’s first innings alongside Trent Boult, picking up 4/25. Showed some of his best form, swinging the ball at a full length. Had a very good match. 9
10. Neil Wagner: Spent the first innings warming up, waiting for a bowl, but thanks to England’s inept batting, it never happened. However, he still took some of the game’s most important wickets, dismissing Ben Stokes on the stroke of dinner on day five, which gave New Zealand a huge sigh of relief, in addition to Mark Stoneman on the fourth night. A hugely under-rated bowler. Love Wags. 8
11. Trent Boult: Deservedly Man of the Match. Was back to his best in the first innings, pitching the ball up and challenging both inside and outside edge thanks to beautiful swing and seam bowling. Finished with 9/99. An awful dropped catch in the second innings still takes nothing away from his performance. 10
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| Must read: My passionate view on the Australian team. |
England:
1. The rain: Superb performance by the rain, easily England’s best player. However, despite tumbling down throughout the game, the rain should blame England’s awful batting, which resulted in the team still losing with the best part of two days washed out. Did everything it could to salvage a draw, but fell short. England’s best, for sure. 9
2. Alastair Cook: The doubters will be speaking louder now. His struggle against left-armers continued, dismissed by Trent Boult twice. His first innings dismissal was particularly worrying, mirroring his first dismissal in the recent Ashes defeat. Cook is at his best when he gets his weight forward. At the moment, he is stuck on the crease, with his weight going back. 1
3. Mark Stoneman: Another encouraging start, but another opportunity for a big score wasted. Helped settle things down for England in the second innings with a promising 55. Will be hoping for a big score in the 2nd Test. 5
4. Joe Root: Moved up to three, got bowled for a duck, was then fielding in an instant. 427 runs later, he was out batting and began to show his class, but fell late on day four to almost ruin all hopes of survival. Another fifty not converted to a century, and tried his best to make use of a struggling bowling attack on the field. A tough outing. 5
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| Kane Williamson consoles Joe Root |
5. Dawid Malan: Quiet Test for one of England’s best in the Ashes. Got a start in the second innings without going on. England need to stick with him for the second Test. 3
6. Ben Stokes: Was very late on the ball in the first innings on his Test return, but bounced back with a solid 66 in the second. Like many of his teammates, he was unable to go on, and was the crucial wicket on the stroke of dinner. Encouraging signs, though. 6
7. Jonny Bairstow: Offered an awful caught and bowled in the first innings, and was another player to get in and get out in the second. Was pretty decent behind the stumps. 3
8. Moeen Ali: Is it time England consider dropping Moeen Ali? His form in Tests has been woeful in recent times, and in light of his comments that he fears for the future of the game, one wonders if his heart is really in it. Missed a full toss in the first innings, and looked toothless with the ball. Struggling. 2
9. Chris Woakes: Fair effort with the bat in the second innings, making a half century, but continues to look toothless away from home with the ball in Tests. 3
10. Craig Overton: The only player to show something in the first innings, making 33* to help England avoid both the lowest ever Test score (26), as well as England’s lowest ever score (45). With the ball, he tried hard, but I don’t think he has the ingredients to be successful in these conditions. 5
11. Stuart Broad: Picked up his 400th Test wicket, and bowled well in patches. 3/78 off 34 overs is a good return, but Broad still lacks the edge we see when he is at his best. A fair effort, though. 7
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| Stuart Broad went past 400 Test wickets |
12. James Anderson: Like in the Ashes, Anderson worked hard and maintained a good economy rate. 3/87 off 29 overs is a solid return, but had no runs to play with. 7
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My say: England need an overhaul in Tests. Their batting continues to disappoint badly, and their bowling desperately lacks penetration. It is boring watching them bowl. In their five innings defeats in their last 12 games away from home, England scored 400+ three times in the first innings, which shows their bowling is struggling. I can’t see them bouncing back in the second Test, as New Zealand are good enough to handle whatever this England side can throw at them.
What do you think of these ratings? Would you have anything different? Keen to hear your thoughts.
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