Tom Latham and Luke Ronchi both scored 80s as New Zealand recovered from 2 for 2 and 144 for 5 after being inserted at Headingley
The Report by Alan Gardner29-May-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:41
New Zealand live and die by the sword
Before the start of the second Test, Brendon McCullum wondered whether England were comfortable playing aggressive cricket or if a “conservative brand” was “more authentic” to them. McCullum also suggested Alastair Cook’s side may have stumbled upon their performance at Lord’s but, if so, they kept going headlong through the first day of the second Investec Test at Headingley. New Zealand, with their two-year undefeated record on the line, were in no mood to take a backward step either.Following on from a rollicking Test at Lord’s, the teams tore into each once again, even though the Yorkshire weather appeared to shrug its shoulders at the new mood of optimism pervading English cricket. New Zealand, too, were disinclined to believe the hype. Only 65 overs were possible, as rain and a wet outfield put paid to the morning session, but the tourists still managed to score at more than 4.5 runs an over after being inserted.If this Test is to be a battle of the brands, New Zealand edged the first day, despite James Anderson taking two wickets in his second over to become the first Englishman – and 12th bowler overall – to pass 400 in Tests. Tom Latham’s gutsy 84 dragged New Zealand up from 2 for 2 and 144 for 5 and his century stand with the 34-year-old debutant Luke Ronchi threatened to take them off into a watery Leeds sunset. Both fell within three balls from Stuart Broad, as England throttled things back a touch during an extended evening session.Latham began the New Zealand counterattack with a sprightly half-century, reached from 72 balls, before steeling himself for a more substantial stay at the crease; his next 34 runs took 108 deliveries. His innings involved some luck, as he was dropped twice in an over from Moeen Ali, but he struck several crisp cuts early on and was strong off his pads. He was also a DRS magnet, once using a review to overturn a caught behind decision off Broad and twice being spared lbw decisions against Moeen.Ronchi could have fallen first ball, fending Mark Wood over the slips for four, but tucked in whenever given the opportunity – and sometimes when he wasn’t. Three times Moeen was put into the stands and Ronchi was on course to break Shikhar Dhawan’s record for the fastest debut hundred when he pulled straight to fine leg. His fifty, reached with a six off his 37th ball, was the second-fastest by a Test debutant and he had accelerated past his partner when both fell in quick succession.New Zealand recovered admirably after Anderson took his 400th and 401st Test wickets within three balls of each other to give England a wonderful start. Latham put on 66 in 12.2 overs with Ross Taylor, who fell lbw to Broad not offering a shot, and then 55 in 10.1 overs with McCullum. New Zealand’s captain muscled 41 off 28 deliveries before tea, which included slapping his first ball for six, only to then miscue another drive to mid-off immediately after the resumption. BJ Watling was then removed by a snorter from Wood that straightened to shiver the top of off stump before Latham and Ronchi forced another shift in momentum.England’s bowlers found plenty of assistance throughout the day but were regularly punished as they went in pursuit of wickets. There was also some sumptuous strokeplay, particularly from Latham, McCullum and Ronchi, though England were guilty of not converting their opportunities. A frantic period during the evening saw Latham dropped at square leg sweeping – a simple chance to Wood – and then missed at leg slip by Gary Ballance next ball; in the following over, Broad found Latham’s outside edge only for Cook to grass it as he dived to his left.Earlier on, play was interrupted by rain showers sweeping in from across the Pennines and it was a Lancashire wind that initially boded ill for New Zealand, as Anderson blew through Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, both without scoring. The players were forced from the field even as Anderson was celebrating becoming the 12th bowler to the 400 mark, Guptill having been dismissed in classic fashion as Ian Bell held a thick edge above his head a second slip.They were back on a few minutes later and Williamson was duped by an even more subtle outswinger before further rain caused another, more lengthy delay. Anderson’s record at Headingley before this game read 15 Test wickets at 43.13 and he had never before taken more than three wickets in an innings; he now had two in his first two overs.The toss had been delayed until 1pm and England were encouraged to bowl when a greenish pitch emerged from under the covers. There was a suggestion that the surface was already quite dry and a run from the mower left it looking a decent surface to bat on but Headingley is as much about the overhead as underfoot and the scudding clouds provided a helpful backdrop for the glowering Anderson. When the sun shone in the evening, New Zealand made hay.It is twelve years since Anderson burst on to the scene, with blonde highlights in his hair and five wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings at Lord’s. Now, with the sides of his head closely cropped and a bouncy quiff on top, he looks a little like another Lancastrian with a mournful mien, Steven Patrick Morrissey. Even when he’s at his best, Anderson tends to look miserable. “Heaven knows he’s miserable now,” Morrissey might have said after Anderson reached another landmark.When Anderson broke Ian Botham’s England record of 383 in the Caribbean, the look on his face was one of relief. As “Oh Jimmy, Jimmy” flashed up on the Headingley scoreboard, he cracked a broad smile, which threatened to become a genuinely joyful expression when he tempted Williamson to nick his second ball through to Jos Buttler. The fast bowler’s perma-frown later returned as he was twice taken for consecutive fours, by Latham and Taylor.Headingley pitches can be on the capricious side but bowling short and wide will get you hit in most parts – Wood, in particular, was guilty of easing Latham into his innings with some hittable fare. McCullum is capable of treating good and bad balls with equal disdain and he crunched his first delivery, from Broad, over the rope at deep cover. Several more boundaries followed – confirmation, if any were needed, that he was sticking to his aggressive approach – and he survived a gloved pull down the leg side that flew over Buttler.That was just another half-chance in a day of fast-forward cricket, which tried to pack a quart of entertainment into two-thirds of a pint pot. Headingley may not have been quite full to capacity but it felt like it was bursting at the seams.
