This #ENGvNZ test series is just bizarre. You can count on one hand series in history where the two teams have been as even a these two in the 1st innings.
No team has had a 50 run 1st innings lead in any test.
The difference in collective 1st innings batting averages is 0.77.
No team has had a 50 run 1st innings lead in any test.
The difference in collective 1st innings batting averages is 0.77.
And yet, England have already won the series and are looking at a whitewash.
And it's not like NZ have batted particularly badly in the 3rd innings.
In every match, England have been set between 275 and 300.
Teams don't normally chase scores in that range successfully.
And it's not like NZ have batted particularly badly in the 3rd innings.
In every match, England have been set between 275 and 300.
Teams don't normally chase scores in that range successfully.
So what has gone wrong?
1. England has batted very well.
It's important to give credit where it's due. There are two teams on the field, and England have been extraordinary.
But that's not th he whole story.
1. England has batted very well.
It's important to give credit where it's due. There are two teams on the field, and England have been extraordinary.
But that's not th he whole story.
2. The Duke's ball
The Duke's ball just doesn't suit the NZ bowlers, who are much more effective with the Kookaburra. One of the key ways that NZ have got wickets in the 4th innings has been variable bounce. The Duke's doesn't offer that, and NZ haven't had good plans to use it.
The Duke's ball just doesn't suit the NZ bowlers, who are much more effective with the Kookaburra. One of the key ways that NZ have got wickets in the 4th innings has been variable bounce. The Duke's doesn't offer that, and NZ haven't had good plans to use it.
3. Bowling options.
New Zealand's 4 best 4th innings bowlers in the last 5 years have been Wagner, Southee, Jamieson and Ajaz Patel. Of those only Southee has bowled more than 7 overs so far in the 3 fourth innings combined.
Jamieson was due to injury, so that's understandable.
New Zealand's 4 best 4th innings bowlers in the last 5 years have been Wagner, Southee, Jamieson and Ajaz Patel. Of those only Southee has bowled more than 7 overs so far in the 3 fourth innings combined.
Jamieson was due to injury, so that's understandable.
Wagner is also understandable, as the Duke's ball really didn't suit his bowling style. But Patel's omission is baffling. He was given 2 overs in the first match. He beat the bat twice, but was hit for a couple of 6s. Then he wasn't given the ball again.
It's also worth remembering how Ajaz Patel broke into the NZ side to begin with - he got selected based on 3 seasons of consistently picking up bags of wickets in the 3rd and 4th innings of matches.
He's a specialist at just the thing that NZ needed. And NZ haven't bowled him.
He's a specialist at just the thing that NZ needed. And NZ haven't bowled him.
If Bracewell was an outstanding bowler who had been putting up numbers that suggested that he deserves the spot instead, that would be understandable.
But Bracewell is Wellington's 3rd choice spinner. Before this tour he had taken 27 first class wickets in 36 innings.
But Bracewell is Wellington's 3rd choice spinner. Before this tour he had taken 27 first class wickets in 36 innings.
Now there might be some reasons that we don't know about. Perhaps Patel has been bowling really badly in the nets, or perhaps Bracewell has a photo of Gary Stead in a compromising position. But it seems most likely that the reason Patel hasn't been used is 3 Ben Stokes sixes.
And that right there is the power of aggressive cricket.
Those 3 shots caused NZ to abandon the player most likely to have won them this series.
Those 3 shots caused NZ to abandon the player most likely to have won them this series.
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