How Joe Root handled Jofra Archer and an off-colour day for the supremely talented quick allowed New Zealand to build a formidable position in the first Test against England, writes Ben Gardner.
It would be harsh to be too critical of Joe Root and England after the third day in Mount Maunganui. While the hosts lost just two wickets, England restricted them to 250 runs on Saturday, November 23, keeping things tight even if penetration was hard to come by.
Conditions were far from helpful. There was little sign of the variable bounce that accounted for Kane Williamson on day two, and Root, as always, wasn’t shy of getting creative, employing a field packed full in front of square on the off side to Stuart Broad after the shine went off the new ball, and even bowling a Qais Ahmed-style bouncer to Colin de Grandhomme, which almost foxed the half-centurion. There were, however, some quibbles to be had, and altogether they offered New Zealand the chance to regain the ascendancy.
Many of the issues revolved around Root’s handling of Jofra Archer; the speedster bowled just five overs in the opening session, two fewer than Root himself, after England’s captain opted to begin with Sam Curran and Broad.
Archer’s relative underuse felt like a misstep – he is a generational talent who came into the game with two six-fors and an average of 20.27 in four Ashes Tests, and this kind of flat overseas surface is exactly the sort on which England hope he can provide an edge – but there was some justification. Curran was the pick of the attack on day two and Broad is England’s senior bowler. Root claimed the only wicket to fall before lunch, and only a Ben Stokes drop prevented Leach from getting in on the act too; perhaps Root wanted to make the most of the turn and low bounce on offer until the new ball became available.
It’s worth re-emphasising that Archer didn’t bowl badly – his hooping knuckle ball to BJ Watling was the delivery of the day. Root didn’t captain awfully, and England’s day wasn’t awful. With New Zealand due to bat last and the pitch set to break up, they remain in the contest, just. But, England fell some way short of the standards they will need to reach consistently if they have serious designs to be the best in the world.
New Zealand, much closer to India than England, despite just one rankings place separating them, showed the way. Far more than relying on a couple of greats with the bat and seamers accustomed to helpful conditions with the ball, theirs is a cohesive, well-drilled, superbly balanced side with all bases covered.
They hang in there when their opponents are on top, and make the most of the opportunities that come their way. Watling, Test cricket’s standout current gloveman and perhaps New Zealand’s greatest, is key, good enough to bat six and thereby allowing New Zealand to accommodate de Grandhomme, who might not have the method to consistently bat any higher than No.7, but is so well suited to the lower slot that he now averages 42 in Tests.
All it takes is to be slightly off, and they’ll make you pay, as they did on the morning of day two, and as they did again here. New Zealand don’t have many days like England had here, and from a hard-fought position of superiority at the start of play, Root’s team face an uphill struggle to keep their hopes alive. They can ill-afford any more slip-ups, small as they may be.
