England must make early inroads on day three at Lord’s if they are to avoid a punishing first-innings deficit, says Bob Willis.
New Zealand reached stumps on day two on 303-2, just 87 runs behind, thanks to an unbroken stand of 155 between Kane Williamson (92no) and Ross Taylor (47no).
With plenty of power players still to come, former fast bowler Willis told Sky Sports News HQ that wickets will be at a premium for England on Saturday.
“It was a hard-work day for England, which makes the new ball first thing on Saturday morning absolutely crucial,” he reflected.
“They will hope that they bowl better with it than they did with the first new ball and that it swings. Some cricket balls do, some don’t.
“England need to make early inroads because if Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson come in 20-30 overs after that new ball, there could be some very destructive batting.”
The hosts began the day on 354-7, but any hopes of adding another 100 runs quickly evaporated as Trent Boult (4-79) and Matt Henry (4-93) hoovered up.
“Unfortunately the tail didn’t wag first thing,” said Willis. “Moeen Ali was dismissed for 58 by a good delivery, which bounced and seamed.
“After that England, with Stuart Broad’s batting form disintegrating, were never going to get the 450 score that they were looking for.
“New Zealand’s good start was underlined as the ball didn’t swing at all for James Anderson, which is pretty strange in English conditions.
“Martin Guptill (70) did very well at the top of the order to take the initiative away from England and Tom Latham (59) did a grand job as well.
“Then we saw some really old-fashioned, proper Test match batting from Taylor and Williamson.
“Williamson hit virtually every bad ball for four. England didn’t bowl that badly. You could be a little bit critical of their length and line at times. Moeen Ali bowled a lot better than he had done in the West Indies.
“At 148-2 England were thinking, ‘Right, a couple more wickets now and we’re right back in the fray’, but Williamson and Taylor were having none of it and they played outstandingly.”
Guptill was given a reprieve before he had made 30 when he was caught in the slips by Alastair Cook, only for replays to show that debutant Mark Wood had overstepped the front line.
Ian Bell then dropped Latham in the cordon, while Stuart Broad could have run Taylor out on nought but missed the stumps with his throw.
“It could have been a dream start for Wood,” said Willis. "It was a tight call but you have to have something behind the line and he didn’t. It was an enormous disappointment for Wood.
“The dropped catch by Bell also proved costly. England work hard on their close fielding and it was good to see Alastair Cook with so many slip fielders in position.
“Bell’s chance went swiftly to his left but you would expect an international fielder to take that catch.
“On this pitch, which I have to emphasise is very flat indeed, you’ve got to take those chances when they come along.”
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