Monday 2 April 2018 12:15, UK
England's bid to secure a series-levelling victory in the second Test got off to a shaky start before Jonny Bairstow, helped by a memorable maiden Test fifty from Mark Wood, rallied the tourists. Here's all you need to know from day one in Christchurch...
Jonny Bairstow spared England the embarrassment of another dismal batting collapse with a magnificent, counter-attacking 97 not out that helped the team to 290-8, writes Dave Currie.
Behind in the two-match series after being skittled out for 58 in the defeat in Auckland last week, England's batting line-up again looked desperately brittle as they slipped to 94-5 before Bairstow led the fightback.
England lost several wickets in spectacular style - none more so than that of Joe Root, whose off-stump was sent cart-wheeling by Tim Southee with the help of a deflection off his pad.
For sheer style, though, the manner in which Bairstow brought up England's 250 takes the honours.
The wicket-keeper advanced down the track to Ish Sodhi and with graceful timing lofted the spinner over the covers for six.
He treats Test cricket as if it is a club game, Nasser Hussain would later remark, and so it seemed with Bairstow looking ever-more comfortable at the crease - this shot bringing to mind his brilliant ODI innings on this ground not so long ago.
- Bairstow has now scored 429 Test runs in Australia and New Zealand this winter - a tally only second to skipper Joe Root (429). Dawid Malan (410) and Alastair Cook (385) are next on the list.
- After scoring just two, Alastair Cook has now scored 446 runs in his last 16 knocks - but 244 of those came in his unbeaten double-hundred against Australia at the MCG this winter.
Jonny Bairstow: "I was pleased with the tempo of it all today. And I wouldn't be on what I've got now without the guys at the other end doing what they do.
"What a character [Mark Wood is]. It's always good fun to bat with him. He played some absolutely brilliant shots. Blocked the straight ones, hit the wide ones and ducked the short ones."
Michael Atherton: "Bairstow is perfectly good enough to play up the order as a specialist batsman but given that he is the wicketkeeper, I think that seven is the right position for him - unless you change that and bring someone like Jos Buttler into the side and play Bairstow as a specialist batsman."
Nasser Hussain: "It's odd for Cook, the greatest player England have ever had, as far as statistics go, to have these technical issues. But, he has never been a lunger at the ball, he has never been perfect technically.
"But, I've always said be careful of writing Cook off. He will find a way of getting runs, he is that sort of player but he's become a little bit too much feast or famine."
Watch day two of the second Test between New Zealand and England from 10pm on Sky Sports Cricket tonight. Before then catch day one highlights at 4.30pm, followed by The Cricket Debate with Nasser Hussain and Bob Willis at 5.30pm.
Comment below to get involved in the debate, but please adhere to our House Rules. If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click 'Report'.
