The second test between England and New Zealand finally got underway after a complete washout at Headingley on day one. Local hero Joe Root cheered the Headingley faithful with his maiden test century, in the process becoming the 11^th youngest player to score a hundred for England. Root is also the first Yorkshire player to score a Test hundred at Headingley since Michael Vaughan in 2007. Root ended his innings on 104 and was ably supported by Jonny Bairstow with 64. England ended the day with cameos from Matt Prior (38*) and Graeme Swann (21*) but the top order had familiar issues once again with Compton out for just one and Jonathan Trott dismissed by a left-arm bowler for the seventh time in eight innings against New Zealand in 2013. Trent Boult was the pick of the Black Caps bowlers with figures of 3/48 and the NZ fielding overall was sharp with all seven wickets coming from catches. The visitors will hope to wrap up the England tail quickly on Sunday and then trust their batsmen have recovered from their mauling at Lord’s.

England Captain Alastair Cook tosses the coin ahead of the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Tim Southee of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Nick Compton during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford 

Ian Bell of England batting during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Joe Root of England batting during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

During the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Jonny Bairstow of England batting during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Joe Root of England sweeps Kain Williamson during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Jonny Bairstow celebrates his half century with Joe Root during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Joe Root of England celebrates his century during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Graeme Swann of England is hit by the ball off the bowling of Tim Southee during the 2nd Day of the 2nd Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Following the phenomenal amount of questions we received last year, the Cricket Zone thought we should ask @InvestecCricket twitter followers to become the interviewer again.  See ‘Swanny’ answer your questions (part two)

Your #InvestecTest questions:

1. ”What’s your favourite moment whilst playing for England?” - @WagstaffWBA
2. ”Who is the toughest batsman you have faced?” - ‏‏@IAmSparkyKoria
3. ”A golfer spends hours on the range – how do you perfect skills and resilience?” - ‏@malcolmjtaylor
4. ”Who’s a spinner who you look up too?” - @Raees_786
5. ”If you could put a pitch in any location in the world and play a game, where would you go?” - @JonnyPWilson
6. ”Who would you wish to get out in your first over of the Investec Ashes series, Watson or Clark?” - @Tarique27
7. ”Who in the England team is the most proficient at ‘thumb wars’? I’d assume Monty on length of digits” - @EssexCricketer
8. ”For the 8.28 East Midlands train service why did he turn up at 8.30?” - ‏@StuartBroad8
9. ”Who gets the most annoyed when they lose credit card roulette? And when was the last time you lost?” - @EmilyJessicaBea
10. ”Who’s the biggest lightweight on the England team?” - @JamesHolman92

23 May 2013

The first Investec Test Match of 2013 has concluded with a triumphant win for England against visitors New Zealand. The Lord’s Test also marked Jimmy Anderson’s amazing entry to the 300 Test wickets hall of fame. He joins legends Sir Ian Botham, Fred Trueman and Bob Willis as the only people to do this for England.

Congratulations to ‘mickbuckley’ with a prediction score of 1161, Investec’s first Test winner of an exclusive signed match bat and a pair of tickets to the Investec Ashes.

Well done to everyone who took part making predictions for the Lord’s Test and everyone who managed to secure a place in the top ten leader board, getting the ball rolling for 2013. There is still the Series to play for and the chance to win an exclusive signed match ball.

It’s time to start making your predictions again…. With day tickets to the Investec Ashes 2013 to be won, the top of the Lord’s Series leader board is very close, only 11 points between first, second and third positions. Who will take the Series title?

Log in and start predicting. Remember to return each day to enter your predictions, for insights, player profiles and updates from the Investec Test. Terms and Conditions apply

2. James Anderson, who claimed his 13th Test match five wicket haul in the first Test, became the fourth England bowler to take 300 Test wickets in that match. Anderson needs three more to overtake Fred Trueman (307) on the list of most Test wickets for England.

3. England are without a win in three Test matches at Headingley, losing convincingly to South Africa (10 wickets) and Australia (innings and 80 runs) before drawing with the Proteas last year.

4. Alastair Cook’s side are, however, unbeaten in seven Tests (W3, D4), since a nine wicket defeat to India in Ahmedabad in November 2012.

5. The Black Caps are without a win in nine Test matches against England (D4, L5) and have not won a five day game in England since August 1999. At Headingley they have lost four of their six games against England (D1, W1), losing three of those games by an innings.

6. Joe Root was the only player to accrue over 100 runs (111) in the first Test, he also maintained the lowest false shot rate of any batsman from either side (15%).

7. If Daniel Vettori plays in this Test he will become the single most capped Test player in New Zealand history (currently level with Stephen Fleming on 111). The spinner has taken 359 Test wickets; only Sir Richard Hadlee (431) has more for the Kiwis.

8. Matt Prior has notched up exactly 200 dismissals in Test matches for England (187 catches, 13 stumpings). Only three keepers (Alan Knott, Alec Stewart & Godfrey Evans) have accrued more.

9. Alastair Cook has won five of his 10 Test matches as England captain. The only captains to maintain a win rate over 50% (10+ games) for England are Michael Vaughan (51%), Percy Chapman (53%), Mike Brearley (58%), Douglas Jardine (60%), and W.G. Grace (62%).

10. Ross Taylor has hit more Test runs against England than any other side (713), these runs coming at an average of 41.9 and including two centuries and four 50s.

Day three began with England’s seamers cleaning up the rest of the New Zealand batting line-up. Stuart Broad took the wicket of captain Brendon McCullum in the second over, the following day Steven Finn and James Anderson tidied up the rest of the team to allow England a narrow first innings lead of 25. Alastair Cook and Nick Compton started in a confident fashion, and appeared ready to score much quicker than the first innings; however both openers fell rather cheaply. Jonathan Trott and Joe Root, promoted up the order in place of Ian Bell; who was suffering from flu-like symptoms, battled back and looked to take the game away from the visitors with their partnership of 123. Trott continued his fine batting at Lord’s. The Warwickshire batsman averages 69.58 at the home of cricket, more than any other batsmen to have played 10+ Test innings on the ground. Root top scored with 71; however a late fight-back from the Black Caps’ bowlers left the match finely poised at the end of the third day. After bowling Root and then Bairstow for five, Tim Southee picked up his third wicket of the innings when Matt Prior was caught for his second duck of the match. England ended the day on 180-6, having been 159-3 when Root had departed, and with a lead of 205 overall.

Sunday began with both teams desperate for a good start. England were obviously keen to add at least 100 runs to their overnight lead, whereas New Zealand were buoyed by their fine end to Saturday’s action and were keen to keep the chasing total as low as possible. Tim Southee continued to lead the New Zealand bowling attack and he accounted for three of the four English wickets to fall in the first hour of the day. The 24 year-old finished with career best Test figures of 10 for 108 and became the first Kiwi player to take 10 wickets in a match since Daniel Vettori in 2006. Stuart Broad was the only member of the tail to really wag and he scored 26 from 25 balls to leave New Zealand needing 239 to win.

However, Brendon McCullum’s team got off to the worst possible start and were six down within the first 12 overs of their second innings. Broad starred for England and took five wickets in his first six overs of the innings; including the wicket of New Zealand’s captain just before lunch. With BJ Watling, hampered by injury, the only recognised New Zealand batsmen left as they resumed after lunch on 29/6, victory for England appeared a matter of when rather than if. Broad and Anderson were the only bowlers used as New Zealand eventually finished 68 all out. For the fourth time, the Black Caps were bowled out for less than 100 at Lord’s; and for the first time since 1936 (v Australia), England used only two bowlers to bowl out a team in a Test match.

Jonathan Trott of England batting during the 3rd Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s Cricket Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Joe Root of England batting during the 3rd Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Tim Southee of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Steve Finn of England during the 4th Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Tim Southee of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Steve Finn of England during the 4th Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Hamish Rutherford of New Zealand is bowled by Stuart Broad during the 4th Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Stuart Broad of England celebrates his fifth wicket during the 4th Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad celebrate England’s win during the 4th Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

New Zealand continue to hold the advantage after day two of this Investec Test match against England as the hosts only managed to add 72 to their overnight score, being bowled out for 232. The serious damage was done by the New Zealand bowlers just before lunch as England lost four wickets for nine runs in just 17 balls before the end of the session. Tim Southee ended with impressive figures of four for 58 but all of the bowlers chipped in for the visitors as only Joe Root (40) and Jonny Bairstow (41) made any contribution of note. The Three Lions did manage to make some inroads with the ball however as James Anderson took the wickets he needed to see him join Sir Ian Botham, Bob Willis and Fred Trueman with 300 Test wickets for England. Ross Taylor was the pick of the batsmen for New Zealand, hitting a quick-fire 66 to put his side on top as Kane Williamson (44*) laid anchor at the other end. At the close of play New Zealand were 153/4 and although they appear to be in the driving seat, some early wickets on day three for England could bring the home side back into the game.

Lord’s day 2 pictures:

Day two of the first Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Jimmy Anderson of England celebrates taking the wicket of Peter Fulton of New Zealand – his 300th wicket in test matches. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Jimmy Anderson of England celebrates taking the wicket of Peter Fulton of New Zealand – his 300th wicket in test matches. Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Jimmy Anderson with Sir Ian Botham after taking 300 Test Match wickets Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

Damian Lewis inside the media centre at Lord’s Photo: Visionhaus/Ben Radford

]]> http://cricket.investec.com/england-v-nz-1st-investec-test-day-two/feed/ 0 http://cricket.investec.com/england-v-nz-first-investec-test-day-one/ http://cricket.investec.com/england-v-nz-first-investec-test-day-one/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 12:40:02 +0000 admin http://cricket.investec.com/?p=3236 16 May 2013

Despite taking only four wickets it was definitely the New Zealand bowlers who controlled proceedings on day one of this Investec Test match at Lord’s as England closed on 160/4. Trent Boult was the pick of the Black Caps’ bowlers, picking up the scalps of Three Lions captain Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott, however the entire NZ attack kept England on the back foot as the run rate rarely rose above two per over. At the end of play the in-form Joe Root (25*) was still at the crease, alongside Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow (3*) after Ian Bell fell in the last hour. The highlight of a slightly sedate day’s cricket was the wicket of Trott who fell to an incredible catch by Dean Brownlie. Boult found Trott’s edge with yet another cracking delivery but it was Brownlie’s diving effort at third slip that will stick in the memory for those at Lord’s. Rain curtailed the day’s action and England will be hoping that they can up the scoring rate tomorrow in an attempt to post a competitive first innings total.

Lord’s opening day pictures:

England Captain Alastair Cook during the coin toss before the 1st Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s Cricket

England Captain Alastair Cook and Nick Compton during the 1st Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand

Ian Bell of England batting during the 1st Day of the 1st Investec Test Match

Trent Boult of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Jonathan Trott of England

Ian Bell of England batting during the 1st Day of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and New Zealand

Now it is New Zealand who are near the bottom of the pile. Only Bangladesh and the unranked Zimbabwe sit below the Black Caps, whilst England can this month take a firmer grip on second place behind South Africa. However, this supposed gap between the teams was unapparent when they faced each other in March.

The hosts had the better of two Tests, failing to bowl England out on the final day at Dunedin and, more dramatically, at Auckland. Their nail-biting escape in the third Test was secured with some solid batting that often evaded them in the series.

A man the England batsmen need to emulate is Peter Fulton. The Black Caps opener proved very hard to dismiss, striking two centuries at Auckland that left the England bowlers scratching their heads about how to bowl at him.
Fulton has scored the highest percentage of legside runs since the start of last year, an approach that seems to suit him well and carry little risk. A high dot ball percentage shows he is willing to wait for his scoring opportunities and it is clear from his low proportion of poor connection shots that England need a new method against him this summer.

*minimum 300 runs

If Fulton is New Zealand’s key man, England traditionally look to James Anderson at Lord’s. Only Sir Ian Botham and Fred Trueman have taken more wickets at headquarters, with the Lancashire paceman’s threat in early summer Tests feared by visiting teams.

He was expected to have a big impact in the New Zealand series earlier this year, but docile pitches and obdurate batting blunted the England spearhead. The home batsmen seemingly treated Anderson with more respect than his fellow seamers – Anderson was attacked less often and defended and left alone more than Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.

This table also suggests that Tim Southee was the unluckiest bowler on show in this series. He toiled hard for just six wickets, but he had more LBW appeals and catches dropped off him than anyone else. He induced the highest % of false shots and was attacked less often than any seamer apart from Trent Boult.

Southee and Anderson will both expect more assistance at Lord’s than they received in New Zealand, as the days of regular Lord’s stalemates have gone. Seven of the last eight Tests at the venue have produced a decisive result.

2. England’s defeat by South Africa last year ended a 13-Test unbeaten run at Lord’s. They had won six and drawn one of the preceding seven Tests at the venue.

3. James Anderson needs two wickets to become the fourth player after Sir Ian Botham, Bob Willis and Fred Trueman to take 300 Test wickets for England.

4. Tim Southee needs two wickets to reach 200 wickets in international cricket. 11 players have already reached this landmark for New Zealand.

5. Alastair Cook needs 176 runs to become the eighth man to score 10,000 international runs for England. His average of 45.9 is the highest amongst the top 10 English run scorers in international cricket.

6. Matt Prior needs five catches to reach 100 Test catches in England. Only Alan Knott (158) and Alec Stewart (172) have reached this landmark.

7. Brendon McCullum scored three half centuries in four innings in the recent series between these two teams. His previous three Test 50s were spread across 15 knocks.

8. In the recent New Zealand v England Test series Peter Fulton scored 73% of his runs on the leg side. This is the highest percentage since the start of 2012 amongst batsman to have scored at least 300 runs.

9. Jonny Bairstow has played no shot at 33% of his deliveries in Test cricket. This is the highest leave percentage since the start of 2012 amongst batsmen to have scored at least 200 runs.

10. The Black Caps have won just once in 15 visits to play Test cricket at Lord’s, however they have only lost six of these games and only once in their last six trips there.

However, they arrive in England with confidence high, with memories of their general superiority in New Zealand fresh. They came close to securing a notable scalp and making a mockery of their eighth placed ranking amongst Test nations.

The Black Caps hit the ground running against Derbyshire in their opening warm-up fixture, winning by 107 runs with plenty of time to spare.

BJ Watling was the batsman who made best use of his time in the middle, displaying his sound defensive technique to score 138 runs without being dismissed. The keeper had a low boundary percentage at Derby, but was able to rotate the strike well – he faced the lowest proportion of dot balls in his team.

Low scores for openers Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton are a slight concern, with the former’s lack of runs making the opening partnership suddenly seem vulnerable – he has a highest score of 37 in six innings since his 171 on Test debut.

In bowling out the hosts twice the bowlers had a good workout, with only Mark Gillespie – unlikely to feature in the first Test – amongst the frontline bowling unit ending wicketless.

Neil Wagner took his 300th first-class scalp in taking a second innings five-wicket haul and got reward for maintaining a full length. He dropped short much less often than his fellow seamers and cashed-in with this tactic of making batsmen play; the lowest dot ball percentage is a happy exchange for eight wickets.