A helpless Neil Wagner has an unwanted Test record, with the star Kiwi bowler ruthlessly dismantled by a fearless England batting line-up as New Zealand copped a brutal ‘Bazball’ assault.
Under Kiwi coach Brendon McCullum, England’s middle order, led by Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook, made a breathtaking statement during the opening session of the third day’s play against the Black Caps in the day-night Test at Mt Maunganui.
Resuming their second innings on 2-79 with a lead of 98 runs, they smashed 104 runs from the first 15 overs of Saturday’s play.
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England’s batters ultimately plundered 158 runs but lost four wickets in a breakneck session on Saturday that leaves the first Test still finely poised. The tourists raced to 6-237 in their second innings at tea, opening up a 256-run lead.
The big hitting encapsulated England’s aggressive batting approach that has carried it to victory in nine of its past 10 Tests.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan labelled England’s first session approach as “T20 in whites”, while English commentator Alison Mitchell declared it “Test cricket but not as we know it”.
Fellow Spark Sport caller Scotty Stevenson labelled the England onslaught “ridiculous”.
“It’s a style of cricket designed to deflate and demoralise. They’re applying a blowtorch to the mental fortitude of this home side,” Stevenson told Spark Sport.
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“This is the new England – and it’s not victimless, as entertaining as it is.”
Former Kiwi opener Mark Richardson added: “It’s just been staggering cricket. I’ve sat back and watched in disbelief.”
England lost nightwatchman Stuart Broad for seven before Pope and Root caught fire. The English duo smashed 62 runs in just under eight overs, with Pope taking a particular liking to left-arm quick Wagner, whose previously-successful short-pitch bowling approach was exposed.
Pope hooked Wagner for three sixes before smacking another two fours on his way to a stunning 46-ball knock of 49.
Wagner eventually dismissed Pope caught behind, but the relief was short-lived as Brook came to the wicket and picked up from where Pope left off.
Brook, who’s been a revelation for England since being introduced into the Test team last year, hit five fours and two sixes off Wagner, who paid a heavy price for persisting with short-pitched bowling. His last over cost 18 runs as Brook opened his stance and used a baseball technique to swat the 36-year-old for four boundaries.
Renowned for his ability to intimidate the world’s best batting line-ups — including Australia’s — Wagner, had the figures of 2-104 after 11 overs. It was the most runs any bowler has ever conceded from their first 11 overs in Test history, usurping Australian leg-spinner Bryce McGain’s first 11 overs (0-102) against South Africa in 2009.
New Zealand legend and former captain Stephen Fleming said it was one of the first times he’d seen an opposition side take on Wagner, which he was thrown by.
“A lot of players are struggling to find a method to play Wagner and keep the ball down. England, you talk about intent and positivity, this is intent,” Fleming told Spark Sport.
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“Looking not even to bother keeping the ball down, they actually use the pace and just hit it 20 rows back if you can. That is intent, that is the McCullum effect. If you’re in, you’re 100 per cent in.
“You can talk about tactics and attitude, in real time that’s what’s happening. Rather than trying to find a half-hearted way to play, ‘just get inside and hit it for six, mate’ – he (McCullum) would probably say – and take the aggressive option.
“It’s one of the first times I’ve seen Wagner really struggling with two things: Take wickets but also control the run rate, which is a tactic New Zealand have used for many years.
“For all the attributes and qualities that Wagner has, it’s getting dangerously out of control for NZ.”
— with AFP
