England’s two match Test series with New Zealand moved to Headingley with the home side having taking a 1-0 lead at Lords. However, it was a game in which the Black Caps had competed with England, right up until the last day. At Headingley, England were looking to assert their dominance, being the last Test Match before ten consecutive matches against Australia, with back-to-back Ashes Series just around the corner.
The first day did not see a ball bowled, as the Leeds weather struck to delay the start. The following day saw the weather improve, and Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat first knowing that some of his top order were in need of runs.
England made a shaky start as Nick Compton once again went cheaply, before Cook and Jonathan Trott fell in quick succession to leave England 67 for 3.
However, Joe Root, England’s hero from Lords, set about compiling his maiden Test Match Century, made even more special by the fact that it was on his home ground in Leeds. The young Yorkshireman has impressed everyone so far this series, which has seen calls for him to be moved up to open the batting, thus sacrificing the out of form and under pressure Compton.
Root, who thoroughly deserved his man of the series award, was well supported by Ian Bell, who made 30, and Johnny Bairstow who put together another classy 50, also on his home ground. Another bright spot was Matt Prior’s return to form with the bat, as he made a blistering 39 off of just 50 balls. England were eventually all out for 354, a competitive total on a traditionally low scoring Headingley pitch.
New Zealand went out to bat on the back of being bowled out for just 68 in the second innings at Lords, and they once again folded cheaply as England bowlers got amongst the wickets. Having got to 55 for the loss of no wicket, the Kiwi’s collapsed, losing 9 wickets for just 67 runs.
Their fortunes were only slightly improved by a last wicket partnership of 52 between Neil Wagner and Trent Boult. The New Zealanders have consistently struggled with the bat over the previous year, and Peter Fulton top scored with just 28. Graeme Swann was the pick of the English bowlers, picking up four wickets, whilst the rest were shared around evenly.
Cook decided, somewhat surprisingly with more rain promised, to not enforce the follow-on. However, his decision was more than justified as he made a brisk 130 off of just 190 balls, to completely take the game away from New Zealand.
Unfortunately, Compton failed once again, making a very nervous looking 7. The Somerset man was really under pressure with Root breathing down his neck for that position next to Cook at the top of the order. Andy Flower has even said publicly that Compton needs runs at county level if he is to play against Australia.
Trott also made a steady 76 in the Second innings, underlining his importance at number 3. However, he could be criticised with the run-rate at which he scored, with England really looking to turn the screw. England eventually declared on 287 for 5, leaving New Zealand a highly improbable 468 to win.
The only thing that could have saved New Zealand was the weather, with more rain promised for the final day. However, their batting looked as dangerously fragile as ever. Ross Taylor’s 70 was the only innings of note as a number of Kiwi batsmen failed to cope with the seam of Steven Finn, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, coupled with Swann’s spin.
Despite a tense fifth day, where England could have been scuppered by the weather, the Black Caps did eventually fold, thus justifying Cook’s decision not to enforce the follow-on. Swann picked up six second innings wickets, leaving him with 10 for the match, the best figures by an English spinner at Headingley since Derek Underwood in 1972. New Zealand were all out for 220, giving England a victory by 247 runs and a 2-0 series result.
This series against New Zealand has banished some of the demons from the 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture over the winter. However, England know that their greatest test is still to come with the Ashes this summer. The bowlers all look in good form with Broad and Anderson particularly impressing at Lords, whilst Swann did the damage at Headingley.
In terms of batting, Root has been the stand-out performer, having established himself as a definite star of the future. However, the form of Compton is a serious concern for the England management; he still doesn’t look comfortable at a Test match level and seriously needs runs for Somerset before July. The picture is mainly bright for the Ashes, but the selectors will know that they have some tough decisions ahead of them.
Alex Manning
exeposedev 