England head into the Test series against New Zealand with plenty of confidence having beaten the hosts 2-1 in both the Twenty20 and One Day International legs of the tour.
After a successful tour of India, England headed to New Zealand in early February hoping to continue their great form ahead of back-to-back Ashes later this year.
The visit began with a three-match Twenty20 series, with Stuart Broad’s men getting off to the perfect start by racking up their highest innings score of 214. Openers Lumb and Hales got their side off to a solid start before the middle order set about destroying the Kiwi bowlers. Luke Wright smashed four sixes during his quick fire 42 before Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow combined for an 80 run partnership off just 50 balls.
Once they were dismissed, it was left to Jos Buttler to finish the innings off with an unbeaten 32, completing one of the finest displays of power hitting in Twenty20 history. Despite an aggressive start from Martin Guptill and three sixes from the inexperienced Colin Munro, the score always look beyond New Zealand’s reach with captain Broad cashing in with four wickets.
England decided to field first in the second match at Hamilton and Broad was soon made to regret his decision – the star of the innings was New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who smashed 74 off just 38 deliveries.
England never got going in response with a half-century from Buttler, the only bright spot of a disappointing 55-run defeat. James Franklin collected 4 for 15 and Mitchell McClenaghan two wickets as the teams headed to Wellington with the series up for grabs.
For the third time in as many innings, Guptill got his side off to a great start with 59 but Dernbach and Broad soon used their variations to good effect to slow down the scoring rate and pick up three wickets apiece. After James Tredwell dismissed danger man McCullum for 26, the innings subsided dramatically with New Zealand only scraping up to 139 for 8.
Although it was a mediocre effort from the hosts, there was still a job to be done by the England batsmen. Coach Ashley Giles need not to have worried however as Lumb and Hales produced a wonderful partnership to lead their team home within 13 overs.
The Kiwi bowlers had no answer to a wonderful display of placement and power with Hales collecting 13 boundaries in his 80 not out and Lumb hitting five sumptuous maximums in his half century.
The first 50-over match was a tight contest from start to finish. Despite losing captain Alastair Cook early on, England built a strong platform through half centuries from Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Joe Root. A late flurry from youngsters Buttler and Woakes took them up to 258 but the New Zealand batsmen felt it was well within their reach.
Their response was led by Kane Williamson’s calm 74 before it was left to McCullum to take his side to victory with a perfectly timed 69. After missing his team’s last ODI series due to a dispute with management, Ross Taylor bounced back with a fine century that set the tone for the rest of the innings; he and McCullum combined for a 100 run partnership that took less than 10 overs to compile.
The wicket keeper was again at his flowing best with nine fours and four sixes as he scored 74 at a strike rate of over 200. James Anderson was the only England bowler to come out with any credit as his five-for confirmed him as the leading international wicket taker for his country.
What looked like a tough target for England turned into a breeze with captain Cook getting the ball rolling with a composed 78. With Bell also back in pavilion, Trott and Root joined forces with 120 needed in 20 overs. With Trott steadily accumulating and Root finding the gaps with regularity, New Zealand had no answer as the visitors romped home with 14 balls to spare.
Trott ended with 65 not out whilst Root was unbeaten on 79 from just 56 balls, confirming him as one of the brightest talents currently in international cricket. The result set up a ‘winner takes all’ clash at Auckland which would give one team the momentum heading into the crucial Test series.
New Zealand got off to poor start at Eden Park as Steven Finn and Anderson ripped through the top order to leave them tottering on 11 for 3. A slight recovery followed but only McCullum showed any attacking intent in another sublime innings. A selection of resolute defence and excellent counter attacking saw him reach 79 before being brilliantly caught on the boundary going for another six.
The fast bowlers quickly dismissed the tail as the Kiwis collapsed to 185 all out with Finn the main beneficiary as he collected 3 for 27. Despite some good bowling from Tim Southee and Andrew Ellis, the target never looked big enough to trouble England who completed a series victory in comfortable fashion with 12 overs to spare.
New Zealand seem to be suffering from internal wrangling and inconsistent performances with only McCullum offering any hope going to the longer form of the game. They must now re-build their form and confidence if they are to become a force in world cricket again.
Conversely, England head into the Test matches in March with a huge mental advantage, which will be buoyed even further by the return of star man Kevin Pietersen. This should ensure they start as big favourites to collect another series win and march towards the top of the Test and ODI rankings.
Simon Dewhurst
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