One day Kev would be able to star jump just like Jimmy...
England on top in Wellington...
James Anderson vindicated England selectors’ decision to bring him back into the Test side with a fine display of swing bowling that has put England in the driving seat in the second Test against New Zealand.
Anderson finished with figures of 5-73 as New Zealand were bowled out for 198, leaving England 148 runs ahead when they reached stumped on 4-0.
Earlier Tim Ambrose reached his maiden Test century after resuming on 97 following a nervy night’s rest. Ambrose became the first England wicketkeeper to reach a ton since Alec Stewart in 1997 when edged Oram wide of the slips, though his luck ran out on 102 when he edged Kyle Mills to Ross Taylor. Paul Collingwood’s 65 was the only other score of note as New Zealand encountered little resistance from the tailenders, to bowl the tourists out for 342.
But any disappointment with the first innings score was quickly cast aside with Anderson’s three early wickets of Bell, How and Sinclair to leave New Zealand floundering on 31-3. Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor looked to have undone all of England’s early work however when they put on a fourth-wicket stand of 71, in particular punishing some sloppy fielding from, guess who, Monty Panesar, who was responsible for two fours and a good chance of a run-out.
But Fleming’s defiance was eventually ended after tea by that man Anderson again, the former Black Caps captain caught at point by Kevin Pietersen on 34. Anderson then claimed his fourth five-wicket haul with the scalp of Ross Taylor, who’d earlier reached his 50 from 74 deliveries. Anderson’s haul is all the more galling for New Zealand given that
Auckland gave him the chance to regain his form in their four-day match last week. It’ll be the last time they make that mistake.
At 113 with six wickets down, Daniel Vettori and Brendan McCullum added a quick-fire 52 runs in just five overs to give a bit more respectability to the score until Stuart Broad took his first Test wicket since his return with the crucial wicket of McCullum, caught in second slip by Andrew Strauss.
Vettori got to yet another half century from 42 balls, reaching 50 by smacking Broad over third man for six. But up stepped Paul Collingwood with career best figures of 3 for 23 to mop up the tail and leave New Zealand’s captain stranded with no partners remaining. Michael Vaughan and Alistair Cook took no risks as they survived the remaining five overs to finish the day on 4-0, 148 runs ahead.
Surely now even England can’t mess this one up...