Day one of the floodlit Test in Mount Maunganui was spent on fast forward, with the hosts closing on 37 for three in reply to the tourists’ 325 for nine declared.
It is simply impossible to predict what this England team will do next. Today, they declared after just 58.2 overs, the second earliest first-innings declaration in the history of Test cricket.
“There was no plan at dinner to declare,” said Harry Brook, whose 89 off 81 was the standout innings of the day. “Me and Foakesy (Ben Foakes) were still batting together, and if I hadn’t got out, the plan would’ve been the same.
“But because I got out, the plan changed. Stokesy (captain Ben Stokes) said that if there’s two bowlers in at the same time, give them a couple of overs and we’ll try and utilise the lights.”
England’s gamble, taken on the basis that the best time to bowl with the pink ball is under floodlights, paid off handsomely, as they claimed three wickets, including the vital scalp of Kane Williamson, to leave the hosts in disarray.
England have won nine of their past 10 Test matches, and are already in pole position to make it 10 out of 11. They can do no wrong.
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