New Zealand v England: first men’s cricket Test, day four – live | New Zealand v England 2024
Key events
53rd over: New Zealand 176-6 (Smith 12, Mitchell 40)
“Morning / Evening Tanya. New Zealand and England are always worth watching, but it will take something special for the Black Caps to turn this around. So, your friend has kittens you say? Are they watching, or busy making you biscuits for lunch? We got two kittens back in the summer, after 15 years as dog owners. Sisters who we named Margo and Olive. They are magnificent creatures. Cats are the animal world equivalent of Test cricket I reckon. They know they’re the best, and pity anyone who doesn’t agree. If I could watch Test cricket with a cat by my side for eternity, I’d be a happy man.”
The kittens are adorable (Paris and Stella) but I must disagree Simon McMahon. The dog is the pet equivalent of Test cricket .
52nd over: New Zealand 172-6 (Smith 11, Mitchell 37) While the cat on the carpet in front of me plays with a carrot attached to a fishing rod, Stokes charges in. The sky is blue, the hills are bonny, the ground is full. Another four slips through the cordon.
51st over: New Zealand 166-6 (Smith 10, Mitchell 32) The dangerous Brydon Carse bounds in like a hungry panther. Smith pings him for two consecutive fours, one guided cleverly between slip and gully.
50th over: New Zealand 157-6 (Smith 2, Mitchell 32) Stokes starts with a loosener as the Barmy Army riff through a full-throated Jerusalem. Stokes’ hair is Compton Brylcreem with touch of mullet. A couple of singles gets the Kiwis up and running.
David Gower is ringing the starting bell and Ben Stokes has the ball. Here we go.
Chris Woakes is taking David Gower through the Kane Williamson plan. “Ideally you get him out early, that’s when he’s most vulnerable. I think about fourth/fifth stump that’s where everyone’s susceptible. Then its all a about using the crease. It is nice when an over comes together like that.”
Mmmmm. 25 degrees with a nice breeze, and an oatmeal pitch.
Bon soir Alistair Connor in Lyon: “It’s very decent of the Guardian to OBO overnight Tests. My routine is to follow until midnight, then go to bed and in the morning, try to scroll back without learning the score so I can maintain the suspense while I catch up. Gummy half-closed eyes are an advantage. I could probably get a free-to-air NZ TV feed, but then I ‘d have to stay up all night.
“This series has huge potential. Our lot go one down, no doubt, but the sides are well-matched.”
It’s definitely a tasty side-dish to the run-up to Christmas.
“A nice flat pristine surface,” says Jeremy Coney, looking neat and trim. “For a day four surface, it looks pretty good and if you can get yourself in, runs are available.
The Wisden editor rubs it in:
Play is due to start at 10pm GMT. While you’re waiting, read about Harry Brook having jam on his toast.
Preamble
Hello! In this tail-chasing Test cricketing winter, where Sri Lanka chased New Zealand who chased India who chased Australia, England (chased down in turn by Pakistan) now close their jaws on the frisky Kiwi tail. With a lead of just four, and only four wickets in hand, New Zealand will struggle to keep the crowds, lolling deliciously at the gorgeous Hagley Oval, entertained after lunch, let alone into day five.
England utilised day three to the full – Harry Brook blissing out with yet another score of 150 plus, Ben Stokes with a restrained 80 and some plentiful biffing by Carse and Atkinson. Henry finished with four wickets, Smith with three. New Zealand, who dropped eight catches as England rocked and rolled towards 500, faltered early in their second innings. Williamson orchestrated a steady-as-she-goes recovery, but Chris Woakes outwitted him - Williamson and new man Blundell caught in successive balls. Three wickets too for the unstoppable Carse.
I’m in my friend’s lovely house in Marlow, being entertained by their kittens. Wherever you are, do drop me a line.
