Joe Root and Monty Panesar have enjoyed games versus Black Caps
Tuesday 19 May 2015 17:56, UK
England and New Zealand will renew acquaintances at Lord’s on Thursday in the first of two Tests.
There will be plenty of quality cricket with the likes of Brendon McCullum, Joe Root and James Anderson – if not Kevin Pietersen – on show at HQ.
But it’s not like previous England-Black Caps battles have been drab, as these magic moments testify…
2013 – Stuart Broad’s 7-44 to win Test at Lord’s
Broad, the ultimate rhythm bowler, has become known for the kind of destructive spell he delivered against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2013. Yes, there’s his 5-37 at The Oval in the 2009 Ashes and his 6-46 –including a hat-trick – against India in 2011, but this display at HQ was arguably his best. A resurgent New Zealand in the early stages of Brendon McCullum’s leadership were causing England problems, much like they had earlier that year in a drawn series back home. The Black Caps were left a gettable 239 to chase in their second innings but Broad obviously had his Weetabix that morning, as he ran through the tourists’ batting line-up with a career-best 7-44. He and Jimmy Anderson bowled unchanged for 11 overs apiece as the visitors were skittled for 68.
2013 – Joe Root’s maiden Test ton at Headingley
Root had shown plenty of promise in his early Test innings, with a fifty on debut in India and another in the first Test of the series against New Zealand in 2013. That promise was firmly cemented in the second Test on his home ground, Headingley. Root hit 104, including a terrific 124-run partnership with county team-mate Jonny Bairstow (64) that drew particular praise from head coach Andy Flower for the positive tempo adopted by the two young Yorkshiremen. Root wasn’t the only centurion in the game though, Alastair Cook hitting his last Test ton – 130 in the second innings – before an almost two-year drought which was finally ended in the Caribbean earlier this month.
2008 – Monty Panesar’s star turn, Daniel Flynn’s dental troubles
After a rain-affected draw in the first Test at Lord’s, England were well on the back foot at Old Trafford. Ross Taylor – scorer of a sensational 154 not out in the first innings – was at the crease with New Zealand 85-2 and with a lead of 264 looking pretty imposing. However, Panesar took career-best figures of 6-37, including a spell of four wickets for four runs while getting rid of Jamie Marshall, McCullum, Taylor – all lbw – and Vettori. New Zealand crumbled to 114 all out and England chased down their 294-run target for the loss of just four wickets on their way to a 2-0 series win. Despite the performance though, man-of-the-match Monty lost his place as England’s first choice spinner just a matter of months later to Graeme Swann. The Test will also be remembered, albeit less fondly, for the moment when Anderson knocked loose Daniel Flynn’s teeth. Ouch!
2004 – Andrew Strauss scores debut Test ton at Lord’s
England’s new director of cricket, Strauss, was preparing for New Zealand this time 11 years ago, but in a different capacity. The then-28-year-old was set to make his debut, and an impressive debut at that. Strauss hit 112 in the first innings in familiar surroundings at the home of cricket and his home for Middlesex. His hundred was the first time an English batsman reached the milestone in his first Test innings since John Hampshire in 1969 and he had the chance to make yet more history as he edged towards back-to-back tons in England’s run-chase. Strauss was on 83 when Nasser Hussain – in what was to be his last Test – ran him out. Hussain made up for it with a century of his own to give England the win in his final innings, allowing him the swansong to his career he so richly deserved.
1999 - England lose Test and series at The Oval
An embarrassing World Cup exit, a change in coach and captain, with a touring New Zealand on the horizon. Sound familiar? That’s because it is. Back in 1999 England had suffered a group-stage exit at a home World Cup and had put Duncan Fletcher and Hussain in charge to try to turn fortunes around against the Black Caps. They didn’t, at least initially. After Alex Tudor famously scored 99 as night-watchman in a first Test win, England lost at Lord’s and at The Oval to lose the series 2-1 and fall to the bottom of the Test rankings. Nass was booed on the dressing-room balcony after the crushing defeat but did eventually turn the tide with a series win over the West Indies a year later and back-to-back wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka over the winter.
See what other moments are made when England face New Zealand in a two-Test series. The first game, at Lord’s, is live from 10am on Thursday on Sky Sports 2 (channel 403).
