Follow UsWhen England initiated their white-ball cricket reset after the 2015 World Cup debacle, the skipper Eoin Morgan bought into Brendon McCullum’s theory of going for the kill. Seven years later, with McCullum now the coach of the red-ball side, England are doing the same in Test cricket. It is safe to say that the new era is off to a fantastic start. In their first series under a new setup, England are 2-0 up with one Test to go, against the World Champions. It is their first series win since beating Sri Lanka 2-0 more than a year ago.
On the other hand, New Zealand have succumbed to their first series defeat since clinching the World Test Championship. Yet to win a series in the ongoing WTC cycle, the third Test at Headingley is about keeping their pride intact and not falling too behind in the WTC points table. They are seventh in the table having played eight Tests already.
Having said that, England are a spot below the Kiwis, which makes the final Test imperative for the Three Lions.
Uncharacteristic Kiwis
New Zealand have competed hard in both Tests but haven't crossed the line due to some uncharacteristic cricket. At Lord’s, they lost six wickets for 49 runs on the third morning to squander the advantage of a 195-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell. At Trent Bridge, they made the tactical error of selecting Matt Henry over Neil Wagner. Later, they missed Wagner’s services as an enforcer on a placid track.
On Day 4, they suffered two poor run outs and lost five wickets in the final session, paving the way for England to make a comeback. The worst of all, their tactic to bounce out Jonny Bairstow with a shorter boundary on the leg-side was confusing, to say the least and inefficient, as they found out.
Over the years, the Blackcaps have been one of the most efficient sides, even in the matches they have lost. While they have given England a tough competition, these phases of play are an oddity from their end and have now cost them the series. Given England’s rejuvenation, the Blackcaps need to be at their best again, not only with the bat and the ball but in their decision-making as well.
Kiwis need Williamson and Latham to stand up
The Kiwi batting this series has been all about Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell. The top-order has misfired with both Tom Latham and Kane Williamson yet to put in a performance of authority.
Williamson missed the second Test due to COVID-19 and his return will be a big boost to the side. However, the skipper has been under par in away games for a while now. In away/neutral Tests since 2019, Williamson averages only 18.2 for 255 runs. It is a big let down since the similar number reflected a figure of 66.8 in the 2015-2018 cycle. Overall, Williamson averages 29.2 in seven Tests in England despite possessing a watertight defense and the ability to play the ball late. The series is gone but it is still a great opportunity for him to fix his numbers in England.
In a similar vein, Tom Latham averages only 24.5 in seven Tests in England. After scores of 1, 14, 26 and 4, the left-hander needs to step up. New Zealand are itching for a big score from at least one of them, if they are to salvage anything from the series.
How fast can England run?
England chased down 299 at a run-rate of 5.98 on the final day in Trent Bridge, winning the game an hour before the allotted time. “Run into the danger rather than back away or stand still,” said the skipper Ben Stokes after finishing off the epic run chase.
Stokes’ message ahead of the Leeds Test is to build up on that attacking instinct. “I set a challenge to the team to be more fearless, positive and aggressive than last week,” said the England Test skipper. The question is how fast can you really go without taking a hit.
The coach, McCullum is aware of the consequences. “You have to travel at such speeds that you’re going to come off the road occasionally,” he wrote in the book Cricket 2.0. Can England continue forward at the benchmark they have set or is there an unexpected roadblock on the way?
Probable XIs
England
The home side have announced their XI on the eve of the Test. James Anderson, having suffered a niggle on his ankle, will sit out of this Test to keep himself available for the fifth Test against India in Birmingham. Jamie Overton will make his debut to fill the spot. It remains the only change in England’s XI from the second Test.
Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Matt Potts, Jamie Overton, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach
New Zealand
COVID has kept New Zealand’s probable XI very unclear. Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell joined the training after returning from isolation but their selection remains subject to fitness. Meanwhile, Kane Williamson's return to the side seems certain while Neil Wagner appears set to replace the injured Kyle Jamieson.
Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway/Michael Bracewell, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult