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March 23, 2018

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England hits embarrassing low in NZ

A HUMILIATED England faced scathing criticism from “embarrassed” coach Trevor Bayliss while New Zealand celebrated a performance “beyond our wildest dreams” on the opening day of the first test in Auckland yesterday.

Bayliss said he was hurt by a scoreboard showing England all out for 58, inside the first session, and New Zealand 175 for three at stumps, ahead by 117 and with Kane Williamson not out 91.

“It was a very poor effort today, it just simply wasn’t good enough,” Bayliss said after England slumped to its sixth worst test innings ever.

At one stage it threatened New Zealand’s unwanted world test record low of 26 before an unbeaten 33 by Craig Overton more than doubled its score in a last-wicket stand with James Anderson.

“Whenever you don’t do well it does hurt,” said Bayliss, defending his selections as the best available in England.

“Embarrassed? Certainly, and I probably wasn’t the only one in our change room. It’s certainly not good enough.”

New Zealand only needed two bowlers, Trent Boult who took six for 32, and Tim Southee, who took four for 25, in an innings that lasted just 20.4 overs.

“It was very enjoyable to get out there to get the ball swinging around,” said Boult who finished with career-best figures.

“Probably not in our wildest dreams did we think we would win the toss and get them out in the first session.”

Apart from Stuart Broad taking his 400th test wicket it was a bleak day for the tourists, with Bayliss blaming their batting woes on “mistakes with footwork”.

But for New Zealand, Williamson commanded the test from the moment he won the toss and opted to bowl.

He featured in the field with a superb diving catch in the gully to remove Broad, and ended the day closing in on a new record for New Zealand test centuries.

He currently shares the record of 17 centuries with Ross Taylor and the late Martin Crowe.

Williamson went to the middle after the early dismissal of Jeet Raval, when New Zealand was 1-8, and put on 84 with Tom Latham for the second wicket.

Latham had made a patient 26 off 112 deliveries but when play entered the difficult daylight-to-twilight zone he was gone in the first over after dinner to give Broad his milestone scalp.

Williamson had a nervous moment on 64 when Chris Woakes claimed a straight drive from Taylor (20) had deflected off his hand to the stumps, with Williamson backing up out of his crease. Replays proved inconclusive and the third umpire ruled in favor of the batsman.

Henry Nicholls was unbeaten on 24 at stumps and with Williamson had put on 52 for the fourth wicket.




 

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