New Zealand v England 1st Test: Tourists face desperate fight

Scorecard:

England: 353 all out: Stokes 91; Southee 4-88 55-3

New Zealand 394-6: Watling 205; Santer 126

Report:

Mitch Santner followed up his maiden century for New Zealand with a late three-wicket burst to leave a chastened England facing a mountainous task to save the first Test in Mount Maunganui.

Santner had earlier driven England's bowlers to distraction with an innings of 126 in a New Zealand record 261-run stand for the seventh wicket alongside Watling, whose epic 205 spanned 473 balls and more than 11 hours.

The pair's union took up almost the entire first two sessions of the fourth day as New Zealand declared on a mammoth 615 for nine and a first-innings lead of 262, before England lost both openers and nightwatchman Jack Leach in closing on 55 for three - still 207 in arrears.

Dom Sibley was suckered into playing well wide of off-stump on 12 as Santner and Watling combined again on a dream day for the pair, while Rory Burns senselessly slog swept to be caught at square-leg for 31.

Santner ended the penultimate day with three for six from 8.4 overs on a slow pitch showing signs of variable bounce and a hint of turn when Leach was adjudged bat-pad, as England were left needing to bat out the last day to escape with a draw.

However, the blueprint for success has been laid out for the tourists over the last two days by a Watling masterclass, in which the 34-year-old compiled the highest innings by a New Zealand wicketkeeper.

He oddly described himself as "very limited" after a diligent century on day three but he has been the principal protagonist for New Zealand, arriving at the crease with New Zealand on 127 for four and departing on 603 for nine - and his strategy of taking few risks has paid off handsomely.

Santner was a superb ally and took the whip hand as England's attack wilted before being put out of their misery after 201 overs. Only on two more occasions this century have they been forced to bowl more overs in an innings.

Sam Curran took three for 115 and there were two apiece for Ben Stokes and Leach, who leaked 153 runs in 47 overs, while Jofra Archer was the third England bowler to register an unwanted 'century'.

He had some brief succour by accounting for Watling, caught behind as Jos Buttler dived forward to take a catch, but it was his only reward in 42 draining overs that yielded 107 runs.

Archer was again down on pace but he was pointedly entrusted to open the bowling after being overlooked for the role the previous day, and he and Stuart Broad were nigh-on flawless early on.

There were seven successive maidens between them at one stage while two of the three scoring shots in 11 overs came via edges in an attritional morning session in which only 58 runs were added to an overnight 394 for six.

The only criticism that could be levelled at the pair is that they bowled fuller at Santner, who looked considerably more uncomfortable under a bumper barrage from Archer and Ben Stokes the previous evening.

While England were able to dry up the runs, there were precious few alarms for either Watling or Santner, with the seamers unable to make any inroads with the third new ball.

There were some eye-catching strokes off front and back foot by Watling either side of lunch, including an uppercut off Archer for his only six to go with 24 fours, before Santner took centre stage.

While Santner needed 170 balls in a patient fifty, he upped the ante soon after as he carted Jack Leach for three straight sixes, while he scampered back for a couple after flicking Stokes fine to reach three figures for the first time in Tests after 252 deliveries.

By the time he holed out to long-on off Curran before the tea interval, Watling, whose approach and tempo barely changed over the course of his innings, was close to the first double ton by a Black Caps wicketkeeper.

He reached the milestone from 460 balls with a hurried single into the leg-side before departing in the final session, eventually succumbing to Archer, who claimed his first overseas Test wicket when Watling feathered behind.

New Zealand were soon called in, leaving England needing to bat out 28 overs in the late afternoon sunshine.

Watling did not initially take to the field but he resumed his wicketkeeping duties, taking the gloves off Tom Latham, before England lost three wickets in 36 balls late in the day.

Reaction:

Jos Buttler has dismissed suggestions of introducing the Kookaburra ball in England after yet another trying day in the field left them battling to save the first Test against New Zealand.

BJ Watling's epic double hundred and Mitch Santner's maiden Test century lifted the Kiwis to 615 for nine declared and a first-innings lead of 262 on the penultimate day in Mount Maunganui, where England closed on 55 for three.

A slow surface has conspired against England's bowlers but this is the fifth time in their last 16 overseas Tests they have conceded 600 or more, and they have often seemed short on ideas when the Kookaburra loses its shine.

England operate with a Duke ball in home Tests, which typically produces more lavish movement, but Joe Root has designs on regaining the Ashes in Australia in 2021/22, when a Kookaburra will be used.

In an effort to give themselves the best chance of succeeding against Australia and elsewhere, it was put to Buttler that it may be beneficial to use the Kookaburra when playing at home or even in county cricket.

But Buttler said: "I don't think so. Test cricket with a Duke's ball in England is fantastic; it's very watchable, it's a good contest between bat and ball.

"The product we have with Test cricket in England is up there with the best product in the world so I wouldn't want to tamper with that very much.

"One thing potentially we can do in England is play on better batting wickets. We can look at playing, especially in county cricket, on better batting wickets. There's some education for all of us as batters."

Watling has shown England the blueprint of how to thrive on the Bay Oval wicket with a diligent 205 spanning 473 balls and more than 11 hours as the tourists were kept in the field for 201 overs.

He put on a New Zealand record 261 for the seventh wicket alongside Santner, who followed up his 126 by removing England openers Dom Sibley and Rory Burns and nightwatchman Jack Leach in a late three-wicket burst.

Buttler aimed the blame for England's predicament - they almost certainly need to bat the entire day just to escape with a draw - squarely at the batsmen after a total of 353 all out was shown to be insignificant by New Zealand.

Buttler said: "It was a very tough day. We tried most things and put a lot of effort in for not much reward. That's tough Test cricket.

"You can't fault the bowlers' efforts. I thought the effort was outstanding.

"New Zealand played a very patient game with the bat and showed us really how that patient game of batting on flat wickets and setting your sights very high.

"Watling and Santner really set the stall out and batted a long time and put a lot of overs into our legs and built that score. That's a big learning point for us."

Asked how far England are from where they want to be, Buttler added: "It's not miles away but I think it's a bit of a way away.

"You have to learn to be able to do it, you have to do it a few times to show you can play that style consistently and perform in that manner consistently. That's the aim of the group, that's where we want to get to."

While Santner enjoyed one of the best days of his career, he could have an even greater influence on the final day, with England still 207 in arrears.

He said: "There's a big job to do. It's not going to be easy to get seven wickets on that. We have to stick to the long game and go from there.

"It's nice to get a lead and hopefully spin a bit of a web."