New Zealand’s Kane Williamson blows during the first day of the first cricket test between England and New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, November 28, 2024. | Photo Credit: AP
Kane Williamson made a smooth return to the New Zealand cricket team, top-scoring with 93 as the Black Caps reached 319-8 on Thursday (November 28, 2024) on the first day of the first cricket Test against England.
At stumps, after 83 overs, Glenn Phillips was 41 not out and Tim Southee at the start of the last series before retiring was 10.
Williamson was injured and missed New Zealand’s historic 3-0 series win over India in India last month. That means he has only played two Tests and one domestic first-class match since June.
But he was untroubled by his lack of activity, coming within seven runs of his 33rd Test century before collapsing midway through the final session in New Zealand losing five wickets and some of the gains he had previously held.
England fought again
New Zealand were in a strong position on 193-3 at tea with Williamson in full flight but England fought their way back into the match in the final session of a grueling day of warm conditions and gale force winds.
Shoaib Bashir took 4-69 in 20 overs, an incredibly heavy workload for a spinner on the first day of the match at Hagley Oval.
Williamson shared partnerships of 58 with Tom Latham (47), 68 with Rachin Ravindra (34) and 69 with Daryl Mitchell (34) that joined the New Zealand innings.
Williamson’s command on the first day made the fact that he played in this match a bit of a gamble. He replaced Will Young who was India’s Player of the Series, scoring 244 at an average of 48.8.
classic Williamson round
It was a classic Williamson round, mixing care and concentration for long periods of time with controlled attacks of aggression. He took 15 runs to get off the mark and played in Latham’s shadow in the first session, contributing just seven runs to his 50 partnership.
But after the break, he hit a back boundary – a sweet cover drive and a ruthless pull – to bring up New Zealand’s 100 in the 22nd over.
He was in one of those sober moments before he was fired. Looking to reassert himself, he clipped the ball from Gus Atkinson but couldn’t get on top of it and hit the ball straight to Zac Crawley at the drop post.
“It’s a challenge,” Williamson said. “There are some really good partnerships there. The ball is a little bit short, but as you know, the wicket here is pretty good and generally pretty fair with ball and bat.
“It was a fairly balanced day for Test cricket.”
England won the toss
England must have been full of optimism when captain Ben Stokes won in the city of his birth and dispatched New Zealand on a green pitch.
But England did not embrace the opportunity presented by the toss. The fast bowlers ran with energy but did not play well individually and did not perform as a group in the first two sessions.
Stokes let the game wander and England only held on to Ravindra’s wicket as they scored 89 runs.
The moderate impact of England’s quick was shown by the fact Stokes moved to spinner Bashir after just 29 overs. The field was not what England wanted.
England took Latham’s wicket after making 47 off just 54 balls and New Zealand came out on top after the first session. Brydon Carse hit a good length ball from the wicket that crossed Latham and took the outside edge as he tried to turn the ball towards the leg side.
Jacob Bethell handed over his Test debut
Ollie Pope, behind the stumps, completed the catch. Pope inherited the wicket-keeping duties when Jordan Cox, expected to make his Test debut in Christchurch, suffered a broken thumb in a training accident. However, 31-year-old Jacob Bethell was given his Test debut. He will bat at No. 3 though is yet to score a first-class century.
Devon Conway collapsed in the second half, caught and tackled by Gus Atkinson.
Williamson was out for a total of 227-5 and New Zealand slipped to 252-7 before Phillips and Matt Henry added 46 for the eighth wicket.
Published – 28 November 2024 12:25 IST
