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England’s dramatic finale gives People’s Monday the finish it deserves England’s dramatic finale gives People’s Monday the finish it deserves
(about 11 hours later)
So now everyone heads for Headingley, some elated, some dejected, all exhausted. New Zealand must be bewildered. How often has a team had their opponents 30 for four within the first hour and then scored 523 runs in their first innings – and lost? That was their fate and they must still be scratching their heads and aching.So now everyone heads for Headingley, some elated, some dejected, all exhausted. New Zealand must be bewildered. How often has a team had their opponents 30 for four within the first hour and then scored 523 runs in their first innings – and lost? That was their fate and they must still be scratching their heads and aching.
The vast majority of the 20,000 spectators, who turned up on the people’s bank holiday Monday may not be heading to Leeds. Most were locals, who had walked in and they had the time of their lives – except perhaps the ones in beige. For this was a memorable, tantalising contest with an outcome way beyond most people’s expectations.The vast majority of the 20,000 spectators, who turned up on the people’s bank holiday Monday may not be heading to Leeds. Most were locals, who had walked in and they had the time of their lives – except perhaps the ones in beige. For this was a memorable, tantalising contest with an outcome way beyond most people’s expectations.
Related: Ben Stokes inspires England to win thrilling Test against New Zealand
They were snaking all the way up the Wellington Road at 10am in the morning and they left eight and a half hours later beaming as if they had won the lottery. There is still an appetite for the game here; the punters only need a little encouragement – and a fair ticket price (£20 per adult, £10 for seniors, free for juniors) to come out. The cricket from both sides on the first four days had provided that extra incentive. But on the fifth only England excelled.They were snaking all the way up the Wellington Road at 10am in the morning and they left eight and a half hours later beaming as if they had won the lottery. There is still an appetite for the game here; the punters only need a little encouragement – and a fair ticket price (£20 per adult, £10 for seniors, free for juniors) to come out. The cricket from both sides on the first four days had provided that extra incentive. But on the fifth only England excelled.
Many of the punters left hoarse. There was so much to cheer and the majority saw it as their duty to be England’s 12th man. Lord’s is the most decorous of grounds, where onlookers, draped in weird multicoloured garb, are expected to applaud jolly good cricket, rather than the home side – except perhaps when Australia are playing.Many of the punters left hoarse. There was so much to cheer and the majority saw it as their duty to be England’s 12th man. Lord’s is the most decorous of grounds, where onlookers, draped in weird multicoloured garb, are expected to applaud jolly good cricket, rather than the home side – except perhaps when Australia are playing.
But at critical moments they embarked on rounds of rhythmical clapping, increasing in intensity as one of England’s fast bowlers ran up to the crease. They were even doing it in the Warner stand and that’s where the members sit.But at critical moments they embarked on rounds of rhythmical clapping, increasing in intensity as one of England’s fast bowlers ran up to the crease. They were even doing it in the Warner stand and that’s where the members sit.
Lord’s has seldom been a Colosseum of cricket. It is more of a theatre. Yet the 20,000 were transfixed by every ball and then roared with delight when another New Zealand batsman made his doleful way back to the pavilion.Lord’s has seldom been a Colosseum of cricket. It is more of a theatre. Yet the 20,000 were transfixed by every ball and then roared with delight when another New Zealand batsman made his doleful way back to the pavilion.
Many of the fans may have been here 12 months ago when Sri Lanka held on for a draw on the last evening with nine wickets down, a precursor to England losing that series off the penultimate ball of the next match at Headingley. Given how everything has been going over the last 15 months they might have feared something similar. But there were no frustrations this time around.Many of the fans may have been here 12 months ago when Sri Lanka held on for a draw on the last evening with nine wickets down, a precursor to England losing that series off the penultimate ball of the next match at Headingley. Given how everything has been going over the last 15 months they might have feared something similar. But there were no frustrations this time around.
For once everything Alastair Cook touched turned to gold. Just after his dismissal Shane Warne breezed through the pressbox, declaring to no one in particular: “This will be a good game if there’s a hat-trick now”. Obviously Cook was deemed to be batting on too long. The England innings went on for another four overs and 20 runs but it transpired they had plenty of time.For once everything Alastair Cook touched turned to gold. Just after his dismissal Shane Warne breezed through the pressbox, declaring to no one in particular: “This will be a good game if there’s a hat-trick now”. Obviously Cook was deemed to be batting on too long. The England innings went on for another four overs and 20 runs but it transpired they had plenty of time.
It was not an act of genius for Cook to toss the new ball to Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad; it was hardly Brearleyesque to invite Ben Stokes to have an early bowl but several other little manoeuvres worked out rather well. Moeen Ali bowled poorly again when the expectation of him to take wickets loomed large, which had been the case in Barbados. He delivered a horrible over to the belligerent Corey Anderson.It was not an act of genius for Cook to toss the new ball to Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad; it was hardly Brearleyesque to invite Ben Stokes to have an early bowl but several other little manoeuvres worked out rather well. Moeen Ali bowled poorly again when the expectation of him to take wickets loomed large, which had been the case in Barbados. He delivered a horrible over to the belligerent Corey Anderson.
Related: Lord’s roar is music to Alastair Cook’s ears in England triumph
So the next time Cook required a spinner he tossed the ball to Joe Root instead. The defiant Anderson was lbw. Then Cook brought back Moeen. The not so defiant Tim Southee was caught and bowled and Moeen’s confidence was partially restored.So the next time Cook required a spinner he tossed the ball to Joe Root instead. The defiant Anderson was lbw. Then Cook brought back Moeen. The not so defiant Tim Southee was caught and bowled and Moeen’s confidence was partially restored.
His neatest ploy was his last. After almost 10 overs of resistance from the last pair there was the precise, cunning deployment of Moeen 12 metres inside the boundary at third man. Glory be – next ball Trent Boult found him with unerring accuracy. Whoops of delight all round at the prospect of England heading north 1-0 up in the series.His neatest ploy was his last. After almost 10 overs of resistance from the last pair there was the precise, cunning deployment of Moeen 12 metres inside the boundary at third man. Glory be – next ball Trent Boult found him with unerring accuracy. Whoops of delight all round at the prospect of England heading north 1-0 up in the series.
However the roars from the stands were loudest when Stokes had the ball in his hand. There were moments in this Test when Stokes made Freddie Flintoff look like John the Baptist. One of them was at the conclusion of his third over. That was when he had just beaten Kane Williamson, who has the broadest bat in New Zealand, with two sublime, snorting deliveries. The next ball was edged to the gully. Then came that in-swinger to Brendon McCullum.However the roars from the stands were loudest when Stokes had the ball in his hand. There were moments in this Test when Stokes made Freddie Flintoff look like John the Baptist. One of them was at the conclusion of his third over. That was when he had just beaten Kane Williamson, who has the broadest bat in New Zealand, with two sublime, snorting deliveries. The next ball was edged to the gully. Then came that in-swinger to Brendon McCullum.
Stokes was the obvious man of the match. He has been brilliant, turning the game twice with the bat on the first and fourth days and once with the ball on the fifth. Here Stokes was unfettered and dangerous. Just do not expect too much consistency. That can’t be part of the current deal. Be grateful, not greedy.Stokes was the obvious man of the match. He has been brilliant, turning the game twice with the bat on the first and fourth days and once with the ball on the fifth. Here Stokes was unfettered and dangerous. Just do not expect too much consistency. That can’t be part of the current deal. Be grateful, not greedy.