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Ben Stokes in the first test New Zealand v England 2018
Photo by Ross Setford/AP/REX/Shutterstock | Ben Stokes in the first test New Zealand v England 2018

Ratings | England fall to defeat after first innings collapse

George Marrable
Cricket

By George Marrable

  • England lost the first test with New Zealand by an innings and 49 runs
  • Tourists were skittled out for just 58 in the first innings
  • Ben Stokes led the fightback in the second innings with a top score of 66
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – England fell to defeat in the first test against New Zealand after a dismal first innings performance, meaning they have now lost 9 out of their last 10 away test matches.

 

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England

 

Alastair Cook – 1/10 – A poor showing from the former captain in Auckland. Cook could only make seven runs cumulatively across both innings as Boult claimed his wicket on both occasions.

Mark Stoneman – 5/10 – A good innings of 55 redeemed Stoneman in the second innings. He consistently found gaps in the field and pounced on short deliveries, but was undone by a Neil Wagner short delivery.

Joe Root – 4/10 – Root was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, but went on to make 51 in the second – another score of 50+ for the captain. However, once again, he struggled to kick on, being dismissed by Boult on the last day of day four.

Dawid Malan – 3/10 – At the start of day five, hopes hinged on Malan to see out the game, but did not last very long in the morning session before being caught by Latham off the bowling of Southee.

Ben Stokes – 6/10 – Like Root, Stokes was one of five English batsmen to get a duck in the first innings. His attempts to make up for it came through his defiant defence in the second innings, making a determined 66 from 188 balls.

Jonny Bairstow – 3/10 – Another England batsman to get a duck in the first innings, Bairstow rode his luck before being dismissed for 26.

Moeen Ali – 2/10 – Wicketless with the ball and ineffective with the bat, it was a poor game for Moeen. He finished as the one of the most expensive England bowler’s and was trapped LBW with the second new ball of the innings.

Chris Woakes – 5/10 – A defiant batting performance from Woakes as he and Stokes battled to salvage a draw. The all-rounder made 52 before being caught at short-leg.

Craig Overton – 6/10 – One of only two England players to make double-figures in the first innings, Overton top scored with 33. He bowled well with ball in hand, bowling economically to finish with figures of 1-70.

Stuart Broad – 7/10 – A good bowling performance from Broad as New Zealand took the early advantage. He came away with figures of 3-78 including the big wicket of Latham early on in the game.

James Anderson – 7/10 – Anderson, like Broad, also finished with a three-fer. Despite England bowlers struggling to move the ball, Anderson kept working and claimed three massive wickets of Raval, Williamson and Taylor.

 

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New Zealand

Tom Latham – 4/10 – Latham got a decent start as he looked to bat slowly and carefully whilst New Zealand took advantage of England’s poor display. He was eventually dismissed for 26 from 112 balls.

Jeet Raval – 1/10 – A poor game for Raval as he made just three.

Kane Williamson – 9/10 – New Zealand’s captain led the way once again, making 112 in the first innings. He was careful, yet positive with his approach, punishing anything loose from the England bowlers and putting his side in a strong position.

Ross Taylor – 4/10 – Like Latham Taylor got off to a decent start before being caught by Woakes off the bowling of Anderson.

Henry Nicholls – 10/10 – A magnificent innings of 145* not out cemented New Zealand’s position in the game. A knock that included 18 fours, Nicholls batted fluently to score just his second test century.

BJ Watling – 5/10 – A couple of catches in both innings and a nice innings of 31, Watling will be disappointed he could not kick on with the bat after starting so promisingly.

Colin de Grandhomme – 5/10 – A fairly exciting knock lower down the order as New Zealand tried to accelerate. De Grandhomme made 29 including five fours and one six before becoming Overton’s sole wicket. He bowled incredibly well in the second innings, going at less than two runs an over.

Todd Astle – 7/10 – Despite not getting chance to bowl in the first innings, Astle took his chance in the second. The spinner ripped through the England lower order to finish with figures of 3-39.

Tim Southee – 8/10 – Southee was an absolute menace with the ball in Auckland. The seamer found movement early on and, with his partner Boult, caused massive problems for the England batsmen, finishing with a four-fer in the first innings.

Neil Wagner – 7/10 – As Boult and Southee shared the spotlight in the first innings, Wagner was another to step up in the second. He finished with three wickets after a spell of well-directed, quick short bowling.

Trent Boult – 9/10 – Nine wickets in the game for Boult, including six in the first innings. Boult showed that there was no substitute for raw pace and bounce, and the left armer caused the England batting lineup problems all game.

 

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