An unlikely New Zealand hero has produced a major cricket moment as he became the first man in 92 years to achieve an impressive feat.
Kiwi Daryl Mitchell set an impressive cricket record that the world has not seen since Sir Donald Bradman, but would not have been in the mood to celebrate in the stumps on the 2nd.
Mitchell’s third century in three tests was overshadowed by a dramatic struggle of England in the Third Test at Headingley.
Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Overton shared a remarkable uninterrupted position of 209 while England finished the second day with 264-6, just 65 runs from New Zealand.
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The home team looked bleak when they fell to 55-6 after New Zealand’s first 329 innings.
But Bairstow came out firing and hit 130 stumps, not just 126 balls, to turn the game around.
He left Mitchell’s record buried as a footnote.
Mitchell’s 109 followed the middle-order batter’s 108 at Lord’s and 190 at Trent Bridge.
The 31-year-old only played at Lord’s after an injury and illness ruled out Henry Nicholls, but he has taken his chance to such an extent that Mitchell is now the only hitter abroad apart from the hero and Australian cricket icon Don Bradman in 1930 to compile hundreds in each of the first three trials of a series in England.
But the “heart competitor” added that he would like to make a hundred in a winning cause to change this tour.
“It would be good,” he said. “That’s why you play the game, to win test matches for your country.”
Meanwhile, Overton was not 89 in the stumps, a magnificent effort from a fast bowler in his first test innings.
England coach Brendon McCullum is adamant that “Baz dance,” as his approach has been dubbed, is not just a matter of going to hell for the skin.
But it seems to be about expanding the realms of possibilities, with Bairstow telling reporters, “We (England) are still in childhood, but what I will say is that we are looking to move the game forward.
“You can get into your shell and baptize like people have done for years and years and years – try to survive against bowling players like Trent Boult and Tim Southee when they’re playing bowling so well, but you have to transfer momentum. You have to get them out of their lengths “.
Bairstow now hopes to have the best seat in the house on Saturday as Overton seeks to complete what would be an astonishing hundred debuts.
“Jamie played amazingly. I guess it helps to be 6 feet 5 inches, but damn blooming, that was a very special thing; once amazing,” he said.
“Hopefully, in the morning, we can experience him doing his Test maiden hundred, which would be absolutely lovely.”
—With AFP