Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow

‘I get to 20 and I think I’m like Bradman’ – Mark Wood

Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow

It was Jonny Bairstow’s 97* that shored up England’s batting, taking them to 290/8 by the end of the first day of the Christchurch Test against New Zealand, but he might not have reached there had it not been for an entertaining 52 from Mark Wood, the No.9 batsman.

The two got together with England on 164/7 and were separated only after taking the total to 259 when Wood became Tim Southee’s fifth victim for the innings. It was Wood’s first half-century in Test cricket in his 11th appearance.

Interestingly, Wood is in the XI as a specialist paceman, having replaced Craig Overton after the first Test.

“I had loads of fun but the worrying thing is I've got a 50 before a five-for, so I've done that the wrong way around,” he joked after the day’s play. Wood’s career-best figures in Tests is 3/39.

“I loved batting with Jonny, a lad I've played with and against since I was about 11 years old. Nice to do it with him at the other end,” added Wood. “When I went out to bat we were in a bit of trouble. Jonny knows I like to have a bit of fun out there, so that made it easier. Just having a laugh and seeing how it goes. It just put my mind at ease.”

Wood, who hit seven fours and a six in his innings, said he had been hoping to get into the playing XI and had been preparing for it. “I worked hard in the nets this week thinking I might play this game. I get to 20 and I think I'm like Bradman, that's the problem, I try too many shots,” he said. “Jonny kept it fun, kept it calm, whereas sometimes I think I get a bit ahead of myself and try too much.

“Me and Jonny talked about a plan and we could set up. When I first got in, Southee had done a lot of the damage and was nipping it around so it was harder. New Zealand bowled really well this morning. Maybe it felt like we just changed the momentum a little bit and brought it back in our favour. We rotated the strike well, that's one of things Jonny does – he runs well between the wickets.”

Meanwhile, if Trent Boult was the star of New Zealand’s innings-and-49-run win in the first Test, it was Southee in charge this time, ending the day with 5/60. That put him level with Chris Cairns on 218 Test wickets, only behind Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin among New Zealanders.

Most Test wickets by New Zealand bowlers

Bowler Tests Wickets Average Best
Richard Hadlee 86 431 22.29 9/52
Daniel Vettori 112 361 34.15 7/87
Chris Martin 71 233 33.81 6/26
Chris Cairns 62 218 29.4 7/27
Tim Southee 60* 218 30.79 7/64

Between them, Southee and Boult had reduced England to 38/2 before England fought back. But immediately after lunch, the pace spearheads hunted in tandem again to leave England at 94/5 and swing the match in New Zealand’s favour.

“That little burst after lunch was good for us with three quick wickets. Then England dug deep and that partnership was a crucial one for them,” pointed out Southee. “One thing to come out of it, it shows that once you get in and the ball gets a bit older the wicket is reasonably good.”

Wood might be right in saying that the momentum has swung in England’s favour a bit, but Southee felt honours were even. “I think it's pretty even, it would have been nice to finish them off this evening but credit has to go to the way the lower order stuck in,” he said. “The way Jonny has played all summer, we know he's a big wicket and a dangerous player.”

EnglandNew ZealandNew Zealand vs England - SeriesTim Southee 12/11/1988Mark Wood 01/11/1990Men's News