If Brendon McCullum’s bold new era is an illusion it is a persuasive one

Shortly after half past five a wild and barbarous noise consumed Headingley, the sort that brings local residents to their windows and the day-trippers in the hospitality boxes streaming out on to the balconies.

A few of the dozing members in the pavilion may even have been stirred from their evening slumbers. Out in the middle Stuart Broad was pumping his arms like a preacher. England’s slip cordon were clapping in time, beating out a fearsome tribal rhythm.

All around, spectators quaked and convulsed with the rapture of the chosen. They knew that New Zealand were still ahead of the game, that a long and thorny road lay ahead. But they also knew that you don’t go to church to drown. You go to be saved.

Songs of salvation and songs of praise; a pulpit and a congregation in perfect unison; an epiphany under grey skies. Also – in fairness – some canny seam bowling by Matt Potts and an old ball that did a bit after tea. We can pick through the entrails of this side, argue about whether 55 for six or 360 all out is the truest version of themselves, speculate about whether England’s bold new era consists of anything more substantial than a populist rebrand and some pancake-flat pitches. In a way it hardly matters. England are 2-0 up against the world champions and sniffing a clean sweep. If it’s an illusion, then it’s a staggeringly persuasive one.

The day began with a tinge of disappointment for Jamie Overton, an entertaining little thrash by Broad and a small lead. Was Overton a little passive in those opening overs? What if he had tried to channel the energy of Friday evening rather than going 12 balls without scoring? Could Jonny Bairstow have gone even harder, even bigger, if Broad had tried to give him more of the