New Zealand take charge of second Test with England left to rue missed chances

The psychology of the toss in Test cricket is a curious thing and on the opening day at Trent Bridge never more so. New Zealand positively cantered to 318 for four by stumps but while the run-rate was too high for England’s liking, the hosts could have kidded themselves this was only slightly above par had they been asked to field.

Instead, Ben Stokes was the captain given the option, meaning that for all of his side’s perspiration and those four breakthroughs, their returns will be viewed less favourably.

England’s catching had also resumed normal service, four chances going down and Joe Root’s drop off Daryl Mitchell, three runs into his unbeaten 81, the most costly. As tends to be the case when these sides meet on a cricket field, the entertainment levels were high.

The Nottingham crowd was treated to bright sunshine and some wonderfully crisp strokeplay from the tourists, not least during an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 149 between Mitchell and Tom Blundell that rekindled their bromance from Lord’s and saw the latter cruise his way to 67 not out.

Stokes was not without his reasons. There was a tinge of green on the pitch and the New Zealand top order that failed twice at Lord’s had lost Kane Williamson to a positive Covid-19 test overnight.

Tom Latham, deputising for the sixth time in seven Tests, said he would have bowled first too and had an all-seam attack that suggested no attempt at kidology. Until a ball is bowled, fingers are always crossed to some degree.

The surface, however, was also dry, hard and, despite some decent carry, on the slow side. New Zealand are such a phlegmatic bunch too that the loss of Williamson – a player grappling for form as it was – had little effect. The tourists took a wonderfully