Stuart Broad rejoices in ‘dreamworld’ of England’s transformative morning

Stuart Broad described the opening hour and a half of the third day of the opening Test, in which England broke the 195-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell and ripped through New Zealand’s lower order, as “absolute dreamworld – couldn’t have done any better” – and his side know that should they start the fourth day in similar style it will almost certainly end in victory.

England stand 61 runs from securing a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, with five wickets in hand, a second new ball still 15 overs away and Joe Root, unbeaten on 77, once again in compelling form. “It would cap off a fantastic Test match,” Broad said. “It’s up to us as a group of players to do everything we can to get over the line, and it would be very special. I’ve got a really good feeling about tomorrow.”

A single Broad over transformed England’s chances in the game, with Mitchell, Colin de Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson dismissed off successive deliveries as from 251 for four the tourists were eventually bowled out for 285. “It was huge. We knew we had to strike with the new ball because the Test match was riding on it,” Broad said.

But the 35-year-old admitted he had “absolutely no idea” what was happening as De Grandhomme was run out by Ollie Pope’s direct hit, while the bowler was facing the umpire performing “one of the worst appeals ever”.

Having since seen replays of the incident, he said it was evidence of a team transformed. “I don’t know what’s changed but I think our accuracy with our throwing in the field and our fielding in general has been outstanding, and it just shows what a group of players can do with an attacking mindset in the field,” he said. “Because that nicked us a wicket, and it shows how crucial that