by England’s top spot collapsed on the second morning of the first Test against New Zealand, falling to 45 for three as their gamble on debutant Jacob Bethell failed to pay off.
The 21-year-old was thrown in at the deep end at number three – a position he has never held in his short first-class career – and was worked before being caught for 10 just before the lunch.
Another newcomer – Black Caps seamer Nathan Smith – got the better of him and delivered an even bigger blow when he bowled Joe Root for a duck with the last ball before the interval.
With Zak Crawley falling first without scoring, England’s response to the home side’s 348 was in serious contention in 15 overs.
Lunch of day 2
Late morning wickets for New Zealand mean there is work to do after the interval.
4️⃣5️⃣-3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/it7dEKKS37
– England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 29, 2024
After Brydon Carse cleared New Zealand’s final two wickets to finish with four for 64, Crawley gave a disappointing start to England’s response. He failed to score from his 12 balls and was trapped in front of leg stump by Matt Henry.
It meant an uncomfortably early arrival for Bethell, whose selection in such a crucial position prompted many raised eyebrows.
There was a muffled appeal for lbw on his first delivery in Test cricket and another for a non-existent edge on his seventh, while an excellent piece of fielding from Tim Southee prevented him from slipping when he drove his 12th.
Thirteen proved a lucky number as he rushed to score a single following a defensive push, but after 26 deliveries he was still stuck on a single.
Smith’s arrival brought him out of his shell with a jumper for four and a sweet cut towards the back point boundary, but he quickly lost the battle to the new blood.
Smith had already beaten him once on the outside edge when he received a piece of the bat early in his second over, Bethell looking to cover the line but slightly misreading the trajectory.
There was a short wait while the officials checked for a ball, but there was no respite for Bethell. That left Root with just five deliveries to face before lunch in his 150th Test and Smith, incredibly, made sure he didn’t.
After overshooting several times, he pushed Root onto the back foot, angled him inside and saw him pull the stumps with bat and pad.
England took New Zealand’s last two wickets for 29, with Carse taking responsibility. His first ball of the morning took care of Southee, who opted to take the ball short but could only inelegantly hack through fine leg.
The burly seamer also caused problems for Glenn Phillips, shaking him on the helmet then seeing a difficult chance slip, and wrapped things up with a punishing yorker to Will O’Rourke.
Carse’s total of four for 64 contrasts with that of Chris Woakes, who finished with zero for 70 from a disappointing 20 overs.
