The Black Caps fight back from a slow start of the second test against England. Video / Spark Sport
Consider the time and place: December 6, 2009, Wellington.
That was the last occasion a New Zealand test cricket side took to the field without Kane Williamson, Tim Southee or B-J Watling... until the opening day of the second match against England in Birmingham. In that instance the Black Capslost to Pakistan by 141 runs.
New Zealand have since played 94 of their 450 tests, where one, or generally all three, of the trio have featured in an XI which has come to master the ultimate form of the game.
Put it another way: that is 21 percent of New Zealand's history as a test nation.
Another condiment? Their next match is the world championship final against India, starting a week today in Southampton.
Watling: 74 tests, 260 dismissals - in 66 matches as a wicketkeeper - at 2.08 per innings.
Yet Williamson's troublesome left elbow tendon, Watling's sore back and the desire to give Southee rest after taking seven for 80 at Lord's have held sway.
Stumps at Day 1, New Zealand players New Zealand BlackCaps v England, Day 1 of the 2nd Test at Birmingham. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
What a dilemma to face - or perhaps a risk to take – when loading up with more rather than less test cricket is often cited as a preferred scenario. The decision to opt for cotton wool can't have been taken lightly, given how much the team has spoken about facing one match at a time.
For instance, here was Tom Latham on test eve.
"Beating England is high on our priority list. It's such a great opportunity to come here and play our brand of cricket and put on a performance we're proud of.
"Yes, there's an eye to the final in a week's time, but our focus is on this game and the next five days… to win away from home is not an easy thing."
Regardless, the absence of the Williamson-Southee-Watling axis along with Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme and Kyle Jamieson from the first drawn test, means New Zealand are attempting to secure their third series win in England with six changes. Will Young, Trent Boult, Tom Blundell, Ajaz Patel, Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry have swapped drinks-carrying vests for whites.
New Zealand Black Caps players leave the field at the end of Day 1. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
Outside Boult as a shoo-in, there is plenty of incentive for the other candidates. Henry, Blundell and Patel moved to justify their selections on the opening day when England reached 258 for seven after deciding to bat.
Patel offered minimalist guile and maximum efficiency in his ninth test, and first since February 2020 against India. The 32-year-old must still rank as the country's best specialist spinner if his control and occasional arm ball was evidence in taking two for 34 from 14 overs. However, his chances of a recall against India in Southampton will likely hinge on his performance in England's second innings as the pitch deteriorates.
Henry effectively replaced Jamieson, which appeared odd, given the latter's success as he gains a foothold in the format. His opening seven tests have brought 39 wickets at an average of 15.15.
The Cantabrian came in averaging 51.54 from 13 tests but looked more like the bowler who took 75 wickets at 15.48 for Kent in the 2018 English county championship. That was underlined by his accuracy in the corridor outside off stump during the middle session when the visitors took four for 85.
The right-armer finished with two for 66 from 22 overs across the day, including England opener Dom Sibley to break the shackles and captain Joe Root for four to burrow into the middle order after lunch.
Both were caught behind by Tom Blundell who offered a sound display as wicket-keeper, blemished only by an iron gloves moment when a Henry gem surprised Root and ricocheted through to the boundary for byes.
The 30-year-old gloveman-in-waiting helped remove Sibley and Root, then Venus fly-trapped Ollie Pope off Patel as he cut at a shorter, wider ball.
Young and Mitchell should get their chance to shine on the second day.
