Cricket: Can NZ make history with the bat?

Kane Williamson celebrates the wicket of Jonathan Trott during day three of 1st Investec Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's.Photo / Getty

The big imprints look like something Neil Armstrong might've left on the moon but if the New Zealand batsmen can negotiate the Lord's pitch footmarks it'll be one giant leap for the Mike Hesson/Brendon McCullum regime.

A second New Zealand victory at the Marylebone Cricket Club in 16 attempts (the other came in 1999) remains a moon landing-type longshot. England have a lead of 205 runs and there are only three instances in the 129-year, 126-test history at the ground where teams have chased more for victory in the fourth innings. With England 180 for six, the need to take four more wickets means the hosts can apply more pressure with the bat.

Compounding matters is the thought this is the most a Lord's wicket has broken up and spun in May for years. New Zealand's footwork will need to be of a Fred Astaire variety to keep off-spinner Graeme Swann from landing a series of leather grenades. In addition, the limitations of a new lush outfield must be considered.

A full turf replacement was part of the contract which granted permission for Lord's to be used for the Olympic archery. As a consequence, the ball ambles toward the rope.

Still, that's all 'bah, humbug'. The visitors have reasons to be upbeat. The word 'legend' and its derivatives are bandied about too liberally in sport but if a New Zealander(s) were to carry the team to victory at the spiritual home of cricket it would weigh heavily in the nation's sporting history.

The class of 2013 have two days to complete the task with a batting line-up capable of technical patience (e.g. Kane Williamson and Dean Brownlie) and innovative flair (Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum). The occasion also calls for openers Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford to assert themselves against more arduous circumstances than those faced at home. B-J Watling's future playing prospects are yet to be ascertained after he injured his knee, but he could play a role.

Pace bowler Tim Southee said the Williamson ball which spun back to bowl Jonathan Trott put the team on notice.

"That's playing on the minds of the batsmen. Not every ball is turning but when you get in those footmarks there's a bit there."

When asked how to counter it, Southee's famed laissez-faire batting approach emerged, fresh from hitting three fours and getting out in the same over to Steven Finn.

"You're asking the wrong man," he laughed. "We'll discuss that closer to the time. We've still got a job to do with the ball.

"The swing of James Anderson is also an issue. He showed his class in the first innings and has a great record here. Those two factors are key."

Ross Taylor offered the most apt advice yesterday after making 66.

"Everyone is different but, as we've seen in the West Indies, Sri Lanka and India, every time we let a spin bowler settle it works against us. If we have a positive intent, get singles and rotate the strike then hopefully we're not bogged down.

"Facing Swann in the fourth innings will be tough because some of those balls were already ragging. However, he doesn't have a doosra so you've got to try to cut down the angles [where he can attack the stumps] as much as possible."