Dylan Cleaver with three thoughts on day three of the World Trials Championship final between the Black Caps and India.

Report: Black Caps shine on day three

How too slow is it?

Before
we get more than one sentence in this little segment, it’s worth noting that Tom Latham and Devon Conway did exactly what was asked of them at the top of the order and their battle, with the odds against them, was a long way north of admirable.

For those of us old enough to remember, it was like being transported back to the early 80’s. If you squinted at the screen long enough, you might have been able to make out the other lefties John Wright and Bruce Edgar. .

As important as the 70’s partnership is, it’s also possible that it tipped the odds of the game more towards the draw. With the match set for Day 4 appearing to be badly affected by the rain – at the time of writing, forecasts predicted 80-90% precipitation during playing hours – it’s difficult to chart a path to victory. the fifth and sixth days barring an epic meltdown or two.

How hard was it to beat? It took 26.3 overs for Latham and Conway to set up their 50-race partnership. The Indian pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, on the other hand, took 17.1 overs and even that looked tough.

To emphasize this point, this was the right approach. It’s hard to overstate how difficult it was. The techniques weren’t so much probed as they were racked and tortured. It wasn’t even about protecting the middle order for as long as possible as New Zealand demonstrated how to take wickets in tufts even with the old bullet because it was selling your wicket dearly once you were there. .

This was the test-match stick in its hardest form, but the question remains: will we have enough play over the next three days to see it rewarded?

Broken link

Kyle Jamieson is halfway through his eighth test. That alone should give you pause for thought as it already feels like a staple part of this attack; just as essential to the team’s participation in the WTC Finals as father (Tim Southee), son (Trent Boult) and the Most Holy (Neil Wagner).

It has 44 test windows. At this rate, he will pass his 50th test wicket on his ninth test. If he succeeds in this feat, only seven players in test cricket history will have done it faster. Digest this for a second, then contemplate this: He could have fun and break the record for brilliant Shane Bond as long as he takes six more scalps before the end of his 11th test.

What makes this achievement difficult to understand is that it does so at a time when New Zealand’s bowling stocks have never been so deep. It’s not Members’ End’s Sir Richard Hadlee and the Ilford Seconds on the other – the aforementioned three have 827 wickets between them.

Jamieson (5-31) was brilliant, focusing on a nagging fourth line strain with the odd inswinger in full swing. There is a long way to go, but his withdrawal of Virat Kohli (44) with a nip-backer could end up being the key moment of the game.

Another indication of his magical beginnings: he is only three wickets behind Colin de Grandhomme, who is contesting his 26th test, and has five bags at five wickets, more than luminaries like Ewen Chatfield, Bruce Taylor, John Bracewell and Dion. Nash.

Silk gloves

In what is his last test, BJ Watling produced an almost immaculate run behind the stumps. Normally, a 92-year-old stint in which he’s only featured in two layoffs wouldn’t warrant recognition as high as a treasure to take away, but it’s much more than a farewell gift.

Watling’s quiet excellence set the tone, especially when New Zealand was a bit nervous and ragged on the first morning the game was available.

We had a graphic illustration of how difficult it was to stay in England during the two series of tests leading up to this final. If anything, the ball deflected wider here, but somehow Watling pulled off a clear round, grabbing both of his chances, including a great net along the leg to clear Ravindra Jadeja and complete the innings, while not conceding any bye.

In the span of two balls during a wild Southee over, Watling walked three yards down the side of the leg to take a one-handed delivery, then went with the other hand past the second slip when Southee overcorrected .

Under these conditions, every run recorded or scored is like gold dust. It was an extraordinary spectacle.