2nd Test: Tenacious New Zealand impress coach Hesson
Kiwis defeat England by 199 runs, draw two-match series
Tuesday’s win was only New Zealand’s ninth victory in 101 Tests against England. PHOTO: AFP
LEEDS:
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said he was delighted with the way his side “stuck to their guns” after coming from behind to draw a Test series with England.
The Black Caps thrashed England by 199 runs in the second Test at Headingley on Tuesday, just over a week after they lost the first of this two-match series by 124 runs at Lord’s.
The victory, only their fifth in 54 Tests in England, saw New Zealand end level at 1-1 and meant they had now been unbeaten in seven successive Test series.
Both their innings in the second Test saw New Zealand make shaky starts.
They were 2-2 in their first-innings and 23-2 in their second, but New Zealand continued to attack England’s bowlers and recovered to post totals of 350 and 454-8 declared respectively.
“It is challenging because obviously if it doesn’t work out, you can get exposed,” said Hesson. “We were under pressure a lot of the time and on most occasions we took a step forward. We stuck to the way we want to play and in a short space of time we got the initiative back.”
Hesson, who oversaw co-hosts New Zealand’s run to this year’s World Cup final, was particularly pleased at chalking up an away victory. “It’s seven Test series in a row without defeat. That’s something we are immensely proud of as a group.”
New Zealand now face England in a five-match ODI series, starting with the first ODI at Edgbaston on June 9.
England, in a bid to build a new one-day side and also to give some senior players a rest before the Ashes, have dropped James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ian Bell from their squad.
Now the likes of aggressive Surrey batsman Jason Roy and Northamptonshire all-rounder David Willey will be looking to impress against New Zealand.
“I think it’s an exciting squad. I guess some of the players have been left out because of form, others to rest for the Ashes,” said Hesson. “But it’s an exciting and a dangerous side.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said he was delighted with the way his side “stuck to their guns” after coming from behind to draw a Test series with England.
The Black Caps thrashed England by 199 runs in the second Test at Headingley on Tuesday, just over a week after they lost the first of this two-match series by 124 runs at Lord’s.
The victory, only their fifth in 54 Tests in England, saw New Zealand end level at 1-1 and meant they had now been unbeaten in seven successive Test series.
Both their innings in the second Test saw New Zealand make shaky starts.
They were 2-2 in their first-innings and 23-2 in their second, but New Zealand continued to attack England’s bowlers and recovered to post totals of 350 and 454-8 declared respectively.
“It is challenging because obviously if it doesn’t work out, you can get exposed,” said Hesson. “We were under pressure a lot of the time and on most occasions we took a step forward. We stuck to the way we want to play and in a short space of time we got the initiative back.”
Hesson, who oversaw co-hosts New Zealand’s run to this year’s World Cup final, was particularly pleased at chalking up an away victory. “It’s seven Test series in a row without defeat. That’s something we are immensely proud of as a group.”
New Zealand now face England in a five-match ODI series, starting with the first ODI at Edgbaston on June 9.
England, in a bid to build a new one-day side and also to give some senior players a rest before the Ashes, have dropped James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ian Bell from their squad.
Now the likes of aggressive Surrey batsman Jason Roy and Northamptonshire all-rounder David Willey will be looking to impress against New Zealand.
“I think it’s an exciting squad. I guess some of the players have been left out because of form, others to rest for the Ashes,” said Hesson. “But it’s an exciting and a dangerous side.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.