3rd Test, Day One: New Zealand 361-4
Latham and Conway Share Record Opening Stand
Ben Stokes appeared visibly relieved when his pre-match press conference for the third Test against New Zealand finally shifted away from discussions of his recent disciplinary absence and towards his cherished memories at Trent Bridge.
His first recollection was the 2015 Ashes victory at this venue, highlighted by Stuart Broad’s remarkable eight for 15. He then recalled the second Test against New Zealand four years prior, when Jonny Bairstow’s aggressive batting during the chase was said to mark the birth of Bazball.
If England are to secure victory in this decisive match and alleviate the turmoil following Stokes’ Lord’s absence, this Test could surpass all previous memories. By the close of a sweltering first day, New Zealand had amassed an imposing 361 for four, with centuries from Tom Latham and Devon Conway, leaving England seemingly in need of a near-miracle.
The oppressive heat was evident, but inspiration was scarce. The pitch at Trent Bridge proved challenging for bowlers—a consequence of the ongoing heatwave—though early signs suggested it might deteriorate. England, batting last, are unlikely to find conditions as favourable as Latham and Conway did.
The opening pair compiled a 317-run partnership, setting a new record for New Zealand openers in England, surpassing the 185 runs made by John Wright and Trevor Franklin at Lord’s in 1990. Latham was commanding from the start, reaching 151, while Conway overcame a tentative beginning to score 157, displaying notable aggression in the final session.
More concerning for England was the historical context: the last time visiting openers surpassed 300 runs was in 2003 when South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie put on 338 at Edgbaston, an innings that prompted Nasser Hussain to resign as England captain. Stokes has notably refrained from committing to future matches beyond this Test.
Opportunities to dismiss the batsmen were scarce during their 72-over stand. However, a few chances did arise, frustrating the sellout crowd enduring the heat.
The most significant chance occurred in the afternoon session when Conway, on 71, prodded forward to Shoaib Bashir. An appeal for lbw was stifled amid widespread belief of an inside edge, leading to the decision not to review. Replays later confirmed the ball struck Conway’s pad first and would have hit the stumps.
More frustrating for England was a dropped catch after tea. Jamie Smith, returning behind the stumps, failed to hold a catch off Gus Atkinson’s bowling when Latham was on 129. Atkinson had induced a leg-side edge, but Smith’s attempt was unsuccessful.
Ultimately, Stokes himself secured the breakthrough, summoning energy to induce a tired edge from Latham that Smith caught, redeeming his earlier error. Conway was dismissed in the next over, caught by Joe Root off spin bowling, opening both ends.
As the crowd thinned near the day’s end, Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra appeared resolute. However, Ravindra’s poor pull shot off Atkinson yielded the wicket Atkinson deserved. Jofra Archer then delivered a sharp delivery to dismiss Nicholls for 36, prompting the close of play.
Team Changes and Match Dynamics
Before the match, New Zealand announced injuries to Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips, with Kyle Jamieson already ruled out for workload management. England made four changes to the inexperienced side that suffered a heavy defeat at the Oval.
However, the toss saw Latham call correctly, setting England on the back foot from the start. Latham and Conway reached 108 without loss by lunch, then 213 by tea, before England’s late wickets provided some respite.
Early in the day, Stokes moved third slip to gully in the sixth over. The very next ball from Archer took an edge from Latham that flew through the vacated position, eliciting groans from the crowd where such moves once yielded wickets.
Archer was used sparingly by Stokes, bowling just two four-over spells before tea. Bashir was assigned a holding role at one end to allow Atkinson and Josh Tongue to rotate at the other. Bashir started well but lost control of his length later, enabling Conway to capitalize.
Despite bouts of cramp, Conway and Latham thrived in the conditions, aided by an outfield that allowed the ball to race off the bat. Latham’s century was his 17th in Tests, equalling Martin Crowe’s career tally, while Conway’s eighth century was a notable personal triumph over recent technical difficulties.
Stokes found some hope in recalling the Bairstow-inspired victory four years ago, when New Zealand had been in a strong position at 405 for four in their first innings. However, this match features a different pitch and a markedly different England team.
"The Ashes win at this venue in 2015 was the first that came to mind, Stuart Broad’s eight for 15 and the like. Then came his recollections of the second Test against New Zealand four years ago, when Jonny Bairstow went gangbusters in the run chase and Bazball was said to have been born."
"If England are to win the decider and ease the crisis triggered by Stokes after Lord’s, it may well top the lot."
"Chances were few and far between during the 72 overs that Latham and Conway stitched together in punishing fashion. But to the frustration of a sellout crowd that was similarly battling the heat, a couple did come England’s way."
"In the end it needed Stokes to produce the breakthrough himself, finding some extra energy from somewhere to tease a tired edge behind from Latham that allowed Smith to atone."
"More ominous was the fact that the last time a pair of visiting openers went past 300 – South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie putting on 338 at Edgbaston in 2003 – it persuaded Nasser Hussain that his time as England captain was up."
"If there was some hope for Stokes then it came from the fact that the Bairstow-inspired win he remembered from four years ago featured New Zealand sitting pretty on 405 for four in their first innings. This is a different surface, however, and a very different England team to go with it."
