Prior Saves England in Epic

New Zealand 443 & 241/6d

England 204 & 315/9

Match drawn (series drawn 0-0)

Day 5, Third Test

Auckland

England defied the odds, courtesy of wicketkeeper Matt Prior (right), to draw the game and the series, in Auckland.

Prior’s stunning 110 not out proved the platform for the unlikeliest of escapes by the tourists in what was a thrilling encounter on New Zealand’s north island.

The series, which finished 0-0, was still in the balance with the final ball of the final day of the final test.
 

Alastair Cook’s men probably didn’t deserve the draw; they were below par in most departments, including arguably captaincy too, with Cook’s decision to field on the opening day, which lead New Zealand making over 200 for the loss of just one wicket, requiring justification.

Entering the final day, the hosts needed just six wickets, their opponents a miracle.

Step forward the best wicketkeeper/batsman in world cricket at the moment, Prior.

It’s a measure of the man’s mentality when he visibly lambasted himself for the shot which brought up his century. The wily Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum continued to tinker with his field placings and when Prior played a Neil Wagner delivery through mid-wicket in the air for his ton, he was clearly agitated by the risk he had just taken.

A man who took no risks whatsoever though, was tail-ender Stuart Broad, who took nearly 90 minutes and over 60 deliveries to get off the mark. 

Short of form, the pace bowler partnered Prior admirably but looked like a giraffe in roller-skates at times; most notably when an inswinging yorker felled the 6’6” Nott to the floor, who proceeded to headbutt his upstanding bat.

It was all fun and games for the neutral, but absolute torture for the Barmy Army who cheered every passing delivery as if it was their last and played their trumpet with a nervous regularity.

There was to be late, late drama, as with four overs to go, McCullum threw the ball to part-time off-spinner Kane Williamson who dismissed the stubborn Broad (6 runs off 77 balls) and James Anderson in quick succession.

Shades of the Ashes series of 2009 came flooding back as last man, the petrified looking Monty Panesar, entered the arena, needing to help Prior see out the remaining 21 balls.

Panesar and Anderson had saved England’s blushes in the first test at Cardiff nearly four years ago, but that was an Ashes series, this was just to salvage a stalemate against New Zealand.

Try telling Prior.

For someone who claims that he’s not one for celebrating draws much, there was a distinct lack of restraint when he, fittingly, saw off the last ball of the day.