England earn tough draw in New Zealand NEWS
England pulled off a magnificent rearguard action on the fifth day of the third and final test in Auckland to earn a draw in the match and series, Matt Prior excelling with an unbeaten century.
It looked highly unlikely at the start of play on the fifth morning in Auckland but somehow England were able to bat out the day and avoid what would have been an embarrassing match and series defeat to the eighth ranked Test nation.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior was the England hero scoring an unbeaten 110 but, more importantly, occupying the crease for four-and-a-half hours, partnering the tail of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Monty Panesar.
Panesar came to the crease with five balls remaining in the innings and was almost run out in comical fashion, but he survived to earn the draw.
England started the day with six wickets in hand and defeat a probability, but Ian bell and Joe Root batted with discipline to keep out the Kiwi seamers. However, it was the new ball, taken just before lunch, that appeared to scupper English hopes.
Trent Boult took Root's wicket with the first new-ball delivery and then Bell and the newly-arrived Jonny Bairstow were both dropped in the final over before lunch, frustrating their hosts and proving that Lady Luck was still deciding which team would earn her charms.
Bairstow's luck ran out quickly after lunch with his departure for six, the loss of wicket bringing the hero-of-the-hour Prior to the middle. New Zealand thought they had almost immediately but his dismissal for lbw was overturned after an appeal showed he had got an inside edge.
Prior was left as the last acknowledged batsman when Bell, after just shy of six hours at the crease, fell to Wagner. However, left with tail Prior was up to the task of guiding England to safety, ensuring the series was drawn too.
To put England's achievement into perspective they are only the third Test team to survive a match when they have been four wickets down with a full day to play, the others being Michael Atherton's England against South Africa in 1995 and South Africa themselves last year against Australia.
With the series being drawn England maintained their place at No.2 in the world Test rankings, just ahead of India who recently whitewashed Australia 4-0 on the sub-continent. South Africa remain top of the rankings.
England will face some soul-searching in the days ahead as their performances in New Zealand were well below par and a massive drop-off from their pre-Christmas tour that saw them win the series in India 2-1.
Australia are due in the Summer for a five-Test Ashes series and, even though they are a pale shadow of former Aussie teams, no Australian team gives anything less than 100% when facing England, so there are tough matches ahead. Ahead of Australia England replay new Zealand in a two-Test series starting in May, and will be looking to return to winning ways.
England are in a period of some transition with a fairly young and inexperienced captain, Alistair Cook, and their best batting line-up is still to be settled. Nick Compton has enjoyed a good start to his Test career but he's still very young and a poor start against the Aussies could see his place under threat.
Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and, a hopefully fit-again, Kevin Pietersen are nailed-on certainties to start against Australia but the No.6 spot is still up for grabs. Joe Root is in the driving seat at the moment with Jonny Bairstow first reserve. Prior is a superb No.7 and perhaps the best wicketkeeper-batsman in world cricket.
On the bowling front Jimmy Anderson was unusually ineffective in New Zealand and is perhaps struggling with a few niggles that require a short rest. Stuart Broad rediscovered some form but is still short of his best. Steve Finn was very good down under and his position in the side seems certain, although Tim Brenan never lets his country down and a seamer-friendly pitch would see him as an option.
Graeme Swann, one of the world's best spinners, hopes to be fit in time for the Ashes series, but England also have Monty Panesar, who has matured into a very good Test bowler.
The next year will be a busy one for England with the home series versus New Zealand and Australia, the usual glut of ODI's and T20 internationals, followed by the Ashes tour to Australia starting in November.
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