Brydon Carse took three wickets on day three to bowl England into a dominant position

One is on the verge of concluding his Test career, while the other is just starting out. However, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse teamed up to dismantle New Zealand’s batting line-up in the first Test at Hagley Oval.

The impact of Woakes’s late breakthrough on the third day, when he dismissed Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell in consecutive deliveries, might be limited to this series. At 36 years old in March, it seems unlikely that he will be part of the Ashes squad in a year.

On the other hand, Carse, England’s standout bowler during the winter, has positioned the Test team well for the pivotal 2025 season featuring five-match series against both India and Australia.

With England aiming to capitalise on a first-innings lead of 151 after Harry Brook finally fell for 171 and Ben Stokes hit 80 in the city of his birth – his highest score since the 2023 Ashes – Carse removed Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra and, shortly before stumps, Glenn Phillips.

‘He’s an unbelievable bowler and athlete,’ said Brook. ‘He’s around 90mph, and it’s great to have someone like that with extreme pace in the team. There’s always an event happening when he’s on. It feels like he’s going to get a wicket every ball.’

Carse’s three wickets helped give England control of the series opener and, following a first-innings haul of four, took his early Test numbers to 16 at an average of 19 – impressive figures for a bowler whose first two Tests came on a shirtfront and a turner in Pakistan.

Brydon Carse took three wickets on day three to bowl England into a dominant position

Brydon Carse took three wickets on day three to bowl England into a dominant position

Carse has been England's best bowler of the winter with his express pace causing problems for batters

Carse has been England’s best bowler of the winter with his express pace causing problems for batters

Harry Brook paid tribute to the 'unbelievable' Carse after hitting a majestic 171 of his own with the bat

Harry Brook paid tribute to the ‘unbelievable’ Carse after hitting a majestic 171 of his own with the bat

But while Carse, who recently told Mail Sport about his Ashes ambitions, has already inked his name into England’s Australia plans, Woakes came out to bowl in New Zealand’s second innings potentially playing for his Test career.

The discrepancy between his figures at home and away has long hung over him: in England, he has 137 Test wickets at 21, an average better than Jimmy Anderson or Stuart Broad managed at home; abroad, he had 38 at nearly 54.

A first-innings analysis of none for 70 strengthened the case against him, while the argument that he offered a bridge between the batsmen and the bowlers at No 8 was weakened when he fell for a single during England’s first-innings 499. To rub it in, Gus Atkinson (48 off 36 balls) and Carse (33 not out off 24) then bashed five sixes between them.

But Woakes provided an immediate riposte, having Tom Latham caught low down at second slip by Brook for a single in the third over to give himself, and England, an early lift.

Then, after Williamson and Daryl Mitchell had eased New Zealand to 133 for three, just 18 behind, he produced a decisive one-two to set England on the path, they hoped, to victory.

First he nipped one back into Williamson’s front pad – enough to persuade umpire Rod Tucker to uphold the lbw shout. When Williamson asked for a review, DRS suggested umpire’s call on impact with off stump, and New Zealand’s greatest player, having ticked off 9,000 Test runs, was out for 61.

The next ball, to wicketkeeper Blundell, went the other way, straightening off the seam to kiss the outside edge so imperceptibly that Blundell instantly called for a review. It could not save him.

Glenn Phillips repelled the hat-trick ball, but the mood had changed on the third evening of a game which England had spent the previous four sessions grabbing by the scruff. Six down, New Zealand led by just two.

Brook also hailed Chris Woakes after he picked up two wickets in two balls late in the day

Brook also hailed Chris Woakes after he picked up two wickets in two balls late in the day

[item name=module id=124549765 style=undefined /]

‘He was immense with the new ball,’ said Brook. ‘He’s always niggling away at the top of off stump, with the swing he gets and the skills he got. And at the back end there, what we saw was unbelievable.

‘On that pitch, and not getting too much out of it, to get the two big wickets of Williamson and Blundell back to back was a dagger to their heart.

‘Williamson always looks secure when he’s batting. He’s such a high-class performer, and almost like he’s impossible to get out. To see the back of him gave everyone a lot of energy. And to get Blundell out next ball got everybody firing.’

Earlier, Brook was dropped for the fifth time as he added 39 to his overnight 132, and took his Test average back above 60. Stokes, meanwhile, confirmed what was obvious when he spoke so openly before the match about the difficulties he experienced on the tour of Pakistan: he is in a happier place now, and the team can only benefit.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Teen driver behind crash that killed three women sentenced to six years' detention

Teen driver who caused accident resulting in the death of three women gets six years in detention

A teenage boy who caused a crash that killed three women and…
In an address to the University of South Australia earlier this month, Professor Langton called on the government to begin implementing regional voices in spite of the referendum defeat

Understanding Marcia Langton’s Perspective on Australians Opposing the Voice to Parliament

Marcia Langton has accused Peter Dutton of cementing ‘race hate’ into the…
Ms Moore was a leading proponent of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and gave a telling clue that the night would be highly political earlier in the evening

Mayor Emphasizes Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show Celebrated Indigenous Culture

Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore has come to the defense of the…
Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of dangling woman off balcony in new lawsuit

Lawsuit claims Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs hung a woman off a balcony

A woman named Bryana “Bana” Bongolan has brought forth accusations of sexual…
At age seven I watched my father stab my mother one morning at our family home. I didn't understand what had just happened - not fully. It was over so fast

When I was seven years old, I witnessed my father kill my mom. Upon his prison release, I had to make a tough decision.

I woke to the sound of shouting. It was early Saturday morning,…
Ben Stokes (right) has been embroiled in a feud with the ICC over the organisation's punishments for slow over rates

Australian reporter labels England’s cricket team as ‘complainers of the utmost degree’ while Ben Stokes responds to the ICC over slow over-rate controversy

A journalist from Australia has criticized Ben Stokes and his England team,…