Shoaib Bashir led the fightback as England bagged five New Zealand wickets in the final session after Kane Williamson hit 93 on day one of the first Test at a packed Hagley Oval.
Williamson, who missed the Kiwis’ recent 3-0 victory in India with a groin injury but replaced player of that series, Will Young, against England, fell seven runs short of what would have been a 33rd Test century as the hosts closed on 319-8 in Christchurch.
New Zealand were well placed on 227-4 in the evening but the dismissal of Williamson – caught at backward point off Gus Atkinson (2-61) – triggered a wobble of 3-25, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir (4-69) removing Tom Blundell (17) and debutant Nathan Smith (3).
Bashir then ended a frustrating 45-run stand between Glenn Phillips (41no) and Matt Henry (18) when the latter holed out at long-on as he added further to his earlier wicket of Rachin Ravindra (34).
Phillips (41no) was dropped on nought as England captain Ben Stokes shelled a sharp chance at mid-off, with the same batter then overturning a caught-behind dismissal off Stokes on nine.
England were not bang at it in the morning and afternoon after electing to bowl on a green-tinged surface but were much-improved after tea as they began their bird for a first Test series win in New Zealand since a 2-1 triumph in 2008, under Michael Vaughan.
The winners of this series will scoop the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, named in tribute to ex-New Zealand captain Martin Crowe and former England batter Graham Thorpe.
The trophy merges bats used by Crowe and Thorpe, who passed away in 2016 and 2024 respectively – Crowe’s bat was the one with which he scored a hundred at Lord’s in 1994, while Thorpe hit back-to-back centuries with his in New Zealand in 1997.
Williamson returns to Test cricket in style
Current New Zealand captain Tom Latham (47) added 58 with Williamson for the second wicket after Atkinson had caught Devon Conway (2) off his own bowling in the second over, taking smartly in his follow through to leave the home side 4-1.
Latham edged Bryson Carse (2-57) behind to stand-in wicketkeeper Ollie Pope but Williamson went on to share half-century partnerships with Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell (19), alliances of 68 and 69 respectively.
Ravindra would have been dismissed on 21 on the stroke of lunch had England called for the review, with it later shown that the batter had snicked Stokes through to Pope.
England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir took four wickets on day one at Hagley Oval
That blunder only cost the tourists 13 runs with Ravindra clothing a Bashir full toss to Zak Crawley at midwicket, before Mitchell top-edged Carse to Harry Brook at deep third early in the final session.
Thursday’s action in Christchurch also saw England debutant Jacob Bethell bowl one over of left-arm spin, with his first ball swept for four by Williamson before he tightened up thereafter.
Bethell will bat at No 3 for England with Pope dropping down to No 6 as he marries batting duties with keeping wicket following the tour-ending fractured thumb suffered by Jordan Cox.
Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson has been added to England’s Test squad
England have called up uncapped Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson, with the 25-year-old due to arrive on Saturday and be an option for the second Test in Wellington next week.
Robinson would likely come in for Bethell but should the debutant impress in Christchurch and Pope continue the struggles that saw him average 11 in Pakistan in October with a top-score of 29, England could have a big decision to make.
The New Zealand view – ‘Test is evenly poised’
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson:
Williamson struck 10 boundaries in his innings of 93
“It was challenging, we had to work hard and we had some really good partnerships. The ball did a bit throughout but it is pretty fair for bat and ball. I was just trying to adjust and I think our guys applied themselves.
“It was a pretty balanced day of Test cricket. Both teams fought hard and got their rewards. It’s evenly poised.
“I think both teams will be pleased with their efforts and it just depends on how the surface changes throughout in terms of how valuable day one is for either team.
“The predominant threat is usually sideways movement and bounce but Bashir bowled nicely. He is a tall guy and gets bounce, gets some drop and got his rewards.”
England’s Test tour of New Zealand
- First Test: November 28-December 2 (Christchurch)
- Second Test: December 6-10 (Wellington)
- Third Test: December 14-18 (Hamilton)