England will embrace chance to ‘do something special’, says Root

Only 29 overs were possible on the fourth day of the second Test, time enough for New Zealand to set England a world record chase of 455 and for the home team to tantalise by reaching 44-0 before rain prevented play from 1.56pm.

The loss of 67 overs thereafter apparently put paid to already fanciful hopes of an England win, with the hosts needing a further 411 from a minimum of 98 overs.

Headingley is a hotbed of sporting miracles, but if England achieve this it would be the cricketing equivalent of the Marriage at Cana.

In truth, they would doubtless be delighted to escape with a draw, a result that would give them a 1-0 series victory.

But Joe Root, the vice-captain, said last night they have “an opportunity to do something special” and that “fingers crossed, we can come out all guns blazing”.

The sound of the party line being toed could almost be heard above the rat-a-tat-tat of rain against the windows of the Carnegie Pavilion as the Yorkshireman spoke.

But there was a steely glint in his eye as Root looked ahead with characteristic confidence.

“There is quite a bit of work to do,” conceded Root, with no team having chased more than 418 to win in the 138 years of Test cricket.

“But we’ve got an opportunity to do something special.

“Rain coming, in a way, has made things a little bit harder for us because we’ve got every intention of going out with a view to win the game, so that obviously means we’ve got less time to do that now.

“We’ve got off to a good start and, fingers crossed, we can come out all guns blazing.

“At least one person’s going to have to stand up and play a really important innings, but you look around that changing room and one to 11 are match-winners.

“We’ve got a long tail, and we’ve got every opportunity to go out there and chase them down.

“We’ll definitely need a couple of big partnerships, and we know we’re more than capable of doing that.”

Before the bad weather came yesterday four overs into the afternoon session, a compelling contest had continued apace.

New Zealand, 338-6 overnight, a lead of the same amount after the first innings scores finished level, clubbed 116 in 16 overs before declaring on 454-8.

The morning run-rate of 7.25 per over was Test cricket, Jim, but not as we know it, the type that might be played on an undiscovered planet.

The overall innings run-rate was 4.98, an improbable improvement on the 4.84 of the New Zealand first innings.

BJ Watling, who resumed on 100, set the tone by scoring seven off the opening over from James Anderson and had added 20 to his total when he was seventh out at 368.

Root removed him with a brilliant catch at third slip, diving to his right, as Anderson struck with the second new ball.

But hopes of a quick kill were extinguished by off-spinner Mark Craig and pace bowler Tim Southee, who added 67 from 52 balls to take the target beyond realistically manageable proportions for England. Craig creamed an unbeaten 58 from 77 balls and Southee slammed 40 off 24, including 20 runs off Stuart Broad’s first over of the day.

Southee finally holed out to long-on off Moeen Ali, the declaration coming after Broad conceded 19 runs off another over that contained three sixes.

New Zealand gave themselves 35 minutes at their hosts before lunch but wasted the window, bowling too short to Adam Lyth and Alastair Cook.

Lyth flashed two off-side fours off Matt Henry in the first over after the break and will resume on 24, with Cook unbeaten on 18.

Watling, who described himself as “very proud” to have become the first New Zealander to score a Test hundred at Headingley, believes England face an uphill battle.

Only twice in the history of first-class cricket at Leeds has a side chased more than 400 to win, Hampshire scoring 404-5 against Yorkshire in 2006 and Australia amassing 404-3 against England in 1948.

“We’ve still got 98 overs and a good 30 overs with the second new ball, so we’re definitely backing ourselves to win,” said Watling, playing in this game as a batsman only with a knee injury preventing him from his usual wicketkeeping duties.

“We know England won’t back down and they’ll be very tough to get out, but we’re going to come out strong and try to put them under pressure. The pitch is a little bit up and down and it’s a bit slow, so if you miss your lengths you can still score runs.

“But, hopefully, the boys can hit good areas and ask some questions, and the plan is to get a couple of early wickets and put them under pressure.

“We’ve just got to make sure we’re hitting some decent areas with the ball.”

Admission today is £5 adults and free for under-16s accompanied by an adult.