The big call at the beginning of their alliance as leader and coach came at the top of the class. Root was restored to his favorite position at No. 4, while Pope was asked to step on a spot above, even though he had never done it before in first-class cricket and after a winter of technical confusion. Many viewers wondered if the newly discovered mantra of English positivity was trying too hard. These are the first days of the new regime, of course, and the combination of a flat court and a snooker table at Trent Bridge must also be considered. Still, with England meeting New Zealand 553 at 473 for five, and most of these routes going through Pope’s 145 and a similar glittering 163 rather than the relentless Root, the reshuffle has some early breath . Surely Stokes certainly seemed encouraged by all this when he entered the battle after tea at 344 for four. New Zealand still had 219 runs ahead and had finally counterattacked with Trent Boult’s excellence, taking Pope off the ball after a cushion malfunction and teasing a glove behind Jonny Bairstow for eight. Initially surprised by Stokes looting a 33-ball 46 that had the Trent Bridge rocking, the tourists knew an opportunity was coming and suddenly they were celebrating again. Although Stokes probably gave Michael Bracewell a maiden test wicket on his debut, attempting a third six from the off-spinner, Root’s cool head was still out there. The former captain had already emerged from his 27th trial century – coming from 116 balls, also the fastest to date – and from 405 for five to 95, he continued last week’s winning alliance with Ben Foakes. The pair came out of the spotlight in the final hour with relative confidence for an unbroken 68 stand, even though Fawkes was given a life at nine when Will Young caught a swirling catch in the deep. The wicketkeeper will start on the fourth day at 24, although the bulk of New Zealand overnight talk will focus on Root and a player who, after this 115 that did not come out in Lord’s, last deducted about 278 runs before. Ollie Pope recognizes the crowd after losing his wicket for 145. Photo: Steve Bond / PPAUK / REX / Shutterstock Pope had played nicely earlier for his second test century in his 25th appearance and for the first time since the start of the pandemic, as his ability on both sides of the wicket was suitable for the conditions in Nottingham. Gone is the player who left a gloomy Ashes series with a reverse Rory Burns – who put bowling around his feet from Pat Cummins to Hobart – and in his place the bat that Surrey so much admires. Having restarted the first thing overnight in ’51 – a stage position that took advantage of a life at 37 – Pope faced the challenge of attacking New Zealand four ends by leaving well, picking up gaps and unfolding some clear paths on the cover. Until 1.53 p.m. he raised his bat at all angles, after a two-legged cut by Matt Henry led him to three figures. The 24-year-old’s relief was felt. So was the enjoyment of his teammates, with Ruth sprinting 40 yards to offer a warm hug. Root, halfway through an 187 run with Pope, was just at his celestial best once again. Admittedly, he flirted with disaster a few times, seeing a mistake at 27 that fell over the bar by Tim Southee and a slog sweep at 52 by the same man somehow landing safely. But otherwise it was vintage Root, its covers matched to decorate the walls of the Louvre and its guides passed so dreamily effortlessly. This meant that for the second time in the day, at 3.33 pm, New Zealand applauded an opponent’s efforts. With the second new ball a few minutes away, Ruth saw an inside lead from Daryl Mitchell’s midfield just breaking through the stumps to convert 99 to 103. The 13th test score north of 150 was at least secured with a more convincing way when, 25 minutes from stumps, he hit South in the middle of the field for four. As for their English equivalents the previous two days were hard work for the tourism bowlers. Boult was typically perfect for his three for 89, but both Southee and Kyle Jamieson made few threats, with the latter also eliminating the 17th due to pain in his lower back. Henry won the bat, but went almost to the top five and his occasional development as a manager highlighted the absence of Neil Wagner’s level at the field level. Henry created at least one wicket during the first two sessions and, given the way things turned out then, Alex Lees can be bothered by a touch. Not that Durham’s first did not advance his career in England. Continuing at 34, which was already the highest test score in his ninth innings, Lees drove the third ball of the morning with extra coverage for four and continued this positivity on the way to 67 out of 125 balls. The Spin: sign up and receive our weekly email cricket. Lees eventually got lost playing away from his body – Mitchell was being pardoned for his falls on the first slip last afternoon – but his left-hand graph is going in the right direction. As with the smoke that Pope’s century could encounter, Stokes and McCallum will hope that his sense of belonging to the Test arena follows this upward curve.
