New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen believes Colin de Grandhomme “presents a challenge” to England captain Joe Root, with their head-to-head contest nonetheless able to influencing the result of the primary Test at Lord’s regardless of rain that means Friday’s third day’s was deserted with out a ball being bowled.
De Grandhomme’s eye-catching mullet coiffure was at risk of obscuring the all-rounder’s effectiveness as an correct medium-pace bowler.
But having dismissed Root when the groups final met at Lord’s in England’s thrilling Super Over win within the 2019 World Cup closing, de Grandhomme struck him on the proper hand with a rearing supply on Thursday that left the Yorkshire batsman requiring remedy.
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But Root (42 not out) survived till stumps, sharing an unbroken stand of 93 with opener Rory Burns (59 not out) to take England to 111-2 in reply to New Zealand’s first innings 378 constructed on debutant opener’s Devon Conway’s very good 200 — the best rating by a batsman making his Test bow in England.
Root and de Grandhomme might be in direct opposition when play within the first of this two-match sequence resumes on Saturday, with Jurgensen saying: “It’s great to watch. Colin certainly presents a challenge for Joe.
“Joe’s a fantastic player he’s a very good captain, but it’s a great battle. Me personally, I love watching it from up on the balcony.”
‘Heavy ball’
Jurgensen added: “With Colin, he’s someone who can either swing it or seam it, you may see 115 to 125 kmh (71-78 mph) but Colin when he hits the cricket ball, he’s extremely strong, so he does bowl a heavy ball.
“I think that’s why you saw (on Thursday) he had the ball jumping up and down, maybe keeping low, and also some movement. He’s very accurate and presents a good challenge for all batters.”
As for who had the higher hand, Jurgensen mentioned: “It’s pretty even.
“The World Cup final, Colin got his wicket there but at the same time with Colin against all batters he certainly tests your patience, he added, with New Zealand guaranteed of another appearance in a showpiece match after this series after qualifying to face India in the inaugural World Test Championship final at Southampton later this month.
“It will be a good challenge for them to go against each other (on Saturday).”
Persistent rain meant neither facet acquire a bonus on the ‘home of cricket’ on Friday in a match that marks the return of spectators to worldwide cricket in England after final season’s fixtures have been performed behind closed doorways due to coronavirus restrictions.
But Jurgensen insisted there was sufficient time left to drive a end result, with 98 overs, moderately than the usual 90, now scheduled for Saturday following the third-day wash-out.
“There’s certainly enough time in the game to push for a possible result,” Jurgensen mentioned.
“You’ve always got to believe you can still be in the frame to push for a result but we just have to try our best and believe we can win.
“The advantage for us is that we’ve got the runs on the board and that’s always good to have to be in front at this stage of the game in terms of the runs.
“It’s still about playing five — well four, now — days of good cricket.”
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