Cricket: England set for final Test showdown

Captain Alastair Cook was backed into a corner by Cyclone Sandra, and had no option but to enforce the follow-on two days ago; yet he still ended up with a soggy stalemate in the second Test after just 35 overs were possible on Sunday, and then a long-predicted washout settled the issue yesterday. This was a near mirror image of the draw in Dunedin last week.

There, rain wiped out the first day before England suffered an inexplicable first-innings collapse and then battled back with centuries from openers Cook and Nick Compton second time round. Here, rain held off until the last two days after Compton and this time Jonathan Trott piled up centuries and then, following their 254 all out at the first attempt, it was the hosts’ turn to show resilience.

The upshot is a potential decider at Eden Park, starting on Friday, and both captains appear satisfied with that knife-edge scenario.

“It’s now a one-match Test series,” said Cook. “Let’s hope we’re set fair for five days, and we can actually get a result. Both sides will just want to play five days in a one-off match.”

Cook acknowledged England have so far got no more and no less than they have deserved. “In Dunedin, we were behind the eight-ball because we didn’t bat very well for two sessions,” he said. “Then we did well to fight and hold on to that game. In this game, we played some really good cricket but the weather didn’t allow us to win. I don’t think we’ve been too far off.”

His opposite number Brendon McCullum said: “We dictated the first Test; England held on and showed some fighting qualities – and we held on and showed fighting qualities in this one. Both teams will be reasonably comfortable that it’s 0-0 and it’s all to play for. We see it as a great opportunity to clinch a series win against England.”

For England, anything but victory will be an anti-climax after their historic success in India before Christmas; for New Zealand, even another draw would be seen as a step forward after their crushing defeat away to South Africa at the start of the year.

“We have made some improvements from previous series – but we know the third Test is what we will be decided on,” said McCullum. “We’ve had some great moments in Test cricket in the last 20 years, but from my career it would be right up there.”

He has led from the front with half-centuries in each Test, following three in succession in the limited-overs series defeat beforehand.