Broad enjoys another special spell under the New Zealand lights
Stuart Broad says he had a hunch early on that he would deliver another Seam bowling special for England after his four-wicket blast put his team on the brink of a memorable win.
Broad’s brilliance under the lights shattered New Zealand’s top order on Saturday’s third night at Mount Maunganui, reducing them to 5-63 chasing a weak and distant 394.
The 36-year-old Schneider has turned back the years to conjure up a new ball magic to sit with his best work – be it at the Oval in 2009, Trent Bridge in 2015 or the Johannesburg Bullring in 2016 – and claimed 4-21 in one hypnotic state 10-over stint.
Each of his victims, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham and Tom Blundell, were emphatically thrown clean as he failed to stop Broad as he wreaked havoc in the notoriously trying twilight conditions.
The stage was set perfectly, England’s second innings ending just as the artificial lights began to take hold, making batting a more dangerous pursuit – and it wasn’t long before Broad embarked on one of his trademark hot spells.
“It felt almost inevitable that we set the game up for bowling at the right time. Everything was prepared for us,” he said.
“For me getting a wicket early always calms me and when I got Conway first I just felt like it could be my day.
“All of our conversations throughout the day weren’t so much about getting runs as it was about when to bowl.
“We knew that getting early breakthroughs would be crucial to the outcome of this test match. It’s a different playing field to play under light.
“I can’t believe I’ve done that before (clean bowling four times in a row). It was great. I was just trying to take the dough out of the equation.
“I kind of ignored who was on the other end and thought, ‘If I hit the field as hard as I can, I can’t be driven at a length and I can still hit the stumps, then I’m in the game’ . “
The Conway wicket not only gave Broad the credence he needed, but was special for another reason.
After paving Australian greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne with 1001 wickets in tandem on Day 2 as the most productive partnership in Test history, James Anderson and Broad have now moved out alone at the top of the tree.
“To pass two heroes of mine growing up – certainly we’re not in their category, the quality of those two – but to be up there with Jimmy, I feel very fortunate,” he told BT Sport.
“I am very blessed to be in the same era as him.”
Unless New Zealand come up with a spectacular escape from 331 behind, England will take their record to 10 wins from 11 games under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
