As England overcame an early collapse to enjoy a fine opening day in Wellington, Brydon Carse continued his outstanding start to Test cricket. Once again, he demonstrated both a relish for the fight and abundant skill – in all three disciplines of the game – as encapsulated in four crucial moments.
Charging the bowler first ball
Carse could be one of the best No 10s that England have ever had, though he will surely not remain so low for long; he has a first-class average of 31.6, and already made useful contributions with the bat in his embryonic Test career. His batting method is as fearless as the rest of his cricket.
Arriving at the crease at 263 for eight, Carse greeted Nathan Smith by charging down the wicket first ball, and slamming him through the covers for four. While Carse only mustered nine, his approach with the bat added to the sense that he has the potential to play game-altering innings in the lower order. Together with Gus Atkinson, Carse ensures that England have a far more dangerous tail than in recent years; as recently as the 2023 Ashes Lord’s Test, Stuart Broad batted at eight.
The 93mph response to Kane Williamson no-ball reprieve
From the start of his 14th over, Carse produced a delivery worthy of dismissing Kane Williamson – a ball that jagged back off the seam with pace and bounce to thud into the top of off stump. Williamson was reduced to nodding his head at the bowler, acknowledging a delivery that was too good. The trouble was, Carse’s front foot was fractionally over the line; rather than a wicket, it was a no-ball.
Carse’s response was the measure of the man. First, he ratcheted his speed up to 93mph – more evidence of how he gives England’s attack a new dimension with the old ball. Then, when he returned in his next spell, he continued to harass Williamson – eventually kissing his outside edge with a ball that seamed fractionally away, the opposite direction to the delivery that almost claimed his wicket earlier. This time, Carse’s left foot was safely behind the popping crease.
The roar of celebration after athletic catch
Traditionally, some fast bowlers got a free pass in the field, in acknowledgement of their exertions. Not Carse, who fields with a zest typical of those educated in South Africa, where the unstinting focus upon sport nurtures all-round athletes.
When Carse was whisked off after a lively four-over spell that should have included at least one wicket, he took up a post at short midwicket. Rachin Ravindra got an inside edge trying to work Chris Woakes away. Carse anticipated where the ball was going, then dived at full length to take the catch – and celebrated with more enthusiasm than anyone else in the side, roaring as he peeled away in joy.
Giving Daryl Mitchell a piece of his mind – then taking his wicket
Daryl Mitchell is renowned as one of the finest players of short bowling in the world, in part the result of spending several years in his teens in Perth. But even Mitchell had no riposte to Carse’s short-ball barrage in the last throes of the day.
After beginning his sixth over with a bouncer that reared up past Mitchell’s right shoulder, Carse exchanged a few words with the batsman. Mitchell might have been braced for what to expect next, but he had no riposte. Carse resorted to the bouncer again – but this time altered his line, so that the ball angled back into Mitchell at 85mph and then bounced up awkwardly. Unable to evade the ball, Mitchell could only fend it to the leg side, where wicketkeeper Ollie Pope completed a catch. Mitchell often enjoys a gentle verbal confrontation with the bowler; now he could only walk off hastily.
Carse’s ebullient celebration showed his wholeheartedness. He was enthusiastically embraced by Ben Stokes, who enjoyed further evidence that his Durham team-mate could be a major weapon when England return to the Antipodes in a year’s time.
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