Watling's century has its own majesty

Even the Queen seemed bent upon contributing to England's receding efforts to force a Test victory at Headingley when New Zealand's combative captain, Brendon McCullum, pronounced himself "humbled" by an order of merit in the Birthday Honours List. A humble McCullum at the crease was hard to imagine but it certainly sounded less dangerous than the bristling version when each individual piece of stubble on his cheeks seems at permanent war with another.

The intervention of royalty, though, is unlikely to be enough. England went into the fourth day already needing to achieve their record fourth-innings run chase to pull this one off and a forecast for unremitting grey clouds on the fourth afternoon did not inspire confidence.

While McCullum and the coach Mike Hesson were both honoured, one of New Zealand's most understated cricketers, a man unlikely to attract royal approval any time soon, played the considered innings that might well bring New Zealand victory in the second Investec Test and with it a share of this all-too-brief series.

BJ Watling's fifth Test hundred - an unbeaten 100 out of 338 for 6 - amply illustrated why New Zealand were so keen to pick him as a specialist batsman even though injury prevented him from keeping wicket. Here was another New Zealand cricketer in no mood to bow the knee, even allowing for the Queen's intervention, his stand of 121 in 32 overs with McCullum, a comparatively regulated affair in a Test of unbridled mayhem, potentially bringing the Kiwis a share of the series that they richly deserve.

As a Test specialist - he was omitted from the New Zealand squad that reached the World Cup final - Watling must ply his trade quietly. But he can at least claim to be on two lists. He is now on the list of New Zealand batsmen to make a century in a Headingley Test, which after eight Tests from which they have so far salvaged only one win and one draw, comprises him and him alone. That record is a suitable riposte to those who contend that New Zealand are playing irresponsibly. They have not exactly piled up hundreds when blocking for all they were worth.

He is also on the list of McCullum's favourite cricketers. The pair combined in a stand of 352 against India in Wellington last year - Watling's century was overshadowed by McCullum's triple - that emphasised New Zealand's growing authority in Test cricket. This alliance was modest by comparison, amassed during the most bountiful batting conditions of the match when the clouds finally cleared and a chill, blue afternoon fell in New Zealand's favour.

By the time they joined forces, England's attack looked utterly confused. "We haven't been good enough at containing New Zealand," admitted their bowling coach Ottis Gibson, who is still operating on a temporary contract. "In both innings they are scoring at nearly five an over and I was sitting there thinking that the one-day series hasn't even started yet.

"They have attacked from a good length and put us under pressure. When you get hit from a good length, you are going to drag your length back. We have not been able to bowl the challenging top-of-off-stump length that we intend to do. We have to be mindful that teams like New Zealand will come at us and we have to be able to stem the flow and take wickets."

"I am a purist. I don't really know what to make of it all, the way they bat and stuff."

It must have been hard for a partisan crowd to concentrate on Watling, especially when McCullum was at the other end, when they were huddled in winter coats - on the last day of May, give me strength - and when England's failure to contain New Zealand was by then so deflating that they picked off runs much as they pleased.

When they came together at 141 for 4, rattled up at five an over, the debate about the legitimacy of New Zealand's tactics was swirling. There was no need for such a high-risk approach with 240 overs left in the match, argued some. Gather runs while you can in the most favourable batting conditions of the match, countered others.

Headingley's capricious nature favoured the latter view. The pitch is good, but periodically the clouds are full of malevolence. Just as Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth put on 177 in 59 overs in relatively decent weather before eight wickets fell for 90 in 35 overs, so McCullum and Watling had to make good their opportunity. But they scored quickly without risk: both sides of the argument were content.

McCullum initially struggled to find his mood. He blocked the first, whooshed at the next two then shouldered arms to the fourth - a passive response so out of character with this series that it invited the suspicion that the Queen's accolade had made him feel rather unwell. Perhaps he would deliver a handwritten letter at tea stating that he felt unable to continue the fight against the crown and wished for an immediate cessation of hostilities?

Instead, never at his most commanding, he confirmed to the traditions of Test cricket, apart from when his irritation at missing a sweep against Moeen vexed him into belting the next ball over long-on for six. When Wood had him lbw, he had 55 from 98 balls, proving that he could play with sobriety when he knew the match depended on it.

As for Watling, he continued much as he pleased. England, replete with left-handers, had dried up against the offspin of Mark Craig, but Watling's slog sweep was particularly effective in keeping Moeen at bay.

By the close, a group of students were heard speculating what BJ's initials stood for. Bradley-John since they wondered. They weren't even close. Not a conversation fit for the Queen.