Nick goes past Denis
Plays of the Day from the fourth day of the first Test between New Zealand and England in Dunedin
Andrew McGlashan in Dunedin
09-Mar-2013
Nick Compton: Off the pair, past Denis, and on to a maiden hundred • Getty Images
Six of the day
Brendon McCullum likes the pull shot - England found that out during the one-day series - and he was given a few chances to play it on the fourth morning. The biggest blow, off Stuart Broad, sailed over the grandstand that runs parallel to Logan Park Drive, the main entrance, and smacked into one of the coaches parked outside. It took some time to retrieve before the ball found its way back onto the outfield via a relay throw.
Brendon McCullum likes the pull shot - England found that out during the one-day series - and he was given a few chances to play it on the fourth morning. The biggest blow, off Stuart Broad, sailed over the grandstand that runs parallel to Logan Park Drive, the main entrance, and smacked into one of the coaches parked outside. It took some time to retrieve before the ball found its way back onto the outfield via a relay throw.
Single of the day
Nick Compton would probably have been thinking about his second innings from the time his first ended with a bottom edge against Tim Southee. He had plenty of time to ponder, as New Zealand batted for more than 116 overs, but an hour-and-a-half before lunch he emerged on a pair to start England's rearguard. He did not sweat long over another duck, pushing his first ball firmly past mid-off for a very long single.
Nick Compton would probably have been thinking about his second innings from the time his first ended with a bottom edge against Tim Southee. He had plenty of time to ponder, as New Zealand batted for more than 116 overs, but an hour-and-a-half before lunch he emerged on a pair to start England's rearguard. He did not sweat long over another duck, pushing his first ball firmly past mid-off for a very long single.
Encouragement of the day
In the 42nd over of the innings, with England's opening pair firmly entrenched, the crowd tried to give Trent Boult extra encouragement as he began another over to Alastair Cook. A group sitting under the main scoreboard began a hand-clap each time Boult was about to start his run but the results were six deliveries that provided either leaves or solid blocks. The same section of the crowd was not entirely in raptures about the pace of play with the occasional cry of "boring, boring."
In the 42nd over of the innings, with England's opening pair firmly entrenched, the crowd tried to give Trent Boult extra encouragement as he began another over to Alastair Cook. A group sitting under the main scoreboard began a hand-clap each time Boult was about to start his run but the results were six deliveries that provided either leaves or solid blocks. The same section of the crowd was not entirely in raptures about the pace of play with the occasional cry of "boring, boring."
Family moment of the day
Yesterday it was Rutherford, today Compton. When Nick moved to 80 he went past his grandfather Denis Compton's highest score in New Zealand - 79 at Christchurch in 1951. The 21st century version of Compton the Test cricketer wasn't finished there as he went on to register his maiden hundred. When the landmark was brought up it marked only the second occasion of a grandson-grandfather scoring centuries in Tests after Vic Richardson and the Chappells for Australia.
Yesterday it was Rutherford, today Compton. When Nick moved to 80 he went past his grandfather Denis Compton's highest score in New Zealand - 79 at Christchurch in 1951. The 21st century version of Compton the Test cricketer wasn't finished there as he went on to register his maiden hundred. When the landmark was brought up it marked only the second occasion of a grandson-grandfather scoring centuries in Tests after Vic Richardson and the Chappells for Australia.
We've-been-there-before feeling of the day
Cook rarely plays poor shots twice in a match. He could barely believe it when he slapped a wide ball to point in the first innings, but he set about making amends in what has become a comfortingly familiar sight for England supporters. It was an innings exactly to the Cook blueprint with the cut shot, seen so many times, taking him to 99 before a sweep registered century No. 24.
Cook rarely plays poor shots twice in a match. He could barely believe it when he slapped a wide ball to point in the first innings, but he set about making amends in what has become a comfortingly familiar sight for England supporters. It was an innings exactly to the Cook blueprint with the cut shot, seen so many times, taking him to 99 before a sweep registered century No. 24.
Ball of the day
Armed with the second new nut Tim Southee delivered perhaps the ball of the match to Compton when he was nervously standing on 97. It reared up from just short of a length to beat the outside edge and BJ Watling leapt to take it above his head. Compton came down and gave the pitch an uncertain prod.
Armed with the second new nut Tim Southee delivered perhaps the ball of the match to Compton when he was nervously standing on 97. It reared up from just short of a length to beat the outside edge and BJ Watling leapt to take it above his head. Compton came down and gave the pitch an uncertain prod.
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo