Fulton makes it to an elite list
Plays of the day from the fourth day of the Auckland Test between New Zealand and England
Andrew McGlashan in Auckland
25-Mar-2013
Peter Fulton's second hundred put him alongside Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth and Andrew Jones in an exclusive list of New Zealand batsmen who have scored hundreds in both innings of a Test match • Getty Images
Drop of the day
It was going to take something extraordinary for England turn this match around and their last vestige of hope went when Peter Fulton, on 31, flicked Stuart Broad low and hard to short midwicket - a plan England had been bowling to - where James Anderson could not hold on to a tough chance. By and large, England have caught well, and sometimes spectacularly in this series, such as Ian Bell's take a short while later, but this miss appeared to knock them flat.
It was going to take something extraordinary for England turn this match around and their last vestige of hope went when Peter Fulton, on 31, flicked Stuart Broad low and hard to short midwicket - a plan England had been bowling to - where James Anderson could not hold on to a tough chance. By and large, England have caught well, and sometimes spectacularly in this series, such as Ian Bell's take a short while later, but this miss appeared to knock them flat.
Warning of the day
With the third ball of his seventh over, Steven Finn clipped the stumps in his delivery stride. He was given his one and only warning by Rod Tucker. However, he had done the same in the first innings. So, seemingly, it was back to allowing one transgression per innings before a dead-ball is called. In the one-day series in India, he had one warning for the series. The Laws have been modified to make it a no-ball from October 1, 2013. For the sake of consistency, that date cannot come soon enough.
With the third ball of his seventh over, Steven Finn clipped the stumps in his delivery stride. He was given his one and only warning by Rod Tucker. However, he had done the same in the first innings. So, seemingly, it was back to allowing one transgression per innings before a dead-ball is called. In the one-day series in India, he had one warning for the series. The Laws have been modified to make it a no-ball from October 1, 2013. For the sake of consistency, that date cannot come soon enough.
Switch flick of the day
Consolidation had been the theme for New Zealand at the start of the day - understandable at 35 for 3 - although there was much more intent than on the third evening. Suddenly, though, all that changed when Fulton cut loose against Monty Panesar. Up to that point, Panesar's four overs had been four maidens and he had the wicket of Dean Brownlie. By the end of his fifth over, Fulton had gone 4, 4, 6 and the dam had burst. Panesar's next five overs cost 52.
Consolidation had been the theme for New Zealand at the start of the day - understandable at 35 for 3 - although there was much more intent than on the third evening. Suddenly, though, all that changed when Fulton cut loose against Monty Panesar. Up to that point, Panesar's four overs had been four maidens and he had the wicket of Dean Brownlie. By the end of his fifth over, Fulton had gone 4, 4, 6 and the dam had burst. Panesar's next five overs cost 52.
Landmark of the day
Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth, Andrew Jones… Peter Fulton. That exclusive list is the New Zealand batsmen to have scored twin hundreds in a Test. When Fulton crunched Broad straight down the ground for his fifth six, it ended a 22-year year gap since Jones had secured his double against Sri Lanka in Hamilton in 1991. For a batsman who had been out of Test cricket for four years and had an average of 20.93 coming into this series, it verged on remarkable.
Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth, Andrew Jones… Peter Fulton. That exclusive list is the New Zealand batsmen to have scored twin hundreds in a Test. When Fulton crunched Broad straight down the ground for his fifth six, it ended a 22-year year gap since Jones had secured his double against Sri Lanka in Hamilton in 1991. For a batsman who had been out of Test cricket for four years and had an average of 20.93 coming into this series, it verged on remarkable.
Angle of the day
Neil Wagner has been out-shone in this match by his two pace-bowling team-mates, but he has struck a couple of vital blows. Yesterday, it was Matt Prior and in the second innings today, it was Jonathan Trott. On both occasions, he was bowling from around the wicket and drew the batsmen into loose drive. In Trott's case, it was an unusually wayward shot, playing well away from his body and edging to the keeper, but it was the clever use of angle from Wagner that helped create the error.
Neil Wagner has been out-shone in this match by his two pace-bowling team-mates, but he has struck a couple of vital blows. Yesterday, it was Matt Prior and in the second innings today, it was Jonathan Trott. On both occasions, he was bowling from around the wicket and drew the batsmen into loose drive. In Trott's case, it was an unusually wayward shot, playing well away from his body and edging to the keeper, but it was the clever use of angle from Wagner that helped create the error.
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo