NZ vs ENG 2024/25, New Zealand vs England 3rd Test, Day 1, Hamilton Match Report, December 14 – 18, 2024

Lunch New Zealand 93 for 0 (Young 42*, Latham 36*) vs England

After England won the toss and opted to bowl under skies which had turned from bright sunshine to overcast within the hour before play, the duo reached 93 without loss at lunch on the first day.

Opening while Devon Conway is on parental leave, Young made a watchful start, facing 10 deliveries before getting off the mark with four off Matthew Potts, himself making his first appearance of the series in replacing Chris Woakes.

Young was into his work after that, no doubt to the delight of New Zealand fans who had been willing his inclusion after his Player-of-the-Series performance on the Black Caps’ successful tour of India, which was just a matter of weeks ago but felt so distant as their side lurched to a losing 2-0 deficit against England.

He was streaky to begin with though, his next two boundaries coming off the edge through backward point and piercing the cordon. But by halfway through the morning session, Young and Latham had negotiated a nibbling pitch to ease their way to 46 without loss, already more than double New Zealand’s previous best opening partnership this series.

Shortly after the first drinks break, Young had helped himself to six fours all up, punishing Brydon Carse twice in one over as the England quick struggled to nail his lengths.

Having survived on 12 when Ben Duckett couldn’t hold a low slips catch, Latham chimed in with back-to-back fours off Ben Stokes, driving down the ground and clipping a full, straight one disdainfully through midwicket to move into the 30s.

England burned a review in the penultimate over before lunch when Stokes thought Latham might have been caught behind and replays showed no bat on ball to uphold the not-out decision.

At the meal break, Young was unbeaten on 42 with a remarkable 40 of those coming in fours, while Latham was 36 not out.

The start was in deep contrast to the relentless fever pitch of the entire second Test, which England won by 323 runs to seal an unassailable series lead. In their bid to secure a consolation victory in long-serving seamer Tim Southee’s retirement match, the home side will be content to maintain a calmer tempo.