Durham debutant Matthew Potts guaranteed there would be no let-off in England’s pedal-to-the-metal attitude in the opening LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand after warming up to the theme of a hectic day with highlight figures of 4 for 13 in 9.2 overs.
If England’s overall performance was a rollercoaster, as they contrived to squander New Zealand’s 45 for 7 after lunch to finish a 17-wicket day with the prospect of a first-innings lead in doubt, Potts’ own performance epitomized their wild swings in fortune.
Trent Boult bombed his gloves with a bouncer that ballooned to slip, resulting in a second-ball duck in his maiden innings. Two nerve-wracking catches on the fine leg boundary; a worrying moment of cramp that forced him to leave the field midway through his final over; and finally, a second-ball duck in his maiden innings, as Trent Boult bombed his gloves with a bouncer that ballooned to slip. It’s been quite the ride so far, and he’s only played 78 overs.
“It’s been an exciting day,” Potts commented as England struggled to a loss at the end of the day. “We’ve come to amuse, that’s our first and foremost goal, and it’s been a fun day of cricket, which I’ve absolutely enjoyed.” I’m sure the team had a good time. And we’re still in the running to win a Test match here.
“We’ve got three wickets left in hand; we’re going to attack the day tomorrow, and then when we have the chance to bowl, we’re going to put it in the same areas we did today, pick them up, and hopefully attempt to win the Test match.”
“We’re going to throw punches at each other.” Personally, I think it’s a lot of fun, and it’s exactly what we all want to see. We want to trade blows, and if they hurl two at us, we’ll throw four at them. So we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
The first day of England’s new era under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, Potts’ Durham teammate, was a very composed assessment. It was also in keeping with Potts’ already exceptional season, in which he demanded selection for this match with standout numbers of 35 wickets at 18.57, including four six-wicket hauls, and has raised his first-class average to 39 at 17.
“I’ve always liked the attitude that I’ve taken to Durham cricket, and I don’t see any reason to change that,” he said. “I’m personally trying to bring the same kind of game plan to the forefront, and it’s one of the assets that got me picked, and hopefully deliver on that.”
Perhaps nothing exemplified his calm demeanour more than his two steepling catches in the afternoon practice, both top-edged grabs off James Anderson that could have given him far too much time to consider the implications. But, having done everything he could to drown out the applause from a receptive audience, he was able to position himself effectively and pocket them with ease.
“I didn’t see the first one,” he admitted. “‘Oh no, can’t it go to deep square instead of fine leg?’ I thought as I gazed up. When the ball is thrown, though, I always push my hand forward and try to grab it. It’s all about how you’re affected by [the audience]. If I rile up the crowd, I’m not sure how I’ll react. The human body does strange things. Especially at this point in the game. It’s good to know I have the support of the country, but there’s no need to get carried away. I was completely focused on the task at hand.”
Potts, on the other hand, had a moment of pure joy when, after being brought into the attack early by Stokes, he struck before his first over was finished, as Williamson pressed forward to a good length on off, and Ben Foakes stooped behind the stumps to deliver England’s fourth and most-prized wicket of a wild first ten overs.
Potts remarked, “Honestly, I was really composed before the first ball, and then I bowled a long-hop second one and was very apprehensive after that.” “But I just focused on putting it in a good area, hitting the pitch hard with some wobbling, and that ball nipped off a fair length, drawing a bit of a false shot, with a fantastic catch from Foakesy.”
England’s newest youngster was in a race with the oldest stager James Anderson for a five-wicket haul by the end of New Zealand’s innings. Potts felt his calf tighten after two balls of his tenth over, and he hardly had time to ponder before Stokes snatched the ball from him and urged him to rest up for the rest of the match.
Potts explained, “We had them nine-down and the calves were yelling at me a little bit.” “An eight-over spell, some soft ground, and me unconsciously putting 110, 115 percent into it. Nerves are likely to have a negative impact on the body.
“I had the option of going for a total of five. I informed Stokesy that I was free to continue bowling. At Durham, I am the first individual who has persevered in the face of adversity. But it was more of an issue of not pulling anything or doing anything dumb “He went on to say, “Instead of us losing a bowler because I pulled my calf attempting to take five, I’m trying to get myself in shape and win a Test.
“‘Get off the pitch, go rest, and we’ll get the last wicket,’ Stokesy replied, taking the decision away from me. ‘You make sure you’re ready for the second innings,’ he remarked, referring to the key second innings, which is where the denouement will take place.”
Despite the fact that his first day of England cricket did not conclude with the dominance he had hoped for, Potts was unfazed by the ebbs and flows he had already witnessed.
“Look, you don’t have a set game plan in stone,” he explained. “You know, game plans don’t always go as planned, and we have to be prepared to adjust, and that’s exactly what we’ll have to do.” “Yes, it was a rollercoaster, and yes, I wanted to take off my boots and simply stand on my feet.” The battleplan, on the other hand, is continuously changing, and we’re always modifying on the fly.
“The way we want to play our cricket is entertaining; we want to be in the forefront of it, on the front foot, and I believe that’s the direction we’ll go.”
