England finally faced some resistance from New Zealand in the shape of Tom Blundell's defiant century but dismissed the Black Caps for 259 to wrap up a thumping 323-run victory on the third day of the second Test on Sunday.
Former captain Kane Williamson, batsman Tom Blundell and quick Kyle Jamieson, who all have hamstring issues, were selected despite doubts over their fitness.
Watling, who was initially a top-order batsman and part-time wicketkeeper when he first made the New Zealand side in 2009, moved one behind Adam Parore's national record as the hosts bowled Bangladesh out for 234 early in the final session.
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix.
New Zealand pacers Tim Southee and Neil Wagner wrecked havoc to leave Pakistan reeling at the end of Day Two of the second Test here at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Saturday. Both Southee and Wagner ripped through Pakistan's batting line-up to leave the visitors in tatters at 76 for 5 at stumps, still 195 runs short of hosts' first innings total of 271.
Sachin Tendulkar was unbeaten on 70 as India ended Day 2 in the first Test on 278 for 3, one run behind New Zealand's first innings total. There were also notable contributions from Gautam Gambhir (72) and Rahul Dravid (66).
Replying to New Zealand's mammoth 553 for seven declared, Bangladesh replied in strong fashion, scoring 408 and also claimed the wicket of New Zealand opener B J Watling in the first Test being played at the Seddon Park in Hamilton.
Vernon Philander bagged six wickets, for a match haul of ten, as South Africa wrapped up a nine-wicket victory that gives them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Trent Boult took two wickets in one over and broke a partnership that had threatened to take the game out of New Zealand's reach as Sri Lanka reached 264 for seven by the end of a rain-shortened first day of the second Test on Friday.
'Given that they are playing at home and will have full crowd support, India, who are in peak form and whose morale is high, will be the favourites.'
New Zealand will head into the final day of their one-off Test against Bangladesh in Hamilton firmly in the driving seat, as the visitors suffered multiple setbacks after being set a target of 404.
Kane Williamson scored his fifth century in eight Tests in 2015 to guide New Zealand to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka before lunch on the fourth day of the second Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Monday.
Lewis Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss last year's penultimate Sakhir Grand Prix in December.
George Russell will replace Valtteri Bottas and race for Mercedes next season in an all-British line-up with seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One team said on Tuesday.
Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has said that the series win over New Zealand had erased all the doubts raised about his side ahead of the Ashes series later this year.
Indian media has hailed their cricket team's first Test victory on New Zealand soil since 1976 while former players backed the team to win their first Test series in New Zealand in four decades.
Statistical highlights on the fourth day of the first Test between India and New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Saturday.
Lokesh Rahul, who hit two half-centuries in the deciding Dharamsala Test against Australia, on Thursday, jumped 11 places to a career-high rank of 11th in the latest ICC chart for Test batsmen.
The New Zealand selectors on Monday retained almost the same side for the second Test against India which suffered a humiliating 10-wicket mauling in the first Test in Hamilton. Brent Arnel is the only one to be omitted from the squad as the fast bowler, who was released to play in the domestic competition, has been laid low by a side strain.
Jason Holder was previously found guilty of the same offence during the Jamaica Test against Pakistan in April.
India's Ravichandran Ashwin maintained his stronghold at the top of the ICC Test All-Rounder rankings while Ravindra Jadeja stayed fifth in the chart.
McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso was quickest in Saturday's final free practice before qualifying for Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix.
Kane Williamson is the second New Zealand batsman after Glenn Turner to top the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen following a man of the match performance in the Hamilton Test against Sri Lanka, which helped the home side win by five wickets and take the series 2-0.
The 24-year-old Patel has been rewarded for his consistency at domestic level in the last two seasons.
Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has heaped praise on right-handed batsman Babar Azam, saying he is as good as swashbuckling Indian batsman Virat Kohli. During the recently concluded Hamilton Test against New Zealand which Pakistan lost by eight wickets, Azam scored an unbeaten 90 and Arthur says the former deserves the high praise.
New Zealand paceman Southee ruled out; Proteas 'keeper De Kock doubtful starter
India retained the ICC Test Championship mace and also won a cash award of US$ one million for holding on to the top position in the Test Team rankings on the annual April 1 cut-off date.
Ajinkya Rahane has become India's highest-ranked Test batsman in the latest ICC Test Player Rankings after scoring two centuries in the 337 runs victory over South Africa in the fourth and final Test, at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, which gave the home side a 3-0 series triumph.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances