New Zealand seamer Zak Foulkes believes that the pitch will open up, seeing left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner play a more significant role in the final two days of the third Test between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Foulkes, who came in as a concussion substitute for Blair Tickner, finished the first innings with figures of 3 for 35 from 15.2 overs, picking up the big wickets of Harry Brook and England captain Ben Stokes in the spell. Accurate and disciplined bowling from the Kiwis on Day 3 saw England squander a dominant position from 223 for 2, being bundled out for 354.
Foulkes referred to England spinner Shoaib Bashir, who was getting the ball to grip, stating that Santner would play a major role in the fourth innings, with the pitch deteriorating due to the heat.
“You’ve seen Shoaib Bashir turning it pretty big out there, so [Santner] is going to have a massive role in that fourth innings. That’s the beauty of bowling last, hopefully, the wicket is going to be at its hardest to bat by then, and hopefully we can make us of it,” Foulkes said after the game, as reported by cricinfo.
The wicket is deteriorating a bit, so my role is going to be more important: Shoaib Bashir
Meanwhile, England’s off-spinner Bashir expects himself to play a significant role with the ball. He picked up 2 for 105 in 25 overs in the first innings as the Black Caps put on 436 courtesy of a 317-run opening stand between skipper Tom Latham and Devon Conway.
“As you saw, the wicket is deteriorating a bit so my role is going to be a more important role. I’ve bowled here before in [the] second innings and it’s been special, so I’ll see what I can pull out my sleeve tomorrow. The weather has allowed the pitch to dry out, and there has been lateral movement and a bit of bounce,” Bashir said, speaking on BBC’s Test Match Special.
New Zealand finished Day 3 on a score of 120 for 3, with a sizeable 204-run lead. Bashir further backed his teammates to chase down a potential mammoth total in the fourth innings.
“I wouldn’t put a number on it, especially with this England side. We have unbelievable cricketers in this team. I wouldn’t put a number on it, but [we’d like to chase] as little as possible with this wicket deteriorating,” Bashir said in the post-match press conference after Day 3, as reported by cricinfo.