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Henry and Wagner rip through England to leave New Zealand on the brink
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Dom Farrell
Stats Perform
Neil Wagner celebrates at Edgbaston
Neil Wagner celebrates at Edgbaston

England collapsed to 122-9 in their second innings against New Zealand at Edgbaston in the second Test – a paltry advantage of 37 that leaves Joe Root's side on the verge of a 1-0 series defeat.

Beginning their second innings 85 runs in arrears after dismissing New Zealand for 388, the hosts lost Rory Burns for nought to the second ball of the innings – the opener reaching for a Matt Henry delivery and edging to stand-in captain Tom Latham at second slip.

Henry (3-36) got one to nip back at Dom Sibley (8), who could only squirt the ball to Daryl Mitchell in the cordon, and it was 30-3 when the seamer trapped the off-colour Zak Crawley lbw for 17.

Crawley reviewed more in hope than expectation, much like Ollie Pope, whose breezy 23 off 20 balls ended when all-action left arm paceman Neil Wagner brought one back in to the right hander.

Like Burns, Dan Lawrence followed passing 80 in the first innings with a second-ball duck, Wagner (3-18) having him caught behind before Ajaz Patel again exposed the folly of England failing to pick a specialist spinner.

Patel bowled James Bracey (8) sweeping and when Root edged to keeper Tom Blundell when trying to cut the slow left-armer – concluding a painstaking 11 from 61 deliveries – the game was emphatically up for his side.

That brought Mark Wood and Olly Stone together with the score on 76-7, something of an unfair predicament for the two fast bowlers, who worked tirelessly on a fairly benign surface to briefly bring their team back into the contest.

New Zealand had progressed to 290-3, within 13 of England's first-innings total, when Stone (2-92) had Ross Taylor caught behind for 80, with Henry Nicholls (21) falling in similar fashion to Wood (2-85).

Stuart Broad (4-48) had Blundell caught by Root at slip for 34 and got Patel lbw for 20 on review to finish as the pick of the England attack.

By stumps he had been and gone with the bat, bowled by Trent Boult for one after Wagner ended Wood's fun on 29, leaving Stone (15 not out) with only last man James Anderson for company.

Henry demonstrates Black Caps enviable depth

New Zealand made six changes following the drawn first Test where they were in the ascendancy and took to the field without Kane Williamson, their injured skipper casting an eye towards next week's World Test Championship final against India. Henry did not play at Lord's but has been imperious here, far too good for the flimsy techniques on display from England's top and middle order to take 6-114 in the match.

Bracey ordeal underlines England's muddled selection mess

As New Zealand prepare to mop up this win and then attempt to become inaugural Test champions, England must reflect on how far away they are from that standard. Selectorial rotation with an eye on players' physical and mental health has been absolutely necessary in these unprecedented times but the fact they have entered a home Test again elite opposition without a specialist spinner or wicketkeeper is bizarre. 

Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow are on county duty while Bracey – a promising top-order batsman and part-time keeper - has struggled with the gloves and made eight runs in three innings, turning what should be some of the most memorable moments of his young career into a nightmare.

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