New Zealand close to ending Root's unbeaten run and the 80s curse... TEST MATCH TALKING POINTS

NICK HOWSON AT EDGBASTON: Olly Stone and Mark Wood give the hosts encouragement but a 1-0 series defeat looms for England

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Scorecard

Dan Lawrence: The bowler

As a batter, the Essex youngster even with his idiosyncrasies is a stylish, fluid operator at his best.

You may have seen the image of him flat on his front on his way to 152 against Derbyshire earlier this season, but typically he is more aesthetically pleasing.

Naturally, like Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, his technique has been forensically picked apart by the experts. His DNA is on the system now, so to speak.

But his bowling remains an unknown quantity on the international stage. Before this Test, he had delivered just 18 balls across outings in Galle and Chennai.

In an effort to fit the overs in, Root turned to Lawrence and via his 27th delivery in Tests he captured Will Young, who was caught at short leg by Ollie Pope.

He continued at the start of day three as England awaited the new ball.

It was rather harsh to hear Jonathan Agnew describe him as "shambolic" as he finished off his spell.

An oversized jumper, shirt hanging out, an action which is all arms and legs and his tongue sticking out there is certainly plenty going on.

It is great to see such a disparity between the two disciplines from the same individual. It's perhaps a little untidy but it is the individuality of the approach which is the beauty.

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Dan Lawrence took the ball at the start of day three

The edgy 80s

Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Devon Conway, Will Young and now Ross Taylor.

Make that five players out in the 80s in this Test. Forget the nervous 90s, the edgy 80s are a thing.

Ross Taylor looked badly out of nick at Lord's. During his first innings, he needed eye drops, a worrying sign given his history.

In the tricky third innings, the 37-year-old looked intent on hitting himself into touch.

Granted, the tourists needed some quick runs but it was a reckless onslaught from Taylor, particularly as he attempted to deposit England's bowlers into the stands.

When Stuart Broad was ticking with the old ball on day two it looked as though his stay at the crease would be short-lived.

He soaked up the pressure and survived being given out off James Anderson, reaching the close unbeaten on 46, though partner Young did perish via the final delivery of the day.

That hard work paid off upon the resumption, with the overheads making conditions far more conducive for scoring. And it wasn't like England were at the races either.

Taylor was rewarded for his perseverance. Thirty-one runs and eight extras came from the 42 deliveries England bowled at him. And of course, he was dropped by Sam Billings.

Most impressive were the five boundaries he struck. The first came after a poor ball from Lawrence which he swept through leg gully to bring up his half-century.

Afterwards, we got a reminder of Taylor's impeccable ability to time the ball, plundering it through cover and point, either side of a thrash square of the wicket.

The Wellington-native then leaned on a length ball from James Anderson and merely pushed it past mid-on.

He missed out when Olly Stone came back as he nicked through to James Bracey via the third ball.

Five players have now got out in the 80s in this Test, a record-equalling run of mediocrity.

Only in the 1968 Ashes Test at Old Trafford and Australia's draw with South Africa in the third Test at the SCG have there been as many.

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Stone gave England a much-needed positive in Birmingham

Will India drop these?

Where would New Zealand have been without England's sloppy catching?

You can tell plenty about a team by how they field. And England have been rotten in this series

Had it not been for a fine bowling display on either side of lunch after a wayward first hour the Kiwis may have capitalised further on those mistakes.

Devon Conway and Will Young both had lives on day two, the former surviving thanks to the umpire's soft signal, the latter benefitting from Joe Root's loss of concentration.

And amid a dreadful first 60 minutes on the third morning, Ross Taylor was shelled at long leg by substitute fielder Sam Billings.

Then three balls after Tom Blundell's arrival he was put down by James Bracey, who had already allowed a couple of regulations catches to go down earlier in the session.

It would be unfair to overly-criticise the Gloucestershire man for his display in this series: this is a seismic step-up, he is far from the best available keeper in the Championship and is batting well out of position.

Nevertheless, it was a mess from England, but let's not ignore that several New Zealand batters have been given second lives in this Test.

The question is will India be as hospitable as the hosts come the World Test Championship final at The Ageas Bowl?

While the Black Caps took a first-inning lead, the story could have been very different.

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Mark Wood was at his energetic best

Stone and Wood boost the supporting cast

Virtually ever since Tim Paine and Australia re-strengthened their grip on the Ashes after retaining the urn in 2019, no aspect of England's blueprint to win down under this winter has been more forensically analysed than the formation of their bowling attack.

Building a formidable battery of fast bowlers has been the key mantra, repeated to death in anticipation of the rematch with Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins.

But before this summer, the familiar faces led the way. James Anderson and Stuart Broad led the way, having again dominated against West Indies and Pakistan. They collected 61 wickets between them in 2020.

Given Chris Woakes' well-known issues away from home and that England are still learning how to manage Jofra Archer's fitness, there was a feeling that this battery was lacking depth.

Mark Wood was mistreated last year. He played the first Test at The Ageas Bowl (not the most helpful surface for quicks) and then not again until England got to Galle. Losing his red-ball central contract hardly seemed fair.

Olly Stone is a slightly different case. His body has constantly let him down. It hasn't been through lack of faith that his international opportunities haven't been more regular. He's now getting regular recognition, played in India and got a call-up on merit for this series.

There is a real feeling that physically he has turned a corner.

"He came back with very good reports from his winter, that he's made changes and is starting to get confidence in his body," Warwickshire coach Mark Robinson told TMS.

"It was then about bowling in consecutive games and winning games for Warwickshire and bowling those match-winning spells. 

"Before it was about could he stay fit and how many games could he play and the dialogue changed from that to doing spells and trying to impact on the game.

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"He's helped us get off to a decent start and here he is making his first England appearance of the summer. A couple of drops, it could have been even better.

"You look at Cummins in Australia who had his injury problems growing into his body now he's making such an impact on the world game. He's had injury problems but he's a lot fitter, more aware nutritionally and he's done a lot more work."

On the third morning, James Anderson was targetting taking another step towards 1,000 first-class wickets. Stuart Broad was angry from the non-dismissal of Devon Conway. The new ball was available for both. It seemed like a perfect storm.

But it was the turn of the understudies. Stone and Wood were first change but first class, collecting combined figures of 12-2-2-37, which included Tom Blundell being put down, and returned for a second go to produce 8-2-2-43. The damage in those overs being done by Trent Boult and Ajax Patel having some fun.

What was most telling about their respective displays was how both were able to take wickets while keeping it tight. Three of their four wickets came during maidens; stemming the flow while taking key breakthroughs. If you can't be a threat, then at least stem the flow. Wood and Stone did both.

In the context of bowling alongside Broad and Anderson, taking wickets can't always be the sole consideration. Batters can be seduced into a false sense of security and give away their wickets. Combining control with scalps is an indicator that a bowler is getting all aspects on the money.

When you factor in Ollie Robinson's display at Lord's last week, particularly against the backdrop of the uncovering of his social media history, suddenly Chris Silverwood has stumbled on a core he can trust in high-pressure situations against a classy opponent.

You had to really want to see the positives for England on day three, but this really could be classed as one of them.

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Joe Root cut a dejected figure after being dismissed on the third evening

Root's unwanted record

New Zealand are close to ending Joe Root's unbeaten home record as England Test captain.

South Africa, Pakistan (twice), India, Ireland, Australia and West Indies (twice) have been to these shores since he took over in 2017.

But none of them have left with a series victory.

You might say that New Zealand are ideally set up for these conditions, with a watchful batting line-up and bowlers who can make it swing both ways.

It is also worth considering that England are without their IPL stars while Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer are out injured. The first part of that sentence will leave cricket traditionalists smarting to say the least.

This is also an incredibly young team learning on the job.

Chants of Football's Coming Home as defeat loomed was rather ironic, now that a clash with England's opening European Championship match against Croatia on Sunday (June 13) has been avoided.

It is no laughing matter for Root, however, who having targetted winning seven home Tests this year is none from two.

After a display at Lord's which lacked impetus despite Kane Williamson's generous declaration, this outing has been devoid of application.

A series against India will have more meaning and a more stellar cast but their preparation will come in the form of the Blast, The Hundred and the final two rounds of the County Championship.

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