ENGLAND celebrated a 0-0 series result against New Zealand last night after saving the third Test at Eden Park with a dramatic last-wicket stand.
The stalemate
hardly met with pre-series expectations against the world-ranked number eight but it was more than adequate for England after the way the three Tests had gone.
That the series may not be quite as straightforward as just about everyone had anticipated was in evidence straight away as England crumbled to 167 all out on the second day of the
first Test in Dunedin following a first day washout.
New Zealand kept the pressure up by scoring 460-9 declared in reply, an innings anchored by a brilliant 171 from Hamish Rutherford's 171.
But the rain delay and a lifeless surface never seemed likely to produce a result - and so it proved when Alastair Cook (116) and Nick Compton (117) both scored centuries in a opening stand of 231.
Even nightwatchman Steven Finn was able to make a largely untroubled half-century as the match finished without even three innings having been completed.
England carried the momentum into the
second Test in Wellington, and it showed when the tourists were asked again to bat first by the New Zealanders.
Opener Compton answered those questioning his place in the side with a second successive century and this time he was joined on three figures by Jonathan Trott (121).
Additionally, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior both made half-centuries as England compiled an imposing first innings score of 465.
New Zealand were under serious pressure for the first time in the series - and, for the first time, the Black Caps' weaknesses were exposed.
The hosts were reduced to 89-5 before a slight recovery spearheaded by skipper Brendan McCullum who top-scored with 69 in a total of 254 all out.
But, agonisingly for the Kiwis, their total was still 11 runs short of the follow-on. With an eye on the weather, England duly asked New Zealand to bat again. Ultimately, though, the second Test would end just as the first did.
A whole day in Wellington was lost to the weather too - this time it was the final day - leaving the match again without even three completed innings.
And so, it seemed fair enough that the teams arrived
in Auckland for the decider with no score on the board.
There had been some criticism of England's first Test performance but Cook's men asking NZ to follow-on in the second Test appeared to have quelled the discontent somewhat.
It soon returned, though, as - incredibly - the Kiwis were able to perform a complete about-turn and put themselves in a position to enforce the follow-on.
England, who won the toss for the first time in the series, had endured a terrible first two days in Auckland after putting the New Zealanders into bat.
First, Peter Fulton (136) overcame early nerves to rack up his maiden international Test century, and he was ably supported down the order as the hosts made 443.
Then, the tourists, in reply, were a bit of a shambles. Deprived of the injured Pietersen, the top- and middle-order struggled for any kind of rhythm while the NZ quicks, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, found the most swing of the series, sharing the wickets of the top six.
Boult would subsequently run through the tail to finish with figures of 6-68 as England slumped to 204 all out, a deficit of 239.
Unlike in Wellington, there was no rain in the air or the forecast, and suddenly New Zealand were left with a glorious chance of a series win against a side other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh for the first time since 2006.
Indeed, McCullum calculated there was enough time left in the game
not to enforce the follow-on, and the Kiwi skipper opted to bat again.
It did not look the best of decisions at close on the third day with New Zealand reduced to 8-3 - but, with the first innings lead added on top, that was still effectively 247-3.
The only way England were going to win the Test and series was to run through the Black Caps for perhaps less than 100 but, buoyed by their overnight position, McCullum's men attacked on day four.
Fulton followed up his maiden Test century with another one, while his captain hit 67 from just 97 balls as the hosts hammered home their advantage.
Certainly, New Zealand were rather helped by England's ultra-negative mindset which resulted, at one stage, in all nine fielders being placed on the boundary rope.
It was
crazy stuff from skipper Cook - and indeed, often, their positioning did not matter, with the ball regularly flogged to the boundary in an innings which contained no fewer than eight sixes.
Bowlers were losing their temper with fielders. It was all, in short, a rather horrible mess - and the Kiwis were loving it.
McCullum declared with 143 overs left in the match in the knowledge that England had survived less than 90 in the first innings.
For the first time since the series had begun, New Zealand were odds-on, and they closed day four with the added bonus of four second innings England wickets.
Only twice before had any Test team in England's position heading into the final day avoided defeat. England achieved it in South Africa in 1995 when Michael Atherton finished unbeaten
on 185, and South African did it against Australia in Adelaide last
year.
Nevertheless, Ian Bell and the fledgling Joe Root seemed undaunted by their task, and their partnership saw England through to the new ball with barely an appeal from the Caps.
New Zealand were hardly feeling the pressure yet themselves, though, and the hosts made their final day breakthrough just before lunch when Boult trapped Root lbw.
The new ball had done its job but the New Zealanders should have had even more pre-interval success with Bell and new main Jonny Bairstow both dropped in quick succession off danger man Boult.
The Bairstow drop would not prove too costly, the Yorkshire man put out of misery shortly after lunch in his first First-class match since late November.
However, Bell would end up playing a magnificent innings, scoring 75 off 271 balls, and occupying the crease for 351 minutes.
The Warwickshire man's vigil would eventually come to an end on the stroke of tea and his wicket left England still in trouble on 237-7.
But, by then, Prior had played himself in, and the
finest current wicket-keeper-batsman in the world would remain unbeaten until the end, earning himself a seventh Test century.
Surprisingly, he was aided by Stuart Broad, a player whose batting had widely considered to have gone
way backwards over the past 18 months.
This was a really steely effort by Broad - only perhaps he knew he had it in himself to grind out an innings like this, as he set a record, in terms of minutes, for remaining on 0 not out in Test match.
Broad eventually got off the mark from his 62nd delivery after 103 minutes at the crease, and he would only ultimately manage a score of six before being caught by Ross Taylor off the occasional off-spin of Kane Williamson.
But his six from 77 balls - and Prior's impenetrable patience - had got England to within four overs of the finish.
As usual with Test cricket, though, there was a twist, and no sooner had Broad departed, then his fellow fast bowler James Anderson was back in the hutch for a duck.
Suddenly, England were 304-9 with Monty Panesar heading for the middle.
New Zealand put all nine fielders around the bat as Panesar took strike against the final ball of the 140th over. He survived, but only just, almost dragging the ball onto the stumps behind.
Three overs left - but, while Boult got no change from Prior, the failure to score a single put Panesar back on strike for the penultimate over.
Not for long, though, as Panesar managed to get the first ball of the over away before dashing to the other end and diving comically early for the line.
Still, somehow, he returned to the popping crease and left Prior to see out the rest of the over. But, yet again, Prior could not get off strike and Panesar was brought back into the action one final time against the pace of Boult.
Panesar left the first two deliveries before sending an inswinger through mid-off to scramble another single. Prior was back on strike for the last three balls.
It would have been a cruel twist of fate if England had failed at that point - but it was as if such a thought never crossed Prior's mind. He defended the final three balls with ease. England had done it.
Done it again, indeed - surviving for the fourth time with a last-wicket stand since 2009, a quite remarkable statistic.
In the 1990s, England fans became accustomed to their going down lamely, particularly against Australia in the Ashes. By contrast, this generation of English cricketers truly never seems to know when it is beaten.
The Aussies, meanwhile, seem to have performed a role-reversal -
if their 4-0 thumping in India is anything to go by - but England really should not get too far ahead of themselves.
Captain Cook has
denied there being any complacency in the squad, and perhaps it was more just the case that this was some of the finest Test cricket which New Zealand have played in years.
Cook's opposite number McCullum has thoroughly brightened up his team with some brilliant, attacking fields which have helped his bowlers to operate to their full potential.
He may blame himself for batting too long in the third Test but he really should not.
Ultimately, it was a couple of dropped catches just before lunch which were the reason why the Black Caps are not now celebrating a first home series win over England since 1984.
Of course, the Kiwis will get a chance of what would actually be a third series win on English soil almost immediately - and there will now be no underestimating their talents when they arrive to these shores in May.
England may be getting a reputation for the great escape - but, in the end, even they know that there are only so many Get of Jail Free cards in the set.
ENGLAND'S RECENT GREAT ESCAPES
July 2009
Cardiff
England 435 & 252-9 drew with Australia 674-6dec
Paul Collingwood scored 74 from 245 balls as the last man partnership of James Anderson and Monty Panesar survived more than 11 overs to keep the Ashes at 0-0. England would eventually win the series 2-1.
December 2009
Centurion
England 356 & 228-9 drew with South Africa 418 & 301-7dec
Collingwood was at the heart of another great escape, scoring 26 off 99 balls and partnering last man Graham Onions for more than three overs.
January 2010
Cape Town
England 273 & 296-9 drew with South Africa 291 & 447-7dec
In the very same series, which would ultimately finish 1-1, England made a second escape in a matter of weeks. Onions was the hero again, facing 11 balls to save the game, after Ian Bell's four-hour 76.
March 2013
Auckland
England 204 & 315-9 drew with New Zealand 443 & 241-6dec
Matt Prior survives 19 balls alongside last man Panesar for a deserved century after 75 from Bell in 351 minutes, and six from Stuart Broad over two hours. Broad also broke the all-time Test record by sitting on 0 not out for 103 minutes.
HOME & AWAY: TOUR RESULTS/FIXTURES
NEW ZEALAND v ENGLAND
| Date | Match | Result | Venue |
|
| 9 Feb | First T20 | ENGLAND 214-7 beat NEW ZEALAND 174-9 by 40 runs | Eden Park |
|
| 12 Feb | Second T20 | NEW ZEALAND 192-6 beat ENGLAND 137 by 55 runs | Hamilton |
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| 15 Feb | Third T20 | ENGLAND 143-0 beat NEW ZEALAND 139-8 by 10 wkts | Wellington | Eng won series 2-1 |
| 17 Feb | First ODI | NEW ZEALAND 259-7 beat ENGLAND 258 by three wkts | Hamilton |
|
| 20 Feb | Second ODI | ENGLAND 270-2 beat NEW ZEALAND 269 by eight wkts | Napier |
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| 23 Feb | Third ODI | ENGLAND 186-5 beat NEW ZEALAND 185 by five wkts | Eden Park | Eng won series 2-1 |
| 6-10 Mar | First Test | ENGLAND 167 & 421-6 drew w/ NEW ZEALAND 460-9d | Dunedin |
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| 14-18 Mar | Second Test | ENGLAND 465 drew w/ NEW ZEALAND 254 & 162-2 | Wellington |
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| 22-26 Mar | Third Test | NEWZEALAND 443 & 241-6 drew w/ ENGLAND 204 & 315-9 | Eden Park | Series tied 0-0 |
ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND
| Date | Match |
| Venue |
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| 16-20 May | First Test
| ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND | Lord's |
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| 24-28 May | Second Test | ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND | Headingley |
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| 31 May | First ODI | ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND | Lord's |
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| 2 Jun | Second ODI | ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND | Rose Bowl |
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| 5 Jun | Third ODI | ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND | Trent Bridge |
|
| 25 Jun | First T20 | ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND | The Oval |
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| 27 Jun | Second T20 | ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND | The Oval |
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