Advantage England - Moores

5 March 2008

Peter Moores was delighted with England's application

Watch Peter Moores in the close of play press conference free on ECBtv

Coach Peter Moores claimed the late dismissal of in-form Brendon McCullum on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand had swung the momentum in England’s direction.

The hosts were progressing nicely, with McCullum and Ross Taylor forging an 86-run sixth wicket stand in only 19 overs as they entered the penultimate over of the day at Seddon Park.

But McCullum, who had raced to 51 off 55 balls, chased a wide delivery from left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom and edged behind to give England the slight advantage as New Zealand closed on 282 for six after winning the toss and deciding to bat first.

“We knew if we could get three in the last session and have them six down at the end of play we’d have been satisfied,” explained Moores.

“We were pleased that we took the chances that came along because there weren’t many chances there and Alastair Cook had a very good day with three catches.”

He stressed: “We needed that last wicket because the way McCullum was playing, he looked like he was just going more or less into full one-day mode, which would have been very dangerous.

“It was important to get him out and to have the new ball in the morning gives us one end to bowl at and a chance to get some early wickets.”

McCullum’s wicket followed a determined display from England, who looked like they were facing a long day in the field when New Zealand reached lunch on 87 for one.

Ian Bell remains cheerful after learning his hand is not broken, only bruised © Getty Images

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But Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood, Monty Panesar and Matthew Hoggard claimed a wicket apiece to round off a successful day.

England are even remaining optimistic about the health of Ian Bell, who was forced to retire from the field after just 11 overs when he was hit on the right hand protecting himself at short leg when opener Matthew Bell pulled a short ball from Sidebottom.

He was immediately sent to hospital amid fears he had broken his hand, which would have put him out of the remainder of the three-Test series, but the x-ray failed to detect any fracture.

“He’s been for an x-ray and then he’s had an MRI,” confirmed Moores. “The x-ray showed no break but the MRI was a double check and that’s got no break at all.

“He’s iced it every half an hour to get it down and hopefully by tomorrow morning we’ll see where he’s at and whether he can bat.

“At the moment, the medical staff are quite happy that if they treat it all night there’s a chance he may be able to bat tomorrow. He was very lucky because it hit the side of his hand rather than the bony part of the wrist.”

New Zealand opener Jamie How, who top-scored with a battling 92, believes the Test remains finely poised despite the late wicket.

“I think it’s still in the balance,” said How, who hit 12 fours in his 251-minute innings.

“We lost a couple of more wickets than we would have liked, it’s a big part of the game tomorrow morning and the first hour is going to be important.

“You keep reminding yourself that at the start of the day if someone had given you 90 then you’d be happy, but it still hurts.

“I’ve been replaying that last over in my head for a while and I suppose it makes me more hungry for the next innings.”