OTD| New Zealand became the fourth team to win a Test after following on in 2023

A ‘follow-on’ in a Test match is equivalent to forcing your enemy in the war to sit at the table to sign the treaty declaring the defeat. It is a miraculous achievement for a team to win a Test match after conceding a follow-on and it has happened only four times in the long history of Test cricket. On this day last year, New Zealand became the latest entry in this elite list by winning the Wellington Test against England after conceding a follow-on. 

First Innings

The Kiwi captain Tim Southee won the toss and invited England to bat first. His decision paid dividends in the first ten overs as New Zealand had three early breakthroughs to put the visitors in a fix. But this England team was different. The Englishmen were charged with the philosophy of ‘Bazball.’ Joe Root and Harry Brook gave an introduction of Bazball to the Kiwis. The duo took on the opposition bowlers and dominated them throughout. Root and Brook smashed centuries to guide England to 435 runs in the first innings. 

In reply, The Kiwis fell flat with the bat. The renowned pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad wreaked havoc in bowling-friendly conditions to dismantle the New Zealand batting unit. It was Tim Southee who did the face-saving in the end with his 73-run knock to carry his team beyond the 200-run mark. Still, it was not enough to avoid the follow-on. 

Second Innings

Taking lessons from the tragedy in the first innings Kiwi batters did a lot better in the second innings. Openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway scored half-centuries to give New Zealand a solid start. The rest of the task was done by Kane Williamson. The experienced former Kiwi Test captain smashed a gritty century to lead his team to 482 runs in the second innings. As a result of this improved batting display, New Zealand posted 258 runs on the board as the target for England to chase. It was a challenging total to chase in the fourth innings but England were determined to go for the kill. However, the Kiwi bowling unit stood tall. 

Half of the English side was back in the pavilion even before they could accumulate 100 runs. But the game was not over as Joe Root replicated his first innings heroics. His 95 runs brought England very close to the target but losing wickets at regular intervals did not help England. In the end, it all came down to Jack Leach and James Anderson but the veteran English fast bowler could not carry his team across the finishing line as Neil Wagner trapped him with a short delivery. New Zealand won this match by just 1 run, scripting history by making a comeback after conceding a follow-on. 

Also read: In 1986, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 20 runs in the first Test in Kandy