Twitter Reaction: Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood save England on Day 1

At the conclusion of the first Test, England made wholesale changes to their squad of eleven that took the field in Christchurch, something that was well and truly expected. However, despite all that, the similar problems that the Brits faced came back to haunt them until they were bailed out by the unlikely pair of Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood. The duo slammed twin half-centuries and also accounted for a massive percentage of their side’s runs, something that saw the visitors come close to the psychological 300-run mark.

As for the hosts New Zealand, it was a case of ‘more of the same’ as far as they were concerned. Trent Boult continued his phenomenal form from the previous Test when he went ahead and cleaned up a terribly out of form Alastair Cook. The duo of Boult and Southee continued to cause problems for the visitors as the minuscule partnership between James Vince and Mark Stoneman was broken.

After showing some solidity with the bat, Joe Root also departed following a beauty of a delivery from Southee before Dawid Malan was also knocked over for a duck. The visitors were 7/164 at one point in time when Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood made their way to the middle. From staring down the barrel, the duo stitched an impressive partnership, something very unlikely and barely five runs short of a 100-run partnership.

It wasn’t until the nearing of the close of play that Mark Wood was dismissed for an impressive 52 by Tim Southee. This also happens to be a new record to become the highest individual score for a number nine batsman.

Twitter erupted following the partnership, with Jonny Bairstow being on the receiving end of many pleasantries from the Twitterati faithful.

Here are some tweets from the day’s play

@jbairstow21 is Underrated #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/Kq4lX0rHEv

— Some Random Guy (@SomeRandomGuySO) March 30, 2018

Restless night ahead for Jonny Bairstow 97* #NZvENG
What a great day's cricket. @BLACKCAPS @englandcricket

— Kiwi Kali (@kiwi_kali) March 30, 2018

great day of cricket #NZvENg @jbairstow21

— fi moore (@kindagot) March 30, 2018

Please don’t get out hooking Jonny please #NZvENG

— Nick (@nickcricket) March 30, 2018

Another insufficient inadequate England total – due to top order failings. Let’s make lots of changes to the bowling attack! #NZvENG

— Jack Mendel ? (@JackMendel4) March 30, 2018

Jonny, the ton can wait til the morning. Just survive the last few overs mate. #NZvENG

— Interactive IAS Da Phanboy (@liverpool_98) March 30, 2018

MA Wood's 52 is the highest Test score by a No 9 v New Zealand since JN Gillespie's 54* at Brisbane on 21 November 2004. It is the highest in New Zealand since J Srinath's 76 for India at Hamilton on 4 January 1999#NZvEng

— Arthur_S (@allanholloway) March 30, 2018

Great to see the England ‘tail’ (and Bairstow) showing the fight and determination severely lacked by the top order (again).

And, as a Hampshire fan, it’s going to be nice to have James Vince available the whole summer at the Ageas as well!!!!#NZvENG

— Ben Stanfield (@BenStanners) March 30, 2018

Leach batting technique, glasses and stance. Shades of Daniel Vettori. #NZvENG

— ASAD ULLAH QASIM (@asad_q78) March 30, 2018

#Awake early and watching the #Cricket come on @englandcricket keep getting those runs, lets get that 1-1 draw #NZvENG

— ♫ Adrian Bee ♫ (@adrianbee_) March 30, 2018

This match has slipped out of a NZ's hands. Can picture England winning this now. All the momentum is with them after that huge partnership between Bairstow and Wood. #NZvEng

— Ankit Damania (@punterankit) March 30, 2018

#NZvENG
Bravo Mark Wood

— Martin Putney (@shoeboxhead144) March 30, 2018

Jonny Bairstow came to bat at 94-5 now he's batting on 94*#NZvENG

— Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) March 30, 2018

Jack Leach last week: "I would have liked to score more runs and it’s an area I take quite seriously, like I enjoy batting and am always working hard at getting better in that aspect." Has shaped up well so far #NZvENG

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 30, 2018

#NZvENG England again bailed out by a tailender getting the score up and why oh why they have their best batsman for the last 3 years at 7 is beyond me, take the gloves off him and get him up at 4 or 5.

— Andrew Bell (Dinghy) (@AndrewB19601057) March 30, 2018

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