Root revives England in New Zealand Test

LEEDS, United Kingdom (AFP) –

England cricketer Joe Root (right) plays a shot as New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Walting looks on during their first Test in London on May 16, 2013. Root led England’s recovery as they reached 178 for four at tea on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand in Leeds.

Joe Root led England’s recovery as they reached 178 for four at tea on the second day of the second Test against New Zealand in Leeds on Saturday.

Root, who came in at 67 for three after England lost two wickets in two balls on that score, was 61 not out on his Headingley home ground and fellow Yorkshireman batsman Jonny Bairstow 13 not out.

It was another composed display by the 22-year-old Root, now in his sixth Test but yet to make a hundred, following his 71 in the second innings of England’s 170-run win in the first of this two-match series at Lord’s last week.

Both Ian Bell and Root were nought not out at lunch.

Afterwards, the experienced Bell clipped left-arm quick Trent Boult for four while Root cut and forced Tim Southee, who took 10 wickets at Lord’s, for two boundaries.

Southee thought he’d reduced England to 100 for four when Bell was given out lbw for 12 by Marais Erasmus.

England batsman Nick Compton walks back to the pavilion following his dismissal during the second day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand in Leeds on May 25, 2013. Joe Root led England’s recovery as they reached 178 for four at tea on the second day.

Bell, though, reviewed the South African umpire’s decision and, with technology indicating the ball would have bounced over the stumps, he was reprieved.

New Zealand’s four-man seam attack — spinner Bruce Martin suffered a tour-ending calf injury at Lord’s while Daniel Vettori was declared unfit Thursday — kept England’s fourth-wicket duo under pressure.

But the composed Root cover-drove Southee for four to evoke memories of fellow Yorkshireman and former England captain Michael Vaughan.

And when left-arm seamer Neil Wagner gave Root width, he was cut behind square for another boundary.

However, part-time off-spinner Kane Williamson lived up to his reputation as a partnership breaker when he had Bell, carelessly trying to run the ball down to third man caught behind by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for 30.

It was the end of a stand worth 79 and England were now 146 for four.

Bell’s exit brought another Yorkshireman in Bairstow to the crease and he, as had Root, received a rousing reception from his home crowd as he walked out.

And there were more cheers for Root when he completed a 90-ball fifty including five fours.

Earlier, England captain Alastair Cook won the toss, with the sunny blue skies overhead providing seemingly ideal conditions to bat first following Friday’s total washout.

But Southee, who took 10 wickets at Lord’s, struck in the fourth over to have a static Nick Compton excellently caught head-high by third slip Dean Brownlie for one.

England then made largely untroubled progress during a second-wicket stand of 56 between captain Cook (34) and Jonathan Trott (28).

But with their score on 67, they saw Trott, driving well away from his body, caught behind by McCullum — behind the stumps this match after BJ Watling was ruled out with a knee injury sustained at Lord’s — off Wagner for 28.

And next ball left-hander Cook, whose 34 featured six fours, flat-footedly edged recalled seamer Doug Bracewell to Brownlie.