England faced a devastating start, losing five wickets for 84 runs early in the match, with key players Joe Root and Ben Stokes dismissed quickly. Jamie Smith, despite being new to Test cricket, defied the prevailing situation and played aggressively, hitting boundaries. His approach alongside Harry Brook, influenced by coach Brendon McCullum's aggressive style, shifted the momentum. The crowd was captivated, and their spirited play challenged traditional English batting strategies, resulting in a remarkable turnaround that was reminiscent of cinematic heroes in their most daring moments.
By the second over of the day England were 84 for five, five hundred runs and a thousand miles behind. Their best batter, Joe Root had just been caught off the ninth ball of the morning.
Smith took a half-step forwards and, crack, thumped it back down the ground for four. Everyone else in this England team had to unlearn a lot of what they had been taught to begin to bat like this.
They turned this into one the great days of Test cricket. If you offered the 25,000 fans... the chance to spend this July Friday anywhere else, you would have struggled to find one person among them who would not have turned you down flat.
This one decided to crash, bang and wallop their way ahead instead. It was like watching Butch and Sundance come charging out of the building in the final reel.
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