That Mitchell and Blundell look has been a fine subplot to England’s show | Simon Burnton

This series will be remembered for England’s new dazzle but New Zealand’s resolute middle-order pair have kept games alive

Farewell then, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell. However it concludes on Monday this series will chiefly be remembered for the rebirth of England in a new, thrilling and at least temporarily successful form, but this granitic pair will stand forever at its heart. While their opponents threw their wild and colourful brushstrokes, Mitchell and Blundell patiently set about resculpting the record books.

They came into the fourth day at Headingley with their final partnership of the summer in its infancy, only seven runs in, and with England knowing an early breakthrough would almost certainly mean the game concluding swiftly and in their favour. A couple of hours later they had added another 86, lunch was on the table and that possibility was not; Mitchell had 44 and Blundell 45, with nothing to split them at the crease or on the scoreboard.