Trent Boult secures his place as the best of the worst Test batters | Simon Burnton


The New Zealand No 11 battles for personal milestones with Daryl Mitchell in a match-warping innings

The batter powered a drive down the ground for four and punched the air with joy. His teammate approached from the other end to offer a fist-bump, then upgraded to a full hug. History had been made: Trent Boult had become the most prolific No 11 in Test history, level with Muttiah Muralitharan on 623 runs.

Briefly and entertainingly, he and Daryl Mitchell, grinning behind their grilles, battled for personal milestones, Boult desperate to become the best of all worst batters, Mitchell to complete a first career double-century before he ran out of partners. Their team’s total was already good enough for little else to matter, but neither won. Mitchell tried to hoick Matt Potts into the stands and missed completely, then top-edged through to the keeper to fall for 190. A superb, match-warping innings was over.

Continue reading...