England’s quest for a Test series win at the Black Caps was aided by a quirky catch from a somewhat controversial substitute wicketkeeper.
Sam Billings caught New Zealand’s Neil Wagner on day four of the third and final test in the series at night (NZ time) using his knees together.
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New Zealand’s Neil Wagner is caught between his legs on day four of the third Test in Headingley by substitute English wicketkeeper Sam Billings.
Wagner had pushed left-arm spinner Jack Leach to Billings, who was unable to entangle the ball in his gloves as it bounced off his chest. The ball dropped toward the turf, but Billings—not originally in the side—clamped his right knee to his left and wedged the ball between them before plucking it out with a gloved hand.
After the on-field umpires consulted and got help from the TV referee, Wagner was handed out for the New Zealand tail’s failure to support the series’ fourth-century partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell.
Billings was called off to save and strike as a replacement for Ben Foakes, who was ruled out before the start of day four after testing positive for Covid-19, allowing him to be replaced. The previous day, Foakes didn’t last NZ’s second innings due to a stiff back – something that wouldn’t qualify for a replacement.
At stumps, England were 183-2, needing 113 more runs to win the Test and take a 3-0 sweep under new coach and former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum.