Joe Root’s uncharacteristic dip in form continued as he fell for a duck on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. This marked his 13th career duck in Test cricket and his eighth in the World Test Championship (WTC), tying him for the most ducks in the competition’s history.
Since his sensational 262 against Pakistan in Multan, Root has scored just 90 runs across five innings. His dismissal by debutant Nathan Smith highlighted the pressure on England’s top order, which crumbled to 45/3 after a strong start at 43/1.
Unwanted Records for Root
Root’s dismissal placed him in a rare and undesirable record book. He became only the third batter to score a duck in their 150th Test match, joining Australian greats Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Players Dismissed for a Duck in Their 150th Test
- Steve Waugh (AUS vs PAK) – Sharjah, 2002 (1st ball)
- Ricky Ponting (AUS vs ENG) – Adelaide, 2010 (1st ball)
- Joe Root (ENG vs NZ) – Christchurch, 2024 (4th ball)
Root now shares the dubious honor of most ducks in WTC history alongside Rory Burns, Kusal Mendis, Jason Holder, and Zak Crawley. He also surpasses Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, who each have seven ducks in the competition.
Most Ducks in WTC History
- Mominul Haque (BAN): 10 ducks in 54 innings
- Rory Burns (ENG): 8 in 38 innings
- Kusal Mendis (SL): 8 in 45 innings
- Jason Holder (WI): 8 in 56 innings
- Zak Crawley (ENG): 8 in 81 innings
- Joe Root (ENG): 8 in 112 innings
England Struggles Against Disciplined New Zealand Pacers
England’s early progress was halted by New Zealand’s disciplined bowling. Nathan Smith, making his debut, delivered a stellar over to claim both Root and Jacob Bethell, leaving England in a precarious position. Ben Duckett followed soon after, compounding England’s woes.
On a wicket favoring New Zealand’s pacers, England’s top order failed to establish rhythm. The team’s troubles stood in stark contrast to New Zealand’s first-innings total of 348, built on Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 58 and supported by a disciplined lower order.
Brook and Pope Stabilize England
With England in dire straits at 45/3, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook mounted a strong counterattack. The pair forged an unbeaten century partnership, steadying the visitors and showing resilience against a fired-up New Zealand attack. Brook’s aggressive stroke play and Pope’s steady hand provided England with a much-needed recovery.
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