England's assistant coach Tim Southee believes the hosts can draw on New Zealand's painful memories from a 2022 Trent Bridge classic to turn the series decider around. That remarkable match, which saw England chase down a monumental total after conceding 553, is often cited as the birth of the Bazball era. New Zealand's players from that day are returning to the same ground for the first time, and Southee suggests that history might linger in their minds as the current Test unfolds.
The echoes of four years ago are strong. Back then, a Jonny Bairstow masterclass, a blistering 136 off 92 balls, sealed a thrilling victory for Ben Stokes' side in an electric atmosphere. New Zealand had piled on the runs, reaching 405-4 in their first innings and amassing 553, the highest total by a team losing a Test in England. That kind of defeat doesn't fade quickly. Five players from that 2022 Kiwi XI are playing this week, with three more in the touring party.
This time around, New Zealand dominated day one after winning a crucial toss. Openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway built a mammoth 317-run stand in oppressive heat, putting their team in a commanding position. But England, as they have done so often under Stokes, struck back late. Two wickets from the final two deliveries of the day left New Zealand 361-4, injecting hope into a home side that has repeatedly proven capable of winning after conceding huge first-innings totals.
England are under serious pressure heading into the final day. Their form has been poor, with just two wins in nine Tests, and the series has been overshadowed by off-field controversy involving Stokes and Gus Atkinson. The captain himself admitted the scrutiny is at its highest point of his tenure. For New Zealand, the opportunity is clear: become the first touring team to win a series of three matches or more in England since 2012.
Not everyone agrees the past will play a role. New Zealand assistant coach Luke Ronchi dismissed the 2022 factor, calling this a very different team on a different surface. His message was to stay in the present, focusing on the task ball by ball. Yet with the game finely poised after that dramatic late flurry of wickets, the shadow of what happened on this very ground hangs heavy. The question is whether it will inspire England or haunt their opponents.
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