Recovery delights Vaughan
England captain Michael Vaughan hailed the resilience of his side after they bounced back to complete a Test series victory in New Zealand.
The tourists had been in deep trouble at four for three on the first day of the final Test at Napier, but recovered to win by 121 runs and take the series 2-1.
A century from Kevin Pietersen helped England reach 253 before seven wickets from man of the series Ryan Sidebottom helped open up an 85-run lead.
Andrew Strauss’ second-innings 177 batted the Kiwis out of the game before England wrapped up the match by taking the final five wickets on the final day.
It completed a fine turnaround for England, who lost the opening match in Hamilton and slipped to a perilous 136 for five in the second game at Wellington.
Vaughan said: “From being four for three everyone wrote us off; 250 looked below par on this good pitch and (with New Zealand) at 100 for one at lunch on the second day, I was sitting there thinking we were a long way behind the eight ball.
“But Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad changed the game on that second afternoon with the way they bowled and put them under pressure.
Ryan Sidebottom and Monty Panesar shared 14 wickets Buy this photo“It wasn’t a 170 all out kind of wicket so those two deserve a lot of credit, as does KP for getting that hundred on the first day and in the second innings Andrew Strauss for getting that 177.
“We really played a good game and drove it home and went for the kill by batting a little longer (in the second innings).
“We really wanted to nail the game because we haven’t won a series for a long time.”
Sidebottom, who did not receive the rewards his efforts deserved on tour of Sri Lanka before Christmas, finished the series with 24 wickets at an average of 17, the best haul by an England seamer in New Zealand.
“I haven’t done anything differently from Sri Lanka,” the left-arm seamer said, referring to the pre-Christmas tour when he suffered from a host of dropped catches.
The jubilant England players savour their 2-1 series win Buy this photo“I have tried to put the ball in the right areas but obviously it swings a bit more here, with a bit of reverse.
“There have been some good catches and I was fortunate in areas but I’ll take that.
“It has been a great series; it has to-ed and fro-ed and we have come out on top. We went 1-0 down and have fought back really well to win it.”
Sidebottom can now look forward to his next big date – his wedding, for which he admits he will have to have his hair cut.
The hirsute paceman added: “Yes, I’m definitely getting it cut – I’ve been told to, but just a tidy.”
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori admitted Sidebottom had been outstanding, adding: “I really think he was the difference between the two sides and the way he bowled here he was a real handful.
“It’s not all doom and gloom for us. We’ve got some good players but there are some areas we need to address to produce results.”
Michael Vaughan collects the series trophy after England's 121-run win © Getty Images
