New Zealand holds an unenviable test cricket record in being dismissed for 26 in a second innings vs England at Eden Park March 1955.
Over night batting second in 2nd test at Bulawayo in reply to Zimbabwe batting first after winning the toss all out for 125, at end of day two New Zealand are 601 for 3 with one of that three, Bowler Duffy who had come in as night watchman when opener Young had played on, discussions around a declaration ensue.
Never say never but it is always unlikely that record 26 all out will be expunged although there have been a couple of close calls with Mighty Australia avoiding a lower innings score in November 2011 when Lyon and Siddle got them to 47 after being 21 for 9.
Then just over a month ago West Indies narrowly avoided equalling that NZ score when an Australian misfielded and they managed 27 all out.
One reason to despair that the 1955 debacle will be expunged is the abilities of bowlers to score runs in pdms not so favourite pyjama game whereas back in 1955 that New Zealand Tail was not so equipped.
Tony MacGibbon, Ian Colquhoun, Alex Moir and Johnnie Hayes faced 22 balls without scoring a run and bloody Extras also registers a nought.
So. my inspiration following a remarkable New Zealand batting effort so far with three batsmen getting to 150 two not out with three days to go, just bat on and attempt to overcome the Sri Lankan innings total of 952/6 dec in August 1997 against India. At least having both the 26 all out and whatever may be achieved with Mitchell, Blundell, Santner, Foulkes, Henry and Fisher to bat, at the other end of the spectrum, does appeal.
Test cricket is a sport!
They had three days left in the Test. It was rather annoying to wake up and find that Santner had declared overnight and skittled the Zims again, and it was all over. Having a crack at Sri Lanka’s innings record of 952 might have been fun.