England in New Zealand: Batting woes hamper Brendon McCullum’s Ashes preparations as top-order fail again

England’s 175 was some way short of the 244 average first-innings total in ODIs at Hamilton.

Indeed it was over a hundred runs adrift of the average winning score – 287 – when batting first at the ground.

Given so few runs to play with, England’s bowlers needed to marry incisiveness with control.

Archer brought them both during 10 overs of top-class fast bowling across two spells as he put down a marker in his first outing of the winter.

The 30-year-old set the tone early with a full delivery in his first over that had Young trapped plumb in front.

New Zealand’s batters were then hopping about the crease, as Archer showed his teeth with some rasping short balls.

Archer’s pace was up there as well. He averaged 87.4mph across his two spells with his fastest delivery of the day clocked at 90.2mph.

The Barbados-born quick bowler’s two other wickets owed a little more to fortune – Ravindra hooking him to Adil Rashid in the deep and Bracewell feathering one off his pads into the gloves of wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Yet they had been earned by spells of pressure. Archer’s 51 dot balls were the most he has bowled in an ODI when he has sent down 10 overs.

“He is an awesome bowler,” Brook said afterwards,

“Everyone loves watching him – 90mph and hoops it both ways. For him to bowl 3-23 is amazing. It is awesome to have him back.”

Archer’s injury problems and careful management over the past few years have been well documented.

But the fact he seems willing to throw himself about in the field – diving to stop balls on the boundary at fine leg – shows there are no scars.

There will be no holding back this winter.

England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes will have excitedly taken note. So too, with a little more trepidation, will Australia.

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