The third and final Test of the ongoing three-match series between England and New Zealand is being played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. On Day 1 of the series decider, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham
and opening batter Devon Conway dominated proceedings for the visitors. Both batters scored centuries and, at the end of 69 overs, had put together an unbeaten 307-run stand for the first wicket. Conway was batting on 150 from 210 balls, while Latham was unbeaten on 147 from 207 deliveries.
Their unbeaten 307-run partnership helped them enter the record books by surpassing the highest partnership for any wicket by New Zealand against England in a Test match.
The previous record was held by Stewie Dempster and Jackie Mills, who added 276 runs for the first wicket in the first innings of the Wellington Test played from June 24 to 27, 1930.
The record for New Zealand’s highest partnership in a Test match is held by Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe. Jones scored 186, while Crowe made 299, as they shared a 467-run stand for the third wicket in New Zealand’s second innings of the January-February 1991 Test against Sri Lanka in Wellington.
New Zealand’s highest opening partnership in Test cricket belongs to Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis. Turner scored 259 and Jarvis made 182 as they added 387 runs for the first wicket against West Indies in Georgetown in the Test played from April 6 to 11, 1972.
The highest partnership for any wicket in a Test match in England is held by Australia’s Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford, who added 451 runs for the second wicket against England in the first innings of the Oval Test played from August 18 to 22, 1934.
The highest opening partnership in a Test match in England belongs to South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs, who put on 338 runs for the first wicket against England in Birmingham in the Test played from July 24 to 28, 2003.
The ongoing third Test between England and New Zealand is a must-win encounter for both teams, with the winner of the Nottingham match set to clinch the three-match series.
