History was written the moment the third and final Test between England and New Zealand got underway at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. With the series locked and the winner of this match set to take the trophy, it was a make-or-break contest for both sides. And on the very first day of that high-pressure game, New Zealand captain Tom Latham and opener Devon Conway tore into the English bowling so ruthlessly that a record nearly 96 years old was wiped off the books for good.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first proved a golden decision for New Zealand. The two left-handers gave the home bowlers no opening all day, producing on England's notoriously tricky pitches a feat that will be remembered for a long time to come.
Unbeaten Centuries From Both Openers
By stumps, New Zealand had piled up 317 for one in 72.1 overs. Captain Tom Latham blended caution with aggression to remain unbeaten on 151 off 214 balls, while at the other end Devon Conway looked even more dangerous, smashing an unbeaten 157 off just 224 deliveries. Their unbroken 317-run opening stand not only put New Zealand in a commanding position but also etched the pair's names into the record books.
A 1930 Landmark Falls
The 317-run opening partnership became New Zealand's highest stand for any wicket against England in Test cricket. Latham and Conway pushed past a mark set back in June 1930, roughly 96 years ago. Until now, New Zealand's biggest partnership against England belonged to Stewie Dempster and Jackie Mills, who added 276 for the first wicket in the opening innings of the Wellington Test from 24 to 27 June 1930. That decades-old record was passed with ease.
Jones and Crowe Still Hold the All-Time Mark
While the pair set a new benchmark against England, New Zealand's all-time record for the highest partnership for any wicket still belongs to Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe. Against Sri Lanka in the second innings of the Wellington Test in January-February 1991, the two greats added a colossal 467 runs for the third wicket. Jones made 186 in that match, while Crowe fell agonisingly short of a triple century by a single run, finishing on 299.
Turner and Jarvis Lead the Opening List
When it comes purely to opening stands, New Zealand's biggest first-wicket partnership in Tests still rests with Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis. The duo put on a marathon 387 for the first wicket against the West Indies in the Georgetown Test from 6 to 11 April 1972. Turner played a magnificent knock of 259, while Jarvis contributed 182.
The Great Records on English Soil
Building big partnerships on English pitches has always been a stiff challenge for visiting batsmen, and the show at Trent Bridge has revived memories of some landmark feats achieved there. The world record for the highest Test partnership for any wicket in England belongs to Australia's Sir Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford, who added 451 for the second wicket against England in the first innings of the Oval Test from 18 to 22 August 1934.
Smith and Gibbs and a Blazing Opening Stand
The record for the biggest opening partnership by a visiting team on English soil is held by South Africa's Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs. The hard-hitting pair piled on 338 for the first wicket against England in the Birmingham Test from 24 to 28 July 2003.
