Top 5 Tests played between England and New Zealand

#1 38-run win for England at Nottingham, 1973

Tony Greig

The first Test of the 1973 series in England between the two teams is the best game that the two countries have been involved in till date. The match see-sawed either way till it ended in a heartbreaking defeat for the visitors.

England chose to bat first at Nottingham and despite a fine opening stand between Geoffrey Boycott and Dennis Amiss, they could only muster 250. Dayle Hadlee and Bruce Taylor picked up 4 wickets each. However, New Zealand's response was limp. England's fast bowlers John Snow, Geoff Arnold and medium-pace Tony Greig combined to dismiss them for only 97 in 41.4 overs.

The game was as good as over and when England declared their innings at 325 for 8, the writing was on the wall. New Zealand bowled well but could not get past Dennis Amiss and Tony Greig, who scored 138 each (276 out of 325).

New Zealand were set an improbable target of 479. The New Zealand chase got off to the worst possible start as their opener Glenn Turner and his partner John Parker were dismissed with the score at 16. Although Bevan Congdon steadied the innings, they kept losing wickets and were 130 for 4 when Mark Burgess was dismissed.

Congdon, however, got able support from Vic Pollard and the two put on a superb partnership. Congdon scored 176 and Pollard made 116. New Zealand were 77 away from one of the most famous wins when Pollard was dismissed. The lower order tried gamely to win the game but Hadlee was out hit wicket and the innings eventually folded for 440.