Stuart Broad produces one of his famed unplayable spells as England threaten to snap 12-Test win drought

England 307 New Zealand 178-6: Broad and James Anderson tear through the Kiwi top order to reduce the home side to 36-5 before BJ Watling and Colin De Grandhomme battle back

Stuart Broad celebrates taking the crucial wicket of Colin De Grandhomme (AFP)

England may still win this match. But the fact they are not out of sight by the end of the second day just about sums up this Test winter.

Following the lows of a 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia and a humiliating innings loss in the opening match of this series against New Zealand, when they were bowled out for 58, Joe Root’s team are now threatening to throw away a final Test in which they had their opponents on their knees at 36 for five in their first innings.

It followed a brilliant spell of new-ball bowling from Stuart Broad that saw him take three wickets in his first 26 balls.

Yet by stumps, the hosts had rallied to 192 for six following a 142-run partnership between BJ Watling and Colin De Grandhomme.

That was finally brought to an end inside the final hour when Broad had De Grandhomme caught behind on 72.

It was a big wicket not only because it was Broad’s 406th in Tests, taking him past West Indies great Curtley Ambrose on the all-time list, but because it also restored some much-needed belief back into an England collective who had been frustrated by New Zealand’s sixth-wicket pair for 50.1 overs.

Broad took four wickets for just 38 runs to decimate the New Zealand top order (Getty)

The significance of the breakthrough should not be underestimated given the fragile confidence of an England team who have gone 12 overseas Tests without a win.

Hopes of breaking that soul-destroying sequence and registering a first away victory since Bangladesh were beaten in Chittagong in October 2016 remain good.

New Zealand, 115 runs behind England’s first-innings 307 as Watling ended the day unbeaten on 77 alongside Tim Southee, are not completely out of this Test.

Broad reaped the benefits of a change to his bowling style (Getty)

But Root’s team, who themselves were buoyed by significant lower-order partnerships in a first innings held together by a fine fifth Test hundred from Jonny Bairstow, will believe they can carve out a match-winning lead given they are just five overs away from taking a second new ball.

“To get that wicket late on, it’s opened the game up again,” said Broad. “We’re in a great position with the new ball around the corner. And we’ve seen the damage the new ball can do on this pitch.”

Broad has remodelled his action after a disappointing Ashes series, getting his wrist position more behind the ball.

I’m 31, not 35 or 36, I’ve still got things to offer

&#13; <p>Stuart Broad</p>&#13;

It has, he believes, had the desired results. “That’s probably the best rhythm I’ve felt in for a couple of years actually running in today,” he said. “I was rubbish in Australia to be honest. Everything from me bowling today I felt in full control. I let the ball go with full effort and the ball was bouncing through, it had pace, nipping and it’s quite an exciting place to be.

“I’m 31, not 35 or 36, I’ve still got things to offer and when you see improvements over a relatively short period of time like I have it gives you a lot of energy and a really good feeling. I do feel like I have got a lot to offer but I had to improve and over that short period of time and I think I have.

“If I can move the ball like I did today with that sort of pace and wrist behind the ball I feel I can offer this team a lot.”

Joe Root will hope that England do not rue letting their strong start slip away (Getty)

On passing Ambrose, Broad added: “He was certainly one of my inspirations and heroes. Watching him in full flight was as good as you get really. It doesn’t feel quite real particularly when you mention these kind of names. It’s not necessary down to the skill of my bowling bit it’s the longevity of it and I’m lucky enough to have played in an era where English fast bowlers have been looked after.”

Despite still being ahead of the game here, England will be irked by the fact things could have been so much better. They were in complete charge of this final Test at lunch on day two following arguably their best session of the winter.

Jonny Bairstow celebrates reaching his century in the second Test (Getty)

After Bairstow had chalked off the three runs he needed to convert his overnight 97 into three figures, England, eight down after day one, eventually added 17 more runs to their total.

Stuart Broad and James Anderson then got to work with the new ball to send New Zealand into lunch on 32 for four.

Broad, bowling full and with unerring accuracy, appeared to be in the middle of one of his famous match-winning spells as he dismissed Tom Latham, Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls in his first 26 balls.

By this stage New Zealand were 17 for four, Anderson also having opener Jeet Raval caught behind by Bairstow as the hosts looked ready to emulate England’s first-innings implosion in Auckland.

Thoughts of the follow-on and a three-day finish came to the forefront of most people’s minds when New Zealand’s captain and best batsman Kane Williamson was caught down the legside off Anderson in the third over of the afternoon session.

What followed, though, proved that this Hagley Oval pitch is incredibly easy to bat once the shine has been taken off the new ball.

BJ Watling celebrates reaching his half-century for New Zealand (Reuters)

As captain, Root tried everything, including giving a lengthy bowl to Jack Leach on debut.

The Somerset left-arm spinner may not have taken a wicket but he performed admirably, tying up an end and conceding just 46 runs from the 18 overs he bowled.

Following on from the way he handled himself when scoring 16 in his first international innings, Leach again displayed the kind of composure that suggests he has what it takes to succeed at Test level.

Broad finally did break the partnership that brought New Zealand back into this match, the hosts total now 178 for six, before bad light ended the day with 5.1 overs still to bowl.