ICC tells Kane Williamson to smile; gets comprehensively trolled by netizens

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been coming up with witty captions or statements on social media to entertain their fans. After New Zealand had outplayed England in the first Test at Mount Maunganui by an innings and 65 runs, ICC had posted a serious-looking picture of Kane Williamson and reminded the Kiwi skipper that his team is 1-0 up in the series and that he can afford to smile.

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ICC asks Kane Williamson to smile, faces backlash from fans

After ICC gave Kane Williamson a reason to smile, the cricket fans came forward and trolled the governing body of world cricket. Some highlighted the boundary count rule that had cost the Black Caps their maiden World Cup, while there were a couple of fans who said that the win does not matter for New Zealand as the ongoing Test series is not a part of the ICC World Test Championship schedule. Here are some of the reactions.

Coming back to New Zealand's first Test win, this win put the hosts in a commanding position in the two-Test series and extended their home streak to a remarkable seven series without defeat.

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Wagner picks up a fifer; Root fails to perform again

England were on the ropes with only two wickets remaining at tea before Sam Curran and Jofra Archer staged a late rally with a 59-run stand for the ninth wicket. But with fewer than 22 overs remaining in the match, Wagner brought proceedings to an abrupt halt when he removed Archer and Stuart Broad, the last man in, with successive balls. England had started the final day at three for 55 and 207 runs away from making New Zealand bat again. In what began as a dogged fight for survival, they crept along with a mere 66 runs off the first 41 overs for the loss of only Joe Root's wicket for 11, completing a disappointing match for the England skipper after his two in the first innings. Ben Stokes joined Joe Denly to continue England's defiance until nine overs after lunch when their patience ran out and New Zealand cashed in. Stokes, on 28, chased a wide Tim Southee delivery that should have been left and chopped it on to his stumps.

Wagner, who had been wicketless at that stage, revved up his left-arm bouncers and accounted for Joe Denly, Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler in quick succession as England lost four wickets for 17 runs. Denly, who delivered a solid 74 for England in the first innings, top-scored the second time around with 35 before he was caught behind. Pope was on six when, like Stokes, he chased a ball he should have left alone. Pope stretched to a wide full toss from Wagner and was caught by a diving Mitchell Santner at short cover. When the second new ball was taken, Wagner bowled Buttler who was scoreless after facing 18 deliveries. He finished with five for 44 and Santner had three for 53, in a victory set up by BJ Watling's 205 in New Zealand's mammoth first innings of 615 for nine declared. New Zealand's celebrations, however, were tempered by injury, with Trent Boult bowling just one over in the morning before leaving the field with a rib problem and taking no further part. Captain Kane Williamson, who had been troubled by a hip injury in the lead-up to the Test, left the field a few overs before the end clutching his side. 

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