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| England v New Zealand: first Test, day one – live! | England v New Zealand: first Test, day one – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.46pm BST12:46 | |
| 21st over: England 98-4 (Stokes 34, Root 36) Matt Henry comes back again. McCullum has no problem in shuffling his pack. We’ve had Boult, Southee, Boult, Southee, Boult, Southee, Henry, Southee, Henry, Boult, Henry, Southee, Henry, Boult, Henry, Boult, Southee, Boult, Southee, Boult, Southee, Henry so far. Stokes hoiks to square leg for four, and Root keeps pace – driving on the up for four more. This has been a brilliant morning of Test cricket. | |
| 12.41pm BST12:41 | |
| 20th over: England 87-4 (Stokes 27, Root 32) A couple of no-balls from Southee, who oversteps in straining for pace, and a couple of singles. Perhaps time for an over or two from Corey Anderson? | |
| 12.35pm BST12:35 | |
| 19th over: England 80-4 (Stokes 23, Root 31) Root pivots on his back foot and pulls for a thunkingly good four – that came out of the sweet spot in the middle of the sweet spot’s sweet spot. And another push into the leg side brings up the 50 partnership from 46 balls. | |
| This is exceptional batting in the circumstances. If these two don't play 250 Tests between them, we might as well all pack up and go home. | |
| 12.32pm BST12:32 | |
| 19th over: England 74-4 (Stokes 23, Root 25) Some of the vim and vigour has just leeched from the NZ attack now. Although just as a type that Southee finds the toe-end of Root’s bat and watches the edge bounce a yard or two short of Watling. Root drives economically off the back for four and the scorecard continues to rattle along. | |
| “What we really could do with here, is Stokes monstering off a blistering century, Botham / Flintoff / KP style,” writes Tom van der Gucht. “It would make a change from all the turgid test batting we’ve seen recently, and could provide a nice sprongboard for the “new” England team. Especially if Buttler joins in the fun.” Agreed Tom. (NB: I usually correct email typos if I spot them, but that one creates such a pleasing word I thought I’d leave it.) | |
| Updated at 12.32pm BST | |
| 12.25pm BST12:25 | |
| 18th over: England 67-4 (Stokes 19, Root 18) A bit of nudge and nurdle from Joe Root as Boult charges in again, and Stokes chops a full one out to the cover point boundary for four. And the last he whelps down to cow corner for four more. Cracking batting. | |
| Updated at 12.37pm BST | |
| 12.21pm BST12:21 | |
| 17th over: England 56-4 (Stokes 15, Root 15) McCullum continues to shuffle his pack. Because he’s great. Southee returns and finds the edge of Stokes’ bat as he slashes likje Jason Vorhees at a wide on. Somehow the ball drops a foot short of second slip. And another low edge scoots through the cordon again, this time running away for four. This partnership is now worth 26 from 28 balls. | |
| 12.16pm BST12:16 | |
| 16th over: England 48-4 (Stokes 7, Root 15) Boult finds the edge of Stokes’ bat, but only a low edge and it’s played very softly into the slip cordon. A maiden. | |
| Meanwhile, at a golf course far, far away … | |
| Corporate hospitality at its best here at #Wentworth! x pic.twitter.com/dPPxMBUWJr | |
| 12.13pm BST12:13 | 12.13pm BST12:13 |
| 15th over: England 48-4 (Stokes 7, Root 15) Henry tests Stokes with a short one … and Stokes shows he’s up for that particular challenge. A good old-fashioned hook shot whistles away for four. | 15th over: England 48-4 (Stokes 7, Root 15) Henry tests Stokes with a short one … and Stokes shows he’s up for that particular challenge. A good old-fashioned hook shot whistles away for four. |
| “Looking at the picture, there are some very scruffy unshaven faces out there for England,” writes Paul Keeling. “Have the performance gurus decided that 1mm of stubble provides a 4.3% improvement in performance, or are England players just slovenly oiks who don’t think they need to look their best when playing for their country at the home of cricket? Humph.” | “Looking at the picture, there are some very scruffy unshaven faces out there for England,” writes Paul Keeling. “Have the performance gurus decided that 1mm of stubble provides a 4.3% improvement in performance, or are England players just slovenly oiks who don’t think they need to look their best when playing for their country at the home of cricket? Humph.” |
| 12.08pm BST12:08 | 12.08pm BST12:08 |
| 14th over: England 41-4 (Stokes 2, Root 13) Boult sends an inswinger arrowing in towards Root’s pads. Root, playing a different game to his team-mates at the moment, clips confidently through midwicket for four. And a few balls later he drives confidently for a couple more. Ten from the over in all. | 14th over: England 41-4 (Stokes 2, Root 13) Boult sends an inswinger arrowing in towards Root’s pads. Root, playing a different game to his team-mates at the moment, clips confidently through midwicket for four. And a few balls later he drives confidently for a couple more. Ten from the over in all. |
| 12.04pm BST12:04 | 12.04pm BST12:04 |
| 13th over: England 31-4 (Stokes 1, Root 4) Ian Bell’s last four Test scores are 1, 0, 0 and now 1. Given that his form was the key reason behind England’s last Ashes win that’s a very troubling rut that he’s got himself in. But, as I say, it was a ripsnorter of a ball from Henry. Stokes gets himself off the mark with a clip wide of midwicket. | 13th over: England 31-4 (Stokes 1, Root 4) Ian Bell’s last four Test scores are 1, 0, 0 and now 1. Given that his form was the key reason behind England’s last Ashes win that’s a very troubling rut that he’s got himself in. But, as I say, it was a ripsnorter of a ball from Henry. Stokes gets himself off the mark with a clip wide of midwicket. |
| “Seems like a bit of a collapse on the go here,” writes Tim Jones. “I was wondering if there were any other top-order batsmen that we could have considered, with half-decent records in Tests and a few scores this summer. However, I was unable to think of any, so the obvious conclusion is that these are the best lads we have and we are therefore terrible. Shame really.” | “Seems like a bit of a collapse on the go here,” writes Tim Jones. “I was wondering if there were any other top-order batsmen that we could have considered, with half-decent records in Tests and a few scores this summer. However, I was unable to think of any, so the obvious conclusion is that these are the best lads we have and we are therefore terrible. Shame really.” |
| 11.59am BST11:59 | 11.59am BST11:59 |
| WICKET! Bell b Henry 1 (England 30-4) | WICKET! Bell b Henry 1 (England 30-4) |
| What a ball this is from Matt Henry! An absolutely fizzing delivery that is angled in to hit middle but shapes away to crash into the outside of off. Bell played all round it, but it was a pretty decent nut to get early on. | What a ball this is from Matt Henry! An absolutely fizzing delivery that is angled in to hit middle but shapes away to crash into the outside of off. Bell played all round it, but it was a pretty decent nut to get early on. |
| Updated at 12.11pm BST | Updated at 12.11pm BST |
| 11.57am BST11:57 | 11.57am BST11:57 |
| 12th over: England 30-3 (Bell 1, Root 4) Southee returns as McCullum mixes up his pace trio early on. Bell keeps his powder dry until the last, which he punches down the ground for a single to get off the mark. | 12th over: England 30-3 (Bell 1, Root 4) Southee returns as McCullum mixes up his pace trio early on. Bell keeps his powder dry until the last, which he punches down the ground for a single to get off the mark. |
| “Huh,” begins B Dean. “I’m not sure having Ali at 8 is enough batting …” | “Huh,” begins B Dean. “I’m not sure having Ali at 8 is enough batting …” |
| 11.53am BST11:53 | 11.53am BST11:53 |
| 11th over: England 29-3 (Bell 0, Root 4) So England’s left-handed top order trio are all back in the hutch within the opening hour. Root begins the fightback by elegantly leaning into a cover drive as Henry offers him a near half-volley outside off. In four out of five knocks in the Caribbean Root arrived at the crease with the scores on 34, 52, 38 and 18, all for three. We can add 25 to that increasingly worrying list. | |
| Updated at 12.43pm BST | |
| 11.49am BST11:49 | 11.49am BST11:49 |
| WICKET! Cook c Watling b Henry 17 (England 25-3) | WICKET! Cook c Watling b Henry 17 (England 25-3) |
| Matt Henry has just bounced out Alastair Cook! The debutant bangs in a surprise short one. It’s not one up towards the throat, but angled over the right shoulder. Cook, though, tries to pull and feathers an edge through to the hobbling Watling. | Matt Henry has just bounced out Alastair Cook! The debutant bangs in a surprise short one. It’s not one up towards the throat, but angled over the right shoulder. Cook, though, tries to pull and feathers an edge through to the hobbling Watling. |
| Updated at 12.03pm BST | Updated at 12.03pm BST |
| 11.46am BST11:46 | 11.46am BST11:46 |
| 10th over: England 25-1 (Bell 0, Cook 16) It’s been the curse of the cable-knit thus far. Lyth, cable knit: gone. Ballance, cable-knit: gone. Cook, shirt-sleeves: surviving. The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice has just walked out to the crease … wearing the ill-starred garment. | 10th over: England 25-1 (Bell 0, Cook 16) It’s been the curse of the cable-knit thus far. Lyth, cable knit: gone. Ballance, cable-knit: gone. Cook, shirt-sleeves: surviving. The Sledgehammer of Eternal Justice has just walked out to the crease … wearing the ill-starred garment. |
| Updated at 11.49am BST | Updated at 11.49am BST |
| 11.44am BST11:44 | 11.44am BST11:44 |
| WICKET! Ballance c Southee b Boult 1 (England 25-2) | WICKET! Ballance c Southee b Boult 1 (England 25-2) |
| Boult changes ends and now steams in from the Pavilion End. And from the last ball of the over he gets his man with a delivery full enough to tempt a full-blooded drive and with just enough movement to find the outside edge. His partner in crime Southee takes a decent low catch at third slip. | Boult changes ends and now steams in from the Pavilion End. And from the last ball of the over he gets his man with a delivery full enough to tempt a full-blooded drive and with just enough movement to find the outside edge. His partner in crime Southee takes a decent low catch at third slip. |
| Updated at 12.02pm BST | Updated at 12.02pm BST |
| 11.40am BST11:40 | 11.40am BST11:40 |
| 9th over: England 25-1 (Ballance 1, Cook 16) Watling wears one on the end of his kneecap and the batsmen run a bye. That looked a little painful for the keeper, who tries to run it off. Henry’s bowling with good pace – he has grand, almost extravagant leap into his delivery stride, a la Brett Lee, then a quick whippy action. Cook drives the last for a couple. | 9th over: England 25-1 (Ballance 1, Cook 16) Watling wears one on the end of his kneecap and the batsmen run a bye. That looked a little painful for the keeper, who tries to run it off. Henry’s bowling with good pace – he has grand, almost extravagant leap into his delivery stride, a la Brett Lee, then a quick whippy action. Cook drives the last for a couple. |
| And here’s a missive from one of our men at Lord’s, Ali Martin: “Good morning from the ground to Ashdão and friends. Couple of observations from the opening exchanges of this Test match. Firstly, terrific to see debutant Adam Lyth dance down the steps of the old pavilion la Bruce Forsyth, ahead of his captain, and drop a single first ball to open his account. | And here’s a missive from one of our men at Lord’s, Ali Martin: “Good morning from the ground to Ashdão and friends. Couple of observations from the opening exchanges of this Test match. Firstly, terrific to see debutant Adam Lyth dance down the steps of the old pavilion la Bruce Forsyth, ahead of his captain, and drop a single first ball to open his account. |
| “And secondly, can anyone with a sartorial eye describe the tank top Adam Lyth is wearing? Looks, from up high with binoculars, to be a return to cable-knit for England after a few years of those horrible climbalite thermacool jobbies. But fear it may be an illusion and the men in white (when it should be cream) remain in polyester.” | “And secondly, can anyone with a sartorial eye describe the tank top Adam Lyth is wearing? Looks, from up high with binoculars, to be a return to cable-knit for England after a few years of those horrible climbalite thermacool jobbies. But fear it may be an illusion and the men in white (when it should be cream) remain in polyester.” |
| 11.34am BST11:34 | 11.34am BST11:34 |
| 8th over: England 22-1 (Ballance 1, Cook 14) It was a cracking ball from Southee, one that seemed back into the batsman and almost seemed to chase the bat like some sort of outside edge-seeking missile. Quite apart from that being a disappointing start to Adam Lyth’s England career, it also means the exit of his excellent cable-knit sleeveless sweater. Fortunately Gary Ballance has come out wearing something very similar. He gets off the mark immediately with a clip to leg and Cook squirts a loose drive uppishly through the vacant backward point area but picks up four runs for his trouble. | 8th over: England 22-1 (Ballance 1, Cook 14) It was a cracking ball from Southee, one that seemed back into the batsman and almost seemed to chase the bat like some sort of outside edge-seeking missile. Quite apart from that being a disappointing start to Adam Lyth’s England career, it also means the exit of his excellent cable-knit sleeveless sweater. Fortunately Gary Ballance has come out wearing something very similar. He gets off the mark immediately with a clip to leg and Cook squirts a loose drive uppishly through the vacant backward point area but picks up four runs for his trouble. |
| 11.30am BST11:30 | 11.30am BST11:30 |
| WICKET! Lyth c Watling b Southee 7 (England 17-1) | WICKET! Lyth c Watling b Southee 7 (England 17-1) |
| Southee strikes! Lyth pokes at one just outside off, the ball beats the outside edge, and the entire New Zealand side go up in celebration. Up goes umpire Ravi’s finger and, after pausing to consider his options, Lyth has to walk. | Southee strikes! Lyth pokes at one just outside off, the ball beats the outside edge, and the entire New Zealand side go up in celebration. Up goes umpire Ravi’s finger and, after pausing to consider his options, Lyth has to walk. |
| Updated at 11.46am BST | Updated at 11.46am BST |
| 11.28am BST11:28 | 11.28am BST11:28 |
| 7th over: England 17-0 (Lyth 7, Cook 10) An early change from McCullum – the debutant Matt Henry comes into the attack. Lyth flicks for a couple then guides him neatly down the ground for three. | 7th over: England 17-0 (Lyth 7, Cook 10) An early change from McCullum – the debutant Matt Henry comes into the attack. Lyth flicks for a couple then guides him neatly down the ground for three. |
| “It’s not really fair that the English supporters have taken on our traditional role of disliking the England team,” writes Australia’s Lee Henderson. “What am I going to talk about during the Ashes with English supporters? Our shared hatred of the players? Or do we call a truce and discuss the fashion on display in the stands or ... erm, football? Leave our England team alone they’re ours to dislike and abuse not yours. Bloody Poms.” | “It’s not really fair that the English supporters have taken on our traditional role of disliking the England team,” writes Australia’s Lee Henderson. “What am I going to talk about during the Ashes with English supporters? Our shared hatred of the players? Or do we call a truce and discuss the fashion on display in the stands or ... erm, football? Leave our England team alone they’re ours to dislike and abuse not yours. Bloody Poms.” |
| 11.23am BST11:23 | 11.23am BST11:23 |
| 6th over: England 12-0 (Lyth 2, Cook 10) Southee strays onto Lyth’s pads – looking for the same inswinging delivery that had Cook in trouble in his last over – and gets flicked away to deep backward square for a single. And Cook is almost in difficulties again from another inswinger, this time though he gets just enough on the ball to tickle fine for four more. Had he missed that, it would’ve been curtains. | 6th over: England 12-0 (Lyth 2, Cook 10) Southee strays onto Lyth’s pads – looking for the same inswinging delivery that had Cook in trouble in his last over – and gets flicked away to deep backward square for a single. And Cook is almost in difficulties again from another inswinger, this time though he gets just enough on the ball to tickle fine for four more. Had he missed that, it would’ve been curtains. |
| 11.20am BST11:20 | 11.20am BST11:20 |
| 5th over: England 7-0 (Lyth 1, Cook 6) The first boundary of the day, but it’s a streaky one for Cook – the ball flies high and wide of cover point after thwocking into the outside half of the bat. Might have been a slightly slower ball from Boult. McCullum has four slips, a gully and a man hovering at point. | 5th over: England 7-0 (Lyth 1, Cook 6) The first boundary of the day, but it’s a streaky one for Cook – the ball flies high and wide of cover point after thwocking into the outside half of the bat. Might have been a slightly slower ball from Boult. McCullum has four slips, a gully and a man hovering at point. |
| “It’s not really a question of being Team KP – he’s just the guy who the ECB screw over most regularly, and with the least justification,” writes Nick O’Connor. “At the moment, it could be Team Moores after his public humiliation by the ECB, or even Team Downton, given the appalling advice he received after taking the job. | “It’s not really a question of being Team KP – he’s just the guy who the ECB screw over most regularly, and with the least justification,” writes Nick O’Connor. “At the moment, it could be Team Moores after his public humiliation by the ECB, or even Team Downton, given the appalling advice he received after taking the job. |
| “The ECB has its own set of priorities, which include keeping certain people (from the right sort of families) in power and punishing people who have been troublesome. Acting in an honest, decent way, engaging with the fans or even winning matches are a long way down the list. It’s very difficult to support the ECB team.” | “The ECB has its own set of priorities, which include keeping certain people (from the right sort of families) in power and punishing people who have been troublesome. Acting in an honest, decent way, engaging with the fans or even winning matches are a long way down the list. It’s very difficult to support the ECB team.” |
| Updated at 11.35am BST | Updated at 11.35am BST |
| 11.16am BST11:16 | 11.16am BST11:16 |
| 4th over: England 3-0 (Lyth 1, Cook 2) A huge appeal as Cook is trapped in front by a Southee inswinger. It’s a cracking delivery – pitching on middle and coming back to hit middle-and-leg – and close, very close. The umpire shakes his head, though, and McCullum opts not to review. Correctly, it turns out, as Hawkeye shows the ball only clipping the bails. Southee responds by beating the outside edge with another jaffa. A poke just forward of point from the last adds another single. | 4th over: England 3-0 (Lyth 1, Cook 2) A huge appeal as Cook is trapped in front by a Southee inswinger. It’s a cracking delivery – pitching on middle and coming back to hit middle-and-leg – and close, very close. The umpire shakes his head, though, and McCullum opts not to review. Correctly, it turns out, as Hawkeye shows the ball only clipping the bails. Southee responds by beating the outside edge with another jaffa. A poke just forward of point from the last adds another single. |
| “Agreed re: England being over managed,” writes David Kelsey. “Contrast with the likes of Ryan Harris, Steve Smith, Peter Siddle and (whisper it) David Warner; all of whom seem decent people and far from auto tuned. Oh, and I’ll be rooting for Australia in the summer for the first time in 20 years as a result ...” Yikes! | “Agreed re: England being over managed,” writes David Kelsey. “Contrast with the likes of Ryan Harris, Steve Smith, Peter Siddle and (whisper it) David Warner; all of whom seem decent people and far from auto tuned. Oh, and I’ll be rooting for Australia in the summer for the first time in 20 years as a result ...” Yikes! |
| 11.10am BST11:10 | 11.10am BST11:10 |
| 3rd over: England 2-0 (Lyth 1, Cook 1) Cook gets off the mark with a single after a straight one from Boult slides off the face of the bat and into the off side. The bowler then beats Lyth – who seems to be wearing a pleasingly old-school knitted tank-top effort over his shirt – with one that swings away sharply. | 3rd over: England 2-0 (Lyth 1, Cook 1) Cook gets off the mark with a single after a straight one from Boult slides off the face of the bat and into the off side. The bowler then beats Lyth – who seems to be wearing a pleasingly old-school knitted tank-top effort over his shirt – with one that swings away sharply. |
| “I think the worrying aspect is how so many people are currently so emotionally torn by this team,” wrtites Ian Truman. “I genuinely don’t know how I feel now when I see Cook scoring runs. It’s almost like when you want your girlfriend to end it, to save you from having to do it, but she seems perfectly happy to just meander on in a listless relationship … erm, sorry, what was I saying?” | “I think the worrying aspect is how so many people are currently so emotionally torn by this team,” wrtites Ian Truman. “I genuinely don’t know how I feel now when I see Cook scoring runs. It’s almost like when you want your girlfriend to end it, to save you from having to do it, but she seems perfectly happy to just meander on in a listless relationship … erm, sorry, what was I saying?” |
| 11.06am BST11:06 | 11.06am BST11:06 |
| 2nd over: England 1-0 (Lyth 1, Cook o) Tim Southee from the Pavilion End. He’s a little too wide outside off and Lyth watches a maiden fly past without offering a shot. | 2nd over: England 1-0 (Lyth 1, Cook o) Tim Southee from the Pavilion End. He’s a little too wide outside off and Lyth watches a maiden fly past without offering a shot. |
| “Let them be human beings,” writes James de Mellow. “Ballance and Jordan’s pressers on Tuesday were painful. I don’t have a clue what Gary Ballance is actually like - we just see ECB automaton, so we assume he’s an ECB automaton. I don’t blame the players - they’re young men who’ll do what they’re told. But all the problems lead back to excessive ECB micromanagement - of bowling actions, of what players say, of what’s a chaseable target …” | “Let them be human beings,” writes James de Mellow. “Ballance and Jordan’s pressers on Tuesday were painful. I don’t have a clue what Gary Ballance is actually like - we just see ECB automaton, so we assume he’s an ECB automaton. I don’t blame the players - they’re young men who’ll do what they’re told. But all the problems lead back to excessive ECB micromanagement - of bowling actions, of what players say, of what’s a chaseable target …” |
| I think that’s a very fair point. I know a load of guys who played alongside Ballance in Derbyshire club cricket when he first came over from Zimbabwe – and a couple of the stories they tell suggest he’s anything but an automaton. | I think that’s a very fair point. I know a load of guys who played alongside Ballance in Derbyshire club cricket when he first came over from Zimbabwe – and a couple of the stories they tell suggest he’s anything but an automaton. |
| 11.02am BST11:02 | 11.02am BST11:02 |
| 1st over: England 1-0 (Lyth 1, Cook o) Trent Boult begins with the ball at the Nursery End for New Zealand and Adam Lyth gets his first Test run from his first Test ball, dropping and skittering through for a quick single. Boult, left-arm over, finds a bit of movement off the pitch to Cook, jagging one past the outside edge (though Cook may have been bringing his bat inside the line). A good, tight, testing start from Boult. | 1st over: England 1-0 (Lyth 1, Cook o) Trent Boult begins with the ball at the Nursery End for New Zealand and Adam Lyth gets his first Test run from his first Test ball, dropping and skittering through for a quick single. Boult, left-arm over, finds a bit of movement off the pitch to Cook, jagging one past the outside edge (though Cook may have been bringing his bat inside the line). A good, tight, testing start from Boult. |
| Updated at 11.28am BST | Updated at 11.28am BST |
| 10.59am BST10:59 | 10.59am BST10:59 |
| Blue skies, a few fluffy white clouds around, green grass, Daz-bright whites … ah, what a sight. Off we go then … | Blue skies, a few fluffy white clouds around, green grass, Daz-bright whites … ah, what a sight. Off we go then … |
| Updated at 11.48am BST | Updated at 11.48am BST |
| 10.57am BST10:57 | 10.57am BST10:57 |
| Dickie Bell rings the bell at Lord’s and out come the players. | Dickie Bell rings the bell at Lord’s and out come the players. |
| Updated at 11.26am BST | Updated at 11.26am BST |
| 10.56am BST10:56 | 10.56am BST10:56 |
| Is there anything England can do to make this team a bit more likeable? Or is it simply that you’re either in Team ECB or Team KP, and there’s nothing anyone can really do about it? | Is there anything England can do to make this team a bit more likeable? Or is it simply that you’re either in Team ECB or Team KP, and there’s nothing anyone can really do about it? |
| 10.52am BST10:52 | 10.52am BST10:52 |
| Issues, issues … | Issues, issues … |
| “Re. the increasing dislike for England,” begins David Hopkins. “This is particularly noticeable when you compare the current state of affairs to that, not so very long ago, when the team were not only successful but generally very genial. I date it specifically to the moment Paul Collingwood left the scene.” | “Re. the increasing dislike for England,” begins David Hopkins. “This is particularly noticeable when you compare the current state of affairs to that, not so very long ago, when the team were not only successful but generally very genial. I date it specifically to the moment Paul Collingwood left the scene.” |
| “Batting Moeen Ali at No 8 does strike me as the selectors’ desperation to give the impression that England are so blessed with middle-order batsmen that we can afford to play him that low down, so how can there be any need for Pietersen?” writes Richard Stirzaker. “I’m not convinced.” | “Batting Moeen Ali at No 8 does strike me as the selectors’ desperation to give the impression that England are so blessed with middle-order batsmen that we can afford to play him that low down, so how can there be any need for Pietersen?” writes Richard Stirzaker. “I’m not convinced.” |
| 10.44am BST10:44 | 10.44am BST10:44 |
| “I’m generally an incredibly mild mannered man but that picture of Cook and Broad smugly grinning made me want to slap them round the head with a big wet fish,” writes Paul Worthington. “What has English cricket done to me …” | “I’m generally an incredibly mild mannered man but that picture of Cook and Broad smugly grinning made me want to slap them round the head with a big wet fish,” writes Paul Worthington. “What has English cricket done to me …” |
| This is something that has become particularly noticeable recently whenever you take a dip into the OBO inbox – the extent to which large chunks of this England team are so disliked. True, those “large chunks” seem mainly to be Cook and Broad, but still. I can’t remember a time when public support for the England team has been so thin. | This is something that has become particularly noticeable recently whenever you take a dip into the OBO inbox – the extent to which large chunks of this England team are so disliked. True, those “large chunks” seem mainly to be Cook and Broad, but still. I can’t remember a time when public support for the England team has been so thin. |
| 10.36am BST10:36 | 10.36am BST10:36 |
| The teams | The teams |
| England: Cook, Lyth, Ballance, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Broad, Wood, Anderson. | England: Cook, Lyth, Ballance, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Broad, Wood, Anderson. |
| New Zealand: Latham, Guptill, Williamson, Taylor, McCullum, Anderson, Watling, Craig, Southee, Henry, Boult. | New Zealand: Latham, Guptill, Williamson, Taylor, McCullum, Anderson, Watling, Craig, Southee, Henry, Boult. |
| Moeen Ali at No8 still feels a strange thing to type. And you wonder if Stuart Broad will bat at nine or lower. | Moeen Ali at No8 still feels a strange thing to type. And you wonder if Stuart Broad will bat at nine or lower. |
| 10.33am BST10:33 | 10.33am BST10:33 |
| Alastair Cook says he was a little undecided on what he would’ve done had he won the toss. He says his XI is a really exciting team. | Alastair Cook says he was a little undecided on what he would’ve done had he won the toss. He says his XI is a really exciting team. |
| 10.32am BST10:32 | 10.32am BST10:32 |
| The toss | The toss |
| Brendan McCullum calls heads … and it lands heads up. New Zealand win the toss and they’re going to have a bowl. | Brendan McCullum calls heads … and it lands heads up. New Zealand win the toss and they’re going to have a bowl. |
| McCullum says he’s has no concerns over the transition from T20 to Test match cricket. Martin Guptill comes in for his first Test in two years and Matt Henry is in for his debut. | McCullum says he’s has no concerns over the transition from T20 to Test match cricket. Martin Guptill comes in for his first Test in two years and Matt Henry is in for his debut. |
| Updated at 11.32am BST | Updated at 11.32am BST |
| 10.00am BST10:00 | 10.00am BST10:00 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Hello all. So an English Test summer begins with that comforting, familiar sense of chaos and dread. Like a cozy old quilt … that’s on fire in places and covered in custard in others. | Hello all. So an English Test summer begins with that comforting, familiar sense of chaos and dread. Like a cozy old quilt … that’s on fire in places and covered in custard in others. |
| Anyway, the news from Lord’s this morning is that Andrew Strauss has handed Test caps to Adam Lyth (No666) and Mark Wood (No667) so we’ll have two debutants for the home side confirmed when we have the toss. | Anyway, the news from Lord’s this morning is that Andrew Strauss has handed Test caps to Adam Lyth (No666) and Mark Wood (No667) so we’ll have two debutants for the home side confirmed when we have the toss. |
| Updated at 10.31am BST | Updated at 10.31am BST |