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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) | |
| 3.08pm BST15:08 | |
| 46th over: England 192-5 (Root 66, Buttler 0) Jos Buttler bounced back from a miserable start to the Test series in the West Indies – that 22-ball nought in Antigua was painful – to have a pretty decent tour, albeit one stymied by his coming in at No8 in four out of six innings. In previous England teams he’d be the chief lower-middle-order counterattacker, but he’s surrounded by them in the current XI. Boult pins him down here, with Root’s single the only addition to the score. | |
| 3.04pm BST15:04 | |
| 45th over: England 191-5 (Root 65, Buttler 0) A real shame that. It ends a stand of 191 and an innings of 92 from 94 balls – a game-changer. It was an arm-ball from Craig and just a momentary brain-freeze really from Stokes. Still, what a knock. | |
| Stokes is bowled after an ill-judged leave and must go for 92. More here: http://t.co/bajKG18IuH #EngNZ pic.twitter.com/0DLTxSgIcU | |
| 3.01pm BST15:01 | |
| WICKET! Stokes b Craig 92 (England 191-5) | |
| Out of nowhere, Craig has clean bowled Stokes. He came round the wicket and angled it in, Stokes left well alone expecting the turn, but the ball went straight on to clip off stump. That’s an ugly way for an otherwise utterly breathtaking innings to come to an end. | |
| 3.00pm BST15:00 | |
| 44th over: England 191-4 (Root 65, Stokes 92) A single off Boult’s latest and a lovely exchange in the commentary box about wicketkeepers and substitute wicketkeepers. | |
| Gower: “Sounds like you’re angling for a comeback.” | |
| Ian Smith: “I’ll be searching for a long, long time for the whites.” | |
| Gower: “Smithy, with all due respect I’m not sure the old ones would do …” | |
| 2.55pm BST14:55 | |
| 43rd over: England 190-4 (Root 65, Stokes 91) Craig again drops a touch short and gets splatted through the covers by Stokes off the back foot. McCullum has sweepers out now though and it’s just a single. Joe Root misses with a sweep of his own and is lucky to see the ball go straight on rather than turn back stumpwards. | |
| 2.52pm BST14:52 | |
| 42nd over: England 186-4 (Root 64, Stokes 90) New Zealand can’t seem to stop these two from scoring. Root cuts Boult hard for a single, Stokes clips gently for likewise to go into the 90s. | |
| 2.48pm BST14:48 | |
| 41st over: England 183-4 (Root 62, Stokes 89) Afternoon all. Well this has been a bit special. Ben Stokes is absolutely destroying this New Zealand attack. It’s been a demolition job. Kevin Pietersen-esque. Mark Craig returns to take some of the pace out of the ball, the pace that Stokes has been using to flail the thing to all parts. He found a bit of turn in his two overs before lunch, but also dragged a few far too short. Stokes has a huge heave at him – just as he did before lunch – but connects only with north west London air – just as he did before lunch. | |
| 2.42pm BST14:42 | |
| 40th over: England 182-4 (Root 61, Stokes 89). New Zealand look just a little flat now, and McCullum responds by bringing Boult back on from the Pavilion End this time. Stokes is undaunted though, and punches another ball that’s slightly too short through extra-cover for four, before adding another flicked two. As Boult tries to find the right line and length, Stokes takes full advantage, and clips him through midwicket for yet another four. Even the dot balls are good, such as the final one of the over which is a crunching cover drive to mid-off for nought. | |
| And that’s drinks. John Ashdown will see you through to tea, and I’ll be back after that. See you in a bit. | |
| 2.38pm BST14:38 | |
| 39th over: England 172-4 (Root 61, Stokes 79). Henry is perhaps fortunate not to have a wide called against him for pushing one way beyond Stokes’s attempted offside slash. But Stokes is rampant now, and not to be denied on that side of the wicket, punching the next one off the back foot past backward point for four. An effortlessly good shot. As is his next scoring shot, from a shorter ball, which he pulls with panache straight over the ropes for SIX. He repeats the trick next ball, hooking it to the deep midwicket boundary for four more, before rounding off a productive over by turning the ball round the corner for a single to keep the strike. | |
| The right era for Root, adds James Walsh “would be one with Test cricket on free to air television. Kevin Pietersen will probably be the last England cricketer my mum has heard of. Quite the depressing accolade.” | |
| Updated at 2.59pm BST | |
| 2.34pm BST14:34 | 2.34pm BST14:34 |
| 38th over: England 157-4 (Root 61, Stokes 64). Southee, now in his 14th over, is not looking so menacing now, and Stokes easily pulls a short-ish one down to deep square leg for one. A leg-bye is added before driving confidently again to mid-on for a single. | 38th over: England 157-4 (Root 61, Stokes 64). Southee, now in his 14th over, is not looking so menacing now, and Stokes easily pulls a short-ish one down to deep square leg for one. A leg-bye is added before driving confidently again to mid-on for a single. |
| “I like that Michael Kane ends his note with a reference to Bananas,” says Ian Copestake, “because this seems pertinent due to Woody Allen’s film being about the excesses of controling, fascistic forces and the opposition underground movements dedicated to pleasure and self-discovery. Perhaps Joe Root is a devotee of the orgasmatron.” I’m not entirely comfortable with the mental picture you’ve left me with there Ian, but thanks for sharing. | “I like that Michael Kane ends his note with a reference to Bananas,” says Ian Copestake, “because this seems pertinent due to Woody Allen’s film being about the excesses of controling, fascistic forces and the opposition underground movements dedicated to pleasure and self-discovery. Perhaps Joe Root is a devotee of the orgasmatron.” I’m not entirely comfortable with the mental picture you’ve left me with there Ian, but thanks for sharing. |
| 2.29pm BST14:29 | 2.29pm BST14:29 |
| 37th over: England 154-4 (Root 61, Stokes 62). Henry continues, bowling a slightly fuller length, and Stokes takes advantage of a half-volley to punch another on-drive to the ropes for four to bring up the 150. He tries to hack at a wider one outside off-stump but only toe-ends it to gully. But he’s managing to get runs even when he doesn’t get hold of it properly, as he demonstrates with an inside-edge down to fine leg for one more. | 37th over: England 154-4 (Root 61, Stokes 62). Henry continues, bowling a slightly fuller length, and Stokes takes advantage of a half-volley to punch another on-drive to the ropes for four to bring up the 150. He tries to hack at a wider one outside off-stump but only toe-ends it to gully. But he’s managing to get runs even when he doesn’t get hold of it properly, as he demonstrates with an inside-edge down to fine leg for one more. |
| Responding to m’colleague Barney Ronay’s tweet on the sort of era in which Root might have become a bigger star, Chris Bull responds pithily: “The era when everyone could watch test cricket on free to air TV, might well be the era Barney is referring to.” | Responding to m’colleague Barney Ronay’s tweet on the sort of era in which Root might have become a bigger star, Chris Bull responds pithily: “The era when everyone could watch test cricket on free to air TV, might well be the era Barney is referring to.” |
| Updated at 2.33pm BST | Updated at 2.33pm BST |
| 2.24pm BST14:24 | 2.24pm BST14:24 |
| 36th over: England 149-4 (Root 61, Stokes 57). Southee overpitches a delivery wide outside off-stump and Stokes seizes on it with relish, creaming it through extra cover for four. He’s ready for anything at the moment, including the short ball that follows, which he adeptly hooks down to fine leg for one. | 36th over: England 149-4 (Root 61, Stokes 57). Southee overpitches a delivery wide outside off-stump and Stokes seizes on it with relish, creaming it through extra cover for four. He’s ready for anything at the moment, including the short ball that follows, which he adeptly hooks down to fine leg for one. |
| “The DRS is like the West Lothian Question or the electoral system,” reckons Stuart Moore. “As long as everyone agrees it’s a compromise but is essentially fair and broadly ‘works’ we can overlook the flaws in it as any alternative would be worse. It strikes me that the DRS is not about eliminating bad decisions, so much as eliminating the players’ right to complain about them: no reviews left? Whose fault’s that? If everything that was going to hit the stumps is ‘out’ then tests would be over in a day. If you had unlimited reviews every game would be a draw. | “The DRS is like the West Lothian Question or the electoral system,” reckons Stuart Moore. “As long as everyone agrees it’s a compromise but is essentially fair and broadly ‘works’ we can overlook the flaws in it as any alternative would be worse. It strikes me that the DRS is not about eliminating bad decisions, so much as eliminating the players’ right to complain about them: no reviews left? Whose fault’s that? If everything that was going to hit the stumps is ‘out’ then tests would be over in a day. If you had unlimited reviews every game would be a draw. |
| “For me, if it is ‘grazing the stumps’ on the predictive element that should be not out always: reflecting the tradition of ‘benefit goes to the batsman.’ I don’t get how you can have ‘umpires call’ on the part that has actually happened: it either pitched in line or not.” | “For me, if it is ‘grazing the stumps’ on the predictive element that should be not out always: reflecting the tradition of ‘benefit goes to the batsman.’ I don’t get how you can have ‘umpires call’ on the part that has actually happened: it either pitched in line or not.” |
| I appreciate the political metaphor though, as it gives me a chance to flesh out my own one, on the current analogy between the ECB and the Parliamentary Labour Party – both currently engaged as they are in very public, self-pitying breastbeating in an attempt to ‘regain the narrative’ over stuff that happened in the past. | I appreciate the political metaphor though, as it gives me a chance to flesh out my own one, on the current analogy between the ECB and the Parliamentary Labour Party – both currently engaged as they are in very public, self-pitying breastbeating in an attempt to ‘regain the narrative’ over stuff that happened in the past. |
| 2.19pm BST14:19 | 2.19pm BST14:19 |
| 35th over: England 143-4 (Root 61, Stokes 52). We have the first bowling change of the afternoon, with the debutant Henry back on at the Nursery End and he’s on the money straight away. He cuts Stokes in two with a venomous one that nips back and bamboozles the stand-in keeper, who fumbles it and concedes a bye. Henry then indues an edge from Root, and it’s very, very close to carrying to second slip, but doesn’t, quite, and as the ball deflects the batsmen run two. A slightly unorthodox forward flick brings Root two more to complete an eventful, and impressive, over. | 35th over: England 143-4 (Root 61, Stokes 52). We have the first bowling change of the afternoon, with the debutant Henry back on at the Nursery End and he’s on the money straight away. He cuts Stokes in two with a venomous one that nips back and bamboozles the stand-in keeper, who fumbles it and concedes a bye. Henry then indues an edge from Root, and it’s very, very close to carrying to second slip, but doesn’t, quite, and as the ball deflects the batsmen run two. A slightly unorthodox forward flick brings Root two more to complete an eventful, and impressive, over. |
| 2.15pm BST14:15 | 2.15pm BST14:15 |
| 34th over: England 138-4 (Root 57, Stokes 52). Stokes gets just a bit ahead of himself, mistiming a leg-side pull in the air but it lands safely and brings a single. Southee bowls a fuller length at Root for a couple of deliveries and the batsman sees them out without scoring. | 34th over: England 138-4 (Root 57, Stokes 52). Stokes gets just a bit ahead of himself, mistiming a leg-side pull in the air but it lands safely and brings a single. Southee bowls a fuller length at Root for a couple of deliveries and the batsman sees them out without scoring. |
| “My problem with the current ECB is that no one has absolute responsibility for any one role,” rues Michael Kane. “Selection is down to the Selectors, the Captain and the Coach, tactics are the preserve of the Captain and the Coach, overall strategy is decided by the Director of Cricket and the Coach. If there’s a failure in any of these areas then it’s everyone’s fault, and no one’s fault. So you sack one person but it wasn’t really his fault at the same time as it was his fault. Bananas.” Yep, it’s a buck-passer and blame-deflector’s dream. | “My problem with the current ECB is that no one has absolute responsibility for any one role,” rues Michael Kane. “Selection is down to the Selectors, the Captain and the Coach, tactics are the preserve of the Captain and the Coach, overall strategy is decided by the Director of Cricket and the Coach. If there’s a failure in any of these areas then it’s everyone’s fault, and no one’s fault. So you sack one person but it wasn’t really his fault at the same time as it was his fault. Bananas.” Yep, it’s a buck-passer and blame-deflector’s dream. |
| Updated at 2.28pm BST | Updated at 2.28pm BST |
| 2.11pm BST14:11 | 2.11pm BST14:11 |
| 33rd over: England 137-4 (Root 57, Stokes 51). Boult changes his approach to Root, coming in at him round the wicket, but the right-hander is respectful and defensive without being troubled. It’s a maiden. The cameras zoom in on a couple who clearly seem to have flouted the MCC’s “one bottle of wine only” rule, perching three of them – bold as you like – on the perimeter fence. | 33rd over: England 137-4 (Root 57, Stokes 51). Boult changes his approach to Root, coming in at him round the wicket, but the right-hander is respectful and defensive without being troubled. It’s a maiden. The cameras zoom in on a couple who clearly seem to have flouted the MCC’s “one bottle of wine only” rule, perching three of them – bold as you like – on the perimeter fence. |
| Word. Though what would be the right era for a quietly classy talent such as Root? | Word. Though what would be the right era for a quietly classy talent such as Root? |
| 2.06pm BST14:06 | 2.06pm BST14:06 |
| 32nd over: England 137-4 (Root 57, Stokes 51). Stokes is finding that onside arc between midwicket and long-on very productive and he clips Southee twice more to the boundary for four to bring up his own half-century. Stokes is batting with the same aggression we saw, sometimes too frenetically, in the Caribbean, but with a good deal more composure. | 32nd over: England 137-4 (Root 57, Stokes 51). Stokes is finding that onside arc between midwicket and long-on very productive and he clips Southee twice more to the boundary for four to bring up his own half-century. Stokes is batting with the same aggression we saw, sometimes too frenetically, in the Caribbean, but with a good deal more composure. |
| “Isn’t the answer to Matt Blakeley’s question simply that the technology isn’t perfect and so in a close as case as that they’ll go with good old fashioned human judgement?” Good point. We’ll have to crunch that through the computer and look at the data. | “Isn’t the answer to Matt Blakeley’s question simply that the technology isn’t perfect and so in a close as case as that they’ll go with good old fashioned human judgement?” Good point. We’ll have to crunch that through the computer and look at the data. |
| 2.02pm BST14:02 | 2.02pm BST14:02 |
| 31st over: England 129-4 (Root 57, Stokes 43). Stokes flicks Boult confidently through midwicket once more for two, and another ball speared into the left-hander is worked away for a leg-bye. Root scurries through for two after turning a back-of-a-length delivery down to square leg for two, but overstretches at a wider one outside off-stump and can only mistime his drive back towards the bowler. | 31st over: England 129-4 (Root 57, Stokes 43). Stokes flicks Boult confidently through midwicket once more for two, and another ball speared into the left-hander is worked away for a leg-bye. Root scurries through for two after turning a back-of-a-length delivery down to square leg for two, but overstretches at a wider one outside off-stump and can only mistime his drive back towards the bowler. |
| Updated at 2.08pm BST | Updated at 2.08pm BST |
| 1.57pm BST13:57 | 1.57pm BST13:57 |
| 30th over: England 124-4 (Root 55, Stokes 41). Root flicks Southee fine past the stand-in keeper for four. But if that was all a bit loose, the bowler responds with a zinger of an away-swinger, which moves late and markedly off the seam and beats the batsman all ends up. This still looks a juicy and inviting pitch for seamers to bowl on. | 30th over: England 124-4 (Root 55, Stokes 41). Root flicks Southee fine past the stand-in keeper for four. But if that was all a bit loose, the bowler responds with a zinger of an away-swinger, which moves late and markedly off the seam and beats the batsman all ends up. This still looks a juicy and inviting pitch for seamers to bowl on. |
| Here’s Stuart Cherry on both the politics and the science of the “umpire’s call” regulations: “As I understand it, the umpire’s call is there because the technology is a decision review system. I.e. the umpire makes the decision, and if either team thinks the decision is clearly wrong, they can review it. Borderline calls aren’t clearly wrong so they stay with the umpire’s original decision. That’s also why a team loses a review if it isn’t upheld no matter how close it is - close isn’t clearly wrong so you shouldn’t have reviewed it. The alternative would be to have the technology “make” the decision itself, in which case you could replace the umpires with a couple of hat stands. | Here’s Stuart Cherry on both the politics and the science of the “umpire’s call” regulations: “As I understand it, the umpire’s call is there because the technology is a decision review system. I.e. the umpire makes the decision, and if either team thinks the decision is clearly wrong, they can review it. Borderline calls aren’t clearly wrong so they stay with the umpire’s original decision. That’s also why a team loses a review if it isn’t upheld no matter how close it is - close isn’t clearly wrong so you shouldn’t have reviewed it. The alternative would be to have the technology “make” the decision itself, in which case you could replace the umpires with a couple of hat stands. |
| For where the ball pitched, where it hit the batsmen and where it would have hit the stumps, at least half the ball needs to be inline.” | For where the ball pitched, where it hit the batsmen and where it would have hit the stumps, at least half the ball needs to be inline.” |
| 1.54pm BST13:54 | 1.54pm BST13:54 |
| 29th over: England 120-4 (Root 51, Stokes 41). Boult bowls a fuller length at Root in the corridor of uncertainty, but the Yorkshireman is untempted – I trust I’m not tempting any sort of fate by remarking that, as in the morning, Boult doesn’t look quite as threatening from this end. I am, because as soon as I type that, the bowler brings one back awkwardly into Root’s upper thigh – it’s too high for an lbw but it discomforts the batsman, who inside-edges the final ball of the over down to fine leg for one. | 29th over: England 120-4 (Root 51, Stokes 41). Boult bowls a fuller length at Root in the corridor of uncertainty, but the Yorkshireman is untempted – I trust I’m not tempting any sort of fate by remarking that, as in the morning, Boult doesn’t look quite as threatening from this end. I am, because as soon as I type that, the bowler brings one back awkwardly into Root’s upper thigh – it’s too high for an lbw but it discomforts the batsman, who inside-edges the final ball of the over down to fine leg for one. |
| Updated at 1.54pm BST | Updated at 1.54pm BST |
| 1.50pm BST13:50 | 1.50pm BST13:50 |
| 28th over: England 119-4 (Root 50, Stokes 41). Southee is back at the Pavilion End too, and he too finds some fairly – if not extravagant, then certainly quite showy bounce off the seam. Stokes manages to drive a fuller one down the ground for a single though. Root then does similar to bring up a really excellent half-century in the circumstances. Stokes completes the over with a confident clip through the onside for four more – he’s played very well in that area. | 28th over: England 119-4 (Root 50, Stokes 41). Southee is back at the Pavilion End too, and he too finds some fairly – if not extravagant, then certainly quite showy bounce off the seam. Stokes manages to drive a fuller one down the ground for a single though. Root then does similar to bring up a really excellent half-century in the circumstances. Stokes completes the over with a confident clip through the onside for four more – he’s played very well in that area. |
| Guy Hornsby returns to OBO-land, and the English disease: | Guy Hornsby returns to OBO-land, and the English disease: |
| I have to confess this is my first OBO email in over a year, having previously been someone that sends in emails with the frequency teens snapchat each other. But that’s an indication of my general weariness with the whole shebang that’s lead to this. Like many I’m not pro-KP I’m just anti-ECB. I don’t hate anyone in the team, I don’t even really dislike them. While I actually love Root, Ian Ronald Bell and Jimmy (when he’s not sledging), and like the rest of the lot barring Broad and Cook, even the latter I just feel they’re like company stooges now. The ECB’s follies are reflected on them worst, but have infected the whole squad, who are mostly decent people, but these two don’t help themselves (migraine? Seriously). I don’t think Cook’s a bad man, he’s just the wrong man, but he’ll trundle on until someone drops him, then blames him. But mostly I love cricket, and so (like many others, I assume) the whole England setup has just worn me down to the point where I struggle to get excited about us playing. I assume the worst, and long for days when we were just rubbish. At least you knew where you stood then (125-8 at lunch, usually). | I have to confess this is my first OBO email in over a year, having previously been someone that sends in emails with the frequency teens snapchat each other. But that’s an indication of my general weariness with the whole shebang that’s lead to this. Like many I’m not pro-KP I’m just anti-ECB. I don’t hate anyone in the team, I don’t even really dislike them. While I actually love Root, Ian Ronald Bell and Jimmy (when he’s not sledging), and like the rest of the lot barring Broad and Cook, even the latter I just feel they’re like company stooges now. The ECB’s follies are reflected on them worst, but have infected the whole squad, who are mostly decent people, but these two don’t help themselves (migraine? Seriously). I don’t think Cook’s a bad man, he’s just the wrong man, but he’ll trundle on until someone drops him, then blames him. But mostly I love cricket, and so (like many others, I assume) the whole England setup has just worn me down to the point where I struggle to get excited about us playing. I assume the worst, and long for days when we were just rubbish. At least you knew where you stood then (125-8 at lunch, usually). |
| Updated at 2.04pm BST | Updated at 2.04pm BST |
| 1.45pm BST13:45 | 1.45pm BST13:45 |
| 27th over: England 113-4 (Root 49, Stokes 36). And we’re back underway. Boult returns to the attack from the Nursery End, the end from which he started the last session. Tom Latham is now filling in behind the stumps, replacing the clearly struggling BJ Watling. Boult is still finding plenty of movement in the air and off the pitch, and he’s not far off a run-out as he dives in vain to touch Root’s straight drive, which clatters into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Stokes would’ve been a goner had he deflected it at all. Root is largely watchful, playing at only a couple of balls, and it’s a maiden. | 27th over: England 113-4 (Root 49, Stokes 36). And we’re back underway. Boult returns to the attack from the Nursery End, the end from which he started the last session. Tom Latham is now filling in behind the stumps, replacing the clearly struggling BJ Watling. Boult is still finding plenty of movement in the air and off the pitch, and he’s not far off a run-out as he dives in vain to touch Root’s straight drive, which clatters into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Stokes would’ve been a goner had he deflected it at all. Root is largely watchful, playing at only a couple of balls, and it’s a maiden. |
| Quite. Not sure I’d go with this exceptionalism. | Quite. Not sure I’d go with this exceptionalism. |
| Updated at 1.49pm BST | Updated at 1.49pm BST |
| 1.36pm BST13:36 | 1.36pm BST13:36 |
| Lunchtime talking point: Matt Blakeley raises a very pertinent point about the denied appeal against Root from Craig: | Lunchtime talking point: Matt Blakeley raises a very pertinent point about the denied appeal against Root from Craig: |
| Just wondered if you or anyone else can explain why Craig’s appeal to Root was given not out... ie, why there is an ‘umpire’s call’ element to whether the ball hits the batsman in line with the stumps. We know whether the ball hit in line, it either did or it didn’t. It’s not like the predictive part of whether it’s going to go on and hit the stumps where some element of doubt may apply. | Just wondered if you or anyone else can explain why Craig’s appeal to Root was given not out... ie, why there is an ‘umpire’s call’ element to whether the ball hits the batsman in line with the stumps. We know whether the ball hit in line, it either did or it didn’t. It’s not like the predictive part of whether it’s going to go on and hit the stumps where some element of doubt may apply. |
| Does the law even specify how much of a ball has to be in line? I know as an umpire with an offspinner or inswing bowler I always gave this rule to the bowler - if the ball was tailing in towards middle and leg, and any part of the ball hit in line, it was out. A batsman had to get his pad completely outside offstump to be safe. (I’m not sure if the law talks about in line with the stumps, or outside the off stump, which seems a relevant distinction...) | Does the law even specify how much of a ball has to be in line? I know as an umpire with an offspinner or inswing bowler I always gave this rule to the bowler - if the ball was tailing in towards middle and leg, and any part of the ball hit in line, it was out. A batsman had to get his pad completely outside offstump to be safe. (I’m not sure if the law talks about in line with the stumps, or outside the off stump, which seems a relevant distinction...) |
| To my mind that was a terrible decision against Craig. Much of the ball was in line with the off stump, it was hitting middle and leg, it should have been out. A mistake by the onfield umpire, and silly that the rules don’t allow for it to be overturned. | To my mind that was a terrible decision against Craig. Much of the ball was in line with the off stump, it was hitting middle and leg, it should have been out. A mistake by the onfield umpire, and silly that the rules don’t allow for it to be overturned. |
| 1.31pm BST13:31 | 1.31pm BST13:31 |
| Afternoon John, afternoon everyone. Well that was an absorbing morning’s cricket, and absorbing morning’s email riffing from You, The Public, raking over everything from tank tops to English self-loathing (and Tank Tops and English Self-Loathing would make an excellent title of a whimsical travelogue, the sort of thing that might get serialised on Radio 4 a few years down the line – publishers, my phone’s always on, let’s do lunch). Regarding the resurgence of “anyone but England” sentiment, I’m not sure this England team are any more dislikable than the side that were robotically beating everyone four years ago. It’s England the concept, the self-serving and self-preserving administrative mess, that seems to be irking people, which manifests itself in everything from the ICC carve-up to the perpetual hole-digging of the World Cup fall-out and relations with that former No4 batsman chap. Anyway, that’s the sort of stuff I’ve been chewing over in my mind on the tube journey in. The actual cricket put before us in the opening session has been full of good things, and here’s hoping for more of them. | Afternoon John, afternoon everyone. Well that was an absorbing morning’s cricket, and absorbing morning’s email riffing from You, The Public, raking over everything from tank tops to English self-loathing (and Tank Tops and English Self-Loathing would make an excellent title of a whimsical travelogue, the sort of thing that might get serialised on Radio 4 a few years down the line – publishers, my phone’s always on, let’s do lunch). Regarding the resurgence of “anyone but England” sentiment, I’m not sure this England team are any more dislikable than the side that were robotically beating everyone four years ago. It’s England the concept, the self-serving and self-preserving administrative mess, that seems to be irking people, which manifests itself in everything from the ICC carve-up to the perpetual hole-digging of the World Cup fall-out and relations with that former No4 batsman chap. Anyway, that’s the sort of stuff I’ve been chewing over in my mind on the tube journey in. The actual cricket put before us in the opening session has been full of good things, and here’s hoping for more of them. |
| While others have been overloading on the English vision thing: | While others have been overloading on the English vision thing: |
| 1.21pm BST13:21 | 1.21pm BST13:21 |
| Right, a bit of lunchtime chat done and dusted I’ll hand you over to my colleague Tom Davies. | Right, a bit of lunchtime chat done and dusted I’ll hand you over to my colleague Tom Davies. |
| 1.19pm BST13:19 | 1.19pm BST13:19 |
| Strauss says he wants to create a culture that "differentiates the sport from other sports". Not entirely sure what that means. | Strauss says he wants to create a culture that "differentiates the sport from other sports". Not entirely sure what that means. |
| Me neither. | Me neither. |
| 1.17pm BST13:17 | 1.17pm BST13:17 |
| Have you compromised the coach over Pietersen etc? “It’s going to be his show to run. But right at the moment English cricket does need a bit of clarity. My job is to provide that clarity at the moment.” | Have you compromised the coach over Pietersen etc? “It’s going to be his show to run. But right at the moment English cricket does need a bit of clarity. My job is to provide that clarity at the moment.” |
| Clarity just confuses me, Andrew. | Clarity just confuses me, Andrew. |
| 1.15pm BST13:15 | 1.15pm BST13:15 |
| Andrew Strauss is back with his old Sky Sports colleagues over the lunch break. Gower asks him about Pietersen. Strauss says nothing he hasn’t said before. | Andrew Strauss is back with his old Sky Sports colleagues over the lunch break. Gower asks him about Pietersen. Strauss says nothing he hasn’t said before. |
| He says he wants to bring the ECB and the players closer together. | He says he wants to bring the ECB and the players closer together. |
| And a coach? “I’ve been speaking to some candidates. The only way this works is with complete confidentiality. There are a number of good candidates.” | And a coach? “I’ve been speaking to some candidates. The only way this works is with complete confidentiality. There are a number of good candidates.” |
| 1.04pm BST13:04 | 1.04pm BST13:04 |
| LUNCH | LUNCH |
| England 113-4. Well, I don’t know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed that. A great morning of cricket, one dominated by New Zealand in the opening hour and then by Root and Stokes. Their partnership is worth 86 and has rescued England from 30-4. | England 113-4. Well, I don’t know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed that. A great morning of cricket, one dominated by New Zealand in the opening hour and then by Root and Stokes. Their partnership is worth 86 and has rescued England from 30-4. |
| 1.03pm BST13:03 | 1.03pm BST13:03 |
| 26th over: England 113-4 (Stokes 36, Root 49) Henry will send down the final over before lunch. An inside edge on to the pads saves Stokes from the first and the batsmen add a couple of quiet singles. And that’s lunch. | 26th over: England 113-4 (Stokes 36, Root 49) Henry will send down the final over before lunch. An inside edge on to the pads saves Stokes from the first and the batsmen add a couple of quiet singles. And that’s lunch. |
| 12.59pm BST12:59 | 12.59pm BST12:59 |
| 25th over: England 111-4 (Stokes 35, Root 48) Craig drags one down and Root brings up the England 100 with a firm pull through square leg for four. And a similarly short one is chopped away through the off for four more. And from the last he pushes through point for another! Twelve from the over for England’s No5. | 25th over: England 111-4 (Stokes 35, Root 48) Craig drags one down and Root brings up the England 100 with a firm pull through square leg for four. And a similarly short one is chopped away through the off for four more. And from the last he pushes through point for another! Twelve from the over for England’s No5. |
| Updated at 1.05pm BST | Updated at 1.05pm BST |
| 12.56pm BST12:56 | 12.56pm BST12:56 |
| 24rd over: England 99-4 (Stokes 35, Root 36) After that scare England might just shut up shop until lunch. Some superb return fielding from Henry saves a certain boundary as Stokes drives but in general the batsman stays watchful. A maiden. | 24rd over: England 99-4 (Stokes 35, Root 36) After that scare England might just shut up shop until lunch. Some superb return fielding from Henry saves a certain boundary as Stokes drives but in general the batsman stays watchful. A maiden. |
| Some pretty dreadful news here: | Some pretty dreadful news here: |
| Mills may have to quit first-class cricket http://t.co/nXEtkNe9oF | Mills may have to quit first-class cricket http://t.co/nXEtkNe9oF |
| Updated at 1.04pm BST | Updated at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.52pm BST12:52 | 12.52pm BST12:52 |
| 23rd over: England 99-4 (Stokes 35, Root 36) Mark Craig and his off-spin come into the attack. Stokes has a huge heave at his first ball, almost heaving himself off his feet, and is whacked on the back leg. Fortunately for England, the offending appendage is well outside leg stump. A push-and-run for a single gets Stokes off strike and from the last there’s a huge appeal as he spins one back into Joe Root. I reckon it’s hit him outside the line but McCullum opts to review. It’s close but Hawkeye shows that the impact is umpire’s call. | 23rd over: England 99-4 (Stokes 35, Root 36) Mark Craig and his off-spin come into the attack. Stokes has a huge heave at his first ball, almost heaving himself off his feet, and is whacked on the back leg. Fortunately for England, the offending appendage is well outside leg stump. A push-and-run for a single gets Stokes off strike and from the last there’s a huge appeal as he spins one back into Joe Root. I reckon it’s hit him outside the line but McCullum opts to review. It’s close but Hawkeye shows that the impact is umpire’s call. |
| Updated at 1.04pm BST | Updated at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.46pm BST12:46 | 12.46pm BST12:46 |
| 22nd 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. | 22nd 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. |
| Updated at 1.04pm BST | Updated at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.41pm BST12:41 | 12.41pm BST12:41 |
| 21st 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? | 21st 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? |
| Updated at 1.04pm BST | Updated at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.35pm BST12:35 | 12.35pm BST12:35 |
| 20th 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. | 20th 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. | 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. |
| Updated at 1.04pm BST | Updated at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.32pm BST12:32 | 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. | 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.) | “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 | Updated at 12.32pm BST |
| 12.25pm BST12:25 | 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. | 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 | Updated at 12.37pm BST |
| 12.21pm BST12:21 | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 … | Meanwhile, at a golf course far, far away … |
| Corporate hospitality at its best here at #Wentworth! x pic.twitter.com/dPPxMBUWJr | 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. | 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 | 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 |