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| England v New Zealand: first Test, day two – live! | England v New Zealand: first Test, day two – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.28pm BST15:28 | |
| 38th over: New Zealand 155-2 (Taylor 2, Williamson 2) | |
| Kane Williamson’s internal monologue seems to be comprised entirely of white noise and yelping at the moment – another nervy push at the ball sees an edge bobbling off into the slip cordon. A maiden from Broad. | |
| 3.25pm BST15:25 | |
| 37th over: New Zealand 155-2 (Taylor 2, Williamson 2) | |
| Taylor gets off the mark with a sweep off Ali for two. New Zealand could really do with these two taking things through until tea but they’re jittery at the moment. | |
| 3.21pm BST15:21 | |
| 36th over: New Zealand 152-2 (Taylor 0, Williamson 1) | |
| So New Zealand’s engine room pairing come out to the crease in very fine shape on the scoreboard but under some pressure given the last couple of minutes. Taylor is immediately whapped on the pad by a Broad inducker – there’s a huge appeal but it’s going over and it’s hit the batsman outside the line. One of those shouts that looks ridiculous on Hawkeye but seemed a perfectly decent appeal with the naked eye. Next up, Williamson sets of for a ludicrous single as the ball drops at his feet. Broad wins the race and underarms the ball at the stumps with Taylor absolutely nowhere … but misses by a yard. In the commentary box Ian Smith is fuming. Utterly fuming. | |
| 3.15pm BST15:15 | |
| WICKET! Guptill c Ballance b Broad 70 (New Zealand 148-2) | |
| Now then! Guptill has given his wicket away here. He drives at a wide one at which he was always stretching just a touch too much, and his uppish shot ends up in the hands of a diving Gary Ballance at extra-cover. | |
| 3.13pm BST15:13 | |
| 35th over: New Zealand 148-1 (Guptill 70, Williamson 0) | |
| Thirteen – 13 – runs and a wicket off that over then. Latham was trapped pretty much plumb there – the ball was crashing in to leg stump. | |
| Moeen strikes. 148-1. NZ's first wicket added more than their last 16 wickets did at Lord's in 2013. http://t.co/z04BfAk6G2 School run now | |
| Updated at 3.14pm BST | |
| 3.11pm BST15:11 | |
| WICKET! Latham lbw b Ali 59 (New Zealand 148-1) | |
| Guptill channels a bit of Wellington and that innings at the World Cup – monstering Ali into the stands at cow corner with a huge six. The next, though, almost does for him – an inside edge onto the pads from a ball that keeps very low. A couple of balls later Latham takes a gentle single … and ends up getting three after Ben Stokes’ wild throw at the stumps. And just as England look to be descending into shambles, they get the breakthrough! | |
| Latham goes on to the back foot and Ali spins one onto his pads. The finger goes up and England have their first wicket. | |
| 3.06pm BST15:06 | |
| 34th over: New Zealand 135-0 (Guptill 60, Latham 56) | |
| Latham drives through the covers for three to being up his half-century. A nice moment for the young man, who’s beginning to establish himself rather nicely at the top of this New Zealand order, despite a bit of a ropey series against Sri Lanka in December and January. He’s had his chance – that Bell drop – but he’s making the most of it at the moment. And he ends the over with another neat drive through the covers, this one timed rather better and rattling away for four. | |
| 3.01pm BST15:01 | |
| 33rd over: New Zealand 127-0 (Guptill 59, Latham 49) | |
| Moeen Ali enters the attack for the first time today. gary Ballance puts the lid on and strides into short leg … and is immediately whacked in the kidneys by a Guptill slog-sweep. “Oh blimey, that came rather keen old chap,” yelps Ballance. I may be paraphrasing a touch there. From the next, Guptill’s able to steer the ball behind square for a couple. | |
| 2.57pm BST14:57 | |
| 32nd over: New Zealand 125-0 (Guptill 57, Latham 49) | |
| Broad’s turn to stray a touch too full to Latham, this time on the pads, and gets punched economically through square leg for four. And from the next Broad’s radar is even further out, and four leg byes fly away off the pads. There’s a false shot from Latham from the next – a sort of squatty cut that missed the ball by a good foot. | |
| In other news, I Small Talked with Curtly Ambrose this week. He was extremely affable and generous with his time, even when at one stage he thought I’d asked him if he had ever seen a goat … | |
| 2.52pm BST14:52 | 2.52pm BST14:52 |
| 31st over: New Zealand 116-0 (Guptill 56, Latham 45) | |
| Anderson comes round the wicket to the pocket-sized Latham and gets him fishing just a little outside off, though the batsman made to suggest he was pulling the bat inside the line. The bowler then goes much fuller and gets on-driven beautifully for four. | Anderson comes round the wicket to the pocket-sized Latham and gets him fishing just a little outside off, though the batsman made to suggest he was pulling the bat inside the line. The bowler then goes much fuller and gets on-driven beautifully for four. |
| Updated at 2.57pm BST | |
| 2.48pm BST14:48 | 2.48pm BST14:48 |
| 30th over: New Zealand 111-0 (Guptill 55, Latham 41) | 30th over: New Zealand 111-0 (Guptill 55, Latham 41) |
| Afternoon all. Well this has been a particularly chastening day for me – not only are England taking a bit of a pasting in the field, but all this Best Man talk has been particularly painful, what with my brother – my own brother – recently overlooking me for the role at his forthcoming nuptials. Groomsman? Groomsman? I’m an usher and he knows it. | Afternoon all. Well this has been a particularly chastening day for me – not only are England taking a bit of a pasting in the field, but all this Best Man talk has been particularly painful, what with my brother – my own brother – recently overlooking me for the role at his forthcoming nuptials. Groomsman? Groomsman? I’m an usher and he knows it. |
| Anyway, Guptill has just driven Broad sweetly down the ground for four. And a bumper sails over Buttler and bounces away for four byes. | Anyway, Guptill has just driven Broad sweetly down the ground for four. And a bumper sails over Buttler and bounces away for four byes. |
| 2.42pm BST14:42 | 2.42pm BST14:42 |
| 29th over: New Zealand 102-0 (Guptill 50, Latham 41) | 29th over: New Zealand 102-0 (Guptill 50, Latham 41) |
| Anderson bowls too short at Latham, who pulls it away for four to tickle the Kiwi total into triple figures. England need a change of luck here, and as the players take drinks I’ll try to do my bit by passing the OBO baton to John Ashdown and hoping that he has good reason to go heavy on the exclamation marks in the near future. Bye! | Anderson bowls too short at Latham, who pulls it away for four to tickle the Kiwi total into triple figures. England need a change of luck here, and as the players take drinks I’ll try to do my bit by passing the OBO baton to John Ashdown and hoping that he has good reason to go heavy on the exclamation marks in the near future. Bye! |
| NZ 102-0, Guptill and Latham making the most of the Eng charity. | NZ 102-0, Guptill and Latham making the most of the Eng charity. |
| @Simon_Burnton This is when England miss Swann, though if Cook won't give Moeen a go, well... | @Simon_Burnton This is when England miss Swann, though if Cook won't give Moeen a go, well... |
| 102-0. NZ's first century opening stand in an away Test since 2010, only second in 45 Tests since 2004. http://t.co/PodBTuRc7c #ENGvNZ | 102-0. NZ's first century opening stand in an away Test since 2010, only second in 45 Tests since 2004. http://t.co/PodBTuRc7c #ENGvNZ |
| 2.37pm BST14:37 | 2.37pm BST14:37 |
| 28th over: New Zealand 97-0 (Guptill 50, Latham 37) | 28th over: New Zealand 97-0 (Guptill 50, Latham 37) |
| Guptill completes his half-century with a single off Broad’s first delivery. It’s two days less than exactly two years since his last Test, when he scored one and three against England at Headingley, and getting on for three years since his last Test half-century, against India in August 2012. | Guptill completes his half-century with a single off Broad’s first delivery. It’s two days less than exactly two years since his last Test, when he scored one and three against England at Headingley, and getting on for three years since his last Test half-century, against India in August 2012. |
| Updated at 2.44pm BST | Updated at 2.44pm BST |
| 2.32pm BST14:32 | 2.32pm BST14:32 |
| 27th over: New Zealand 96-0 (Guptill 49, Latham 37) | 27th over: New Zealand 96-0 (Guptill 49, Latham 37) |
| Guptill has faced eight balls so far since moving onto 49, in which time there have been two leg byes. A mood of quiet resignation appears to be settling over Lord’s – crowd and team are in need of a lift. Stuart Broad is about to return, charged with weedling one out. | Guptill has faced eight balls so far since moving onto 49, in which time there have been two leg byes. A mood of quiet resignation appears to be settling over Lord’s – crowd and team are in need of a lift. Stuart Broad is about to return, charged with weedling one out. |
| 2.27pm BST14:27 | 2.27pm BST14:27 |
| 26th over: New Zealand 94-0 (Guptill 49, Latham 37) | 26th over: New Zealand 94-0 (Guptill 49, Latham 37) |
| Stokes keeps bowling across Latham, and this time he fends off the first ball, which disappears wide of the slips and away for four. This outfield is the zippiest thing since Rainbow was last decomissioned. | Stokes keeps bowling across Latham, and this time he fends off the first ball, which disappears wide of the slips and away for four. This outfield is the zippiest thing since Rainbow was last decomissioned. |
| 2.23pm BST14:23 | 2.23pm BST14:23 |
| 25th over: New Zealand 89-0 (Guptill 49, Latham 32) | 25th over: New Zealand 89-0 (Guptill 49, Latham 32) |
| Anderson bowls, and Guptill tries to hit through midwicket, gets a leading edge and instead sends the ball flying high over mid on, where it eventually lands perfectly safely and tootles gently into the rope. A stroke of luck, in more ways than one. | Anderson bowls, and Guptill tries to hit through midwicket, gets a leading edge and instead sends the ball flying high over mid on, where it eventually lands perfectly safely and tootles gently into the rope. A stroke of luck, in more ways than one. |
| 2.19pm BST14:19 | 2.19pm BST14:19 |
| 24th over: New Zealand 83-0 (Guptill 43, Latham 32) | 24th over: New Zealand 83-0 (Guptill 43, Latham 32) |
| Stokes bowls across the left-handed Latham, trying to elicit a drive, an edge, and another chance for the slip cordon to put the ball down. Latham isn’t much interested in that game, so pretty much leaves the ball well alone. Maiden. | Stokes bowls across the left-handed Latham, trying to elicit a drive, an edge, and another chance for the slip cordon to put the ball down. Latham isn’t much interested in that game, so pretty much leaves the ball well alone. Maiden. |
| 2.16pm BST14:16 | 2.16pm BST14:16 |
| 23rd over: New Zealand 83-0 (Guptill 43, Latham 32) | 23rd over: New Zealand 83-0 (Guptill 43, Latham 32) |
| Wood stands down, Anderson returns, and three runs are scored. OBO appeal: The OBOccasionals, a team comprised of OBO readers, is looking for talent. Er, “talent”. “If anyone is interested in playing for a friendly, enthusiastic group of extremely amateur cricketers over this summer, please get in touch,” begs Joe Neate. “The last couple of years we’ve been to Finland and Estonia, but this year it looks like we’re keeping things a little closer to home, with us lining up some games in Brighton and Godalming so far. Absolutely all ranges of talent welcome.” They’re on Facebook here, and have a proper website here. Sign up now! | Wood stands down, Anderson returns, and three runs are scored. OBO appeal: The OBOccasionals, a team comprised of OBO readers, is looking for talent. Er, “talent”. “If anyone is interested in playing for a friendly, enthusiastic group of extremely amateur cricketers over this summer, please get in touch,” begs Joe Neate. “The last couple of years we’ve been to Finland and Estonia, but this year it looks like we’re keeping things a little closer to home, with us lining up some games in Brighton and Godalming so far. Absolutely all ranges of talent welcome.” They’re on Facebook here, and have a proper website here. Sign up now! |
| 2.10pm BST14:10 | 2.10pm BST14:10 |
| 22nd over: New Zealand 80-0 (Guptill 41, Latham 31) | 22nd over: New Zealand 80-0 (Guptill 41, Latham 31) |
| Stokes thwacks Latham full in the pad and screams at Marais Erasmus, who doesn’t react. So he draws breath and screams some more, and eventually the umpire shakes his head. The bowler wants to review it, but his captain shakes his head as well. And quite right too – the ball pitched a good few inches wide of leg. | Stokes thwacks Latham full in the pad and screams at Marais Erasmus, who doesn’t react. So he draws breath and screams some more, and eventually the umpire shakes his head. The bowler wants to review it, but his captain shakes his head as well. And quite right too – the ball pitched a good few inches wide of leg. |
| Updated at 2.38pm BST | Updated at 2.38pm BST |
| 2.06pm BST14:06 | 2.06pm BST14:06 |
| 21st over: New Zealand 78-0 (Guptill 40, Latham 30) | 21st over: New Zealand 78-0 (Guptill 40, Latham 30) |
| More drama! Buttler misjudges the first, which squirms under his glove and away for a couple of byes. And then Latham smacks the next just in the air past point, where Stokes sees it late and dives more out of duty than expectation, for four. Robin Hazlehurst has a possible wedding-speech line: “They say judge a man by the company he keeps. [Groom] choose as his best man and best friend someone who researched this speech about [groom] by asking a load of random people following a cricket match over the internet for suggestions. [Bride], run for it, it’s not too late yet!” | More drama! Buttler misjudges the first, which squirms under his glove and away for a couple of byes. And then Latham smacks the next just in the air past point, where Stokes sees it late and dives more out of duty than expectation, for four. Robin Hazlehurst has a possible wedding-speech line: “They say judge a man by the company he keeps. [Groom] choose as his best man and best friend someone who researched this speech about [groom] by asking a load of random people following a cricket match over the internet for suggestions. [Bride], run for it, it’s not too late yet!” |
| Updated at 2.07pm BST | Updated at 2.07pm BST |
| 2.02pm BST14:02 | 2.02pm BST14:02 |
| 20th over: New Zealand 70-0 (Guptill 40, Latham 24) | 20th over: New Zealand 70-0 (Guptill 40, Latham 24) |
| Stokes is bowling really very well, and he has Guptill squirming with a fine yorker. The batsman, though, bottom-edges it into the ground, over the slips and away for four. Worse, the next goes past point for four, a clean stroke this time. And then he edges the last ball of the over for another wide of gully for four. Twelve runs from the over. That’s gotta hurt. | Stokes is bowling really very well, and he has Guptill squirming with a fine yorker. The batsman, though, bottom-edges it into the ground, over the slips and away for four. Worse, the next goes past point for four, a clean stroke this time. And then he edges the last ball of the over for another wide of gully for four. Twelve runs from the over. That’s gotta hurt. |
| 1.58pm BST13:58 | 1.58pm BST13:58 |
| 19th over: New Zealand 58-0 (Guptill 28, Latham 24) | 19th over: New Zealand 58-0 (Guptill 28, Latham 24) |
| Like rats, you’re never more than five yards from somebody talking about Kevin Pietersen. | Like rats, you’re never more than five yards from somebody talking about Kevin Pietersen. |
| I am sure a good coach can manage that. I played with him in teams and he was not disruptive. https://t.co/Qgtc40jzK5 | I am sure a good coach can manage that. I played with him in teams and he was not disruptive. https://t.co/Qgtc40jzK5 |
| 1.54pm BST13:54 | 1.54pm BST13:54 |
| 18th over: New Zealand 56-0 (Guptill 28, Latham 22) | 18th over: New Zealand 56-0 (Guptill 28, Latham 22) |
| Edged! And dropped! Latham smacks Stokes’ first delivery past point for four, and then edges the very next just to the left of Bell at second slip, and he gets both hands to it but can’t hold on. | Edged! And dropped! Latham smacks Stokes’ first delivery past point for four, and then edges the very next just to the left of Bell at second slip, and he gets both hands to it but can’t hold on. |
| Updated at 2.09pm BST | Updated at 2.09pm BST |
| 1.49pm BST13:49 | 1.49pm BST13:49 |
| 17th over: New Zealand 49-0 (Guptill 26, Latham 17) | 17th over: New Zealand 49-0 (Guptill 26, Latham 17) |
| Wood continues, and Latham thunders a short, wide delivery past cover for four. Wedding-speech zingers continue to pour in, such as this from Ben Roche: “Marriage, with its twists and turns, is often equated with the ebb and flow of a river meandering gently downstream. Sometimes fast and pacy, sometimes gentle and languid. This image also works well for [insert groom’s name], who like many rivers, is often full of shit.” | Wood continues, and Latham thunders a short, wide delivery past cover for four. Wedding-speech zingers continue to pour in, such as this from Ben Roche: “Marriage, with its twists and turns, is often equated with the ebb and flow of a river meandering gently downstream. Sometimes fast and pacy, sometimes gentle and languid. This image also works well for [insert groom’s name], who like many rivers, is often full of shit.” |
| 1.46pm BST13:46 | 1.46pm BST13:46 |
| 16th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Guptill 26, Latham 13) | 16th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Guptill 26, Latham 13) |
| Some variable bounce for Stokes, and some movement as well! So that’s encouraging, then. And it’s a maiden. | Some variable bounce for Stokes, and some movement as well! So that’s encouraging, then. And it’s a maiden. |
| Stokes on after lunch and getting some nice shape on the ball. Lovely inswinger to go with away swing. Top first over. | Stokes on after lunch and getting some nice shape on the ball. Lovely inswinger to go with away swing. Top first over. |
| 1.41pm BST13:41 | 1.41pm BST13:41 |
| Hello again! | Hello again! |
| Luncheon having been taken, the players are back on the field and Ben Stokes has been handed the ball. The morning certainly belonged to New Zealand. What, now, for the afternoon? | Luncheon having been taken, the players are back on the field and Ben Stokes has been handed the ball. The morning certainly belonged to New Zealand. What, now, for the afternoon? |
| 1.05pm BST13:05 | 1.05pm BST13:05 |
| LUNCH | LUNCH |
| New Zealand survive unscathed until lunchtime, and Mark Wood gets a couple of conciliatory back-pats on his way back to the dressing-room. They trail by 345, with all 10 first-innings wickets remaining. | New Zealand survive unscathed until lunchtime, and Mark Wood gets a couple of conciliatory back-pats on his way back to the dressing-room. They trail by 345, with all 10 first-innings wickets remaining. |
| The inch which robbed Mark Wood of a maiden test wicket #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/WVIADUbcsg | The inch which robbed Mark Wood of a maiden test wicket #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/WVIADUbcsg |
| 1.03pm BST13:03 | 1.03pm BST13:03 |
| 15th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Guptill 26, Latham 13) | 15th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Guptill 26, Latham 13) |
| Wood bowls the final over before lunch, and a final-ball single is all that comes from it. “A good opening gambit,” says Oliver Smiddy, re: wedding speeches. “Churchill once said that a good speech is a like a woman’s skirt – long enough to cover the subject, and short enough to create interest.” | Wood bowls the final over before lunch, and a final-ball single is all that comes from it. “A good opening gambit,” says Oliver Smiddy, re: wedding speeches. “Churchill once said that a good speech is a like a woman’s skirt – long enough to cover the subject, and short enough to create interest.” |
| Promising start by Mark Wood at Lords. Has more than a touch of Simon Jones about his bowling @si610 #lively | Promising start by Mark Wood at Lords. Has more than a touch of Simon Jones about his bowling @si610 #lively |
| 1.00pm BST13:00 | 1.00pm BST13:00 |
| 14th over: New Zealand 43-0 (Guptill 25, Latham 13) | 14th over: New Zealand 43-0 (Guptill 25, Latham 13) |
| Anderson bowls the first maiden of the innings. You’d have thought there could be a cricketing equivalent of Wimbledon’s beepy fault-signalling system that would instantly alert us to a no ball and allow batsmen to sort themselves out before there’s a wicket on the line. But then, I have no idea how beepy fault-signalling systems work. | Anderson bowls the first maiden of the innings. You’d have thought there could be a cricketing equivalent of Wimbledon’s beepy fault-signalling system that would instantly alert us to a no ball and allow batsmen to sort themselves out before there’s a wicket on the line. But then, I have no idea how beepy fault-signalling systems work. |
| 12.56pm BST12:56 | 12.56pm BST12:56 |
| 13th over: New Zealand 43-0 (Guptill 25, Latham 13) | 13th over: New Zealand 43-0 (Guptill 25, Latham 13) |
| About to bowl his third ball, in the final stride of his run-up, Wood suddenly dances way out to the edge of the crease before delivering the ball to Guptill, surprising everyone, but the batsman deals with it. Interesting bowling, but the over will be remembered only for the non-wicket. | About to bowl his third ball, in the final stride of his run-up, Wood suddenly dances way out to the edge of the crease before delivering the ball to Guptill, surprising everyone, but the batsman deals with it. Interesting bowling, but the over will be remembered only for the non-wicket. |
| 12.54pm BST12:54 | 12.54pm BST12:54 |
| Not out! It's a no ball! | Not out! It's a no ball! |
| Disaster! Wood bowls fast and fine, finds Guptill’s edge, and Cook takes the catch at first slip – but all for naught! | Disaster! Wood bowls fast and fine, finds Guptill’s edge, and Cook takes the catch at first slip – but all for naught! |
| Updated at 1.04pm BST | Updated at 1.04pm BST |
| 12.53pm BST12:53 | 12.53pm BST12:53 |
| WICKET! Or is it? Guptill c Cook b Wood 24 (New Zealand 40-1) | WICKET! Or is it? Guptill c Cook b Wood 24 (New Zealand 40-1) |
| The breakthrough, and it’s the debutant with it! But is it a no ball? It’s close! And it looks close the wrong way! | The breakthrough, and it’s the debutant with it! But is it a no ball? It’s close! And it looks close the wrong way! |
| 12.50pm BST12:50 | 12.50pm BST12:50 |
| 12th over: New Zealand 40-0 (Guptill 24, Latham 12) | 12th over: New Zealand 40-0 (Guptill 24, Latham 12) |
| Anderson’s back, having changed ends, and Guptill welcomes him with a violent bosh through the covers for four. Botham complains that England aren’t bowling full enough, the age-old song of the domestic commentator. “Tom Wright’s panicked plea reminds me of a wedding I attended during the 2013 Ashes series,” writes Ralph Hartley. “Many of the guests, an astonishing assortment of Jane Austen-esque Cotswold characters (the Brigadier, the vicar, the local farmer etc) made little effort to disguise their disgruntlement at being unable to take up their debentures at Lords that day. In recompense the father of the Bride’s speech was divided thusly: three minutes devoted to how the groom was a ruddy nice chap; 30 seconds to the beauty and constancy of his daughter; and a full six and a half minutes of detailed updates on the day’s play – greeted with raucous cheers.” | Anderson’s back, having changed ends, and Guptill welcomes him with a violent bosh through the covers for four. Botham complains that England aren’t bowling full enough, the age-old song of the domestic commentator. “Tom Wright’s panicked plea reminds me of a wedding I attended during the 2013 Ashes series,” writes Ralph Hartley. “Many of the guests, an astonishing assortment of Jane Austen-esque Cotswold characters (the Brigadier, the vicar, the local farmer etc) made little effort to disguise their disgruntlement at being unable to take up their debentures at Lords that day. In recompense the father of the Bride’s speech was divided thusly: three minutes devoted to how the groom was a ruddy nice chap; 30 seconds to the beauty and constancy of his daughter; and a full six and a half minutes of detailed updates on the day’s play – greeted with raucous cheers.” |
| 12.46pm BST12:46 | 12.46pm BST12:46 |
| 11th over: New Zealand 35-0 (Guptill 19, Latham 12) | 11th over: New Zealand 35-0 (Guptill 19, Latham 12) |
| “I have been to tons of weddings,” writes Cliff Fourie, as Guptill hits Wood between midwicket and mid on for four, “and heard best man speeches right across the spectrum. Best one by far was a 13 year old nephew of the groom who threw in this pearler: “marriage is for better or for worse. [groom’s name] could not have done better, [bride’s name] could not have done worse.” | “I have been to tons of weddings,” writes Cliff Fourie, as Guptill hits Wood between midwicket and mid on for four, “and heard best man speeches right across the spectrum. Best one by far was a 13 year old nephew of the groom who threw in this pearler: “marriage is for better or for worse. [groom’s name] could not have done better, [bride’s name] could not have done worse.” |
| 12.42pm BST12:42 | 12.42pm BST12:42 |
| 10th over: New Zealand 30-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 12) | 10th over: New Zealand 30-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 12) |
| Latham works Broad’s delivery through midwicket for four, and New Zealand reach 30, the point by which England were wildly disintegrating, without loss. “I’ve been one of two best men twice,” writes Chris Evans. “One of the grooms shared his birthday with Eddie Murphy so we went with, ‘Chris shares his birthday with some famous people who seem to be inextricably (tough word when you’re nervous) linked to his life, such as Eddie Murphy, who in Shrek plays an ass who falls in love with a dragon.’” Honk! | Latham works Broad’s delivery through midwicket for four, and New Zealand reach 30, the point by which England were wildly disintegrating, without loss. “I’ve been one of two best men twice,” writes Chris Evans. “One of the grooms shared his birthday with Eddie Murphy so we went with, ‘Chris shares his birthday with some famous people who seem to be inextricably (tough word when you’re nervous) linked to his life, such as Eddie Murphy, who in Shrek plays an ass who falls in love with a dragon.’” Honk! |
| Promising first over by Wood. 91-92mph. Something for the coaches to work on. They'll want to get that down to 83-84mph. | Promising first over by Wood. 91-92mph. Something for the coaches to work on. They'll want to get that down to 83-84mph. |
| 12.37pm BST12:37 | 12.37pm BST12:37 |
| 9th over: New Zealand 26-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 8) | 9th over: New Zealand 26-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 8) |
| Mark Wood bowls, a little faster than either of the opening bowlers – around 92mph – and there’s a decent lbw shout against Guptill. Sundaram Ravi shakes his head, but Hawkeye thinks it would have clipped the top of leg stump. Not by enough to overturn the on-field decision, so it’s just as well England decided not to review. | Mark Wood bowls, a little faster than either of the opening bowlers – around 92mph – and there’s a decent lbw shout against Guptill. Sundaram Ravi shakes his head, but Hawkeye thinks it would have clipped the top of leg stump. Not by enough to overturn the on-field decision, so it’s just as well England decided not to review. |
| Updated at 12.59pm BST | Updated at 12.59pm BST |
| 12.33pm BST12:33 | 12.33pm BST12:33 |
| 8th over: New Zealand 25-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 7) | 8th over: New Zealand 25-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 7) |
| Broad bowls across Latham, who feels for the ball, which flies past his bat and into Buttler’s gloves. There’s no edge, which is just as well as Buttler then dropped it. England had lost a wicket by this stage, obviously, but it wasn’t until they’d scored their 25th run that things really started to fall apart. Meanwhile on Sky, as Michael Holding describes the action, there is the unmistakable sound of a wine bottle being uncorked in the background. | Broad bowls across Latham, who feels for the ball, which flies past his bat and into Buttler’s gloves. There’s no edge, which is just as well as Buttler then dropped it. England had lost a wicket by this stage, obviously, but it wasn’t until they’d scored their 25th run that things really started to fall apart. Meanwhile on Sky, as Michael Holding describes the action, there is the unmistakable sound of a wine bottle being uncorked in the background. |
| 12.29pm BST12:29 | 12.29pm BST12:29 |
| 7th over: New Zealand 24-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 6) | 7th over: New Zealand 24-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 6) |
| Anderson bowls, the ball clips Guptill’s thigh pad and disappears for four. “I rounded off my best man speech with ‘The Spanish have a saying – “That which is done well, if done quickly, is doubly good.” I’m afraid I haven’t managed to do that but [bride’s name] may like to bear it in mind for later on this evening,’” writes Tom Morgan from Spain. The thing about wedding speeches – and this isn’t a comment on Tom’s in any way – is that they usually sound magical on the night, but on the page prompt nothing so much as repeated and violent head-desk interaction. | Anderson bowls, the ball clips Guptill’s thigh pad and disappears for four. “I rounded off my best man speech with ‘The Spanish have a saying – “That which is done well, if done quickly, is doubly good.” I’m afraid I haven’t managed to do that but [bride’s name] may like to bear it in mind for later on this evening,’” writes Tom Morgan from Spain. The thing about wedding speeches – and this isn’t a comment on Tom’s in any way – is that they usually sound magical on the night, but on the page prompt nothing so much as repeated and violent head-desk interaction. |
| Updated at 12.33pm BST | Updated at 12.33pm BST |
| 12.24pm BST12:24 | 12.24pm BST12:24 |
| 6th over: New Zealand 20-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 6) | 6th over: New Zealand 20-0 (Guptill 14, Latham 6) |
| Broad bowls, and Guptill hits through midwicket for three. The over ends with England’s first lbw appeal, after the ball hit Latham’s thigh pad, but it pitched about a foot outside leg. Otherwise, worth a shout. Bob Miller’s best-man-speech advice: | Broad bowls, and Guptill hits through midwicket for three. The over ends with England’s first lbw appeal, after the ball hit Latham’s thigh pad, but it pitched about a foot outside leg. Otherwise, worth a shout. Bob Miller’s best-man-speech advice: |
| As you know I’m a man of few words[sits down] | As you know I’m a man of few words[sits down] |
| Updated at 12.41pm BST | Updated at 12.41pm BST |
| 12.19pm BST12:19 | 12.19pm BST12:19 |
| 5th over: New Zealand 17-0 (Guptill 11, Latham 6) | 5th over: New Zealand 17-0 (Guptill 11, Latham 6) |
| Anderson bowls, and concedes a couple of singles before Guptill works the ball to deep backward point for three. “Having done two best man’s speeches I consider myself a bit of an expert,” writes Grant Woodward. “One that always goes down well is the following, in the part where you’re singing the bride’s praises: ‘I’m sure you’ll all agree [insert bride’s name here] is a wonderful girl who fully deserves to find happiness with the man of her dreams. It’s just a shame [insert groom’s name here] got hold of her before she could find him.’” Clearly the groom in this case is a man who appreciates cricket, surely opening the way to questionable puns about leather and wood and suchlike. | Anderson bowls, and concedes a couple of singles before Guptill works the ball to deep backward point for three. “Having done two best man’s speeches I consider myself a bit of an expert,” writes Grant Woodward. “One that always goes down well is the following, in the part where you’re singing the bride’s praises: ‘I’m sure you’ll all agree [insert bride’s name here] is a wonderful girl who fully deserves to find happiness with the man of her dreams. It’s just a shame [insert groom’s name here] got hold of her before she could find him.’” Clearly the groom in this case is a man who appreciates cricket, surely opening the way to questionable puns about leather and wood and suchlike. |
| 12.14pm BST12:14 | 12.14pm BST12:14 |
| 4th over: New Zealand 12-0 (Guptill 7, Latham 5) | 4th over: New Zealand 12-0 (Guptill 7, Latham 5) |
| Probably the ball of the day so far from Broad, starting straight, moving a little off the seam and flying just past Guptill’s bat. The batsman tries to send the next, fuller and straighter, down the ground but edges it instead, totally safely, along the ground to deep cover for three runs. | Probably the ball of the day so far from Broad, starting straight, moving a little off the seam and flying just past Guptill’s bat. The batsman tries to send the next, fuller and straighter, down the ground but edges it instead, totally safely, along the ground to deep cover for three runs. |
| @simon_burnton Here you go for the Best Man Speech - https://t.co/K3Mu0YA17k | @simon_burnton Here you go for the Best Man Speech - https://t.co/K3Mu0YA17k |
| 12.11pm BST12:11 | 12.11pm BST12:11 |
| 3rd over: New Zealand 9-0 (Guptill 4, Latham 5) | 3rd over: New Zealand 9-0 (Guptill 4, Latham 5) |
| Anderson bowls to Latham, with three slips, a little gap and then two gullies in place, and tries to tempt him into a drive. Eventually he succeeds, and Latham drives through the covers for four. | Anderson bowls to Latham, with three slips, a little gap and then two gullies in place, and tries to tempt him into a drive. Eventually he succeeds, and Latham drives through the covers for four. |
| Updated at 12.21pm BST | Updated at 12.21pm BST |
| 12.07pm BST12:07 | 12.07pm BST12:07 |
| 2nd over: New Zealand 5-0 (Guptill 4, Latham 1) | 2nd over: New Zealand 5-0 (Guptill 4, Latham 1) |
| Broad bowls from t’other end, with three slips and a short leg in place. “I’m fortunate enough to be being taken to the third day at Lord’s tomorrow,” writes Tom Wright. “I’m the best man for a wedding the following weekend and the groom and his family are taking me along to the cricket as a thank you. But I’m slightly panicked because I have no speech (not a word) and dwindling time. Could you kindly put it to the witty, urbane yet sensitive OBO community to provide their best advice for delivering a cracking wedding oration?” Right then, let’s have your best (family-friendly) wedding-speech zingers. | Broad bowls from t’other end, with three slips and a short leg in place. “I’m fortunate enough to be being taken to the third day at Lord’s tomorrow,” writes Tom Wright. “I’m the best man for a wedding the following weekend and the groom and his family are taking me along to the cricket as a thank you. But I’m slightly panicked because I have no speech (not a word) and dwindling time. Could you kindly put it to the witty, urbane yet sensitive OBO community to provide their best advice for delivering a cracking wedding oration?” Right then, let’s have your best (family-friendly) wedding-speech zingers. |
| 12.03pm BST12:03 | 12.03pm BST12:03 |
| 1st over: New Zealand 4-0 (Guptill 4, Latham 0) | 1st over: New Zealand 4-0 (Guptill 4, Latham 0) |
| Guptill leaves the first few well alone, and then punches the fourth through the covers for four, a handsome way to get off the mark. The cloud cover is indeed still there. Can England do to the Kiwi top order anything like what was done to them? | Guptill leaves the first few well alone, and then punches the fourth through the covers for four, a handsome way to get off the mark. The cloud cover is indeed still there. Can England do to the Kiwi top order anything like what was done to them? |
| 11.58am BST11:58 | 11.58am BST11:58 |
| And they’re back out, England have huddled and Anderson has the ball. Let’s play (more) cricket! Or at least watch other people play it. | And they’re back out, England have huddled and Anderson has the ball. Let’s play (more) cricket! Or at least watch other people play it. |
| Updated at 12.09pm BST | Updated at 12.09pm BST |
| 11.53am BST11:53 | 11.53am BST11:53 |
| Innings break | Innings break |
| And around Lord’s and indeed the nation, people turn to each other and say, “Well from 30-4 you’d take that.” | And around Lord’s and indeed the nation, people turn to each other and say, “Well from 30-4 you’d take that.” |
| England 389. 30-4 at the start; 35-4 at the end. 324-2 in the middle. The classic innings of three halves. 150% cricket. | England 389. 30-4 at the start; 35-4 at the end. 324-2 in the middle. The classic innings of three halves. 150% cricket. |
| 11.49am BST11:49 | 11.49am BST11:49 |
| 100.5 overs: England 389 all out | 100.5 overs: England 389 all out |
| The day’s first bowling change sees Matt Henry replace Southee at the Nursery End, and brings instant rewards. Before that, though, England earned a place in the history books: | The day’s first bowling change sees Matt Henry replace Southee at the Nursery End, and brings instant rewards. Before that, though, England earned a place in the history books: |
| This is now the highest score made by any side in Test history after being 30 or fewer for 4. #bbccricket | This is now the highest score made by any side in Test history after being 30 or fewer for 4. #bbccricket |
| Updated at 11.50am BST | Updated at 11.50am BST |
| 11.48am BST11:48 | 11.48am BST11:48 |
| WICKET! Anderson c & b Henry 11 (England 389 all out) | WICKET! Anderson c & b Henry 11 (England 389 all out) |
| Anderson chips the ball limply over Henry’s right shoulder, and he sticks out a hand and takes the catch! | Anderson chips the ball limply over Henry’s right shoulder, and he sticks out a hand and takes the catch! |
| Updated at 12.02pm BST | Updated at 12.02pm BST |
| 11.45am BST11:45 | 11.45am BST11:45 |
| 100th over: England 389-9 (Wood 8, Anderson 11) | 100th over: England 389-9 (Wood 8, Anderson 11) |
| Boult, having claimed the last three wickets to fall (as well as Ballance much earlier) is on a five-for, but he doesn’t really threaten England’s tail-enders here, and they each take a single. | Boult, having claimed the last three wickets to fall (as well as Ballance much earlier) is on a five-for, but he doesn’t really threaten England’s tail-enders here, and they each take a single. |
| 11.40am BST11:40 | 11.40am BST11:40 |
| 99th over: England 387-9 (Wood 7, Anderson 10) | 99th over: England 387-9 (Wood 7, Anderson 10) |
| Lovely shot! Anderson cracks the ball past point for four! And then terrible shot! Anderson tries to hit down the ground, gets a thick top edge and the ball flies over the slip cordon and away for four! | Lovely shot! Anderson cracks the ball past point for four! And then terrible shot! Anderson tries to hit down the ground, gets a thick top edge and the ball flies over the slip cordon and away for four! |
| Updated at 11.49am BST | Updated at 11.49am BST |
| 11.36am BST11:36 | 11.36am BST11:36 |
| 98th over: England 379-9 (Wood 7, Anderson 2) | 98th over: England 379-9 (Wood 7, Anderson 2) |
| Boult’s first ball goes way down leg side and past a diving Latham before disappearing for four byes, and he then bowls a wide full toss to Wood, which is diverted past point for four. | Boult’s first ball goes way down leg side and past a diving Latham before disappearing for four byes, and he then bowls a wide full toss to Wood, which is diverted past point for four. |
| 11.33am BST11:33 | 11.33am BST11:33 |
| 97th over: England 369-9 (Wood 3, Anderson 1) | 97th over: England 369-9 (Wood 3, Anderson 1) |
| Wood works the first ball off his pads again and gets a single for his pains, and then Anderson pokes the last to cover for another. Here’s an idea (though I think the cloud cover is expected to stick around, so no hurry). | Wood works the first ball off his pads again and gets a single for his pains, and then Anderson pokes the last to cover for another. Here’s an idea (though I think the cloud cover is expected to stick around, so no hurry). |
| Clever thought from Tufnell: declare now while there's some cloud cover and plenty of swing. Two wickets now worth more than 15 extra runs | Clever thought from Tufnell: declare now while there's some cloud cover and plenty of swing. Two wickets now worth more than 15 extra runs |
| 11.28am BST11:28 | 11.28am BST11:28 |
| 96th over: England 368-9 (Wood 2, Anderson 0) | 96th over: England 368-9 (Wood 2, Anderson 0) |
| Boult gives Anderson some width, and he wildy slashes his bat at it and makes no contact. Then he bowls at the stumps, and Anderson gives himself some width, wildly slashes his bat at it and makes no contact. The ball clears the stumps by a smidgeon. | Boult gives Anderson some width, and he wildy slashes his bat at it and makes no contact. Then he bowls at the stumps, and Anderson gives himself some width, wildly slashes his bat at it and makes no contact. The ball clears the stumps by a smidgeon. |
| 11.24am BST11:24 | 11.24am BST11:24 |
| WICKET! Broad c Latham b Boult 3 (England 368-9) | WICKET! Broad c Latham b Boult 3 (England 368-9) |
| Well, he didn’t get nought. A nice delivery, angled into the batsman before fading away a fraction, tickling the outside edge and flying through to the keeper. | Well, he didn’t get nought. A nice delivery, angled into the batsman before fading away a fraction, tickling the outside edge and flying through to the keeper. |
| Broad edges Boult to the keeper for 3. Only surprise is that he got that many really #ENGvNZ @WisdenIndia | Broad edges Boult to the keeper for 3. Only surprise is that he got that many really #ENGvNZ @WisdenIndia |
| Updated at 11.38am BST | Updated at 11.38am BST |
| 11.22am BST11:22 | 11.22am BST11:22 |
| 95th over: England 368-8 (Broad 3, Wood 2) | 95th over: England 368-8 (Broad 3, Wood 2) |
| Another single for Wood, who edges the ball through his legs to square leg while attempting a cover drive. Southee bowls a wide bouncer at Broad which couldn’t be easier to evade, and then goes full and straight. Broad quite stylishly pushes it down the ground, and even if it doesn’t quite reach the boundary, it’s still a fine way to get off the mark. | Another single for Wood, who edges the ball through his legs to square leg while attempting a cover drive. Southee bowls a wide bouncer at Broad which couldn’t be easier to evade, and then goes full and straight. Broad quite stylishly pushes it down the ground, and even if it doesn’t quite reach the boundary, it’s still a fine way to get off the mark. |
| Updated at 11.30am BST | Updated at 11.30am BST |
| 11.17am BST11:17 | 11.17am BST11:17 |
| 94th over: England 364-8 (Broad 0, Wood 1) | 94th over: England 364-8 (Broad 0, Wood 1) |
| Wood comes in and tucks his second ball off his pads to long leg for a single, and Broad survives the last two deliveries. | Wood comes in and tucks his second ball off his pads to long leg for a single, and Broad survives the last two deliveries. |
| 7 - Since hitting 108* v Sri Lanka last June, Moeen Ali has hit seven 50+ scores in first-class cricket, none converted to 100s. Starts. | 7 - Since hitting 108* v Sri Lanka last June, Moeen Ali has hit seven 50+ scores in first-class cricket, none converted to 100s. Starts. |
| 11.14am BST11:14 | 11.14am BST11:14 |
| WICKET! Moeen Ali c Latham b Boult 58 (England 363-8) | WICKET! Moeen Ali c Latham b Boult 58 (England 363-8) |
| Moeen is surprised by a little extra bounce, gets a thin top-edge on a ball he’s trying to drive, and Latham looks particularly relieved after he takes the catch. A disappointing way for England to lose their last recognised batsman, really. | Moeen is surprised by a little extra bounce, gets a thin top-edge on a ball he’s trying to drive, and Latham looks particularly relieved after he takes the catch. A disappointing way for England to lose their last recognised batsman, really. |
| Mo nicks off and out for 58. Eng 363 for eight. | Mo nicks off and out for 58. Eng 363 for eight. |
| Updated at 11.26am BST | Updated at 11.26am BST |
| 11.12am BST11:12 | 11.12am BST11:12 |
| 93rd over: England 363-7 (Moeen 58, Broad 0) | 93rd over: England 363-7 (Moeen 58, Broad 0) |
| This time Moeen takes a single off Southee’s third delivery, well fielded by McCullum at midwicket, and Broad is on strike again. This time there’s no really short stuff (Broad still ducks, though, to a delivery that passes him at chest height) and the final delivery of the over whistles across the batsman, straightens and bounces just over the stumps. “Interesting to compare Stokes’ and Flintoff’s records after 10 Tests,” writes Tom Bowtell, before supplying the figures: | This time Moeen takes a single off Southee’s third delivery, well fielded by McCullum at midwicket, and Broad is on strike again. This time there’s no really short stuff (Broad still ducks, though, to a delivery that passes him at chest height) and the final delivery of the over whistles across the batsman, straightens and bounces just over the stumps. “Interesting to compare Stokes’ and Flintoff’s records after 10 Tests,” writes Tom Bowtell, before supplying the figures: |
| Stokes: 527 @ 32.17 and 25 @ 39.20Flintoff: 255 @ 15.93 and 7 @ 66.42(And, for perspective, Botham after 10, erm: 479 @ 43.54 and 53 @ 17.33) | Stokes: 527 @ 32.17 and 25 @ 39.20Flintoff: 255 @ 15.93 and 7 @ 66.42(And, for perspective, Botham after 10, erm: 479 @ 43.54 and 53 @ 17.33) |
| 11.08am BST11:08 | 11.08am BST11:08 |
| 92nd over: England 362-7 (Moeen 57, Broad 0) | 92nd over: England 362-7 (Moeen 57, Broad 0) |
| After four Boult balls Moeen takes a single to square leg, and Broad is on strike for the first time. His first delivery is short and straight, and he does an awkward combination of jumping and ducking, but successfully gets out of the way. So will the next also be short, or will it be full and aimed at the stumps? Well, neither – it bounces harmlessly past the batsman, and Broad leaves it alone. “I’ve just heard Jonathan Agnew talking to Andrew Strauss on TMS, and he (Strauss, I mean) turned startlingly bristly and snotty: ‘You’re being unbelievably negative,’ he said, in response to a mild and justified question,” writes Mark Smith. “It reminded me of the debate on OBO yesterday about how England are a hard team to like sometimes … why so thin-skinned and petulant? It was Aggers, not Paxman.” I’m not sure the best way to combat negativity is to react negatively to it. | After four Boult balls Moeen takes a single to square leg, and Broad is on strike for the first time. His first delivery is short and straight, and he does an awkward combination of jumping and ducking, but successfully gets out of the way. So will the next also be short, or will it be full and aimed at the stumps? Well, neither – it bounces harmlessly past the batsman, and Broad leaves it alone. “I’ve just heard Jonathan Agnew talking to Andrew Strauss on TMS, and he (Strauss, I mean) turned startlingly bristly and snotty: ‘You’re being unbelievably negative,’ he said, in response to a mild and justified question,” writes Mark Smith. “It reminded me of the debate on OBO yesterday about how England are a hard team to like sometimes … why so thin-skinned and petulant? It was Aggers, not Paxman.” I’m not sure the best way to combat negativity is to react negatively to it. |
| 11.03am BST11:03 | 11.03am BST11:03 |
| 91st over: England 361-7 (Moeen 56, Broad 0) | 91st over: England 361-7 (Moeen 56, Broad 0) |
| So in comes Stuart Broad – last four Test innings 0, 0, 10, 0 – but Moeen takes strike for the first over of the day, bowled by Southee, and he cracks the ball through midwicket for four to complete his half-century, and pushes the next through the covers, McCullum stopping eventually chasing it down a foot from the rope. | So in comes Stuart Broad – last four Test innings 0, 0, 10, 0 – but Moeen takes strike for the first over of the day, bowled by Southee, and he cracks the ball through midwicket for four to complete his half-century, and pushes the next through the covers, McCullum stopping eventually chasing it down a foot from the rope. |
| Updated at 11.12am BST | Updated at 11.12am BST |
| 10.57am BST10:57 | 10.57am BST10:57 |
| Game on! Er, nearly! | Game on! Er, nearly! |
| Mark Nicholas signals the start of play! #LoveLords pic.twitter.com/nXV0RYXUkD | Mark Nicholas signals the start of play! #LoveLords pic.twitter.com/nXV0RYXUkD |
| 10.47am BST10:47 | 10.47am BST10:47 |
| Man, you’ve really got me here. All these questions you’re asking I’ve never been asked. [Thoughtful pause] | Man, you’ve really got me here. All these questions you’re asking I’ve never been asked. [Thoughtful pause] |
| There’s an excellent Small Talk with Curtly Ambrose available for your delectation here. Turns out he’s not very good at answering questions. | There’s an excellent Small Talk with Curtly Ambrose available for your delectation here. Turns out he’s not very good at answering questions. |
| Updated at 12.20pm BST | Updated at 12.20pm BST |
| 10.41am BST10:41 | 10.41am BST10:41 |
| The big questions for this morning are: will Mark Wood be an unlikely batting hero? Can Stuart Broad bat at all? Can England work their way beyond 400? Here, though, is an early contender for catch of the day: | The big questions for this morning are: will Mark Wood be an unlikely batting hero? Can Stuart Broad bat at all? Can England work their way beyond 400? Here, though, is an early contender for catch of the day: |
| Cracking catch from Gary Ballance during slip practice #EngvNZ #LoveLords pic.twitter.com/rFp97aHtWu | Cracking catch from Gary Ballance during slip practice #EngvNZ #LoveLords pic.twitter.com/rFp97aHtWu |
| 10.35am BST10:35 | 10.35am BST10:35 |
| Hello world! | Hello world! |
| It’s another glorious London morning. Weather forecast latest: it’ll cloud over this afternoon and rain later, though after the day’s cricket is done. We had a spectacular first day to this Test, with all sorts of drama and intrigue. More of the same please, lads. | It’s another glorious London morning. Weather forecast latest: it’ll cloud over this afternoon and rain later, though after the day’s cricket is done. We had a spectacular first day to this Test, with all sorts of drama and intrigue. More of the same please, lads. |
| Updated at 11.06am BST | Updated at 11.06am BST |
| 10.21am BST10:21 | 10.21am BST10:21 |
| Good morning. Simon will be here soon. While you wait, here is Vic Marks on how Ben Stokes’ instinctive 92 from 94 balls dragged his side back into the first Test against New Zealand after a dreadful start had left the home side 30 for four. | Good morning. Simon will be here soon. While you wait, here is Vic Marks on how Ben Stokes’ instinctive 92 from 94 balls dragged his side back into the first Test against New Zealand after a dreadful start had left the home side 30 for four. |
| It was an “I was there” innings, not a monumental one but memorable. Ben Stokes, in the space of two hours, cheered everyone up. Whether Stokes’s 92 against New Zealand will linger quite as long as Ted Dexter’s 70 against West Indies in 1963, so vividly recalled by our correspondent the other day, is debatable. Yet Stokes, alongside dependable old Joe Root, 24 years old going on 34, fashioned a recovery every bit as startling as Lord Ted all those years ago, and at a similar rate. | It was an “I was there” innings, not a monumental one but memorable. Ben Stokes, in the space of two hours, cheered everyone up. Whether Stokes’s 92 against New Zealand will linger quite as long as Ted Dexter’s 70 against West Indies in 1963, so vividly recalled by our correspondent the other day, is debatable. Yet Stokes, alongside dependable old Joe Root, 24 years old going on 34, fashioned a recovery every bit as startling as Lord Ted all those years ago, and at a similar rate. |
| The bald facts: England were 30 for four when Stokes arrived at the crease; when he departed for 92 from 94 balls they were 191 for five, out of the woods, if not over the horizon. | The bald facts: England were 30 for four when Stokes arrived at the crease; when he departed for 92 from 94 balls they were 191 for five, out of the woods, if not over the horizon. |
| The gremlins were at work before Stokes’s arrival. So this was the brave new world: 30 for four against a set of pace bowlers who were on the other side of the globe a few days ago. There was scope for the morass of despair to get stickier still albeit mixed up with a touch of village green farce when Moeen Ali, in his training gear, was sighted scuttling back to the pavilion from a Nursery end net as quickly as he decently could without suggesting too much panic. He needed to get his whites on sharpish. | The gremlins were at work before Stokes’s arrival. So this was the brave new world: 30 for four against a set of pace bowlers who were on the other side of the globe a few days ago. There was scope for the morass of despair to get stickier still albeit mixed up with a touch of village green farce when Moeen Ali, in his training gear, was sighted scuttling back to the pavilion from a Nursery end net as quickly as he decently could without suggesting too much panic. He needed to get his whites on sharpish. |
| Then we were transported from all the agonising at England’s recent malaise by their reaction to a dire situation. Wondrously the cricket took over. Despite the flurry of early wickets the batsmen opted to attack with vim. Root may have analysed that this was an appropriate response. Stokes seemed to be pursuing a simpler process. “See ball, hit ball” – where have I heard that before? | Then we were transported from all the agonising at England’s recent malaise by their reaction to a dire situation. Wondrously the cricket took over. Despite the flurry of early wickets the batsmen opted to attack with vim. Root may have analysed that this was an appropriate response. Stokes seemed to be pursuing a simpler process. “See ball, hit ball” – where have I heard that before? |
| Continued here. | Continued here. |
| Updated at 11.11am BST | Updated at 11.11am BST |