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| England toil against New Zealand in face of Kane Williamson’s calm authority | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Things calmed down a little after a hectic opening day of wickets and runs. New Zealand made progress with the bat at a decent lick until two wickets fell in the space of three balls mid-afternoon to upset momentum but well as Martin Guptill and Tom Latham played, it somehow seemed less urgent than it had when it was Ben Stokes and Joe Root turning round the England innings. | Things calmed down a little after a hectic opening day of wickets and runs. New Zealand made progress with the bat at a decent lick until two wickets fell in the space of three balls mid-afternoon to upset momentum but well as Martin Guptill and Tom Latham played, it somehow seemed less urgent than it had when it was Ben Stokes and Joe Root turning round the England innings. |
| The pitch had flattened out too, as it usually does after a flirty first morning, and there was no significant swing despite a blanket of light cloud and the occasional stirring of a breeze. In the stands , the wine still flowed and the champagne popped (only at Lord’s could there be a steward whose role seemed to include collecting errant corks from the outfield). The sun came out later though, and with it Kane Williamson (92 not out), who survived a stumping chance in the penultimate over of the day, and Ross Taylor (47 not out) calmly fashioned an accomplished unbroken third-wicket partnership of 155. | The pitch had flattened out too, as it usually does after a flirty first morning, and there was no significant swing despite a blanket of light cloud and the occasional stirring of a breeze. In the stands , the wine still flowed and the champagne popped (only at Lord’s could there be a steward whose role seemed to include collecting errant corks from the outfield). The sun came out later though, and with it Kane Williamson (92 not out), who survived a stumping chance in the penultimate over of the day, and Ross Taylor (47 not out) calmly fashioned an accomplished unbroken third-wicket partnership of 155. |
| Related: England v New Zealand: first Test, day two – in pictures | |
| The pair placed New Zealand in a position, 303 for two, a deficit of 86 from which, if the weather holds on the third day, they will be confident of a substantial first-innings lead and the opportunity to place England under real pressure second time around. England need success with the second new ball. | The pair placed New Zealand in a position, 303 for two, a deficit of 86 from which, if the weather holds on the third day, they will be confident of a substantial first-innings lead and the opportunity to place England under real pressure second time around. England need success with the second new ball. |
| Guptill and Latham were able to add what is only the second century opening partnership for New Zealand at Lord’s. For Guptill, it represents a return to Test cricket after an absence of two years and a modest record before that which has brought him two centuries only, one each against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. He has become a mighty one-day player, who made an ODI hundred here two years ago so it is not alien territory. | Guptill and Latham were able to add what is only the second century opening partnership for New Zealand at Lord’s. For Guptill, it represents a return to Test cricket after an absence of two years and a modest record before that which has brought him two centuries only, one each against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. He has become a mighty one-day player, who made an ODI hundred here two years ago so it is not alien territory. |
| Guptill is an uncomplicated player, tall with front foot dominating as a consequence, a powerful driver of the ball who hit eight boundaries and a six cudgelled off Moeen Ali into the Tavern stand with a slog-sweep swing of the bat. Latham is less obtrusive, a left-hander, who like most of his ilk, enjoys the freedom of the extra width allowed him when the ball comes across him: prolific square of the wicket, in other words, and accumulative off his legs. | Guptill is an uncomplicated player, tall with front foot dominating as a consequence, a powerful driver of the ball who hit eight boundaries and a six cudgelled off Moeen Ali into the Tavern stand with a slog-sweep swing of the bat. Latham is less obtrusive, a left-hander, who like most of his ilk, enjoys the freedom of the extra width allowed him when the ball comes across him: prolific square of the wicket, in other words, and accumulative off his legs. |
| Both though were given reprieves that cost England while the ball was relatively new. Guptill had made only 24 when he appeared to have become a first Test match wicket for a triumphant Mark Wood during an impressively rapid first spell, in which, from a short run and explosive action, he touched the mid-90s. It was challenging stuff and sure enough Guptill edged fast to Alastair Cook at first slip who held the ball well. Yet even as Wood celebrated, he had been asked to wait, for Sundaram Ravi, the Indian umpire, suspected a front-foot transgression which, after prolonged close scrutiny by the third umpire, was ultimately confirmed so that Guptill survived. | Both though were given reprieves that cost England while the ball was relatively new. Guptill had made only 24 when he appeared to have become a first Test match wicket for a triumphant Mark Wood during an impressively rapid first spell, in which, from a short run and explosive action, he touched the mid-90s. It was challenging stuff and sure enough Guptill edged fast to Alastair Cook at first slip who held the ball well. Yet even as Wood celebrated, he had been asked to wait, for Sundaram Ravi, the Indian umpire, suspected a front-foot transgression which, after prolonged close scrutiny by the third umpire, was ultimately confirmed so that Guptill survived. |
| These things have proved costly in the past, most recently in Antigua when Ben Stokes, not for the first time in his career, took a wicket, that of Jermaine Blackwood on that occasion, who, 21 at the time, went on to make an unbeaten 112. There has been a thought in the past that the umpires themselves were doing little to help bowlers who push the line, by keeping quiet so they may not be aware how close they are. This turns out not to be the case and rather there is, from most anyway, a constant dialogue between officials and players, which makes any no balling just unprofessional. | These things have proved costly in the past, most recently in Antigua when Ben Stokes, not for the first time in his career, took a wicket, that of Jermaine Blackwood on that occasion, who, 21 at the time, went on to make an unbeaten 112. There has been a thought in the past that the umpires themselves were doing little to help bowlers who push the line, by keeping quiet so they may not be aware how close they are. This turns out not to be the case and rather there is, from most anyway, a constant dialogue between officials and players, which makes any no balling just unprofessional. |
| Latham was given a reprieve in a more orthodox fashion, for having made 21 he edged Stokes, in the middle of a really good spell from the Nursery end, low to second slip where Ian Bell failed to cling on. | Latham was given a reprieve in a more orthodox fashion, for having made 21 he edged Stokes, in the middle of a really good spell from the Nursery end, low to second slip where Ian Bell failed to cling on. |
| The pair went on to add 148 before a sudden hiatus interrupted the flow of the batting. First Latham, on the back foot, attempted to work Moeen, around the wicket, to square leg, missed and was unquestionably lbw for 59. Three balls later, Guptill, to his evident chagrin, drilled Stuart Broad low and crisply to extra cover where Gary Ballance took a tricky chance well. | The pair went on to add 148 before a sudden hiatus interrupted the flow of the batting. First Latham, on the back foot, attempted to work Moeen, around the wicket, to square leg, missed and was unquestionably lbw for 59. Three balls later, Guptill, to his evident chagrin, drilled Stuart Broad low and crisply to extra cover where Gary Ballance took a tricky chance well. |
| Related: Martin Guptill brings back Lord’s memories of Trevor Franklin, sort of | Vic Marks | |
| It meant two new batsmen together at the crease and immediately Taylor, who tends to go a long way across his stumps was subjected to a vehement appeal for lbw to his first ball from Broad the ball hitting him fractionally outside the line of off stump and a shade too high. He was then all but run out as Williamson attempted a drop-and-run quick single that Broad, adrenaline pumping, followed up well to retrieve with Taylor having given up the ghost. Broad dived and flicked at the stumps but was well wide of the mark so that Taylor survived. | It meant two new batsmen together at the crease and immediately Taylor, who tends to go a long way across his stumps was subjected to a vehement appeal for lbw to his first ball from Broad the ball hitting him fractionally outside the line of off stump and a shade too high. He was then all but run out as Williamson attempted a drop-and-run quick single that Broad, adrenaline pumping, followed up well to retrieve with Taylor having given up the ghost. Broad dived and flicked at the stumps but was well wide of the mark so that Taylor survived. |
| England, 354 for seven overnight, had been bowled out in the first hour for 389, with Moeen making 58 before becoming one of two more victims for Trent Boult, who finished with four in all. It meant the innings – 30 for 4 at the start, and the last three wickets for 35 – was something like a sandwich of Wagyu beef placed between two slices of Mothers Pride. | England, 354 for seven overnight, had been bowled out in the first hour for 389, with Moeen making 58 before becoming one of two more victims for Trent Boult, who finished with four in all. It meant the innings – 30 for 4 at the start, and the last three wickets for 35 – was something like a sandwich of Wagyu beef placed between two slices of Mothers Pride. |
| Just as in Barbados, when Alastair Cook, already with a century, was out to the last ball of the day, leaving one end open , so this time with the departure of Jos Buttler to Boult. It meant Moeen would have to marshall the tail which, having reached his half century, he was unable to do, surprised by Boult’s extra bounce and edging behind. | Just as in Barbados, when Alastair Cook, already with a century, was out to the last ball of the day, leaving one end open , so this time with the departure of Jos Buttler to Boult. It meant Moeen would have to marshall the tail which, having reached his half century, he was unable to do, surprised by Boult’s extra bounce and edging behind. |
| Broad can barely bat his eyelids these days, and although Jimmy Anderson and Wood added 21 for the last wicket, what had the potential to be 450 runs or more, finished disappointingly with a job well done by New Zealand, and Boult, with the second new ball, in particular. | Broad can barely bat his eyelids these days, and although Jimmy Anderson and Wood added 21 for the last wicket, what had the potential to be 450 runs or more, finished disappointingly with a job well done by New Zealand, and Boult, with the second new ball, in particular. |
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