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| England v New Zealand: first Test, day three – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.34pm BST19:34 | |
| STUMPS: England 74-2, trail by 60 | |
| So ends day three, and Cook departs with a smile. Another excellent day for the tourists, but from 25-2 this could have gone considerably worse for England. Anyway, that’s all from me. It’s been a blast. I’ll be back on Monday, if they’re still playing. Bye! | |
| 7.32pm BST19:32 | |
| 26th over: England 74-2 (Cook 32, Bell 29) | |
| New Zealand take forever to set their field for Craig’s over. They then change the close fielders after every delivery – one slip becomes two; short leg moves to silly point. Cook eventually hits a wide one to cover, where it’s misfielded, and runs two, and handles the remainder of the over well. | |
| 7.29pm BST19:29 | |
| 25th over: England 72-2 (Cook 30, Bell 29) | |
| A leg bye! A leg bye, ladies and gentlemen! And New Zealand, grateful recipients of 67 first-innings extras, concede the first of England’s reply. Bell doesn’t want to play anything, but after he leaves the first couple Southee angles one into his pads, and it squirms away to square leg. The over ends with a few seconds of the 30th minute of the day’s 20th hour to go, and England will have to endure one more! | |
| 7.25pm BST19:25 | |
| 24th over: England 70-2 (Cook 29, Bell 29) | |
| Cook flicks the first just down the leg side for four – “He’s timed the ears off that,” drools Shane Warne. That’s it, as far as runs are concerned, though there’s time for another Cook edge, this one hitting the bat low and nowhere near carrying to slip. | |
| 5 - Alastair Cook has become the fifth player to score 12,000 international runs for @ECB_cricket (all formats). Club. | |
| 7.22pm BST19:22 | |
| 23rd over: England 66-2 (Cook 25, Bell 29) | |
| In the last four overs Cook has faced six balls and scored four singles, adding another from Southee’s first ball here. This time, though, Bell also contributes, pushing just past McCullum at mid-off for a couple – the Kiwi captain just slips as he stands up after fielding the ball, and limps slightly thereafter. Bell then hits the final ball, totally deliberately if inadvisedly, to gully, presumably intending to avoid the fielder and get runs to third man, and he’s about six inches away from getting caught. | |
| 7.17pm BST19:17 | |
| 22nd over: England 63-2 (Cook 24, Bell 27) | |
| Another Cook single – the only scoring in each of the last three overs now. He bowls round the wicket to Bell, with a short leg and a short mid on both ready to pounce upon any airborne on-side mistakes, but there are none. | |
| 7.12pm BST19:12 | 7.12pm BST19:12 |
| 21st over: England 62-2 (Cook 23, Bell 27) | 21st over: England 62-2 (Cook 23, Bell 27) |
| Southee returns, and after another Cook single he immediately has the ball swinging away from Bell – though most of the movement comes after the ball has passed the bat. A good, menacing over. | Southee returns, and after another Cook single he immediately has the ball swinging away from Bell – though most of the movement comes after the ball has passed the bat. A good, menacing over. |
| 7.07pm BST19:07 | 7.07pm BST19:07 |
| 20th over: England 61-2 (Cook 22, Bell 27) | 20th over: England 61-2 (Cook 22, Bell 27) |
| Boult goes round the wicket and, after Cook grabs a swift single, he sends the ball bouncing into what the Yiddish would call Bell’s kishkes. He spends a while on the ground, recuperating. He eventually gets to his feet, and he survives another much more minor scare from the final ball, which just kissed the top of his pad on its way through, prompting a brief appeal from behind the stumps. | Boult goes round the wicket and, after Cook grabs a swift single, he sends the ball bouncing into what the Yiddish would call Bell’s kishkes. He spends a while on the ground, recuperating. He eventually gets to his feet, and he survives another much more minor scare from the final ball, which just kissed the top of his pad on its way through, prompting a brief appeal from behind the stumps. |
| 7.01pm BST19:01 | 7.01pm BST19:01 |
| 19th over: England 60-2 (Cook 21, Bell 27) | 19th over: England 60-2 (Cook 21, Bell 27) |
| Craig continues, by the end with a short leg and a silly point cramping Bell’s style. He hits the final ball to cover for a couple, as we trickle into the bonus extra day-concluding additional half-hour. | Craig continues, by the end with a short leg and a silly point cramping Bell’s style. He hits the final ball to cover for a couple, as we trickle into the bonus extra day-concluding additional half-hour. |
| 6.57pm BST18:57 | 6.57pm BST18:57 |
| 18th over: England 58-2 (Cook 21, Bell 25) | 18th over: England 58-2 (Cook 21, Bell 25) |
| Boult bowls just down the leg side, and launches into a loud solo appeal that Erasmus doesn’t think much of. Maiden. “If these two fellas are still here this time tomorrow,” writes Tom van der Gucht, “we may be within a sniff of a hint of a chance of a draw …” So speaks an optimist. | Boult bowls just down the leg side, and launches into a loud solo appeal that Erasmus doesn’t think much of. Maiden. “If these two fellas are still here this time tomorrow,” writes Tom van der Gucht, “we may be within a sniff of a hint of a chance of a draw …” So speaks an optimist. |
| 6.54pm BST18:54 | 6.54pm BST18:54 |
| 17th over: England 58-2 (Cook 21, Bell 25) | 17th over: England 58-2 (Cook 21, Bell 25) |
| Mark Craig brings the spin, and Bell hits past point for a couple, otherwise allowing his run rate to drop disappointingly below a run a ball. | Mark Craig brings the spin, and Bell hits past point for a couple, otherwise allowing his run rate to drop disappointingly below a run a ball. |
| 6.51pm BST18:51 | 6.51pm BST18:51 |
| 16th over: England 56-2 (Cook 21, Bell 23) | 16th over: England 56-2 (Cook 21, Bell 23) |
| Bell is playing the Root role here, flying along at a run a ball, ignoring the snail-paced chaos that preceded his arrival (and continues at the other end). His 23 have come from 21 balls, while Cook has so far endured 55 for his 21. | Bell is playing the Root role here, flying along at a run a ball, ignoring the snail-paced chaos that preceded his arrival (and continues at the other end). His 23 have come from 21 balls, while Cook has so far endured 55 for his 21. |
| Updated at 6.52pm BST | Updated at 6.52pm BST |
| 6.46pm BST18:46 | 6.46pm BST18:46 |
| 15th over: England 53-2 (Cook 21, Bell 20) | 15th over: England 53-2 (Cook 21, Bell 20) |
| A slight lull in the drama, which will be very much to England’s liking, even if this isn’t a maiden – Bell snaffles a single from the last. | A slight lull in the drama, which will be very much to England’s liking, even if this isn’t a maiden – Bell snaffles a single from the last. |
| Updated at 6.48pm BST | Updated at 6.48pm BST |
| 6.43pm BST18:43 | 6.43pm BST18:43 |
| 14th over: England 52-2 (Cook 21, Bell 19) | 14th over: England 52-2 (Cook 21, Bell 19) |
| A maiden from Boult. Given the number of Tests all but two of these players have already played, the selectors can hardly really be accused of rashness: | A maiden from Boult. Given the number of Tests all but two of these players have already played, the selectors can hardly really be accused of rashness: |
| It's so important the selectors keep their nerve with this team. It's full of potential greats, but there will be bloody hard times first. | It's so important the selectors keep their nerve with this team. It's full of potential greats, but there will be bloody hard times first. |
| 6.39pm BST18:39 | 6.39pm BST18:39 |
| 13th over: England 52-2 (Cook 21, Bell 19) | 13th over: England 52-2 (Cook 21, Bell 19) |
| Henry allows Bell to hit into an almost-deserted on-side, but the ball stops before the rope and they run three. A single later he clobbers the ball in the air, past point and away for four. A fielder would probably have been closer to it had the square leg umpire not been standing right in its path. Forecast for tomorrow is plenty of cloud, no rain. England aren’t going to get any help from the heavens here. | Henry allows Bell to hit into an almost-deserted on-side, but the ball stops before the rope and they run three. A single later he clobbers the ball in the air, past point and away for four. A fielder would probably have been closer to it had the square leg umpire not been standing right in its path. Forecast for tomorrow is plenty of cloud, no rain. England aren’t going to get any help from the heavens here. |
| 3 - Three of Gary Ballance's last five Test dismissals have been bowled; none of his first 14 were bowled. Mode. | 3 - Three of Gary Ballance's last five Test dismissals have been bowled; none of his first 14 were bowled. Mode. |
| 6.32pm BST18:32 | 6.32pm BST18:32 |
| 12th over: England 43-2 (Cook 19, Bell 12) | 12th over: England 43-2 (Cook 19, Bell 12) |
| Bell hits the last ball of Southee’s over through the covers for a delightful four. And yes, James, some Kiwi love is overdue. Since the first over of the innings, when Boult handed Lyth a couple of boundary-scoring opportunities, it’s been constant pressure. | Bell hits the last ball of Southee’s over through the covers for a delightful four. And yes, James, some Kiwi love is overdue. Since the first over of the innings, when Boult handed Lyth a couple of boundary-scoring opportunities, it’s been constant pressure. |
| @Simon_Burnton How about a little love for the Kiwi bowling attack? They're bowling sensationally. Southee's ball to Ballance was a jaffa. | @Simon_Burnton How about a little love for the Kiwi bowling attack? They're bowling sensationally. Southee's ball to Ballance was a jaffa. |
| 6.26pm BST18:26 | 6.26pm BST18:26 |
| 11th over: England 38-2 (Cook 18, Bell 8) | 11th over: England 38-2 (Cook 18, Bell 8) |
| The good news is that New Zealand’s lead has been whittled away to double figures – they lead now by just 96. The bad news is that Cook doesn’t look very comfortable, and could quite easily have been out twice in this over alone. First the bat slips in his hands as he plays the ball and he flicks Henry to mid on, where Ronchi dives forward but can’t quite reach the ball before it lands, and then, after hitting to mid off for a couple, edges short of the slips again. And Gary Naylor has completed the meaningfully-named XI: | The good news is that New Zealand’s lead has been whittled away to double figures – they lead now by just 96. The bad news is that Cook doesn’t look very comfortable, and could quite easily have been out twice in this over alone. First the bat slips in his hands as he plays the ball and he flicks Henry to mid on, where Ronchi dives forward but can’t quite reach the ball before it lands, and then, after hitting to mid off for a couple, edges short of the slips again. And Gary Naylor has completed the meaningfully-named XI: |
| @simon_burnton Not Jordan, Finn. | @simon_burnton Not Jordan, Finn. |
| 6.21pm BST18:21 | 6.21pm BST18:21 |
| 10th over: England 35-2 (Cook 15, Bell 8) | 10th over: England 35-2 (Cook 15, Bell 8) |
| Southee continues, with four slips and a gully in place. Bell hits the ball into the resulting gap between slips and gully, for four. Interesting question, Kevin. Obviously if you combine the two innings, they’ve already heroically soared past that total. But I suppose you’re not supposed to. | Southee continues, with four slips and a gully in place. Bell hits the ball into the resulting gap between slips and gully, for four. Interesting question, Kevin. Obviously if you combine the two innings, they’ve already heroically soared past that total. But I suppose you’re not supposed to. |
| @Simon_Burnton the NZ top four all got 50. Will England's top four manage 50 between them??? | @Simon_Burnton the NZ top four all got 50. Will England's top four manage 50 between them??? |
| 6.16pm BST18:16 | 6.16pm BST18:16 |
| 9th over: England 30-2 (Cook 14, Bell 4) | 9th over: England 30-2 (Cook 14, Bell 4) |
| Cook gets a single from Henry’s over. “Interesting fact: the first 10 of the England XI have names that either are or sound the same as English words. Anderson to go?” It is an interesting fact, but if we drop Anderson who’d come in? Jordan doesn’t help here. | Cook gets a single from Henry’s over. “Interesting fact: the first 10 of the England XI have names that either are or sound the same as English words. Anderson to go?” It is an interesting fact, but if we drop Anderson who’d come in? Jordan doesn’t help here. |
| 6.13pm BST18:13 | 6.13pm BST18:13 |
| 8th over: England 29-2 (Cook 13, Bell 4) | 8th over: England 29-2 (Cook 13, Bell 4) |
| Bell hits into the air but gets off the mark with a boundary, past point. England need to start their fightback a couple of wickets sooner this time, really. | Bell hits into the air but gets off the mark with a boundary, past point. England need to start their fightback a couple of wickets sooner this time, really. |
| Updated at 6.14pm BST | Updated at 6.14pm BST |
| 6.10pm BST18:10 | 6.10pm BST18:10 |
| WICKET! Ballance b Southee 0 (England 25-1) | WICKET! Ballance b Southee 0 (England 25-1) |
| Talking, as we recently were, of squirming creatures, Ballance gets squared up by a ball that goes on to clips the top of off stump, and his second innings is even less successful than his first. | Talking, as we recently were, of squirming creatures, Ballance gets squared up by a ball that goes on to clips the top of off stump, and his second innings is even less successful than his first. |
| Ballance goes for a 12-ball duck and England are looking in danger. Follow here: http://t.co/uQjbHK6xJ8 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/MzYI0OWs7M | Ballance goes for a 12-ball duck and England are looking in danger. Follow here: http://t.co/uQjbHK6xJ8 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/MzYI0OWs7M |
| 6.07pm BST18:07 | 6.07pm BST18:07 |
| 7th over: England 24-1 (Cook 12, Ballance 0) | 7th over: England 24-1 (Cook 12, Ballance 0) |
| Matt Henry replaces Boult and Cook edges low, the ball landing midway between the bat and first slip. | Matt Henry replaces Boult and Cook edges low, the ball landing midway between the bat and first slip. |
| 6.02pm BST18:02 | 6.02pm BST18:02 |
| 6th over: England 23-1 (Cook 11, Ballance 0) | 6th over: England 23-1 (Cook 11, Ballance 0) |
| Southee bowls a fine yorker, but Cook flicks it off his toe into the on side for a couple. | Southee bowls a fine yorker, but Cook flicks it off his toe into the on side for a couple. |
| 5.57pm BST17:57 | 5.57pm BST17:57 |
| 5th over: England 20-1 (Cook 8, Ballance 0) | 5th over: England 20-1 (Cook 8, Ballance 0) |
| Cook tries to cut and inside edges into the ground and just past his stumps and gets a run for his troubles – really, that can’t have missed by more than an inch. Looks like the worm of luck isn’t just turning, it’s actually doing the twist. It’s jiving. | Cook tries to cut and inside edges into the ground and just past his stumps and gets a run for his troubles – really, that can’t have missed by more than an inch. Looks like the worm of luck isn’t just turning, it’s actually doing the twist. It’s jiving. |
| 5.54pm BST17:54 | 5.54pm BST17:54 |
| 4th over: England 19-1 (Cook 7, Ballance 0) | 4th over: England 19-1 (Cook 7, Ballance 0) |
| Another echo of the first innings: the first bouncer aimed at Cook and he goes for the hook. Last time he got a thin edge and was caught, this time he got a thick edge and a boundary. Perhaps the worm of luck is finally turning, or something. | Another echo of the first innings: the first bouncer aimed at Cook and he goes for the hook. Last time he got a thin edge and was caught, this time he got a thick edge and a boundary. Perhaps the worm of luck is finally turning, or something. |
| As 19-run Test debuts go, Adam Lyth's arrival is the most promising since Virat Kohli. And that's official http://t.co/kBom5arXqo #ENGvNZ | As 19-run Test debuts go, Adam Lyth's arrival is the most promising since Virat Kohli. And that's official http://t.co/kBom5arXqo #ENGvNZ |
| 5.50pm BST17:50 | 5.50pm BST17:50 |
| 3rd over: England 14-1 (Cook 2, Ballance 0) | 3rd over: England 14-1 (Cook 2, Ballance 0) |
| Crack! Boult’s second over starts similarly to his first, with a Lyth boundary. And then, next ball, he’s gone. England need someone who stubbornly sticks around, even if he never plays an eye-pleasing, run-accumulating stroke. Gary Ballance could well be that man. They need focus and fortune, neither of which have really been on their side here. | Crack! Boult’s second over starts similarly to his first, with a Lyth boundary. And then, next ball, he’s gone. England need someone who stubbornly sticks around, even if he never plays an eye-pleasing, run-accumulating stroke. Gary Ballance could well be that man. They need focus and fortune, neither of which have really been on their side here. |
| 5.45pm BST17:45 | 5.45pm BST17:45 |
| WICKET! Lyth c Southee b Boult 12 (England 14-1) | WICKET! Lyth c Southee b Boult 12 (England 14-1) |
| A tiny fraction of away swing and Lyth edges to third slip, where Southee gets down low and makes no mistake! | A tiny fraction of away swing and Lyth edges to third slip, where Southee gets down low and makes no mistake! |
| 5.44pm BST17:44 | 5.44pm BST17:44 |
| 2nd over: England 10-0 (Lyth 8, Cook 2) | 2nd over: England 10-0 (Lyth 8, Cook 2) |
| Two overs down, 30 to play before stumps, all being well. Tim Southee bowls the second of them, and Cook works his final delivery to square leg for a couple. | Two overs down, 30 to play before stumps, all being well. Tim Southee bowls the second of them, and Cook works his final delivery to square leg for a couple. |
| 5.40pm BST17:40 | 5.40pm BST17:40 |
| 1st over: England 8-0 (Lyth 8, Cook 0) | 1st over: England 8-0 (Lyth 8, Cook 0) |
| Bang! The first ball of the innings goes past midwicket for four, and Lyth has more than 50% of his first-innings total before the second ball has been bowled. Then a little later he cuts crisply for four more. New Zealand have five slips in place for Boult’s over, and none of them has anything to do. | Bang! The first ball of the innings goes past midwicket for four, and Lyth has more than 50% of his first-innings total before the second ball has been bowled. Then a little later he cuts crisply for four more. New Zealand have five slips in place for Boult’s over, and none of them has anything to do. |
| 5.37pm BST17:37 | 5.37pm BST17:37 |
| The players are back out. Time for England’s top four to prove their mettle. | The players are back out. Time for England’s top four to prove their mettle. |
| 5.31pm BST17:31 | 5.31pm BST17:31 |
| New Zealand lead by 134 | New Zealand lead by 134 |
| England’s players go off, knowing that the innings lasted a good couple of hours more than it should have done, and yielded a couple of hundred extra runs, because of the catches they dropped, the extras they conceded, and the rank bad luck they endured. It ends as the fifth most extrasy innings of all time and the second most leg-byey. With the conditions apparently helpful for bowlers, these are set to be a testing couple of hours for the home side. | England’s players go off, knowing that the innings lasted a good couple of hours more than it should have done, and yielded a couple of hundred extra runs, because of the catches they dropped, the extras they conceded, and the rank bad luck they endured. It ends as the fifth most extrasy innings of all time and the second most leg-byey. With the conditions apparently helpful for bowlers, these are set to be a testing couple of hours for the home side. |
| 5.27pm BST17:27 | 5.27pm BST17:27 |
| WICKET! Boult c Anderson b Broad 0 (New Zealand 523 all out) | WICKET! Boult c Anderson b Broad 0 (New Zealand 523 all out) |
| Boult has a big old heave, edges the ball into the air and Anderson catches it, diving forward, spills it, and then catches it again! | Boult has a big old heave, edges the ball into the air and Anderson catches it, diving forward, spills it, and then catches it again! |
| 5.25pm BST17:25 | 5.25pm BST17:25 |
| 131st over: New Zealand 523-9 (Watling 61, Boult 0) | 131st over: New Zealand 523-9 (Watling 61, Boult 0) |
| Watling finds the boundary with a very decent cover drive, and then leans back to flick a bouncer way over the slips for four. After that shot he rips his helmet off and clutches the back of his head. I’ve no idea how he’s hurt himself there. It takes a real injury specialist to damage yourself like that. The physio is now on. | Watling finds the boundary with a very decent cover drive, and then leans back to flick a bouncer way over the slips for four. After that shot he rips his helmet off and clutches the back of his head. I’ve no idea how he’s hurt himself there. It takes a real injury specialist to damage yourself like that. The physio is now on. |
| 5.19pm BST17:19 | 5.19pm BST17:19 |
| 130th over: New Zealand 515-9 (Watling 53, Boult 0) | 130th over: New Zealand 515-9 (Watling 53, Boult 0) |
| “He gives it a whack,” says Bumble of Boult. “He’ll give it some welly.” Boult duly defends four of the five deliveries, and fails to make meaningful contact with the two he attacks with any spirit. It’s a maiden over, and Boult ends it with a massive grin on his face. These are fine conditions for bowling, and his chance will come soon. | “He gives it a whack,” says Bumble of Boult. “He’ll give it some welly.” Boult duly defends four of the five deliveries, and fails to make meaningful contact with the two he attacks with any spirit. It’s a maiden over, and Boult ends it with a massive grin on his face. These are fine conditions for bowling, and his chance will come soon. |
| 5.17pm BST17:17 | 5.17pm BST17:17 |
| 129th over: New Zealand 515-9 (Watling 53, Boult 0) | 129th over: New Zealand 515-9 (Watling 53, Boult 0) |
| Watling adds a two and a one to his tally before Henry gets out, and is stuck at the striker’s end as Wood’s over comes to a close. | Watling adds a two and a one to his tally before Henry gets out, and is stuck at the striker’s end as Wood’s over comes to a close. |
| 5.15pm BST17:15 | 5.15pm BST17:15 |
| WICKET! Henry c Root b Wood 10 (New Zealand 515-9) | WICKET! Henry c Root b Wood 10 (New Zealand 515-9) |
| That’s another wild slog from Henry, and he gets a leading edge that sends the ball steepling into the air and then back down into the hands of Root at gully! | That’s another wild slog from Henry, and he gets a leading edge that sends the ball steepling into the air and then back down into the hands of Root at gully! |
| Updated at 5.25pm BST | Updated at 5.25pm BST |
| 5.13pm BST17:13 | 5.13pm BST17:13 |
| 128th over: New Zealand 512-8 (Watling 50, Henry 10) | 128th over: New Zealand 512-8 (Watling 50, Henry 10) |
| Moeen bowls the first over of the day’s final session. Henry boffs one into the air and gets away with it, as it plops to earth between the midwicket fielders and the boundary. | Moeen bowls the first over of the day’s final session. Henry boffs one into the air and gets away with it, as it plops to earth between the midwicket fielders and the boundary. |
| Updated at 5.19pm BST | Updated at 5.19pm BST |
| 5.09pm BST17:09 | 5.09pm BST17:09 |
| Hello again! | Hello again! |
| The players come back out. Can England give New Zealand the 10 extras they need to make this the most extras-packed innings in the entire history of Test cricket? Will the Kiwis get the two leg byes they need to make this the most leg-bye-packed innings in the history of Test cricket? These questions and more are about to be answered! | The players come back out. Can England give New Zealand the 10 extras they need to make this the most extras-packed innings in the entire history of Test cricket? Will the Kiwis get the two leg byes they need to make this the most leg-bye-packed innings in the history of Test cricket? These questions and more are about to be answered! |
| 4.52pm BST16:52 | 4.52pm BST16:52 |
| Right, that’s all from me. Another intriguing session, probably edged by New Zealand but you can’t say that they’ve fully convinced so far today. They lead by 118 runs at tea and, you would think, will come out swinging afterwards as they try and push that advantage up to 150 or so. | Right, that’s all from me. Another intriguing session, probably edged by New Zealand but you can’t say that they’ve fully convinced so far today. They lead by 118 runs at tea and, you would think, will come out swinging afterwards as they try and push that advantage up to 150 or so. |
| Simon Burnton is the man for the final session. Miserable cantankerous sod out! | Simon Burnton is the man for the final session. Miserable cantankerous sod out! |
| Updated at 5.06pm BST | Updated at 5.06pm BST |
| 4.49pm BST16:49 | 4.49pm BST16:49 |
| Tea | Tea |
| 127th over: New Zealand 507-8 (Watling 47, Henry 8) We’re checking for a catch here as Anderson gets one to rear up off Watling’s glove. It flies to gully, but I think that’s bounced. It’s not a great replay to be honest – a dodgy angle and poor resolution. “That’s as good as I can get?” asks Rod Tucker in the third umpire’s box, incredulously. Yep it’s bounced and not out is the call, although Root isn’t happy with that. Watling celebrates his reprieve with a flick through square leg for one, before Henry backs away to leg and drives very nicely through cover point for four. That’s 100% of his Test runs in boundaries now. That’s tea and England have managed to cling on to hope once again. | 127th over: New Zealand 507-8 (Watling 47, Henry 8) We’re checking for a catch here as Anderson gets one to rear up off Watling’s glove. It flies to gully, but I think that’s bounced. It’s not a great replay to be honest – a dodgy angle and poor resolution. “That’s as good as I can get?” asks Rod Tucker in the third umpire’s box, incredulously. Yep it’s bounced and not out is the call, although Root isn’t happy with that. Watling celebrates his reprieve with a flick through square leg for one, before Henry backs away to leg and drives very nicely through cover point for four. That’s 100% of his Test runs in boundaries now. That’s tea and England have managed to cling on to hope once again. |
| “Moeen averages 31.53 with Bat and 28.93 will ball after 10 Tests,” begins Tom Bowtell. Any idea when an English all-rounder averaged more than 30 with the bat and less than 30 with the ball? I don’t think Fred ever managed it - perhaps it was this forgotten legend?” | “Moeen averages 31.53 with Bat and 28.93 will ball after 10 Tests,” begins Tom Bowtell. Any idea when an English all-rounder averaged more than 30 with the bat and less than 30 with the ball? I don’t think Fred ever managed it - perhaps it was this forgotten legend?” |
| Ha, that’s excellent. Even better than your second find. I always liked McGrath, but mention of his curtailed career is sure to bring moaning from the Yorkshire mafia. | Ha, that’s excellent. Even better than your second find. I always liked McGrath, but mention of his curtailed career is sure to bring moaning from the Yorkshire mafia. |
| 4.43pm BST16:43 | 4.43pm BST16:43 |
| 126th over: New Zealand 502-8 (Watling 46, Henry 4) That wicket means that Anderson’s bowling average is now better than Moeen’s by 0.03. Watling takes a single, before four byes down the leg side make it a record for an innings at Lord’s – 67. Henry smacks the final ball of the over just over Bell at extra cover for four to bring up the 500. | 126th over: New Zealand 502-8 (Watling 46, Henry 4) That wicket means that Anderson’s bowling average is now better than Moeen’s by 0.03. Watling takes a single, before four byes down the leg side make it a record for an innings at Lord’s – 67. Henry smacks the final ball of the over just over Bell at extra cover for four to bring up the 500. |
| Updated at 4.48pm BST | Updated at 4.48pm BST |
| 4.38pm BST16:38 | 4.38pm BST16:38 |
| 125th over: New Zealand 493-8 (Watling 45, Henry 0) Lyth has a shy at the stumps from cover as Southee sets off for a sharp single. He misses, which is a shame for him as Watling’s bat had bounced up as he slid in. Jaffer from Jimmy then beats the outside edge and passes about six inches over off stump. It’s probably too much to expect a declaration from McCullum, but these two should could well start to smack it around as the Kiwi seamers won’t mind bowling in this. Watling drives up the hill through extra cover for three, before Southee is dismissed with the final ball. That’s 398 now for Anderson. | 125th over: New Zealand 493-8 (Watling 45, Henry 0) Lyth has a shy at the stumps from cover as Southee sets off for a sharp single. He misses, which is a shame for him as Watling’s bat had bounced up as he slid in. Jaffer from Jimmy then beats the outside edge and passes about six inches over off stump. It’s probably too much to expect a declaration from McCullum, but these two should could well start to smack it around as the Kiwi seamers won’t mind bowling in this. Watling drives up the hill through extra cover for three, before Southee is dismissed with the final ball. That’s 398 now for Anderson. |
| 4.37pm BST16:37 | 4.37pm BST16:37 |
| Wicket! Southee c Wood b Anderson 11 | Wicket! Southee c Wood b Anderson 11 |
| Ah it’s just like watching the IPL. Anderson pulls his length back a touch, Southee has a big mow and top edges straight up. The ball falls from the London sky straight into the grateful paws of Wood at midwicket. | Ah it’s just like watching the IPL. Anderson pulls his length back a touch, Southee has a big mow and top edges straight up. The ball falls from the London sky straight into the grateful paws of Wood at midwicket. |
| Updated at 4.47pm BST | Updated at 4.47pm BST |
| 4.33pm BST16:33 | 4.33pm BST16:33 |
| 124th over: New Zealand 489-7 (Watling 42, Southee 10) Ali’s pace to Southee is around 55mph. I’d like to see him tossing it up more and inviting the New Zealander to go after him. Southee knocks the ball down to long on for one, then Ali does toss it up to Watling, who sweeps hard to midwicket for four. The next ball sees the reverse sweep come out and it goes low, between keeper and slip, to fine third man for four more. The lead is now 100. | 124th over: New Zealand 489-7 (Watling 42, Southee 10) Ali’s pace to Southee is around 55mph. I’d like to see him tossing it up more and inviting the New Zealander to go after him. Southee knocks the ball down to long on for one, then Ali does toss it up to Watling, who sweeps hard to midwicket for four. The next ball sees the reverse sweep come out and it goes low, between keeper and slip, to fine third man for four more. The lead is now 100. |
| 4.29pm BST16:29 | 4.29pm BST16:29 |
| 123rd over: New Zealand 480-7 (Watling 34, Southee 9) Shane Warne keeps banging on about Joanna Lumley, who is at the cricket on behalf of her charity. He keeps talking about “meeting her later tonight to give her a donation” and, this being Warne, I genuinely can’t tell if he’s being smutty. Watling is looking to go for anything back of a length – of which there is little, as you’d expect – and pulls square through the leg side for a single. Southee clips off his pads to deep mid on for the same. | 123rd over: New Zealand 480-7 (Watling 34, Southee 9) Shane Warne keeps banging on about Joanna Lumley, who is at the cricket on behalf of her charity. He keeps talking about “meeting her later tonight to give her a donation” and, this being Warne, I genuinely can’t tell if he’s being smutty. Watling is looking to go for anything back of a length – of which there is little, as you’d expect – and pulls square through the leg side for a single. Southee clips off his pads to deep mid on for the same. |
| 4.24pm BST16:24 | 4.24pm BST16:24 |
| 122nd over: New Zealand 478-7 (Watling 33, Southee 8) As I was saying. Southee, fresh from the IPL, looks to hit Ali all the way out of London. He doesn’t quite middle it though, the ball landing just inside the rope and going for four. | 122nd over: New Zealand 478-7 (Watling 33, Southee 8) As I was saying. Southee, fresh from the IPL, looks to hit Ali all the way out of London. He doesn’t quite middle it though, the ball landing just inside the rope and going for four. |
| 4.22pm BST16:22 | 4.22pm BST16:22 |
| 121st over: New Zealand 474-7 (Watling 33, Southee 4) There’s still plenty of movement on offer for Jimmy, even though he has been slightly off colour so far today. Watling has a swing and a miss at one that moves away outside off. These two aren’t going to hang around, you’d expect, so England could well be batting again by tea. Or, watching a lower order pair flay them to all parts for a 110-run partnership. You decide which is more likely. | 121st over: New Zealand 474-7 (Watling 33, Southee 4) There’s still plenty of movement on offer for Jimmy, even though he has been slightly off colour so far today. Watling has a swing and a miss at one that moves away outside off. These two aren’t going to hang around, you’d expect, so England could well be batting again by tea. Or, watching a lower order pair flay them to all parts for a 110-run partnership. You decide which is more likely. |
| Moeen Ali has a better Test average than James Anderson. | Moeen Ali has a better Test average than James Anderson. |
| 4.17pm BST16:17 | 4.17pm BST16:17 |
| 120th over: New Zealand 474-7 (Watling 33, Southee 4) After the big wicket of Williamson first ball, Craig just about survives being hit on the pad with a straight one first ball; it hit him just outside off stump. That’s as good as it’s going to get for Craig though, as Ali makes it a double breakthrough! New Zealand were in danger of running away with this, but England will be hoping to keep them to a lead of under 100 now. Southee cuts past point for four runs to get off the mark and avoid a third duck in a row. | 120th over: New Zealand 474-7 (Watling 33, Southee 4) After the big wicket of Williamson first ball, Craig just about survives being hit on the pad with a straight one first ball; it hit him just outside off stump. That’s as good as it’s going to get for Craig though, as Ali makes it a double breakthrough! New Zealand were in danger of running away with this, but England will be hoping to keep them to a lead of under 100 now. Southee cuts past point for four runs to get off the mark and avoid a third duck in a row. |
| 4.15pm BST16:15 | 4.15pm BST16:15 |
| Wicket! | Wicket! |
| Yep it’s umpire’s call, the ball hitting pad then bat and it would have gone on to hit the top of middle. Craig goes second ball. | Yep it’s umpire’s call, the ball hitting pad then bat and it would have gone on to hit the top of middle. Craig goes second ball. |
| Updated at 4.49pm BST | Updated at 4.49pm BST |
| 4.14pm BST16:14 | 4.14pm BST16:14 |
| Review! Craig lbw b Ali 0 | Review! Craig lbw b Ali 0 |
| This one pitches on off and is going on. It looks pretty dead to me, especially as it’s been given out on the field... | This one pitches on off and is going on. It looks pretty dead to me, especially as it’s been given out on the field... |
| 4.12pm BST16:12 | 4.12pm BST16:12 |
| Wicket! Williamson c Ballance b Ali 132 | Wicket! Williamson c Ballance b Ali 132 |
| Or he might have given it LBW. The ball turns fairly sharply and beats the inside edge. It hits the pad in line with off and I think he’s leg before. The TV says it’s a catch at short leg by Ballance and what do you know? Snicko shows the faintest of inside edges. | Or he might have given it LBW. The ball turns fairly sharply and beats the inside edge. It hits the pad in line with off and I think he’s leg before. The TV says it’s a catch at short leg by Ballance and what do you know? Snicko shows the faintest of inside edges. |
| Updated at 4.21pm BST | Updated at 4.21pm BST |
| 4.10pm BST16:10 | 4.10pm BST16:10 |
| 119th over: New Zealand 470-5 (Watling 33, Williamson 132) Jimmy looks to have a minor funk on and well he might. New Zealand have batted very well, but nothing is going England’s way – the edges are being dropped, or played with soft hands and dropping short, or flying high over the slips for four to third man. Another one keeps very low and beats Watling outside off. Unperturbed, the batsman drives the final ball of the over down to the mid off boundary for four more, bringing up the 50 partnership. | 119th over: New Zealand 470-5 (Watling 33, Williamson 132) Jimmy looks to have a minor funk on and well he might. New Zealand have batted very well, but nothing is going England’s way – the edges are being dropped, or played with soft hands and dropping short, or flying high over the slips for four to third man. Another one keeps very low and beats Watling outside off. Unperturbed, the batsman drives the final ball of the over down to the mid off boundary for four more, bringing up the 50 partnership. |
| @DanLucas86 Never mind a world record in extras, what's the world record runs through Third Man? | @DanLucas86 Never mind a world record in extras, what's the world record runs through Third Man? |
| Updated at 4.17pm BST | Updated at 4.17pm BST |
| 4.05pm BST16:05 | 4.05pm BST16:05 |
| 118th over: New Zealand 466-5 (Watling 29, Williamson 132) The 34th over with this ball and finally Alastair Cook remembers that he has a spinner. “Got to get you into my | 118th over: New Zealand 466-5 (Watling 29, Williamson 132) The 34th over with this ball and finally Alastair Cook remembers that he has a spinner. “Got to get you into my |
| life | life |
| attack,” he might well sing to Moeen Ali, whose first ball is flipped over the shoulder by Watling for four runs down to fine leg. Another sweep to the same region, in more orthodox fashion, brings three more; it did hit the leg slip fielder, Ballance, on the full, but it would be incredibly mean to call that a drop. | attack,” he might well sing to Moeen Ali, whose first ball is flipped over the shoulder by Watling for four runs down to fine leg. Another sweep to the same region, in more orthodox fashion, brings three more; it did hit the leg slip fielder, Ballance, on the full, but it would be incredibly mean to call that a drop. |
| 4.01pm BST16:01 | 4.01pm BST16:01 |
| 117th over: New Zealand 459-5 (Watling 22, Williamson 132) Short to begin with from Anderson, and straight, and Williamson, on it in a flash, sweetly times a pull through mid on for four. The skies have cleared up a bit now, so batting should only get easier from here. The rest of the over is spent bemoaning the rugby result. | 117th over: New Zealand 459-5 (Watling 22, Williamson 132) Short to begin with from Anderson, and straight, and Williamson, on it in a flash, sweetly times a pull through mid on for four. The skies have cleared up a bit now, so batting should only get easier from here. The rest of the over is spent bemoaning the rugby result. |
| 3.57pm BST15:57 | 3.57pm BST15:57 |
| 116th over: New Zealand 455-5 (Watling 22, Williamson 128) Stokes overpitches a touch and Williamson leans into it, driving beautifully through extra cover for three runs that bring up the ill-fated bowler’s unwanted ton. He’s bowled better than that, although no sooner have I written that he sends down a poor, short, wide ball that Watling cuts behind point for four. | 116th over: New Zealand 455-5 (Watling 22, Williamson 128) Stokes overpitches a touch and Williamson leans into it, driving beautifully through extra cover for three runs that bring up the ill-fated bowler’s unwanted ton. He’s bowled better than that, although no sooner have I written that he sends down a poor, short, wide ball that Watling cuts behind point for four. |
| 3.51pm BST15:51 | 3.51pm BST15:51 |
| 115th over: New Zealand 448-5 (Williamson 125, Watling 18) A change of bowling, as Anderson comes back, and a change of OBOer as Dan Lucas returns. You can email me at dan.lucas@theguardian.com or tweet @DanLucas86. Anderson is still searching for those three wickets that will take him to 400. He’s not likely to get it with this kind of stuff; too wide of off to tempt the batsmen into playing. Ah here we go, a touch straighter and nurdled to midwicket by Williamson for the only run of the over. And that’s drinks. | 115th over: New Zealand 448-5 (Williamson 125, Watling 18) A change of bowling, as Anderson comes back, and a change of OBOer as Dan Lucas returns. You can email me at dan.lucas@theguardian.com or tweet @DanLucas86. Anderson is still searching for those three wickets that will take him to 400. He’s not likely to get it with this kind of stuff; too wide of off to tempt the batsmen into playing. Ah here we go, a touch straighter and nurdled to midwicket by Williamson for the only run of the over. And that’s drinks. |
| Updated at 3.53pm BST | Updated at 3.53pm BST |
| 3.46pm BST15:46 | 3.46pm BST15:46 |
| 114th over: New Zealand 447-5 (Williamson 124, Watling 18) | 114th over: New Zealand 447-5 (Williamson 124, Watling 18) |
| The way this innings has gone for Ben Stokes, I wouldn’t want to be a Lord’s locker. Watling hits successive boundaries, the second a very decent cut past backward point, the first a top-edge that flew to safety. | The way this innings has gone for Ben Stokes, I wouldn’t want to be a Lord’s locker. Watling hits successive boundaries, the second a very decent cut past backward point, the first a top-edge that flew to safety. |
| 3.42pm BST15:42 | 3.42pm BST15:42 |
| 113th over: New Zealand 439-5 (Williamson 124, Watling 10) | 113th over: New Zealand 439-5 (Williamson 124, Watling 10) |
| Wood’s 25th over yields the single run New Zealand needed to take their lead to 50. | Wood’s 25th over yields the single run New Zealand needed to take their lead to 50. |
| 3.38pm BST15:38 | 3.38pm BST15:38 |
| 112th over: New Zealand 438-5 (Williamson 124, Watling 9) | 112th over: New Zealand 438-5 (Williamson 124, Watling 9) |
| Stokes bowls, and there are no near misses. Just a single for Williamson, and another leg bye, the 34th of the innings. “Seriously, you’re having a discussion aboout meaningless singalong extended outros and the winner isn’t Ooh Mau Mau Pa Pa Ooh Mau Ma Mau?” asks Phil Sawyer. “The Trashmen or Ramones, I’m happy either way.” They’re both rubbish, obviously, but that’s certainly meaningless enough to qualify. | Stokes bowls, and there are no near misses. Just a single for Williamson, and another leg bye, the 34th of the innings. “Seriously, you’re having a discussion aboout meaningless singalong extended outros and the winner isn’t Ooh Mau Mau Pa Pa Ooh Mau Ma Mau?” asks Phil Sawyer. “The Trashmen or Ramones, I’m happy either way.” They’re both rubbish, obviously, but that’s certainly meaningless enough to qualify. |
| Updated at 3.41pm BST | Updated at 3.41pm BST |
| 3.33pm BST15:33 | 3.33pm BST15:33 |
| 111th over: New Zealand 436-5 (Williamson 123, Watling 9) | 111th over: New Zealand 436-5 (Williamson 123, Watling 9) |
| Wood does his last-second leap-to-the-left thing, and then the ball moves away from Watling, who waves his bat at it but doesn’t edge it. Excellent, aggressive bowling. “I went through a long ‘Hey Jude Hating’ period, partly because every time they had some poll on a radio station it would always win ‘Best Beatles Song’ or ‘Best 60s Song’ or something,” writes Rocket. “But then I did something radical – I just listened to it as if I had never heard it before, and you know what, it really is a brilliant song. And the reason it kept winning all those radio polls? Because it deserved to. By the way, are there any Test or First Class cricketers called Jude. Obscure question I know!” Ah, Jude the Obscure. A decent book, but the extended singalong postscript grates after a while. | Wood does his last-second leap-to-the-left thing, and then the ball moves away from Watling, who waves his bat at it but doesn’t edge it. Excellent, aggressive bowling. “I went through a long ‘Hey Jude Hating’ period, partly because every time they had some poll on a radio station it would always win ‘Best Beatles Song’ or ‘Best 60s Song’ or something,” writes Rocket. “But then I did something radical – I just listened to it as if I had never heard it before, and you know what, it really is a brilliant song. And the reason it kept winning all those radio polls? Because it deserved to. By the way, are there any Test or First Class cricketers called Jude. Obscure question I know!” Ah, Jude the Obscure. A decent book, but the extended singalong postscript grates after a while. |
| Updated at 3.40pm BST | Updated at 3.40pm BST |
| 3.29pm BST15:29 | 3.29pm BST15:29 |
| 110th over: New Zealand 435-5 (Williamson 122, Watling 9) | 110th over: New Zealand 435-5 (Williamson 122, Watling 9) |
| Stokes bowls, and finds the edge again! This time Watling, having already cut the first ball of the over for four, tickles it just above the slips and away for four more. It looked a deliberate shot, and it wasn’t a great ball, but Stokes has his head in his hands and clearly thinks the world’s against him. We’ve had an action-packed start to this session – for all that England probably wouldn’t really like to be batting in these conditions, they need to take more wickets before the lead starts getting scary. | Stokes bowls, and finds the edge again! This time Watling, having already cut the first ball of the over for four, tickles it just above the slips and away for four more. It looked a deliberate shot, and it wasn’t a great ball, but Stokes has his head in his hands and clearly thinks the world’s against him. We’ve had an action-packed start to this session – for all that England probably wouldn’t really like to be batting in these conditions, they need to take more wickets before the lead starts getting scary. |
| ball is zipping around, which is alright unless NZ have a decent lead. | ball is zipping around, which is alright unless NZ have a decent lead. |
| Updated at 3.36pm BST | Updated at 3.36pm BST |
| 3.24pm BST15:24 | 3.24pm BST15:24 |
| 109th over: New Zealand 427-5 (Williamson 122, Watling 1) | 109th over: New Zealand 427-5 (Williamson 122, Watling 1) |
| Wood gets the ball to ball swing into Watling, who doesn’t know what to do with it, and it passes between bat and pad and just wide of the stumps. And then, after a single, Williamson edges again, to first slip, but the ball lands three inches in front of Cook’s hands. This is a great innings from Williamson, but the lad’s got to have a pocket full of rabbit’s feet and four-leaf clovers sprouting out of his ears. | Wood gets the ball to ball swing into Watling, who doesn’t know what to do with it, and it passes between bat and pad and just wide of the stumps. And then, after a single, Williamson edges again, to first slip, but the ball lands three inches in front of Cook’s hands. This is a great innings from Williamson, but the lad’s got to have a pocket full of rabbit’s feet and four-leaf clovers sprouting out of his ears. |
| Updated at 3.24pm BST | Updated at 3.24pm BST |
| 3.19pm BST15:19 | 3.19pm BST15:19 |
| 108th over: New Zealand 426-5 (Williamson 122, Watling 0) | 108th over: New Zealand 426-5 (Williamson 122, Watling 0) |
| Stokes bowls, and Williamson is dropped at slip! The ball flies straight to Bell at second slip, arriving at head height as he ducks down and extends his hands above his head, but he can’t hold on to it! Not even nearly! It’s his second dropped catch of the innings, both off Stokes, and considerably worse than yesterday’s. | Stokes bowls, and Williamson is dropped at slip! The ball flies straight to Bell at second slip, arriving at head height as he ducks down and extends his hands above his head, but he can’t hold on to it! Not even nearly! It’s his second dropped catch of the innings, both off Stokes, and considerably worse than yesterday’s. |
| Kane Williamson has now scored 364 runs since his last dismissal in a test. That's a New Zealand record #bbccricket | Kane Williamson has now scored 364 runs since his last dismissal in a test. That's a New Zealand record #bbccricket |
| Updated at 3.35pm BST | Updated at 3.35pm BST |
| 3.16pm BST15:16 | 3.16pm BST15:16 |
| 107th over: New Zealand 424-5 (Williamson 120, Watling 0) | 107th over: New Zealand 424-5 (Williamson 120, Watling 0) |
| That’s an excellent advertisement for the DRS system right there (whereas the occasions when the ball is shown to have been on its way into the meat of leg stump before striking a pad but the batsman stays in are a little less overwhelming). A maiden from Wood. | That’s an excellent advertisement for the DRS system right there (whereas the occasions when the ball is shown to have been on its way into the meat of leg stump before striking a pad but the batsman stays in are a little less overwhelming). A maiden from Wood. |
| @Simon_Burnton Macca's brother on the left there singing for The Scaffold http://t.co/lVORiqfYM8. | @Simon_Burnton Macca's brother on the left there singing for The Scaffold http://t.co/lVORiqfYM8. |
| Now that is some music trivia that I never knew. | Now that is some music trivia that I never knew. |
| 3.12pm BST15:12 | 3.12pm BST15:12 |
| Not out! | Not out! |
| The ball flicked his upper arm, and came nowhere near his bat. Watling stays! | The ball flicked his upper arm, and came nowhere near his bat. Watling stays! |
| 3.10pm BST15:10 | 3.10pm BST15:10 |
| REVIEW! Is Watling out here? | REVIEW! Is Watling out here? |
| There was contact with something, and the umpire’s finger went up straight away – but the batsman reviewed it in a heartbeat. So, what did it hit? | There was contact with something, and the umpire’s finger went up straight away – but the batsman reviewed it in a heartbeat. So, what did it hit? |
| 3.10pm BST15:10 | 3.10pm BST15:10 |
| 105th over: New Zealand 424-5 (Williamson 120, Watling 0) | 105th over: New Zealand 424-5 (Williamson 120, Watling 0) |
| Williamson grabs boundary No14, tickling the ball to deep fine leg. That Buttler catch in full: | Williamson grabs boundary No14, tickling the ball to deep fine leg. That Buttler catch in full: |
| 3.06pm BST15:06 | 3.06pm BST15:06 |
| 104th over: New Zealand 420-5 (Williamson 116, Watling 0) | 104th over: New Zealand 420-5 (Williamson 116, Watling 0) |
| That really was an excellent catch by Buttler. Almost makes up for some of the balls he’s missed completely and have gone for four. Meanwhile, this spent 50% more time at No1 in 1968 than Hey Jude. Add Congratulations by Cliff Richard and The Legend of Xanadu by Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich, both also No1s that year, and the very idea of someone remembering Hey Jude as the era’s musical lowpoint really boggles the mind. | That really was an excellent catch by Buttler. Almost makes up for some of the balls he’s missed completely and have gone for four. Meanwhile, this spent 50% more time at No1 in 1968 than Hey Jude. Add Congratulations by Cliff Richard and The Legend of Xanadu by Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich, both also No1s that year, and the very idea of someone remembering Hey Jude as the era’s musical lowpoint really boggles the mind. |
| Updated at 3.08pm BST | Updated at 3.08pm BST |
| 3.02pm BST15:02 | 3.02pm BST15:02 |
| WICKET! Anderson c Buttler b Wood 9 (New Zealand 420-5) | WICKET! Anderson c Buttler b Wood 9 (New Zealand 420-5) |
| Anderson tries to tickle away a shortish delivery that was passing just down the leg side, it flicked off his gloves, and Buttler took an excellent low catch, diving to his right! | Anderson tries to tickle away a shortish delivery that was passing just down the leg side, it flicked off his gloves, and Buttler took an excellent low catch, diving to his right! |
| 3.00pm BST15:00 | 3.00pm BST15:00 |
| 104th over: New Zealand 419-4 (Anderson 9, Williamson 115) | 104th over: New Zealand 419-4 (Anderson 9, Williamson 115) |
| I must admit I spent that entire over, bowled by Broad, researching British chart history, but can report that Anderson hit the final ball for four. | I must admit I spent that entire over, bowled by Broad, researching British chart history, but can report that Anderson hit the final ball for four. |
| 2.58pm BST14:58 | 2.58pm BST14:58 |
| 103rd over: New Zealand 415-4 (Anderson 5, Williamson 115) | 103rd over: New Zealand 415-4 (Anderson 5, Williamson 115) |
| “I don’t know if any of you are old enough to remember the six weeks Hey Jude spent at No1 in the pop charts (and presumably a lot more in the top 20),” writes Stephen J Nicholson, “but surely no-one who heard it played incessantly then, as I did, could ever remotely want to listen to it again.” Actually there were only two weeks at No1 – nine in the top 10, 10 in the top 20, 15 in the top 40 – in 1968. This was 45 years ago, and you’re still sick of hearing it. It was Britain’s seventh-biggest selling single of that year. This was No3. | “I don’t know if any of you are old enough to remember the six weeks Hey Jude spent at No1 in the pop charts (and presumably a lot more in the top 20),” writes Stephen J Nicholson, “but surely no-one who heard it played incessantly then, as I did, could ever remotely want to listen to it again.” Actually there were only two weeks at No1 – nine in the top 10, 10 in the top 20, 15 in the top 40 – in 1968. This was 45 years ago, and you’re still sick of hearing it. It was Britain’s seventh-biggest selling single of that year. This was No3. |
| 2.52pm BST14:52 | 2.52pm BST14:52 |
| 102nd over: New Zealand 413-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 114) | 102nd over: New Zealand 413-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 114) |
| Broad bowls a bobbly thing down leg side. It just refused to bounce, and diverted a bit further away from the stumps, Buttler fails to collect and four more byes are added to the list of extras, which have brought the tourists 62 bonus runs – that, according to Opta, is more than any of England’s last 137 Test innings, since they gave West Indies 74 of their total of 544 in 2009. | Broad bowls a bobbly thing down leg side. It just refused to bounce, and diverted a bit further away from the stumps, Buttler fails to collect and four more byes are added to the list of extras, which have brought the tourists 62 bonus runs – that, according to Opta, is more than any of England’s last 137 Test innings, since they gave West Indies 74 of their total of 544 in 2009. |
| REVISED TIMINGS: Tea at 4:45-5:05pm; Close of play at 7pm (although can continue until 7.30pm to complete the overs) #ENGvNZ #LoveLords | REVISED TIMINGS: Tea at 4:45-5:05pm; Close of play at 7pm (although can continue until 7.30pm to complete the overs) #ENGvNZ #LoveLords |
| 2.47pm BST14:47 | 2.47pm BST14:47 |
| 101st over: New Zealand 408-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 113) | 101st over: New Zealand 408-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 113) |
| Mark Wood completes the 101st over, so rudely interrupted by rain and lunch. Dan Lucas proposes “the ‘for a minute there, I lost myself’ outro to Karma Police” as the best extended meaningless singalong chorus. But those are all actual words. It’s good, but it’s not this: | Mark Wood completes the 101st over, so rudely interrupted by rain and lunch. Dan Lucas proposes “the ‘for a minute there, I lost myself’ outro to Karma Police” as the best extended meaningless singalong chorus. But those are all actual words. It’s good, but it’s not this: |
| Updated at 2.47pm BST | Updated at 2.47pm BST |
| 2.44pm BST14:44 | 2.44pm BST14:44 |
| The players are back out. I expect play will continue until 7.30pm, and two overs will carry over until tomorrow. | The players are back out. I expect play will continue until 7.30pm, and two overs will carry over until tomorrow. |
| 2.38pm BST14:38 | 2.38pm BST14:38 |
| “I was at the Live Aid gig when Paul McCartney’s mic failed for his closing rendition of ‘Hey Jude’ and the audience filled in for him,” writes John Pyle. Show-off. “It left me unmoved, which is not to say working technology would have made it any better, better, better etc.” | “I was at the Live Aid gig when Paul McCartney’s mic failed for his closing rendition of ‘Hey Jude’ and the audience filled in for him,” writes John Pyle. Show-off. “It left me unmoved, which is not to say working technology would have made it any better, better, better etc.” |
| 2.32pm BST14:32 | 2.32pm BST14:32 |
| “I’ve always held the view that Cook-Pietersen is similar to McCartney-Lennon,” suggests Krishnan Patel. “The former is a great but people despise him for being the PR guy while the latter is considered much more ‘naturally’ talented. And Hey Jude is considered rubbish because people are sick of hearing it again and again. The reason for it being heard again and again, of course, is that it was a brilliant piece of work.” Indeed. Nobody’s sick of hearing the second-best extended meaningless singalong chorus in pop history. Talking of which, what is the second-best extended meaningless singalong chorus in pop history? | “I’ve always held the view that Cook-Pietersen is similar to McCartney-Lennon,” suggests Krishnan Patel. “The former is a great but people despise him for being the PR guy while the latter is considered much more ‘naturally’ talented. And Hey Jude is considered rubbish because people are sick of hearing it again and again. The reason for it being heard again and again, of course, is that it was a brilliant piece of work.” Indeed. Nobody’s sick of hearing the second-best extended meaningless singalong chorus in pop history. Talking of which, what is the second-best extended meaningless singalong chorus in pop history? |
| 2.20pm BST14:20 | 2.20pm BST14:20 |
| Play will restart at 2.45pm BST | Play will restart at 2.45pm BST |
| That is, in 25 minutes from now. | That is, in 25 minutes from now. |
| 2.16pm BST14:16 | 2.16pm BST14:16 |
| “Hey Jude is singularly responsible (along with yesterday) (oh, and Penny Lane) for my deciding as a child that I didn’t like the Beatles and writing off some great music,” moans Tom Levesley. “The entire Wings canon didn’t help either. I’ve since realised McCartney was rubbish and have been catching up since then. For that, the half hour of la-la la la, and people like my mate Daran banging on about how great it is and how ‘it builds’, Hey Jude will always be rubbish. PS I’m working today so feeling more cantankerous than usual.” Bah. No word yet from the pitch inspection, though I can confirm that it has taken place. | “Hey Jude is singularly responsible (along with yesterday) (oh, and Penny Lane) for my deciding as a child that I didn’t like the Beatles and writing off some great music,” moans Tom Levesley. “The entire Wings canon didn’t help either. I’ve since realised McCartney was rubbish and have been catching up since then. For that, the half hour of la-la la la, and people like my mate Daran banging on about how great it is and how ‘it builds’, Hey Jude will always be rubbish. PS I’m working today so feeling more cantankerous than usual.” Bah. No word yet from the pitch inspection, though I can confirm that it has taken place. |
| 2.07pm BST14:07 | 2.07pm BST14:07 |
| I don’t think much of the new Lord’s engraver: | I don’t think much of the new Lord’s engraver: |
| Kane Williamson went up on the Honour's Board straight away at the @HomeOfCricket. Special moment. #engvnz ^PT pic.twitter.com/XmLR64cQ7A | Kane Williamson went up on the Honour's Board straight away at the @HomeOfCricket. Special moment. #engvnz ^PT pic.twitter.com/XmLR64cQ7A |
| 2.05pm BST14:05 | 2.05pm BST14:05 |
| Williamson’s keeping good company on this list: | Williamson’s keeping good company on this list: |
| Youngest to make 10 Test 100s 23y-71d S Tendulkar 23-114 D Bradman 24-80 G Smith 24-122 N Harvey 24-134 G Sobers 24-288 K Williamson #ENGvNZ | Youngest to make 10 Test 100s 23y-71d S Tendulkar 23-114 D Bradman 24-80 G Smith 24-122 N Harvey 24-134 G Sobers 24-288 K Williamson #ENGvNZ |
| 2.01pm BST14:01 | 2.01pm BST14:01 |
| There will be an inspection in 15 minutes, so with no further rain expected and groundsmen busily squidgeeing and mopping you can look forward to recommencement shortly afterwards. | There will be an inspection in 15 minutes, so with no further rain expected and groundsmen busily squidgeeing and mopping you can look forward to recommencement shortly afterwards. |
| 1.58pm BST13:58 | 1.58pm BST13:58 |
| Gary Naylor brings us the very latest from St John’s Wood. The news is good. | Gary Naylor brings us the very latest from St John’s Wood. The news is good. |
| @Simon_Burnton Much brighter at Lord's and few umbrellas in sight. Might be 30 mins or so, but not much longer I guess. | @Simon_Burnton Much brighter at Lord's and few umbrellas in sight. Might be 30 mins or so, but not much longer I guess. |
| 1.52pm BST13:52 | 1.52pm BST13:52 |
| Weather latest: | Weather latest: |
| This spell of rain should clear the #ENGvNZ cricket at Lord's as it gets drier and gradually brighter again. @bbctms Nick | This spell of rain should clear the #ENGvNZ cricket at Lord's as it gets drier and gradually brighter again. @bbctms Nick |
| Clapping latest: | Clapping latest: |
| 1.45pm BST13:45 | 1.45pm BST13:45 |
| Hello world! | Hello world! |
| Well, the rain has not quite stopped (in Kings Cross at least) and the ground is really quite damp. No word yet of a restart time. And Hey Jude might not be the best of the Beatles, but the only reason I can see for actively avoiding it is if you have a problem with happy people singing along to something singalongable, which is the type of thing only a miserable, cantankerous sod would do. It’s like hating the colour orange, despite its evident brightness and cheerfulness. Orange might not have the depth and variety of, say, green – it’s probably not the connoisseur’s colour of choice – but it’s still delightful in very many ways. Really. Take a look at yourself. | Well, the rain has not quite stopped (in Kings Cross at least) and the ground is really quite damp. No word yet of a restart time. And Hey Jude might not be the best of the Beatles, but the only reason I can see for actively avoiding it is if you have a problem with happy people singing along to something singalongable, which is the type of thing only a miserable, cantankerous sod would do. It’s like hating the colour orange, despite its evident brightness and cheerfulness. Orange might not have the depth and variety of, say, green – it’s probably not the connoisseur’s colour of choice – but it’s still delightful in very many ways. Really. Take a look at yourself. |
| Updated at 1.53pm BST | Updated at 1.53pm BST |
| 12.58pm BST12:58 | 12.58pm BST12:58 |
| Well that was an excellent session. New Zealand tried to attack, with Taylor and McCullum especially scoring quickly. But England fought back well, getting the two wickets – and big ones at that – we thought they needed to keep this contest alive. Broad especially was impressive, while you have to be happy for Mark Wood getting his first Test wicket. | Well that was an excellent session. New Zealand tried to attack, with Taylor and McCullum especially scoring quickly. But England fought back well, getting the two wickets – and big ones at that – we thought they needed to keep this contest alive. Broad especially was impressive, while you have to be happy for Mark Wood getting his first Test wicket. |
| Simon Burnton will be here for the first hour after lunch. Send him your thoughts on why Hey Jude is rubbish to simon.burnton@theguardian.com. | Simon Burnton will be here for the first hour after lunch. Send him your thoughts on why Hey Jude is rubbish to simon.burnton@theguardian.com. |
| 12.54pm BST12:54 | 12.54pm BST12:54 |
| Rain stopped play and lunch taken | Rain stopped play and lunch taken |
| 100.3 overs: New Zealand 407-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 112) Wood has his tail up now and is up around 90mph. There’s a bit of rain around though, which is a shame for England as you feel that they’re just about in the ascendancy. That said, New Zealand are leading with six wickets in hand. It’s all a bit good this. Bah, and now they’re going off for rain. That’s going to be lunch. | 100.3 overs: New Zealand 407-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 112) Wood has his tail up now and is up around 90mph. There’s a bit of rain around though, which is a shame for England as you feel that they’re just about in the ascendancy. That said, New Zealand are leading with six wickets in hand. It’s all a bit good this. Bah, and now they’re going off for rain. That’s going to be lunch. |
| Updated at 1.21pm BST | Updated at 1.21pm BST |
| 12.52pm BST12:52 | 12.52pm BST12:52 |
| 100th over: New Zealand 407-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 112) Er, my apologies: the batsmen crossed when McCullum got out, so it was Williamson who survived that decision, rather than Anderson. Refresh the page and all evidence of the mistake will be gone. Apart from this confession, that is. | 100th over: New Zealand 407-4 (Anderson 4, Williamson 112) Er, my apologies: the batsmen crossed when McCullum got out, so it was Williamson who survived that decision, rather than Anderson. Refresh the page and all evidence of the mistake will be gone. Apart from this confession, that is. |
| From nowhere, Stokes produces a beauty of a short ball that flies thinly off the shoulder of the bat, too fast for the slips to react and down to the boundary for four. And then another, that pitches on leg and swings a long way past off. Lovely bowling. | From nowhere, Stokes produces a beauty of a short ball that flies thinly off the shoulder of the bat, too fast for the slips to react and down to the boundary for four. And then another, that pitches on leg and swings a long way past off. Lovely bowling. |
| 12.47pm BST12:47 | 12.47pm BST12:47 |
| 99th over: New Zealand 403-4 (Anderson 0, Williamson 112) McCullum likes the look of Wood and tries to clear the straight boundary off a full length delivery. He doesn’t get hold of it entirely, and they run two, but the captain goes next ball! That’s a hell of a tasty first Test wicket for Wood to get. Corey Anderson enters the fray. Williamson is on strike and the very next ball is full, straight and hits him on the pads, but Williamson just about gets away with it. England lose a review, and rightly so, because that wasn’t a howler – it was a marginal decision. | 99th over: New Zealand 403-4 (Anderson 0, Williamson 112) McCullum likes the look of Wood and tries to clear the straight boundary off a full length delivery. He doesn’t get hold of it entirely, and they run two, but the captain goes next ball! That’s a hell of a tasty first Test wicket for Wood to get. Corey Anderson enters the fray. Williamson is on strike and the very next ball is full, straight and hits him on the pads, but Williamson just about gets away with it. England lose a review, and rightly so, because that wasn’t a howler – it was a marginal decision. |
| Updated at 12.48pm BST | Updated at 12.48pm BST |
| 12.46pm BST12:46 | 12.46pm BST12:46 |
| Not out | Not out |
| Ooh that’s close. It was nipping back in and it’s “umpire’s call” by mere millimetres. | Ooh that’s close. It was nipping back in and it’s “umpire’s call” by mere millimetres. |
| 12.45pm BST12:45 | 12.45pm BST12:45 |
| Review | Review |
| It’s full and straight and hits Williamson on the pads first ball. Given not out, but we’re going to review. It might have been sliding down leg. | It’s full and straight and hits Williamson on the pads first ball. Given not out, but we’re going to review. It might have been sliding down leg. |
| Updated at 12.48pm BST | Updated at 12.48pm BST |
| 12.42pm BST12:42 | 12.42pm BST12:42 |
| Wicket! McCullum c Root b Wood 42 | Wicket! McCullum c Root b Wood 42 |
| That’s the big one! McCullum tries to go over square leg, but the ball is far too full. He gets a big thick leading edge, way up in the air to third man, and Root comes around to take the catch just inside the rope! | That’s the big one! McCullum tries to go over square leg, but the ball is far too full. He gets a big thick leading edge, way up in the air to third man, and Root comes around to take the catch just inside the rope! |
| Updated at 1.28pm BST | Updated at 1.28pm BST |
| 12.39pm BST12:39 | 12.39pm BST12:39 |
| 98th over: New Zealand 400-3 (McCullum 40, Williamson 111) A leg bye to Williamson means that New Zealand take the lead. Stokes then gives McCullum a medium pace half volley and the outcome is predictable: the ball is deposited by the charging batsman over midwicket for six. There’s an appeal next ball, as it loops up and is taken at gully, but the ball came off the pad. Short again from Stokes and McCullum continues his Game of Thrones audition, hammering it hard and down to fine leg on the hook for four. That’s the 400 up in sparkling quick time. | 98th over: New Zealand 400-3 (McCullum 40, Williamson 111) A leg bye to Williamson means that New Zealand take the lead. Stokes then gives McCullum a medium pace half volley and the outcome is predictable: the ball is deposited by the charging batsman over midwicket for six. There’s an appeal next ball, as it loops up and is taken at gully, but the ball came off the pad. Short again from Stokes and McCullum continues his Game of Thrones audition, hammering it hard and down to fine leg on the hook for four. That’s the 400 up in sparkling quick time. |
| “Dan, 18 of those 57 extras are byes. How can you say that Butler has kept well in this test match?” asks someone who doesn’t sign their emails. It’s a very fair question, but I’d take Buttler’s inexperience, the Lord’s slope, the fact that the ball is swinging and the England bowlers’ loss of line as mitigation. | “Dan, 18 of those 57 extras are byes. How can you say that Butler has kept well in this test match?” asks someone who doesn’t sign their emails. It’s a very fair question, but I’d take Buttler’s inexperience, the Lord’s slope, the fact that the ball is swinging and the England bowlers’ loss of line as mitigation. |
| 12.35pm BST12:35 | 12.35pm BST12:35 |
| 97th over: New Zealand 389-3 (McCullum 30, Williamson 111) It’s seriously dark out there now. As will Alastair Cook’s mood be, as McCullum fences at one, away from the body and it takes a genuine edge off the toe end, flies at catchable height wide of third slip and gives him four runs to third man. Four more to backward point too, as Wood floats down a wide on and McCullum smacks it to the backward point boundary. That’s the scores level. | 97th over: New Zealand 389-3 (McCullum 30, Williamson 111) It’s seriously dark out there now. As will Alastair Cook’s mood be, as McCullum fences at one, away from the body and it takes a genuine edge off the toe end, flies at catchable height wide of third slip and gives him four runs to third man. Four more to backward point too, as Wood floats down a wide on and McCullum smacks it to the backward point boundary. That’s the scores level. |
| 12.32pm BST12:32 | 12.32pm BST12:32 |
| 96th over: New Zealand 380-3 (McCullum 22, Williamson 110) Broad comes off, Stokes replacing him. Yet more runs to the extras tally, as he strays on to leg stump, it clips McCullum’s pad and goes down to long leg for four more leg byes. We’re seven shy of the record number of extras in a Test innings at Lord’s. And, as Simon Burnton spots, three more leg byes would take them to the most in any Test innings ever. | 96th over: New Zealand 380-3 (McCullum 22, Williamson 110) Broad comes off, Stokes replacing him. Yet more runs to the extras tally, as he strays on to leg stump, it clips McCullum’s pad and goes down to long leg for four more leg byes. We’re seven shy of the record number of extras in a Test innings at Lord’s. And, as Simon Burnton spots, three more leg byes would take them to the most in any Test innings ever. |
| Our good friends from the OBOccasionals have been in touch. Here’s Joe Neate: | Our good friends from the OBOccasionals have been in touch. Here’s Joe Neate: |
| “I’m a member of the OBOccasionals team comprised of readers of the OBO that have been on a couple of tours already, and we’re looking to do some more thoroughly mediocre - but always fun - cricketing this year. | “I’m a member of the OBOccasionals team comprised of readers of the OBO that have been on a couple of tours already, and we’re looking to do some more thoroughly mediocre - but always fun - cricketing this year. |
| As such, we’re always looking for new members, as some of the existing team members have gone and done silly things like moving to China, or are expecting new babies at the height of the cricketing season! | As such, we’re always looking for new members, as some of the existing team members have gone and done silly things like moving to China, or are expecting new babies at the height of the cricketing season! |
| So, this is one of numerous calls to action for your readers. If anyone is interested in playing for a friendly, enthusiastic group of extremely amateur cricketers over this summer, please get in touch. 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 (August 2nd) and Godalming (July 19th) so far. | So, this is one of numerous calls to action for your readers. If anyone is interested in playing for a friendly, enthusiastic group of extremely amateur cricketers over this summer, please get in touch. 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 (August 2nd) and Godalming (July 19th) so far. |
| We’ve got a facebook page - or you can find our website here - detailing our questionable exploits over the years. | We’ve got a facebook page - or you can find our website here - detailing our questionable exploits over the years. |
| Absolutely all ranges of talent welcome, and if you like karaoke too, all the better. That is probably where our actual strengths lie to be honest. | Absolutely all ranges of talent welcome, and if you like karaoke too, all the better. That is probably where our actual strengths lie to be honest. |
| Anyway, people can feel free to email me or get in touch via the Facebook page. Please don’t be shy - we are an extremely welcoming group, and the weekends away have been some of the most fun I’ve personally ever had!” | Anyway, people can feel free to email me or get in touch via the Facebook page. Please don’t be shy - we are an extremely welcoming group, and the weekends away have been some of the most fun I’ve personally ever had!” |
| I’ll be playing too, so come and meet famous* people! | I’ll be playing too, so come and meet famous* people! |
| *Well. I’ve got more Twitter followers than the British entry in last year’s Eurovision song contest. Or at least I did. | *Well. I’ve got more Twitter followers than the British entry in last year’s Eurovision song contest. Or at least I did. |
| 12.25pm BST12:25 | 12.25pm BST12:25 |
| 95th over: New Zealand 374-3 (McCullum 20, Williamson 110) Williamson hits the ground with his bat in frustration after only bottom edging a wide one. The bounce is getting more and more unreliable here. There are also dark storm clouds making their way towards Kings Cross, just three miles away, so batting isn’t likely to get any easier. Four byes as Wood swings one a long way down leg. His line is pretty all over the place, I’m sad to say – Williamson has a big play and miss at one wide outside off, but gets nowhere near it. | 95th over: New Zealand 374-3 (McCullum 20, Williamson 110) Williamson hits the ground with his bat in frustration after only bottom edging a wide one. The bounce is getting more and more unreliable here. There are also dark storm clouds making their way towards Kings Cross, just three miles away, so batting isn’t likely to get any easier. Four byes as Wood swings one a long way down leg. His line is pretty all over the place, I’m sad to say – Williamson has a big play and miss at one wide outside off, but gets nowhere near it. |
| Ironic applause from some canny members of the crowd as that man Extras gets to his half century #53notout #ENGvNZ | Ironic applause from some canny members of the crowd as that man Extras gets to his half century #53notout #ENGvNZ |
| 12.22pm BST12:22 | 12.22pm BST12:22 |
| 94th over: New Zealand 370-3 (McCullum 20, Williamson 110) I see people are calling this a cat and mouse contest, but it isn’t is it? I mean, the mouse is never going to rip the cat to pieces, whereas here, Broad could run through the batting lineup or McCullum could demolish England’s attack. It’s fascinating, but it’s a crap analogy. A wide as Broad finds extravagant bounce and Buttler makes an excellent take, leaping high and grabbing it one-handed. He’s kept very well in this match. Four runs follow as Broad goes short again and McCullum punches hard, past cover, to the rope. Oh and then a beauty that jags back in sharply and smacks into McCullum’s hip. And then a massive swing and a miss at one down the leg side. More width, another big swish and it flies down to third man in no time at all for four more. | 94th over: New Zealand 370-3 (McCullum 20, Williamson 110) I see people are calling this a cat and mouse contest, but it isn’t is it? I mean, the mouse is never going to rip the cat to pieces, whereas here, Broad could run through the batting lineup or McCullum could demolish England’s attack. It’s fascinating, but it’s a crap analogy. A wide as Broad finds extravagant bounce and Buttler makes an excellent take, leaping high and grabbing it one-handed. He’s kept very well in this match. Four runs follow as Broad goes short again and McCullum punches hard, past cover, to the rope. Oh and then a beauty that jags back in sharply and smacks into McCullum’s hip. And then a massive swing and a miss at one down the leg side. More width, another big swish and it flies down to third man in no time at all for four more. |
| 12.16pm BST12:16 | 12.16pm BST12:16 |
| 93rd over: New Zealand 359-3 (McCullum 11, Williamson 109) Is this a drop? Wood gets one to go low between bat and pad, and Buttler doesn’t gather cleanly. There’s a noise, but no one else on earth seems to have reacted so it might well have been Williamson’s bat on ground. Wood is full and, when Williamson pushes to Anderson at mid on, the batsman is a touch lackadaisical coming through for the run – he’s a gonner if Anderson hits with his throw, but Anderson doesn’t do that. Ah well. McCullum works a single to fine leg and the deficit is down to 30. | 93rd over: New Zealand 359-3 (McCullum 11, Williamson 109) Is this a drop? Wood gets one to go low between bat and pad, and Buttler doesn’t gather cleanly. There’s a noise, but no one else on earth seems to have reacted so it might well have been Williamson’s bat on ground. Wood is full and, when Williamson pushes to Anderson at mid on, the batsman is a touch lackadaisical coming through for the run – he’s a gonner if Anderson hits with his throw, but Anderson doesn’t do that. Ah well. McCullum works a single to fine leg and the deficit is down to 30. |
| 12.12pm BST12:12 | 12.12pm BST12:12 |
| 92nd over: New Zealand 357-3 (McCullum 10, Williamson 108) Chance! McCullum backs away, Broad follows him with a short one and finds the shoulder of the bat. It loops up, but it’s wide of the slips and short of backward point. They could do with moving him up to gully, I reckon, because McCullum is going to go hard at the ball. A half volley gets flicked away to mid on for a well-run two. After McCullum takes another single, Broad goes up for a big LBW appeal against Williamson. Alone. “Er, no” says David Gower, wonderfully indignantly. It was far too high I reckon and they’re not wasting a review on that. A single behind square on the off side finishes the over. | 92nd over: New Zealand 357-3 (McCullum 10, Williamson 108) Chance! McCullum backs away, Broad follows him with a short one and finds the shoulder of the bat. It loops up, but it’s wide of the slips and short of backward point. They could do with moving him up to gully, I reckon, because McCullum is going to go hard at the ball. A half volley gets flicked away to mid on for a well-run two. After McCullum takes another single, Broad goes up for a big LBW appeal against Williamson. Alone. “Er, no” says David Gower, wonderfully indignantly. It was far too high I reckon and they’re not wasting a review on that. A single behind square on the off side finishes the over. |
| @DanLucas86 it's not just a drinks break it's some sort of sponsor's drink break. Rather corporate these days is the cricket. | @DanLucas86 it's not just a drinks break it's some sort of sponsor's drink break. Rather corporate these days is the cricket. |
| Come on, let me have this. I’ve put up with the BCCI’s IPL coverage for six weeks. | Come on, let me have this. I’ve put up with the BCCI’s IPL coverage for six weeks. |
| 12.07pm BST12:07 | 12.07pm BST12:07 |
| 91st over: New Zealand 353-3 (McCullum 7, Williamson 107) A change of bowling now, with Mark Wood coming into the attack. His first ball is a short, wide loosener that comes off the toe end of McCullum’s bat as he looks to cut and drops just short of Stokes at backward point. I’m scared for Wood. McCullum knocks the ball out to mid on for a single and Williamson lets the last two balls of the over go by. | 91st over: New Zealand 353-3 (McCullum 7, Williamson 107) A change of bowling now, with Mark Wood coming into the attack. His first ball is a short, wide loosener that comes off the toe end of McCullum’s bat as he looks to cut and drops just short of Stokes at backward point. I’m scared for Wood. McCullum knocks the ball out to mid on for a single and Williamson lets the last two balls of the over go by. |
| 12.00pm BST12:00 | 12.00pm BST12:00 |
| 90th over: New Zealand 352-3 (McCullum 6, Williamson 107) Broad has bowled pretty well this morning. There have been questions, among fans anyway, about his place in the team. Personally I think he’s a good bowler and certainly shouldn’t be discarded. But, he bowls too much and probably doesn’t have Anderson’s superhuman stamina, so they might want to think about giving him a rest at some point given England’s schedule. I don’t think he should be playing ODIs, for one thing. | 90th over: New Zealand 352-3 (McCullum 6, Williamson 107) Broad has bowled pretty well this morning. There have been questions, among fans anyway, about his place in the team. Personally I think he’s a good bowler and certainly shouldn’t be discarded. But, he bowls too much and probably doesn’t have Anderson’s superhuman stamina, so they might want to think about giving him a rest at some point given England’s schedule. I don’t think he should be playing ODIs, for one thing. |
| Williamson looks to uppercut over the slips and misses the ball. The slips and Buttler go up for the edge, but even Broad isn’t interested. On Sky, they’re discussing the merits of sunglasses and Bumble questions why batsmen don’t wear them. Usman Afzaal did, didn’t he? Four more leg byes when Broad loses his line a touch, although I thought I heard bat on that. That’s drinks. | Williamson looks to uppercut over the slips and misses the ball. The slips and Buttler go up for the edge, but even Broad isn’t interested. On Sky, they’re discussing the merits of sunglasses and Bumble questions why batsmen don’t wear them. Usman Afzaal did, didn’t he? Four more leg byes when Broad loses his line a touch, although I thought I heard bat on that. That’s drinks. |
| Perfect platform for McCullum and Corey Anderson. Quite possible that this might be a seminal demoralization of this English team. #ENGvNZ | Perfect platform for McCullum and Corey Anderson. Quite possible that this might be a seminal demoralization of this English team. #ENGvNZ |
| 11.55am BST11:55 | 11.55am BST11:55 |
| 89th over: New Zealand 348-3 (McCullum 6, Williamson 107) The lights are coming on already. My colleague Simon Burnton reckons it’s going to rain, but, that’s going on instinct alone. That said, Moeen Ali is looking up at the skies. Anyhow, this is a bit quiet, with Anderson just straying on to leg stump and Williamson clips him away for one. Ooh and then McCullum charges down the ground to an inswinger; it clips his pads and races down to long leg for four leg byes. | 89th over: New Zealand 348-3 (McCullum 6, Williamson 107) The lights are coming on already. My colleague Simon Burnton reckons it’s going to rain, but, that’s going on instinct alone. That said, Moeen Ali is looking up at the skies. Anyhow, this is a bit quiet, with Anderson just straying on to leg stump and Williamson clips him away for one. Ooh and then McCullum charges down the ground to an inswinger; it clips his pads and races down to long leg for four leg byes. |
| Updated at 12.44pm BST | Updated at 12.44pm BST |
| 11.50am BST11:50 | 11.50am BST11:50 |
| 88th over: New Zealand 343-3 (McCullum 6, Williamson 106) Broad to McCullum, what a fascinating contest. And it can last more than four overs in this format! Broad beats the edge with a ripper, before a very thick outside edge runs out to point and they take two. Broad comes back with the surprise inswinge and McCullum just closes the face of the bat at the last minute to defend it away to midwicket. | 88th over: New Zealand 343-3 (McCullum 6, Williamson 106) Broad to McCullum, what a fascinating contest. And it can last more than four overs in this format! Broad beats the edge with a ripper, before a very thick outside edge runs out to point and they take two. Broad comes back with the surprise inswinge and McCullum just closes the face of the bat at the last minute to defend it away to midwicket. |
| 11.46am BST11:46 | 11.46am BST11:46 |
| 87th over: New Zealand 341-3 (McCullum 4, Williamson 106) Anderson continues to find some swing, while Williamson continues to play watchfully. He’ll seize on anything loose, but this guy isn’t going to force the issue much of the time. Ooh and then a beauty from Anderson, full on off and swinging a long way through the air. It takes Watling’s edge, but again his hands are lovely and soft, so it falls well short of the slips. | 87th over: New Zealand 341-3 (McCullum 4, Williamson 106) Anderson continues to find some swing, while Williamson continues to play watchfully. He’ll seize on anything loose, but this guy isn’t going to force the issue much of the time. Ooh and then a beauty from Anderson, full on off and swinging a long way through the air. It takes Watling’s edge, but again his hands are lovely and soft, so it falls well short of the slips. |
| 11.41am BST11:41 | 11.41am BST11:41 |
| 86th over: New Zealand 341-3 (McCullum 4, Williamson 106) On Sky, they make the point that not one delivery with the new ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing, given how much these two like to drive and glance into the off side. As if to prove the point, Taylor goes for the big cover drive but connects with naught but St. John’s Wood air. He goes to a fine short ball from Broad, which brings McCullum to the crease. This is a good time to bowl to him, as he’s going to play his shots, although if England get it wrong that new ball could fly. | 86th over: New Zealand 341-3 (McCullum 4, Williamson 106) On Sky, they make the point that not one delivery with the new ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing, given how much these two like to drive and glance into the off side. As if to prove the point, Taylor goes for the big cover drive but connects with naught but St. John’s Wood air. He goes to a fine short ball from Broad, which brings McCullum to the crease. This is a good time to bowl to him, as he’s going to play his shots, although if England get it wrong that new ball could fly. |
| BREAKING NEWS: BRENDON MCCULLUM IS BATTING. | BREAKING NEWS: BRENDON MCCULLUM IS BATTING. |
| You’ll be deeply unsurprised to know that McCullum drives his first ball, a very full one, through cover for four. | You’ll be deeply unsurprised to know that McCullum drives his first ball, a very full one, through cover for four. |
| 11.39am BST11:39 | 11.39am BST11:39 |
| Wicket! Taylor c Buttler b Broad 62 | Wicket! Taylor c Buttler b Broad 62 |
| Short from Broad and down the leg side. Taylor goes back and tries to defend, but it takes the inside edge. Buttler flings himself to his left and takes a magnificent one-handed catch. | Short from Broad and down the leg side. Taylor goes back and tries to defend, but it takes the inside edge. Buttler flings himself to his left and takes a magnificent one-handed catch. |
| Updated at 12.26pm BST | Updated at 12.26pm BST |
| 11.35am BST11:35 | 11.35am BST11:35 |
| 85th over: New Zealand 337-2 (Taylor 62, Williamson 106) Wides, five of them, as Anderson finds a surprising amount of bounce and sends a very short one very high, a good couple of feet over Taylor, over Buttler and down to the fence. Better, as Andy Townsend would put it, next up though as he swings one away from Taylor, who flashes at it outside off. Ooh and then another one that jags back in and passes the edge again. After that talk earlier of New Zealand’s positive approach, this has been fine new ball bowling. Taylor nurdles to square leg for the first run off the bat in three overs. Ah and then Williamson just pushes his bat out and guides it down to the vacant third man region for four. | 85th over: New Zealand 337-2 (Taylor 62, Williamson 106) Wides, five of them, as Anderson finds a surprising amount of bounce and sends a very short one very high, a good couple of feet over Taylor, over Buttler and down to the fence. Better, as Andy Townsend would put it, next up though as he swings one away from Taylor, who flashes at it outside off. Ooh and then another one that jags back in and passes the edge again. After that talk earlier of New Zealand’s positive approach, this has been fine new ball bowling. Taylor nurdles to square leg for the first run off the bat in three overs. Ah and then Williamson just pushes his bat out and guides it down to the vacant third man region for four. |
| 11.30am BST11:30 | 11.30am BST11:30 |
| 84th over: New Zealand 327-2 (Taylor 61, Williamson 102) This is nicer from Broad, a couple of absolute jaffers that go past Williamson’s outside edge, not that the batsman was really looking to play at them. The first moved in and wasn’t too far away from off stump, and the next nipped away. I don’t think Cook has a third man in for Williamson, which is odd given his predilection for scoring there. Now Williamson does play and miss, looking to cut one that keeps low outside off. | 84th over: New Zealand 327-2 (Taylor 61, Williamson 102) This is nicer from Broad, a couple of absolute jaffers that go past Williamson’s outside edge, not that the batsman was really looking to play at them. The first moved in and wasn’t too far away from off stump, and the next nipped away. I don’t think Cook has a third man in for Williamson, which is odd given his predilection for scoring there. Now Williamson does play and miss, looking to cut one that keeps low outside off. |
| 11.27am BST11:27 | 11.27am BST11:27 |
| 83rd over: New Zealand 327-2 (Taylor 61, Williamson 102) Anderson tries a bit of short stuff, but there doesn’t appear to be a huge amount of pace left in the pitch. He has Taylor in a touch of trouble as the batsman defends on the back foot and the ball drops and rolls back towards the stumps. Taylor keeps it away though. Oh and then the last ball is fuller and really zips through as you’re more like to expect. Let’s call it two paced, this pitch. | 83rd over: New Zealand 327-2 (Taylor 61, Williamson 102) Anderson tries a bit of short stuff, but there doesn’t appear to be a huge amount of pace left in the pitch. He has Taylor in a touch of trouble as the batsman defends on the back foot and the ball drops and rolls back towards the stumps. Taylor keeps it away though. Oh and then the last ball is fuller and really zips through as you’re more like to expect. Let’s call it two paced, this pitch. |
| 11.21am BST11:21 | 11.21am BST11:21 |
| 82nd over: New Zealand 327-2 (Taylor 61, Williamson 102) As you might have suspected, it’s Broad from the Nursery End. He has Adam Lyth at short leg; it’s odd to me that the new man always gets stuck there. Lyth is a fine, fine slip fielder while there are few better at short leg in world cricket than Ian Bell. He’s finding a touch of swing down the slope, but his line is too wide to tempt Taylor. Oh and then he overcorrects and Taylor gets a thick, possibly deliberate inside edge that turns it round to fine leg for four. The next ball is knocked out to Anderson at midwicket and they scamper through for a sharp single. This is an excellent start from Taylor, putting the pressure on the bowlers. | 82nd over: New Zealand 327-2 (Taylor 61, Williamson 102) As you might have suspected, it’s Broad from the Nursery End. He has Adam Lyth at short leg; it’s odd to me that the new man always gets stuck there. Lyth is a fine, fine slip fielder while there are few better at short leg in world cricket than Ian Bell. He’s finding a touch of swing down the slope, but his line is too wide to tempt Taylor. Oh and then he overcorrects and Taylor gets a thick, possibly deliberate inside edge that turns it round to fine leg for four. The next ball is knocked out to Anderson at midwicket and they scamper through for a sharp single. This is an excellent start from Taylor, putting the pressure on the bowlers. |
| 11.16am BST11:16 | 11.16am BST11:16 |
| New ball taken | New ball taken |
| 81st over: New Zealand 322-2 (Taylor 56, Williamson 102) Thinking about it, it does make sense for Anderson to use up one over of the old ball for a loosener. The new ball takes effect straight away, the first ball full outside of,f speeding off the bat, through cover point and away for the first boundary of the day. Taylor is looking to score quickly off this, as he drops one into the off side and hustles through for a single. Williamson gets the strike and edges to slip, but he played it with such soft hands that it was never in danger of even coming close to carrying. England have three slips and a gully for Williamson, but Williamson still manages to find a gap between them, opening the face and getting two to backward point. New Zealand are eating up that deficit. | 81st over: New Zealand 322-2 (Taylor 56, Williamson 102) Thinking about it, it does make sense for Anderson to use up one over of the old ball for a loosener. The new ball takes effect straight away, the first ball full outside of,f speeding off the bat, through cover point and away for the first boundary of the day. Taylor is looking to score quickly off this, as he drops one into the off side and hustles through for a single. Williamson gets the strike and edges to slip, but he played it with such soft hands that it was never in danger of even coming close to carrying. England have three slips and a gully for Williamson, but Williamson still manages to find a gap between them, opening the face and getting two to backward point. New Zealand are eating up that deficit. |
| “Hi Dan.” Hi, Phil Russell. “On the subject on unfathomably popular songs, what’s the deal with Mustang Sally? Teeth-grindingly irritating rhythm, nonsensical lyrics and yet turns up on every compilation album and kareoke night going. Effectively it says: ‘See. I have a car, and look at me, I’m going drive it around a bit. I’m great, me.’ Garbage. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.” | “Hi Dan.” Hi, Phil Russell. “On the subject on unfathomably popular songs, what’s the deal with Mustang Sally? Teeth-grindingly irritating rhythm, nonsensical lyrics and yet turns up on every compilation album and kareoke night going. Effectively it says: ‘See. I have a car, and look at me, I’m going drive it around a bit. I’m great, me.’ Garbage. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.” |
| 11.11am BST11:11 | 11.11am BST11:11 |
| 80th over: New Zealand 315-2 (Taylor 51, Williamson 100) One last over with the old ball then I would imagine, given the cloud cover. These first three overs have been a bit of a miniature holding spell, you feel, before we get stuck into the real business. Taylor punches out to cover for a single and Williamson isn’t interested in doing anything but blocking the rest. | 80th over: New Zealand 315-2 (Taylor 51, Williamson 100) One last over with the old ball then I would imagine, given the cloud cover. These first three overs have been a bit of a miniature holding spell, you feel, before we get stuck into the real business. Taylor punches out to cover for a single and Williamson isn’t interested in doing anything but blocking the rest. |
| “The problem you’re going to have with The Frog Song,” writes Chris Bourne, “is that he likes to pick on a member of the audience wearing a leather jacket and make them come on the stage to hop up and down to the music. I’d call the whole thing off if I were you.” | “The problem you’re going to have with The Frog Song,” writes Chris Bourne, “is that he likes to pick on a member of the audience wearing a leather jacket and make them come on the stage to hop up and down to the music. I’d call the whole thing off if I were you.” |
| Joke’s on him: I’m sitting up in the gods. | Joke’s on him: I’m sitting up in the gods. |
| 11.08am BST11:08 | 11.08am BST11:08 |
| Williamson reaches his hundred | Williamson reaches his hundred |
| 79th over: New Zealand 314-2 (Taylor 50, Williamson 100) This is a slightly odd one: Jimmy Anderson is going to have a bowl two overs before the new over is due. Williamson runs his second ball down to the vacant third man region and, though it doesn’t have enough on it to reach the boundary, he’s quick enough between the wickets to get three runs and move to an excellent hundred. That brings Taylor on strike and he turns a short one down to fine leg to bring up his own half century. | 79th over: New Zealand 314-2 (Taylor 50, Williamson 100) This is a slightly odd one: Jimmy Anderson is going to have a bowl two overs before the new over is due. Williamson runs his second ball down to the vacant third man region and, though it doesn’t have enough on it to reach the boundary, he’s quick enough between the wickets to get three runs and move to an excellent hundred. That brings Taylor on strike and he turns a short one down to fine leg to bring up his own half century. |
| Updated at 12.33pm BST | Updated at 12.33pm BST |
| 11.02am BST11:02 | 11.02am BST11:02 |
| 78th over: New Zealand 310-2 (Taylor 49, Williamson 97) Moeen Ali will get things underway for England, with the new ball available in three overs’ time. Williamson gets the first runs of the day from the first ball, pushing it out to extra cover for two. Lord’s is certainly a lot duller than it was on days’ one and two, so that new ball could well be nasty to deal with. Williamson cuts behind point for two more to move to within four of his hundred. On the telly, Shane Warne makes the point that Ali should have a, er, point in place. There is a man in the position, but he’s right on the boundary. A full toss gets knocked to mid on for a single, then Taylor drives the final ball down to third man for two more. | 78th over: New Zealand 310-2 (Taylor 49, Williamson 97) Moeen Ali will get things underway for England, with the new ball available in three overs’ time. Williamson gets the first runs of the day from the first ball, pushing it out to extra cover for two. Lord’s is certainly a lot duller than it was on days’ one and two, so that new ball could well be nasty to deal with. Williamson cuts behind point for two more to move to within four of his hundred. On the telly, Shane Warne makes the point that Ali should have a, er, point in place. There is a man in the position, but he’s right on the boundary. A full toss gets knocked to mid on for a single, then Taylor drives the final ball down to third man for two more. |
| @DanLucas86 I don't mind "Jude" nor "Road" nor even "Mull", but the hair. the hair... | @DanLucas86 I don't mind "Jude" nor "Road" nor even "Mull", but the hair. the hair... |
| 10.57am BST10:57 | 10.57am BST10:57 |
| Here come the players... | Here come the players... |
| 10.55am BST10:55 | 10.55am BST10:55 |
| Pre-play correspondence dept. | Pre-play correspondence dept. |
| “Nothing wrong with going to the bar during ‘Hey Jude’,” writes Evelyn Williams. “I think the mistake would be in going to see Paul McCartney in the first place.” I actually prefer the Stones to the Beatles, but I’ve never seen McCartney. Also my friend brilliantly got tickets for £25. | “Nothing wrong with going to the bar during ‘Hey Jude’,” writes Evelyn Williams. “I think the mistake would be in going to see Paul McCartney in the first place.” I actually prefer the Stones to the Beatles, but I’ve never seen McCartney. Also my friend brilliantly got tickets for £25. |
| @DanLucas86 considered opinion is he ruins Hey Jude the second he starts shouting. | @DanLucas86 considered opinion is he ruins Hey Jude the second he starts shouting. |
| @DanLucas86 mind you, surely everyone will head to the bar during The Frog Chorus, so Hey Jude is a good idea. Unless it is the encore. | @DanLucas86 mind you, surely everyone will head to the bar during The Frog Chorus, so Hey Jude is a good idea. Unless it is the encore. |
| Oh god he won’t do that, will he? I’m also planning for one during The Long and Winding Road. | Oh god he won’t do that, will he? I’m also planning for one during The Long and Winding Road. |
| @guardian_sport @DanLucas86 lets hope its not a shambles again by @englandcricket,yesterday was very poor | @guardian_sport @DanLucas86 lets hope its not a shambles again by @englandcricket,yesterday was very poor |
| It wasn’t great but, as I said earlier, it wasn’t a match-losing day. Quite. | It wasn’t great but, as I said earlier, it wasn’t a match-losing day. Quite. |
| 10.44am BST10:44 | 10.44am BST10:44 |
| @DanLucas86 After a spectacular morning, clouds have rolled in across St John's Wood but it's warmer than yesterday and it might swing. | @DanLucas86 After a spectacular morning, clouds have rolled in across St John's Wood but it's warmer than yesterday and it might swing. |
| Indeed, that did make choosing a jacket to wear today a tough choice this morning (I went with the leather one, sartorial experts). The forecast is for the clouds to get heavier throughout the day, then they might lighten up for the final session. The good news is that we’re not expecting any rain. | Indeed, that did make choosing a jacket to wear today a tough choice this morning (I went with the leather one, sartorial experts). The forecast is for the clouds to get heavier throughout the day, then they might lighten up for the final session. The good news is that we’re not expecting any rain. |
| 10.36am BST10:36 | 10.36am BST10:36 |
| So the cricket. From a neutral perspective, it would be lovely to see Kane Williamson be the first batsman in this Test to go on and make a monster of a score. The guy is an outstanding talent and a proper all-round batsman, capable of batting in any situation in any form of the game. There was THAT balls-of-steel shot in the World Cup, too, which instantly endeared him to every non-Australian around the globe. He’s going to break a fair few records, this kid. | So the cricket. From a neutral perspective, it would be lovely to see Kane Williamson be the first batsman in this Test to go on and make a monster of a score. The guy is an outstanding talent and a proper all-round batsman, capable of batting in any situation in any form of the game. There was THAT balls-of-steel shot in the World Cup, too, which instantly endeared him to every non-Australian around the globe. He’s going to break a fair few records, this kid. |
| 10.30am BST10:30 | 10.30am BST10:30 |
| Before we get stuck into the cricket though, time for iconoclast’s corner. I’m off to see Paul McCartney tonight; is it wrong that I’m planning my trip to the bar during Hey Jude? I figured it’ll be a short queue as everyone will be busy sticking two thumbs up, plus I hate Hey Jude. | Before we get stuck into the cricket though, time for iconoclast’s corner. I’m off to see Paul McCartney tonight; is it wrong that I’m planning my trip to the bar during Hey Jude? I figured it’ll be a short queue as everyone will be busy sticking two thumbs up, plus I hate Hey Jude. |
| 10.24am BST10:24 | 10.24am BST10:24 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Morning folks. Well this is all rather glorious, isn’t it? Obviously not if you’re an England fan, but, judging by the OBO correspondence so far, it seems a fair few of you are disengaged from the team. While this may be a sad state of affairs, it does at least give us leeway to revel in the excellent cricket that’s been on show so far. | Morning folks. Well this is all rather glorious, isn’t it? Obviously not if you’re an England fan, but, judging by the OBO correspondence so far, it seems a fair few of you are disengaged from the team. While this may be a sad state of affairs, it does at least give us leeway to revel in the excellent cricket that’s been on show so far. |
| This morning is likely to go one of two ways, and may prove crucial to the outcome of this Test. England could nip out a few wickets – they probably need two or three in the session at least – and give themselves a good chance of keeping the scores pretty close after two innings, if not coming away with a lead. | This morning is likely to go one of two ways, and may prove crucial to the outcome of this Test. England could nip out a few wickets – they probably need two or three in the session at least – and give themselves a good chance of keeping the scores pretty close after two innings, if not coming away with a lead. |
| Scenario two is, well, they don’t do that. New Zealand bat and bat, losing one or fewer wickets before lunch. They ease in front of England’s total – at the moment 86 runs separate the sides – then allow Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson to come in and do their thing. Which is belt it around the park. | Scenario two is, well, they don’t do that. New Zealand bat and bat, losing one or fewer wickets before lunch. They ease in front of England’s total – at the moment 86 runs separate the sides – then allow Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson to come in and do their thing. Which is belt it around the park. |
| There’s no doubt that New Zealand won day two and are in a cracking position. This could get nastier than the Red Wedding for England, but they’re not doomed just yet. This is going to be a fascinating morning, folks. Hold on to your butts. | There’s no doubt that New Zealand won day two and are in a cracking position. This could get nastier than the Red Wedding for England, but they’re not doomed just yet. This is going to be a fascinating morning, folks. Hold on to your butts. |