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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2015/may/23/england-new-zealand-first-test-day-three-live
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| England v New Zealand: first Test, day three – live! | England v New Zealand: first Test, day three – live! |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| 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? | |
| 2.20pm BST14:20 | |
| Play will restart at 2.45pm BST | |
| That is, in 25 minutes from now. | |
| 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. | |
| 2.07pm BST14:07 | |
| 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 | |
| 2.05pm BST14:05 | |
| 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 | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |