Devon Conway made a glorious 200 on debut, but England fought back strongly on a compelling day at Lord’s
Here’s today’s report from Lord’s.
Related: Rory Burns leads England revival after Devon Conway’s 200 for New Zealand
Related: ECB to punish Ollie Robinson for racist and sexist tweets
England batting coach Graham Thorpe speaks
“From where we were this morning, we’re really happy. The bowlers did a fantastic job, they all stood up. We’d have taken 378 all out from the position we were in overnight. It’s a good pitch – the odd ball has misbehaved but nothing ridiculous, and we hope we can bat all day tomorrow.
43rd over: England 111-2 (Burns 59, Root 42) Southee curves a cracking delivery into Burns, who tries to flick to leg and gets a leading edge into the off side. It’s been an excellent contest between these two. Southee had two huge LBW shouts turned down early on, but Burns has made it through to the close. He batted very well to make 59 not out, while Joe Root fought hard for his unbeaten 42. The first thing Root does at the close is shake the hand of Devon Conway, whose amazing unbeaten 200 was the highlight.
There was plenty of ebb and flow in an excellent day’s play. It was unquestionably England’s day, but New Zealand had so much credit in the bank from yesterday that they are still ahead in the match. The state of play is that England trail by 267 with eight wickets remaining.
42nd over: England 111-2 (Burns 59, Root 42) Wagner is huffing and puffing, desperate to take one of these batsmen with him tonight. Root is beaten by consecutive deliveries, the second a superb lifter. That’s the last we’ll see of Wagner, who bowled really well in that short spell.
41st over: England 110-2 (Burns 58, Root 42) There should be time for three more overs, though England will do their best to make it two. Southee’s line is too wide for most of that over; England have put their attacking strokes away for the night.
40th over: England 109-2 (Burns 58, Root 42) “Hi Rob,” says Jeff K. “As a Kiwi cricket fan, I believe the difference between back and late cuts are:
Back cut Any cut played behind square that isn’t a late cut
39th over: England 109-2 (Burns 58, Root 41) Tim Southee is also back in the attack. He bowled a skilful new-ball spell of 8-2-16-1, teaching Zak Crawley a lesson about chasing wide ones. Burns is similarly tempted by Southee’s third ball, but this time it takes an underedge and bounces through to Watling.
38th over: England 108-2 (Burns 58, Root 41) Neil Wagner returns for a little burst before the close. He reverts to a more orthodox line and length and is worked for a couple of singles. If Burns and Root survive until the close, this will have been a terrific day for England. There was a time just before tea when it looked like they might be overwhelmed by the New Zealand seamers.
37th over: England 106-2 (Burns 57, Root 40) Another maiden from Stick Cricket’s finest, Colin de Grandhomme. He now has figures of 9-3-12-0. In other news, I cocked up earlier and had two 13th overs, which is why I’ve jumped from 35 to 37 now.
“What’s the difference between a back cut and a late cut?” says Dan King. “I’ve been watching cricket for 40 years and I reckon for the first 25 years of those I never heard ‘back cut’. And now I rarely hear ‘late cut’. Are they basically the same shot?”
35th over: England 106-2 (Burns 57, Root 40) Burns top-edges a sweep off Santner, but it lands a long way short of the man in the deep. I think that’s how Santner got Burns out in Mount Manganui. Root is then beaten by a gorgeous delivery that curves in and spits past the edge. That’s extremely encouraging for Jack Leach, etc and so honk.
34th over: England 103-2 (Burns 56, Root 38) “The whole question of drinks breaks and other interruptions is baffling,” says Adam Roberts. “When I started watching cricket seriously in the 70s and into the 80s, I don’t remember organised drinks breaks. It was a sign it was a really hot day if drinks were allowed. Am I misremembering this? And there is no urgency to any interruption now. On a different interruption note; at Trent Bridge in 1977, the Queen visited as part of her Silver Jubilee visit to Nottm. She missed the tea interval so they stopped the match for her to meet the teams. My French brother-in-law - a staunch republican - was outraged and sat chuntering for the longest time.”
I’m not sure about drinks breaks back in the day, apart from the stories of Harold Larwood having pints of ale brought out. But though I take your point, surely there are quicker fixes when it comes to improving over-rates? Man needs his Gatorade. But does he need a two-minute chat about whether third slip should move to deep point.
Here’s the latest news on Ollie Robinson, who could be banned for the second Test at Edgbaston
Related: ECB to punish Ollie Robinson for racist and sexist tweets
33rd over: England 103-2 (Burns 55, Root 38) Santner bowls an accidental beamer at Root, who is alert enough to lean back and steer it for a couple of runs. It was a no-ball as well. Root then plays a delightful cut for four to take England into three figures. After a really difficult start to his innings, Root is beginning to play beautifully.
32nd over: England 92-2 (Burns 55, Root 29) Colin de Grandhomme returns to the attack. New Zealand would love to pilfer a couple of wickets in the 40 minutes before the close, especially if Root is one of them. Burns flicks a couple more through midwicket, and that’s your lot for this over.
31st over: England 90-2 (Burns 53, Root 29) Time for a bit of spin. Mitchell Santner replaces Wagner, who bowled a two-lengths spell of 7-0-33-0 (5-0-11-0 and 2-0-22-0). Rory Burns has had a few problems against slow bowling in his Test career - mainly offspin, though Santner did dismiss him at a crucial time in the first Test a couple of years ago. He beats Burns with his third ball, a beauty that rips through the gate. That’s a very good sign for New Zealand.
30th over: England 89-2 (Burns 53, Root 29) Burns works Jamieson to fine leg to reach a fluent, determined half-century from 90 balls. He survived one very good LBW shout from Tim Southee early on, but generally he has looked in terrific touch.
29th over: England 84-2 (Burns 48, Root 29) Burns nails a lovely pull for four off Wagner, whose change of approach has so far helped England: his last two overs have gone for 22.
“Good afternoon Rob,” says Will Lane. “It feels as though there’s a glut of batsmen in the English game best suited to the No.5 position: Root, Stokes, Pope and Lawrence, plus possibly Moeen and Bairstow. (Yes, I do think Root would have a higher average at No.5 and would probably bat there in a World XI.)
28th over: England 77-2 (Burns 42, Root 28) Root rocks back to back cut Jamieson for four. I was only just wide of gully at catchable height, but it was really well timed and Root is starting to look a little more fluent. He has scored 17 from his last 21 balls, having made 11 from 56 before that.
27th over: England 73-2 (Burns 42, Root 23) Wagner has gone into enforcer mode, ramming everything in short. Root waves an elegant back cut for four to move into the twenties, then Burns pulls a little unconvincingly into the leg side for no run. It was a no-ball, though that’s not really the point. “Burns is gonna take him on - game on,” says Nasser Hussain on Sky. It’s a really expensive over, 15 from it, including a couple of no-balls and a hook round the corner for four by Burns off the last ball. Somewhere in an amongst, the fifty partnership came up.
“Hi Rob,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “Is de Grandhomme the real-life equivalent of the infuriatingly-difficult-to-time medium pacers on Stick Cricket?”
Drinks break
26th over: England 58-2 (Burns 36, Root 17) A maiden from Jamieson to Root, and time for a peedie drink.
25th over: England 58-2 (Burns 36, Root 17) There are 26 overs remaining, though there’s no chance we’ll get them all in by 6.30pm. After ignoring a series of deliveries angled across him, Root cloths a pull through midwicket for two. He has 17 from 67 balls, and 10 from his last 61. It’s been hard work, for him and us.
24th over: England 56-2 (Burns 36, Root 15) Burns chases a wide yorker from Jamieson and is beaten, the highlight of another maiden. This session has been an intriguing but not particularly exhilarating arm-wrestle.
23rd over: England 56-2 (Burns 36, Root 15) Wagner does indeed replace de Grandhomme, who bowled a ticklish spell of 6-1-10-0, and again angles one past Root’s outside edge. Root must have been beaten seven or eight times already.
22nd over: England 55-2 (Burns 35, Root 15) Kyle Jamieson comes on in place of Neil Wagner, who may change ends. One thing that has been changed is the ball, which had been blocked out of shape by England’s batsmen. A quiet over from Jamieson, one run from it.
21st over: England 54-2 (Burns 34, Root 15) de Grandhomme continues to tease Root on or around off stump, and beats him again with a delivery that keeps a bit low. A rare poor ball allows Root to wave a back cut for four. He needed that, having scored only four runs from the previous 50 deliveries.
20th over: England 50-2 (Burns 34, Root 11) Wagner strays onto the pads of Burns, who puts him away for four with the minimum of fuss. He’s played well today, especially in comparison to the other England batters, though he survives another LBW shout off the last delivery of Wagner’s over. Far too high.
19th over: England 46-2 (Burns 30, Root 11) de Grandhomme has a big appeal for LBW against Burns turned down by Richard Kettleborough. It pitched a fair way outside leg and there’s no review from New Zealand.
18th over: England 45-2 (Burns 29, Root 11) Root drives Wagner pleasantly for a couple to move into double figures. There’s a bit of swing for Wagner, enough for him to keep pitching the ball up for now. It won’t be long before he starts dishing out some rough stuff.
17th over: England 41-2 (Burns 29, Root 9) Burns, the only England batsman to look vaguely fluent, squirts de Grandhomme through backward point for three more. Then Root is again beaten on the walk by a gently curving outswinger.
16th over: England 38-2 (Burns 26, Root 9) It’s time for Neil Wagner. He is No3 in the Test bowling rankings, behind only Pat Cummins and Ravichandran Ashwin, and could be a nightmare on this two-paced pitch. There will plenty of short balls in time, but for now he concentrates on a fuller length. Root is beaten again, this time by a delivery angled across him. He has 9 from 42 balls, and it all looks a bit of a struggle.
15th over: England 37-2 (Burns 25, Root 9) Colin de Grandhomme is a deceptively dangerous bowler, whose Test wickets include - look at this lineup - Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Babar Azam, Ben Stokes, Hashim Amla and Marnus Labuschagne. He beats Root again at the end of his third over, slipping one past the edge as Root walked down the track.
14th over: England 36-2 (Burns 24, Root 9) This pitch looks increasingly untrustworthy. Maybe it always was, and we simply didn’t realise because of the excellence of Conway and Nicholls. Root, whose finger seems okay, waves a careful cover drive for two.
13th over: England 33-2 (Burns 23, Root 7) de Grandhomme beats Root with a big legcutter. Root has 7 from 30 balls, exactly the same as in the World Cup final. Happily for England, this time he’s not out.
Root is going to continue, though he doesn’t look entirely comfortable.
12.3 overs: England 32-2 (Burns 22, Root 7) Root, surprised by a bit of extra bounce from de Grandhomme, is hit nastily on the bottom hand. There’s a break in play while he receives treatment to his middle finger. This doesn’t look great you know.
13th over: England 32-2 (Burns 22, Root 7) Root has 7 from 24 balls, which is a compliment to the quality and intelligence of New Zealand’s bowling. He loves to counter-attack at the start of an innings, but he knows it’s too risky at the moment. Batting should get a bit easier as the ball gets older, though Neil Wagner would doubtless contest this observation, possibly with six successive short balls into the ribs.
12th over: England 31-2 (Burns 21, Root 7) This is a canny move from Kane Williamson. He brings on the medium-pacer Colin de Grandhomme ahead of Neil Wagner, almost certainly because of what happened in the World Cup final. De Grandhomme tormented and then dismissed Root, who made a desperate 30-ball 7. He bowls a similar line here, around fifth stump, but this time Root doesn’t have to chase the game. A maiden.
11th over: England 31-2 (Burns 21, Root 7) Burns starts the evening session with a flowing cover drive for four off Southee, then offers no stroke to a grubber that misses the off stump. That kind of uneven bounce on day two is more than a little ominous for England.
“Alright Rob,” says Tom Woodhouse. “Could you see a situation if, when Buttler and Stokes come back, Sibley and Crawley get a few low scores and then Hameed and Bracey bat Nos2 and 3 for some of the India series and then onward to Aussie?”
10th over: England 25-2 (Burns 15, Root 7) Root is beaten by a jaffa from Jamieson that snaps viciously off the seam. He looks at the pitch and smiles wryly. Root survives the rest of the over without alarm, and that’s the end of an increasingly torrid session for England.
Devon Conway - who made an eerily serene double century on debut - and Neil Wagner flogged 40 precious runs for the last wicket. Then Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson got the scalpel out, taking a wicket apiece in a masterful new-ball spell. England trail by 353.
9th over: England 25-2 (Burns 15, Root 7) Burns shapes to hook Southee and then aborts the stroke as the ball starts to get big on him. A high-class maiden ends with Burns playing and missing at an outswinger. Southee has lovely figures of 5-2-6-1.
8th over: England 25-2 (Burns 15, Root 7) Root works Jamieson deftly off the hip for four. He was in career-best form for the first half of the winter, so it’ll be interesting to see where his game is at as the summer progresses. His form for Yorkshire at the start of the season was okay, no more or less.
7th over: England 19-2 (Burns 15, Root 1) Root gets off the mark with a late inside edge off Southee. Meanwhile, since his 267 last summer, Crawley’s Test scores are 9, 8, 5, 13, 53, 0, 9, 5, 2. England will be desperate for him to justify his place, because his game is made for Australian conditions, but he’s another one who needs runs quicksmart.
“Interesting stat,” announces Pete Salmon. “Of the ten players in this match with the highest batting averages, nine are New Zealanders...”
Experience 1-0 Youth. Southee takes care of Zak Crawley with a classic set up, following a series of straighter deliveries with a tempting outswinger well wide of off stump. Crawley launches into a big drive and snicks it through to BJ Watling. He won’t need telling that it was a poor stroke.
6th over: England 18-1 (Burns 15, Crawley 2) A floaty outswinger from Jamieson is driven crisply to the cover boundary by Burns. That was a bit too full. Although he has had a couple of very close LBW shouts, Burns is timing his attacking strokes nicely. Later in the over he clips an inswinger sweetly through midwicket for four more.
5th over: England 8-1 (Burns 5, Crawley 2) Burns gropes at a full outswinger from Southee, almost dragging it back onto the stumps. He was lucky that it got stuck under his boot. Two balls later he survives another huge LBW shout, this time after playing around a textbook inswinger. It’s Michael Gough, so New Zealand know not to review. Mind you, this was seriously close. Replays show that, even though the ball was hitting a fair chunk of leg stump, it was umpire’s call.
It’s been a high-class start from New Zealand’s bowlers, and England are hanging on a little bit.
4th over: England 7-1 (Burns 4, Crawley 2) Since his outstanding 89 in the first Test in India, Sibley’s scores are 16, 16, 3, 0, 7, 2, 3, 0. That’s 47 runs at an average of 6, and his career average has dropped below 30. I know there are mitigating circumstances, but it’s a big worry because England’s oldfangled gameplan make Sibley a deceptively important player.
The new batsman Zak Crawley is greeted with a big inswinger that he defends nicely; then he gets off the mark with a thick edge for a couple. After an untidy start, that was an ominously good second over from Jamieson.
Gone! Sibley plays down the wrong line at a fullish outswinger from Jamieson and is hit on the back pad. I thought I heard two noises but Richard Kettleborough’s finger went up straight away. Sibley eventually reviews - and he’s a bit unlucky not to survive because replays show it was just shaving the off stumps.
3rd over: England 4-0 (Burns 4, Sibley 0) Burns survives a huge shout for LBW after offering no stroke to a Southee inducker. I thought it was plumb and was about to call the umpire an effing eejit - and then I realised the umpire was Michael Gough. New Zealand decide not to review, and replays show it was indeed bouncing over the stumps. I know you know this, but it’s worth repeating: Michael Gough is an astoundingly good umpire.
“Afternoon, Rob,” says Richard O’Hagan. “Good moment to come in. On your ‘game within a game’ point, is there a possibility that Bracey keeps his place at the expense of someone else, even with Bairstow and Buttler returning?”
2nd over: England 4-0 (Burns 4, Sibley 0) The giant Kyle Jamieson, who has 36 wickets at 13 in his fledgling Test career, will share the new ball. He’s bowling to Dom Sibley, who I think he hit on the head in a tour match a couple of years ago. His length is a bit fuller here, but his line is awry and Sibley is able to leave all six deliveries.
1st over: England 4-0 (Burns 4, Sibley 0) Rory Burns gets off the mark with an emphatic pull for four off Tim Southee. That’ll be a relief to Burns, who has three ducks in his previous eight Test innings. Southee’s length is much fuller for the rest of the over, and there’s some encouraging inswing to the left-hander.
Here come Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. There will be a game within a game whenever England bat in this series, because only four of Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Pope, Lawrence and Bracey are likely to play against India and Australia.
Thanks Adam, morning everyone. It’s such a shame Devon Conway didn’t carry his bat, though in a way his innings is even better for the selfless way in which it ended. He’s a Black Cap now.
He made hard work of it, but Root breaks the stumps just in time, Devon Conway missing out on carrying his bat - just. But that matters little, for this was surely one of the best debut innings in the history of Test cricket. And on that memorable note, over to Rob Smyth who will take you through the England reply. Bye for now!
122nd over: New Zealand 377-9 (Conway 200, Wagner 24) Conway into the 190s with a superb cover drive for four from the first ball of Wood’s over. After exchanging singles, it’s back to the opener, six away from 200. He thinks about taking on Wood’s bouncer but it’s too quick. He takes it on the second time though, clearing fine leg... HE’S MADE IT TO 200 WITH A SIX! What a wonderful moment! His first six of the innings from his 347th delivery, and what a time for it. A marvellous story. He’s the second opener in the history of Test cricket to clock a double ton at the first time of asking.
121st over: New Zealand 365-9 (Conway 189, Wagner 24) Broad again, who beats Wagner with a gem from around the wicket - angled in, seamed away. He repeats the dose with his next delivery, once again past the edge after squaring him up. Not a lot the No11 can do about those. What he can do is score when the ball is on his pads though, one bounce over the rope with a flick reminiscent of the one Conway played to bring up his century yesterday. Have that!
“Nice to see your back OBOing.” Cheers, Colum Fordham, lovely to be back. “I’ve heard of false 9s in football. It just seems that Wagner may be a false number 11 in cricket, judging by the quality of his shots since he has come in. On drive off the back foot, four of the back foot and lofted straight six.”
120th over: New Zealand 360-9 (Conway 188, Wagner 20) Another stunning shot, Wagner punching Wood off the back foot, placing it straight of the man at cover for four more. Glorious cricket. He’s 19 from nine. Wood, into the attack to replace Anderson, bounces him in reply - twice. Fuller now, the No11 tucks fine for one. Back to Conway - how does he play this? He has one of the 21 runs this final pair have put on. He takes a single to deep point to keep the strike.
“So, Adam.” Yes, Adrian Goldman? “You are in favour of a return to the timeless test approach - ended only by one side winning, or the touring party having to go home or to the IPL, whichever comes first.” Now we’re talking! Durban Test, March 1939 is my North Star.
119th over: New Zealand 354-9 (Conway 187, Wagner 15) Neil Wagner, you’ve gotta love him! Broad replaces Robinson, looking to get himself into the book for the first time, so the New Zealand No11 launches him over extra cover for SIX! That’s one of the shots of the match! Knee bent at the point of contact like Kim Hughes, Lara-esque follow-through... delightful. It brings up the New Zealand 350. And three more to finish through cover to retain the strike. Sure, Conway is chasing a double on debut but more from Wags, please.
“Enjoying the OBO.” Thank you, Steph Cooper. “My suggestion for dealing with this is to pass the right to request a new ball to the batting side, if the bowlers are behind on the over rate at the point where a new ball becomes available. That would focus minds far more effectively than any of the current options.”
118th over: New Zealand 344-9 (Conway 186, Wagner 6) Nice shot from Wagner to get off the mark through midwicket. And an even better one to follow, punshing Anderson off the back foot through cover point for four. I did say earlier that New Zealand bat deep...
“Regarding over rates,” writes Graeme Thorn, “imagine how inconvenient it would be for teams to return for a sixth day to catch up on the overs they’re underbowling?”
A bit of bounce and bit of movement, enough to find Southee’s outside edge. Anderson’s 616th dismissal in Tests, Bracey’s first.
117th over: New Zealand 338-8 (Conway 186, Southee 8) A good little period for New Zealand, this pair adding 21. That’s helped by a Robinson no-ball, the seventh delivery also bringing an overthrow.
“Afternoon Adam.” Brian Withington! “Good to have you back on OBO as Conway edges further towards glory, but what we all really want to know is how is Winnie and has she had her first bat fitting yet?”
116th over: New Zealand 334-8 (Conway 185, Southee 6) We’re going to lose some more time here with two boxes of balls brought out after a change has been agreed by the umpire. Will Southee try and pop it out to Abbey Road? No, it’s a quick single to midwicket instead. Back to Conway, who helps New Zealand to four more off his thigh pad to end the over. Jimmy won’t be best pleased. Meanwhile, only one player in the last 120 years has carried their bat on Test debut, Sky tells us, with three in all matches played.
“Hey Adam.” Hello, Tom Bowtell. “On Southee, I wonder if he has the highest percentage of career Test runs in 6s for anyone with more than 1000 runs? 438 in sixes (72 of ‘em) out of 1690, so 25.9% Old slow coach Afridi only has 18.18% of Test runs in sixes and Alistair Cook is minutely further back at 0.53%”
115th over: New Zealand 328-8 (Conway 184, Southee 5) Broad drops Southee! A straightforward chance at mid-off, moving to his right. “It was a dolly,” says Nasser on TV. Ouch. Would have been five wickets for Robinson on debut. Anderson, by contrast, saves four with a perfectly-executed dive at mid-off from Conway.
114th over: New Zealand 324-8 (Conway 183, Southee 2) Anderson to Conway from round the wicket, the opener playing straight throughout. No concerns. You can’t break this man’s concentration.
113th over: New Zealand 324-8 (Conway 183, Southee 2) A tight single for Conway from the penultimate ball, galloping away after prodding down to cover. He keeps the strike. Earlier in the over, Robinson wasn’t far away from going past Southee’s inside edge.
England's over-rate gets ever slower: 25 in the two hours before lunch yesterday, 24 today. How much slower does it have to get before the @ICC introduce a more effective deterrent than fining teams?
112th over: New Zealand 321-8 (Conway 181, Southee 1) Ignore what I said before, Southee doesn’t swing. He holds the record for the most sixes in Tests at both No9 and No10, if I recall correctly. It’ll frustrate Jimmy that he hasn’t made it into the book a second time.
John Starbuck is with me on Conway record-watch: “The way things are going, can someone work out the records and dates for a Test debut record which includes carrying one’s bat?”
111th over: New Zealand 318-8 (Conway 179, Southee 0) Some fightback this from England, taking 5/30 since New Zealand got off to a flier in the first 50 minutes this morning. Meanwhile, Conway is inching closer to carrying his bat. Southee will swing, we know that, so Conway might need to do likewise to hunt his double ton. Fun!
The perfect re-start for England! And really well set up. Jamieson tried to drive earlier in the over, as is his preferencce, so they dropped an extra man back and went short on three occasions, the last of which won a top edge to Crawley running in from deep square, taking a fine diving catch low to the turf. Robinson has four.
The players are back on the field. Robinson to Conway to start us off again, running in from the Nursery End. PLAY!
I hope everyone had a nice bowl of soup or something like that. A quick email from Graham O’Reilly, which is fairly representive of my inbox. “Lots of sympathy for your poster Umran Sarwar when he complains about ersatz apologies from Ollie Robinson. Also when he says ‘He should be nowhere near the England team until he gets the help he obviously needs.’ On the other hand, perhaps he already has had the help and has already grown up. People do. But we can’t know from the stuff he had to read out yesterday, imposed as it clearly was by a three-line whip. The greater fault lies with the ECB, who didn’t check all this in advance, and so could pick him on his merits with no baggage. The bottom line surely is that they didn’t think it was important. One hopes that whatever punishment is meted out goes to whoever made that non-decision.”
110th over: New Zealand 314-7 (Conway 179, Jamieson 7) Anderson is back to bowl it and gives Jamieson a look at a full delivery, driving it through cover for four. Nice shot to go to lunch on, ending a highly entertaining session. New Zealand added 68 runs, most of them in the first hour of play but losing four wickets in a hurry after Mark Wood was brought into the attack. He has three, Robinson the other. Conway, meanwhile, has batted for four sessions on debut and doesn’t look like he’s going to be satisfied for a while yet - he gets to enjoy a second Lord’s lunch as a not out batsman. I’ll grab a bite to eat myself before returning to your emails in about 15 minutes.
109th over: New Zealand 308-7 (Conway 178, Jamieson 2) Broad hits Jamieson and runs down the pitch without looking back at the umpire until he’s about two metres away from the batsman. Not even close to out. As I say in this tweet, I’ve enjoyed celebrappeals as much as anyone in the press box, but it’s time to put them away. It’s becoming a bit of a problem at domestic level. Saw a shocking example of it at Lord’s a couple of weeks ago in a county game. No huge deal, love everything that Broad brings to the game, but time to put it away. And Conway takes him through midwicket to finish, the opener’s 21st boundary. One over left before lunch.
It's been great fun, I've enjoyed it as much as anyone, but time to start handing out demerit points for celebrappeals. #ENGvNZ
108th over: New Zealand 303-7 (Conway 174, Jamieson 2) New Zealand bring up their 300 with a lovely shot from Conway, turning Wood up the hill for three. They’ve lost four wickets in the last 12 runs of that journey, though. Scoring shots from five of the six deliveries here - that might be the end of Wood’s excellent spell.
Devon Conway is into the top 10 for highest scores on Test debut. Could cover 8 of the 9 ahead of him with another 40 runs. #EngvNZ
107th over: New Zealand 295-7 (Conway 168, Jamieson 0) Robinson is ever so close to going through Jamieson! That’s a big inswinger, saved by the inside edge of his bat. Sure enough, the seamer has a little word. I watched him against Middlesex last season at Radlett where he spent the match relentlessly sledging the opposition and flaring up at the umpires whenever a decision didn’t go his way.
Here’s the third Wood wicket.
So good from @mawood33
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/iGkhtpvCsD#ENGvNZpic.twitter.com/5SSqhHRBuX
106th over: New Zealand 294-7 (Conway 167, Jamieson 0) Love to see a bowler’s fortunes turn around. Wood did very little wrong yesterday, bowling so quickly for no return. But his spell this morning - 3/7 from six - has turned this innings around for the hosts. And there’s nearly a fourth, finding Jamieson’s outside edge with the one ball he gets at the No8, not quite carrying to second slip.
Make that 4/6! The collapse is on and Wood is on fire! Clever from speedster, pushing men back for the short ball before giving Santner a fuller delivery to drive from round the wicket. He’s through the shot too early though, spooning a catch to Anderson at cover.
105th over: New Zealand 293-6 (Conway 166, Santner 0) New Zealand dominated the first 50 minutes of the day but England have struck back hard in the next 45, claiming 3/5. But the visitors do have a strong lower order, Santner having started his Test career at number six in the batting list. He leaves well to begin but Robinson forces him to use his bat in defence for the rest. Another wicket maiden. What an excellent session this has been so far.
WICKET! ☝
England are fighting back at Lord's! Two noises but, after a very good review, Ollie Robinson has his third wicket!
Pad first, Colin de Grandhomme gone & NZ are 293-6 #ENGvNZ
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Outstanding review! Given not out on the basis of there being two noises, it sounded on stump mic like Broad was pushing for it to go upstairs. Root agreed and was spot on to do so, hitting leg stump.
104th over: New Zealand 293-5 (Conway 166, de Grandhomme 0) Ohh, great bit of cricket to finish with Wood pushing another man back but going full to Conway, who leaves just outside his off-stump despite the from round the wicket angle. Back to back maidens from the fastest man on show - does Root keep him going? Meanwhile, on matters Conway, the real number I’m interested in is 287 - the highest score on debut: Tip Foster at Sydney in 1903.
103rd over: New Zealand 293-5 (Conway 166, de Grandhomme 0) Robinson to Conway, who takes a single to go past the mighty Charles Bannerman’s debut in the first Test Match in 1877. No respite for de Grandhomme, who has to make good decisions throughout.
“On the subject of Robinson and his tweets, as an ethnic minority I am becoming tired of the meaningless apologies and the frankly insulting “I am not a racist” excuses,” writes Umran Sarwar. “It’s about the flippant mindset of treating people differently and as the other. The inside joke of the superior race and laughing at Jonny foreigner to make yourself feel better. The cookie cutter non-apology clearly not written by him - lifting a cut and paste ‘there is no place for this’ is just banal and insincere. He needs help yes but the pity should be extended to the ethnic minorities that he has insulted and not to him. He needs to get help, not be dragged kicking and screaming because he has been found out. Until he does so he is an embarrassment to the English shirt and it is not the ethnic minority players to educate him. He should be nowhere near the England team until he gets the help he obviously needs.”
Well deserved @mawood33!
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/iGkhtpvCsD#ENGvNZpic.twitter.com/ev5b55MTlI
102nd over: New Zealand 292-5 (Conway 165, de Grandhomme 0) Watching it back, Watling didn’t need to be clipping at that given it was on off-stump, but that’s an error created by Mark Wood’s wide angle on the crease and sharp pace. If you then shape it away, as he did then, it’s game on for the quick. de Grandhomme has to be right on his game to start, Wood testing him just outside the off stump.
Much as I obviously want us to win in style @collinsadam (as if, NZ are a brilliant sure) there's something beautiful about watching a cricketer land in Test cricket so impressively. So perhaps we could skittle everyone else for zip as Conway scores a maiden 200. Aaaah cricket.
One brings two! Classy bowling from Wood, full with just enough shape off the seam, at serious pace. Watling wanted to flick it into the legside but it takes his outside edge instead, fizzing to Sibley at second slip. A very handy catch given he must’ve seen it late.
101st over: New Zealand 292-4 (Conway 165, Watling 1) Conway solid in defence and happy to leave Robinson alone when he’s outside the off stump. That’s just the second maiden of the day so far. This is where England could do with a turn from Jack Leach, but not to be.
Sky cut to a young lad with his dad in the grandstand, wearing a t-shirt about his love of the game while scoring the innings. I was the kid with a scorebook at the MCG growing up - very happy times.
100th over: New Zealand 292-4 (Conway 165, Watling 1) Wood past the outside edge of Watling to finish after going beyond Conway’s inside edge earlier in the over. He’s well and truly in the game.
“I played against North Devon CC sides containing the teenage Overtons some years ago and it would be fair to say they were vocal and let me know what they thought of me and my batting,” recalls Charles Sheldrick. “As a Somerset fan I am obviously disappointed that Overton is not in the side (and has not been released to play against Hants), but am I the only one who thinks that our boy may have dodged some attention by not being in the XI?”
Interestingly, Wood's wicket ball was the fourth slowest he's bowled in the innings. Really well-placed, really well set up. #ENGvNZ
99th over: New Zealand 291-4 (Conway 164, Watling 1) Robinson attacking Watling’s stumps from the get go, well kept out. Drinks. New Zealand’s hour with Conway ticking along beautifully, but by ending that big partnership, the hosts have something to work with.
98th over: New Zealand 290-4 (Conway 163, Watling 1) That was a fantastic partnership, taking New Zealand from a bit of bother at 114-3, adding 174 for the fourth wicket. In walks BJ Watling, starting his final tour as an international cricketer, having announced his decision to retire after the World Test Championship final. He’s off the mark with one around the corner but a successful over for England - how they needed that and well bowled Mark Wood.
“Morning Adam.” Hello, Simon Thomas. “I do love a trawl through scorecards of old, so thanks for putting that up. Apart from Ranji’s knock in the second innings, Tom Richardson sent down over 100 overs for his 13 wickets. Not bad in a 3 day game. I’ll not make a cheap comparison to yesterday’s over rate though, possibly because I think they were 4 ball overs, but still…”
Woody gets the breakthrough!
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/iGkhtpvCsD#ENGvNZpic.twitter.com/A50edXUXgW
Wood gets Nicholls with the bouncer! He tried to take it on but it was too quick, the top edge landing with Robinson at long leg.
97th over: New Zealand 287-3 (Conway 161, Nicholls 61) Conway keeps scoring down the ground, with that uncomplicated and compact technique - four more. Robinson didn’t go a lot wrong but the opener is in the zone. If you’re wondering, when ignoring every caveat, he has the highest Test average of all time at the moment (or will, when dismissed). Yes, this means nothing, but makes a nice screenshot for his family seeing him ahead of Bradman et al.
96th over: New Zealand 282-3 (Conway 156, Nicholls 61) Wood bowled very quickly yesterday and without luck. He came ever so close to getting Conway with the short ball after tea, after hitting him twice with it before lunch. He’s up at Nicholls here though, who plays the extra pace nicely, clipping a couple along the way.
“More than 90 overs with no catches and no sixes,” Jonathan McKinley observes. “Are the kiwis (like the bird) incapable of taking to the air?” Very good. And Devon Conway can go big, believe me.
@collinsadam *milestone watch* If he makes it to 200, Conway will be the 2nd opener ever to make a double century on Test debut.
The sole member of that club at the moment is Sri Lanka's Brendon Kuruppu, who scored 201* v New Zealand in Colombo in 1987. https://t.co/TXWK81nYyX
95th over: New Zealand 280-3 (Conway 156, Nicholls 59) I’ve watched a lot of Robinson for Sussex and, putting everyone else aside and just speaking about him as a bowler, I’m not surprised at all that he looks completely at home at Test level. He’s been ready for this step up for a couple of seasons. Very good to Conway here.
94th over: New Zealand 279-3 (Conway 156, Nicholls 58) “Book yourself in,” says David Lloyd of the New Zealand pair, getting a chance to bat big after getting through this first half an hour. A single to Nicholls behind square and a couple for Conway in the same direction. Athers says that Conway’s 156 is now the highest score for any man on debut in England. Wow! He goes past Ranji’s 154 - a brilliant Test at Manchester in 1896. I’ve argued in the past that Old Trafford is the greatest Ashes venue and this match helps with that.
“Good morning.” And to you, John Starbuck. “One thing I did enjoy yesterday was hearing, on the Beeb’s highlights show, an Antipodean commentator saying the magic words ‘Day Boo’ again. It’s the little things one misses.”
93rd over: New Zealand 276-3 (Conway 154, Nicholls 57) Ollie Robinson into the attack, to a chorus of support from his colleagues. How will he handle this pressure? Has he been able to switch it off? He gives Nicholls one on his pads early in the over, helped down the slope for three. Better to Conway, locating his inside edge.
“Well,” says Mark Slater, “there we were wondering how the ECB was going to accommodate a surfiet of fast bowling talent into the national side. Seems that a check into the media history of prospects, and their unilateral acknowledgement and regrets for any stupidity found, could be a criteria for inclusion going forward.”
92nd over: New Zealand 273-3 (Conway 154, Nicholls 54) This is turning into a huge debut effort from Conway, raising his bat for 150. He’s already the highest scorer at Lord’s when appearing for the first time and now has the chance to join the small club of international players to make that a double. Nicholls’ turn, on the front foot scoring again, grabbing three past point. And now four more for Conway, steering to deep third as he has so well - despite going through fourth slip, he’s played that with control. It prompts a chat between Broad and Root, third slip coming out. To Plan B.
91st over: New Zealand 265-3 (Conway 149, Nicholls 51) The second over in a row where Anderson has started with a half-volley, put away this time through point by Conway. “Excellent,” says Nasser, “waiting for hit to pass him then flat-batting it for four.” Jimmy is again back where he needs to be soon enough, locating the opener’s inside edge. The Black Caps have added 19 runs in 20 minutes.
He might not get the attention that he deserves, courtesy the presence of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, but those are terrific numbers for @HenryNicholls27. And only Tom Latham & Williamson spend more time in the @BLACKCAPS nets than him #EngvNZpic.twitter.com/hTuNkE69tX
90th over: New Zealand 258-3 (Conway 143, Nicholls 50) A lovely way for Nicholls to bring up his half-century, on-driving Broad into the rope beneath the pavilion. He’s been such a big part of New Zealand’s rise over the last three years - a very good cricketer, averaging 45 in Tests, ranked sixth in the world by the ICC.
89th over: New Zealand 254-3 (Conway 143, Nicholls 46) Half-volley, put away by Conway to the grandstand side of the ground. Shot. Sure enough, Anderson is back on his length straight away, up again for leg before, but much as it was in his previous over, going just over the top. Good cricket. “That’s the length at Lord’s,” says Nasser.
88th over: New Zealand 250-3 (Conway 139, Nicholls 46) The 250 is up with a delightful straight drive, a shot Conway played so well yesterday either side of his century milestone. They take three. Beforehand, Bracey mishandled a ball that swung late, spitting away for a bye. The wicketkeeper is in the game again later in the over with Broad’s scramble-seamer doing plenty after Nicholls shoulders arms. Lord’s, as they say, is never an easy place for stumpers.
And here, my friends, is the overseas TMS link! Enjoy!
You can listen to us today overseas (some restrictions)
https://t.co/mDHPeUAmUM#bbccricket#ENGvNZpic.twitter.com/kziCly2xEE
87th over: New Zealand 246-3 (Conway 136, Nicholls 46) Ouch, Jimmy, running in from the Nursery End, gets one to take off from a good length first ball of the day, Conway ripping his bottom hand off the blade at the point of contact. A reminder that this second new ball is only six overs old, so this is an important passage. Good leave later in the over, bouncing over off-stump. Now a shout for leg before with one going beyond the left-hander’s inside edge, but it’s pitched outside leg; no review. All told, a predictably probing start.
The players are on the field. James Anderson, the floor is yours. Conway to face for New Zealand. PLAY!
“Hi, Adam.” Morning, Andrew Moore. “As someone with virtually no social media profile am curious as to why this is coming out now? Has it been deliberately timed to damage Ollie Robinson (which in itself would be a pretty vile thing to do), or is it the result of people on Twitter searching his history due to his increased exposure.”
Good question. A bit of both, I reckon. Not that this is the answer (as Nasser said perfectly on TV last night) but it’s remarkable to me that Robinson’s support team didn’t have the presence of mind to clean this up before he was in the spotlight. It’s widely acknowledged by the man himself that he had a few anger issues. Did nobody twig that there might be some dreadful tweets out there? Odd.
Nice stuff. Reminds me of the story of Mark Waugh in 1993. So certain they were that he was marching towards 100, a teammate already popped up the sticky tape on the Lord’s board. Sure enough, out for 99; one of two men to fall one short of a ton in that Test. But it worked out for Waugh in the end, his name up there eight years later after completing his 19th Test century - a gorgeous knock.
✍️ Writing his name into history. #LoveLords | @BLACKCAPSpic.twitter.com/ATHCYlwMBF
There’ll be a lot of emails about Robinson. I’ll try my best to read them all and will include some, but plese don’t be cross with me if your note doesn’t appear. Here’s one to open the batting.
“Hiya, Collo.” Morning, Iain McKane.“Seems Robinson’s sanction may be at least that handed down to Craig Overton for his offensive remarks a few years back. Robinson’s age/immaturity at the time (and, if it can be proved, his state of mind then, during an apparently tempestuous time in his life) should be taken into account in mitigation of sanction; but, this is a serious matter, whatever your age. A ban for at least the next Test would seem appropriate and reasonable, if within the ECB’s powers. I would also recommend OR undertakes some professionally-mediated meetings with members of the England set-up from minority backgrounds, as well as further education programmes.”
It’s a lovely morning in London. 20 degrees now; expected to reach 24 this afternoon. On account of the fact they maintained such a poor over rate yesterday - always a risk when not playing a spinner - the hosts only got six overs in with the second new ball before stumps. So, an opening for Anderson and Broad before Conway (136) and Nicholls (48) get themselves in again. The incumbent pair added 102 chanceless runs through the course of the final session.
Might be a bit more swing for Jimmy this morning. Wind veered to SW and westerlies always better at Lord's esp when bowling from Nursery.
Mark Wood is talking to TMS.“I saw him at breakfast. Obviously, last night was pretty tough for him and the whole team to get that news but I think he is going to just try and concentrate on the cricket today and get his mind firmly fixed on what is an important morning for us to try and get back into the game. So, mentally if his head is in that space, I think he can do the business as he did yesterday.”
Sky are on air. There will be a lot of attention on what the commentators have to say in response to Robinson’s statement.
“I was pretty depressed when I left the ground last night,” Mike Atherton begins. “It should have been the greatest day of his cricketing life but he ends up giving a humiliating apology. I thought it was a distressing story on so many levels.”
How does the meme go when adapted for our sport? One regular day of England cricket / That’s all I ask / Will never happen. And so it was yesterday at Lord’s. Sure, it was conventional enough on the scoreboard, New Zealand ticking along very nicely to reach 246-3 with Devon Conway marching to a quite outstanding unbeaten 136 on debut. However, anyone playing along via twitter through the afternoon session knew that the main action was to come at stumps via another man making his bow, Ollie Robinson.
In case you missed it - unlikely as that is - as England’s new quick bowled a potent spell after lunch, old tweets of his were being mined and the result was grim. Really grim. Just about every box was ticked: sexism, racism, the works. Simon Burnton recaps what we know (and more tweets have surfaced since this was written), along with Robinson’s subsequent apology issued after play.
I do not have the words to express how disappointed I am that an England men’s player has chosen to write tweets of this nature, however long ago that might have been.
Any person reading those words, particularly a woman or person of colour, would take away an image of cricket and cricketers that is completely unacceptable. We are better than this. We have a zero-tolerance stance to any form of discrimination and there are rules in place that handle conduct of this nature. We will initiate a full investigation as part of our disciplinary process.
Related: Ollie Robinson’s offensive tweets prove English cricket still has much to learn | Andy Bull
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