As it happened – England vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Lord's, 1st day
All the updates, news and stats from the first Test at Lord’s
Alan Gardner02-Jun-2021
Devon Conway became the 12th New Zealand men’s player to score a century on Test debut•Getty Images
*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local6.35pm: Conway’s dayDevon Conway celebrates his century on debut•PA Images via Getty Images
That’s stumps folks. New Zealand will be pretty pleased with that and no one more so than Devon Conway, who scored a century on debut. Henry Nicholls showed impeccable temperament in support as the pair put on an unbroken stand of 132 for the fourth wicket.Ollie Robinson, one of two debutants for England alongside James Bracey, took 2 for 50 to end the day the best of the home side’s bowlers, who all toiled hard, but the day belonged to the tourists – and Conway. Please join us again tomorrow. We look forward to bringing you all the action then.5.55pm: Nicholls in nickHenry Nicholls showcased his ability to occupy the crease for long times again•PA Images via Getty Images
Henry Nicholls may be the least starry member of a NZ batting line-up that contractually doesn’t do starry, but he is again demonstrating his value as a middle-order rock. This is the fourth innings out of his last five in which he has faced more than 100 balls, and he has played the foil to Conway beautifully, happy to tick along at half of his partner’s scoring rate while focusing on maintaining a control percentage in the region of 90%. Probably the reason he’s No. 6 on the ICC’s batting rankings.5.30pm: Not Picking a Spinner in Test Cricket Dept
A back-foot punch through the covers by Nicholls off Root – now in his 10th over – takes New Zealand’s fourth-wicket partnership into three figures. Surely this is a window for Dan Lawrence’s liquorice allsorts before England take the second new ball?5.25pm: Dig in, plod onJames Bracey makes a diving stop on Test debut•AFP/Getty Images
James Bracey almost gets into the action with an attempted stumping of Henry Nicholls – but the batter managed to get his toe back over the line in time. Bracey missed a half-chance off Conway shortly after he had reached his hundred, a top edge clearing his glove tips, but he’s otherwise been neat and tidy, largely going unnoticed – which is pretty much what you want from your keeper.New Zealand, meanwhile, will be delighted with how this session is going, with Conway and Nicholls approaching a century stand.5pm: Devon knows they made him so goodWant to know more about the guy in the black helmet who’s calmly bossing the show at Lord’s on debut? Look no further than Shashank Kishore’s interview with Conway from last year, when he was closing in on eligibility for New Zealand.Devon Conway poses after his triple-century for Wellington•Getty Images
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4.40pm: Tons of fun for Conway!Devon Conway became the 12th New Zealand men’s player to score a century on Test debut•Getty Images
No such thing as the nervous 90s for Devon Conway, whose insouciant flick off the pads through backward square leg has taken him to a debut hundred. He’s first New Zealand Test debutant to score a century since Tom Blundell in 2017 – and the sixth man overall to do so at Lord’s. The 29-year-old has waited a long time for this moment, but you’d imagine he couldn’t have dreamed for a better start to his Test career.4.35pm: Conway keeps climbing
A sniff of a chance for England a few overs ago, and that seems to have brought Conway to life as he realises there’s spot on the Lord’s honours board for the taking. With leg slip having just been stationed, Conway got away with a fine glance off Robinson that flew for four beyond the reach of a diving Zak Crawley. A more genuine flick for four followed in the next over, from Anderson, aided by a misfield at midwicket, and then Robinson was steered for four down to third man to take Conway into the 90s. In response, Root has turned back to the extra pace of Mark Wood.4.15pm: NZ raise the 150New Zealand’s batters have avoided falling victim to the interval this time, with Conway and Nicholls bedding in again against a combination of Anderson and Robinson – the latter chugging up from the Nursery End for the first time today. Lord’s is basking sleepily in the sunshine and, if there was a normal-sized crowd in, you’d probably see a few champagne corks littering the outfield in front of the Grandstand by now…3.40pm: TeaDevon Conway made an accomplished debut•Getty Images
An unbeaten half-century on debut from Devon Conway kept New Zealand on the front foot after two sessions of the first day at Lord’s. England, led by two wickets from another debutant in Ollie Robinson, tightened up during the afternoon but struggled for breakthroughs on a placid surface.Conway lost two experienced partners in the shape of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, but demonstrated an unflappable temperament to remain ensconced at tea. With Williamson playing on to James Anderson in the over after the break, Conway buckled down and scored just four runs in 45 minutes, before stroking a boundary off Stuart Broad to reach his maiden fifty.Broad troubled Taylor during a spell from the Nursery End, but it was Robinson who removed New Zealand’s No. 4, pinning him on the front pad to be plumb lbw and leave the tourists on 114 for 3. Conway and Henry Nicholls then restored a sense of equilibrium as Joe Root resorted to bowling himself in the absence of a frontline spinner.3.25pm: Mid-afternoon mattersAfternoon, George. Firstly, how good is it to be back at Lord’s? And secondly, how impressed have you been by Ollie Robinson so far?
It’s great to be back. On days like this – those rare days when the sun shines and doesn’t set til 9.30 or so – this is a fantastic city.Robinson has lost little in comparison to Anderson or Broad. And that’s pretty high praise, isn’t it? Given that it’s his debut and he is contending with the slope, he has looked comfortable at this level. He’s managed to move the ball both ways – the one that comes into the batter seems to move more sharply – and he’s bowled a good length. He looks like a guy who could go on and enjoy a decent career at this level.You mention Anderson and Broad there. Were England a little bit conservative in picking both here? We well know how good they are…
Maybe a little. But equally, had they not, they may have been accused of complacency. They both have excellent records, after all. It’s not an unreasonable selection. Two debuts in a game is probably enough, isn’t it?True, though it might have been fun if Root had deputised his new vice-captain to tell Anderson he was being rested… Playing both means no frontline spinner, though (Root has just brought himself on). Lack of faith in Jack Leach or an acceptable reading of the conditions?
Most of all, it’s a reflection on the absence of the allrounders. Without Ben Stokes or Moeen Ali or whoever, it’s very hard to get the balance of the side right. And there’s no doubt it isn’t right now. But three seamers wouldn’t have been right and while they could have played five bowlers, it would have meant Bracey at No. 6 and Robinson at No. 7. So there wasn’t a perfect solution.In the end, it probably underlines the value of a spinner who can bat. So whatever Moeen or Dom Bess’s issues in recent months, they have a potential way back into this side. Also, never forget the old adage: players always become better for not being in the side. I don’t think there’s much evidence Leach would have taken five wickets by now. He would have been useful, for sure, and no doubt more useful as the game wore on. But I think England have bowled pretty well on a flat wicket and against a quality batting line-up.2.55pm: Vote, vote, vote
2.45pm: Robinson’s on, Taylor’s goneOllie Robinson roars in celebration after dismissing Ross Taylor•Getty Images
Ollie Robinson has his second, with England chipping out another big wicket after lunch. Pitched up, taking advantage of some still-tentative footwork from Taylor, thuds into the front pad – looked an easy decision for the umpire, Michael Gough. Robinson roars in celebration, “The Rig” threatening to pull the Lord’s rug from under NZ.2.30pm: Conway on his wayDevon Conway celebrates reaching fifty•Getty Images
There’s been a bit of a post-prandial lull in proceedings at Lord’s, with 21 runs added in 9.5 overs… but Devon Conway now has a maiden Test fifty, after stroking Broad’s final ball of the tenth wide of mid-off for four. That makes him, notes my colleague Sampath Bandarupalli, the first visiting opener to score fifty on debut in England since 1993, which is a remarkable stat. Early days, of course, and he certainly struggled against Wood’s short-ball attack, but Conway has made a good impression.2.10pm: Fair Warner-ing
Can’t escape the phoney war even if we wanted to…2pm: Hungry?James Anderson celebrates taking the wicket of Kane Williamson•Getty Images
England’s two old stagers have come out champing at the bit after their dressing-room nose bag. They’ve switched ends from this morning, with Anderson now looking to swing his stock ball to the right-hander up the slope, and Stuart Broad pumping the knees from the Nursery. Broad, who has dismissed Ross Taylor 10 times in Tests already, had the ball moving appreciably to beat New Zealand’s No. 4 three times in four balls. England upping the intensity after a low-key morning.
1.43pm: Gobbled up!ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The lunch break does for Williamson after all… His first delivery back and he defends late against James Anderson, only to divert the ball down into off stump. That is the seventh time Anderson has bagged Williamson in Tests, for an average of 19.00. The NZ captain trudges off, he won’t be booking in for bed and breakfast today (though perhaps there’ll be some leftover Eton Mess in the dressing room to console him).1.40pm: Fill your boots
Quite a spread on offer for the players at Lord’s, as you would expect. England will probably be hoping that Williamson was tempted into a second helping of pan-fried beetroot gnocchi during the interval…1.05pm: LunchDebutant Ollie Robinson gave England their first breakthrough•AFP/Getty Images
England debutant Ollie Robinson struck in his opening spell in Test cricket but New Zealand enjoyed their return to Lord’s for the first time since the 2019 World Cup final, reaching lunch on the first day one down.Opener Devon Conway, another new cap, looked the part and was closing in on a maiden half-century – although he had to battle through a spell from Mark Wood during which he look uncomfortable against the short ball. Wood touched 96.1mph/154kph and was never less than rapid, finding Kane Williamson’s outside edge only for the New Zealand captain to play softly enough to pick up four down to third man.Even with the ground only 25% full, there was an appreciative hum as the game got underway – the first Test at Lord’s since the 2019 Ashes – and it was New Zealand’s openers who garnered the majority of the applause before Robinson broke through Tom Latham’s defence in his fourth over, the ball clattering into middle and leg stump via an inside edge.England included two players making their Test debuts, in Robinson and James Bracey, and went with a four-man seam attack. By contrast, in the absence of Trent Boult, New Zealand picked frontline spinner Mitchell Santner and another allrounder in Colin De Grandhomme.12.50pm: Setting the pace
Solid first spell in Test cricket from Robinson, though I can’t help but notice Kane Williamson is still batting out there… Anyway, the most compelling battle at the moment is Wood peppering Conway. You probably don’t get too many bowlers bringing 95mph heat in the Plunket Shield, and Conway has had to duck and weave, taking a couple of painful-looking blows but also connecting with a pull that went for four. Wood made his debut here against Lord’s in 2015 but it hasn’t been the happiest hunting ground – he has eight wickets from five Tests and an average around 55. But he’s looked like a man who could transcend the conditions here.12.40pm: Graduate studiesEngland’s newest Test wicket-taker is meat and drink for the Barmies…
12.30pm: Warming up…Devon Conway bats on Test debut•PA Photos/Getty Images
At the other end, Mark Wood has fired it up right from the start, delivering consecutive deliveries clocked at 95mph/152kph and 96mph/154kph. The final ball of his opening over, a mere 94mph, was short and nasty and struck Devon Conway a blow on the forearm. Lord’s suddenly doesn’t seem so flat. However, that didn’t stop the NZ debutant from getting forward to one slightly overpitched in Wood’s next over and stroking four past mid-off.Conway is, of course, the untested ingredient in this teak-tough NZ batting order. The second opener’s spot has been a bit of a question mark, with Tom Blundell and Will Young used since Jeet Ravel’s tenure ended, but Conway, who averages 66.25 in NZ domestic cricket since moving from South Africa, already looks at home in Test whites.12.20pm: Pint of Robinsons!
Finally, the Lord’s burble goes up a notch as England break the opening stand – and it’s the debutant Robinson who squashes Latham’s ambition with one that nibbles a fraction to hit the inside edge on its way into middle and leg stumps. That brings Kane Williamson to the middle, with Robinson having already spoken openly about his plan to target the New Zealand captain. Grab your popcorn, folks.12pm: Top heavy
Joe Root doesn’t take long to turn to the newest member of England’s seam attack, with Ollie Robinson coming on from the Pavilion End in the 10th over. Steady start for the man they call “The Rig” down at Sussex – and he is a pretty impressive unit – putting it there or thereabouts in the channel at around 80mph. Despite the emphasis on physical attributes, and a reputation when younger as something of a tearaway, Robinson is a real thinking bowler – as Sussex coach James Kirtley elaborated to Matt Roller in the build-up.11.25am: Steady boysJames Anderson•AFP/Getty Images
No alarums for the NZ pair in the opening exchanges, with Latham hogging the strike for the first three overs before allowing Conway his first go in Test cricket. Anderson and Broad haven’t seen the new ball swing much so far, and there’s been a steady diet of ones and two before Conway punched the first boundary wide of mid-off – politely applauded, as you’d expect.In theory, this pair should be right in Broad’s crosshairs. As my colleague Gaurav Sundararaman points out, since the start of the 2019 Ashes Broad has averaged 17.70 going round the wicket to lefties. But neither has looked like being Warnered just yet.11.15am: Equality street
England’s men’s team and women’s teams will be wearing anti-discrimination t-shirts throughout the summer, “designed to show their collective stance against any form of discrimination in cricket”. Joe Root led his players out in them for the “moment of unity” that preceded play on the first day at Lord’s.11am: Play ball!Right then, time for the first warm-up match Test of New Zealand’s tour. Latham to face the new ball, the everlasting Anderson to run in from the Nursery End. England haven’t beaten New Zealand in a Test since the two teams last met here in 2015 – a watershed moment in England’s recent history, as Andrew Miller notes – and Kane Williamson’s side are, of course, over here to contest the World Test Championship final against India later this month. Then again, New Zealand haven’t won a Test series in England since the infamous 1999 tour. Whatever happens, let’s hope we’re in for a corker.10.45am: Decisions, decisionsESPNcricinfo Ltd
Callooh callay! New Zealand are batting first at Lord’s – could be interesting if they get 241. Slightly contrasting takes on the surface in the teams selected, certainly on the face of it. England have gone with four seamers, meaning no hard decision on splitting up James Anderson and Stuart Broad and no room for Jack Leach. Anderson in the process draws level with Alastair Cook as England’s most-capped Test cricketer. Ollie Robinson joins James Bracey in winning a debut, and it looks like Joe Root and maybe Dan Lawrence will share the spinning duties.New Zealand, meanwhile, have picked their regular spinner, Mitchell Santner, despite his lack of red-ball cricket (even by Kiwi standards) and the fact he sustained a cut to his left index finger during last week’s intra-squad warm-up match. Colin De Grandhomme returns after a year out of the side, during which time he had ankle surgery, preferred to Daryl Mitchell; and Conway, the 29-year-old South Africa-born batter, will be trotting down the steps of the Lord’s pavilion in just a few moments’ time to open the batting alongside Tom Latham.10.29am: Box fresh Two new Test caps confirmed for England – there’s a fair amount of fresh meat in the squad for this series – and we’re about to find out the exact make-ups of the XIs. New Zealand had already announced that Devon Conway is in line to debut last night, but there’s still the No. 7/8 axis and how they cover for Trent Boult’s absence.10.15am: Lord’s, ladies and gentlemen…
The last year or so has been difficult. Needless to say, of course, but at the same time impossible to get past. There is plenty going in the world that matters more than cricket, and nothing much that will be changed by events here over the next few days. But nevertheless, here we are, at Lord’s for a Test match. The simple pleasures of peering out over that famously wonky greensward, taking in the 19th-century terracotta pavilion, watching the MCC members tootle about in their egg-and-bacon finery. England haven’t hosted a Test at this ground since the 2019 Ashes, and even with a capacity limited to 25% for this game, it’s going to feel like something of a homecoming. Throw in that their opponents, New Zealand, are currently one of the best sides in the world, the fact both teams have a wee bit of history from 2019 here as well, and it’s a potent cocktail. What’s more, the sun is blazing down, there’s barely a cloud in the sky and after the UK’s May weather blowout we are set fair. Time to loosen the tie, drink in the rays, and get our Test !