Goodnight from Lord’s
Link copied to clipboard
Three hours and 20 minutes after the last ball was bowled, stumps are finally called. We will make it to the fourth day! See you tomorrow.
Stumps
Link copied to clipboard
The umpire have called it a day. And what a frustrating one it’s been. The players took lunch during the only pocket of sunshine, with heavy rain meaning only 9.4 overs were possible.
In that time Ollie Robinson moved England closer to victory by taking the wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell.
The forecast for tomorrow is a whole lot better. New Zealand will resume on 55/5, needing a further 199 runs for an improbable victory.
The last rites
Link copied to clipboard
Ironic cheers as the umpires, with brollies, walk out to deliver the last rites. At least punters will get full refunds.
The umpires are inspecting
Link copied to clipboard
It’s still raining, alas, and I suspect play will be abandoned pretty soon.
Inspection at 5.15pm
Link copied to clipboard
Almost comically, there will be another inspection at 5.15. I assumed they would be calling it off now.
A costly Lord’s lunch
Link copied to clipboard
One legitimate moan from today. Why did we need to have lunch (during which the players were warming up not having lunch) rather than starting a bit earlier? A more flexible approach (say, no lunch if play starts after 12pm, just two extended sessions) would mean that fans see more cricket – and grounds don’t have to cough up as much in refunds.
-----------
On Tim’s excellent point, 9.4 overs have been bowled today. Spectators receive a full refund if there are 15 overs or fewer and a 50% refund if it’s between 15.1 and 30 overs. So that lack of flexibility has cost the ECB/Lord’s a lot of money.
It’s not looking good
Link copied to clipboard
The end is nigh. They are showing golf on the big screens.
A summary of the day so far
Link copied to clipboard
In three mini-sessions after lunch, New Zealand added 19 runs in 9.4 overs for the loss of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, who both fell to the superb Ollie Robinson.
There was a classic bit of cricket uncommon-nonsense before that, when the players took lunch during bright sunshine. After the start was delayed because of heavy rain, the umpires scheduled an early lunch at 12.20pm. When the sun emerged, there was no flexibility to restart the game before 1pm.
Rain returns with a vengeance
Link copied to clipboard
I suspect our hopes of play have just rescinded again. The groundstaff are still standing about, but the rain is back and the third umpire just retired to the comfort of the pavilion under his brolly. We are some way off, and the forecast is poor. Oh, and as I type, the rain gets harder and the groundstaff are giving up. The best weather was during the lunch break.
Clear(ish) skies at Lord’s
Link copied to clipboard
A very gentle wash up is beginning, because it appears to have stopped raining.
Play can continue until 7.30pm
Link copied to clipboard
It’s still hosing down at Lord’s. The umpires have confirmed that tea will be taken at 3.40pm, with scope for a three-hour evening session.
There’s also the possibility of an extra half-hour to make up for any lost overs. And we could end up in a situation where England claim another half-hour in pursuit of victory, which would take us up to 8pm.
It’s unlikely to happen, but a four-hour evening session would be fun – not least because it would evoke England’s exhilarating victory at the MCG in 1998.
Still raining at Lord’s
Link copied to clipboard
In decades gone by we’d be facing an early abandonment, but the Lord’s drainage is so good that if the forecast is vaguely accurate, we should get some play in 2-3 hours’ time.
No news is bad news
Link copied to clipboard
The covers are on, it’s still raining and there’s no immediate prospect of play. But things look a lot better from about 5pm, so England may have time to take the five wickets they need tonight.
One of the great England comebacks
Link copied to clipboard
Ollie Robinson bowled majestically between the showers to pick up the wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell. His match figures of 20.2-4-57-7 are currently the best of his Test career. While conditions at Lord’s are tailor-made for him, it has still been one of the great England comebacks.
Groundstaff expecting a long delay
Link copied to clipboard
The big covers are being set up at Lord’s, which suggests the players could be off for a while.
More frustration at Lord’s
Link copied to clipboard
England’s players, and fans, are a bit miffed to be going off here. It’s the lightest rain we’ve gone off in, and there’s no one dashing for cover.
OVER 21.3: NZ 55/5 (Conway 19 Blundell 2)
Link copied to clipboard
Jamie Smith is also standing up to the stumps for Blundell, a tactic used to subtly devastating effect by Australia’s Alex Carey last winter. Anyone who says England learned nothing from the Ashes is a bald-faced liar.
Alas, he is no longer standing up to the stumps: rain has stopped play once again and the players are heading off.
OVER 21: NZ 55/5 (Conway 19 Blundell 2)
Link copied to clipboard
A quiet over from Tongue.
It’s worth mentioning that Jamie Smith was up to the stumps for Daryl Mitchell, which stopped him batting outside the crease. That meant Robinson could bowl his natural length and ultimately brought about the LBW.
OVER 20: NZ 54/5 (Conway 19 Blundell 1)
Link copied to clipboard
Robinson has figures of 7/57 in the match; his Test-best figures are 7/81 against India at Headingley in 2021.
Wicket!
Link copied to clipboard
Mitchell LBW b Robinson 0 Ollie Robinson has another! Mitchell gets too far across to a straight delivery and is plumb LBW. He reviewed but it was umpire’s call, hitting a fair chunk of leg stump, and England are five wickets away. FOW: 53/5
OVER 19: NZ 53/4 (Conway 19 Mitchell 0)
Link copied to clipboard
Tongue raps Conway on the glove with a nasty delivery. Uneven bounce on day three is never a good look.
A maiden from Tongue. Conway, palpably out of form, is doing pretty well to survive in horrible batting conditions.
OVER 18: NZ 53/4 (Conway 19 Mitchell 0)
Link copied to clipboard
That was the last ball of a fabulous over from Robinson, who now has six wickets on his return. He has never taken more than seven in a Test.
Wicket!
Link copied to clipboard
Ravindra b Robinson 8 Devastating bowling from Ollie Robinson! After beating Ravindra twice earlier in the over, he finished him off with a horrible delivery that straightened off the seam, kept a touch low and pegged back the off stump. FOW: 53/4
The Lord’s hokey cokey
Link copied to clipboard
After a very short rain break, the players are back on the field. Time for the third mini-session in the last 45 minutes. Ollie Robinson has switched to the Nursery End.
Rain stops play
Link copied to clipboard
The players are running off again, this time after only 20 deliveries.
OVER 17: NZ 49/3 (Conway 19 Ravindra 4)
Link copied to clipboard
Tongue, on for Robinson, is driven handsomely through mid-off for four by Ravindra. Now that’s how to get off a pair.
England haven’t been great in this second mini-session, with the New Zealand batsmen able to leave most of the deliveries.
A fumble from Smith gives New Zealand a bye. The ball threatened to hit the helmet behind him, which would have meant five runs, but Root scrambled back to ensure that didn’t happen.
Few drops of rain in the air I’m afraid.
OVER 16: NZ 44/3 (Conway 19 Ravindra 0)
Link copied to clipboard
If the forecast is correct, this will be Gus Atkinson’s last over for a few hours. He starts it with a zinging delivery that seams past Conway’s defensive push, but he’s slightly too wide thereafter and Conway is able to leave the majority of the deliveries. A maiden.
OVER 15: NZ 44/3 (Conway 19 Ravindra 0)
Link copied to clipboard
Conway takes a quick single from Robinson’s first ball. In these conditions the non-striker’s end is the only place to be.
Ravindra, still on a pair, calmly plays out the rest of the over. For once, Robinson didn’t make him play enough.
OVER 14: NZ 43/3 (Conway 18 Ravindra 0)
Link copied to clipboard
Atkinson resumes his over and draws a thick edge from Conway that scuttles away to the boundary.
The covers are coming off
Link copied to clipboard
Don’t get your hopes up, though – there’s plenty more rain on the way.
Don’t mention the forecast
Link copied to clipboard
The weather forecast suggests a brief dry spell from around 1.15-1.30pm, then steady rain until at least 4 o’clock. Oh dear.
OVER 13.4: New Zealand 37/3 (Conway 13 Ravindra 0)
Link copied to clipboard
And they’re off. Rain has stopped play after just 11 deliveries. Sorry to say, the decision to take lunch during a rare bit of sunshine was a shocker. It was taken in good faith, but surely cricket needs to be more flexible.
Damned if you do...
Link copied to clipboard
First impressions: it looks horrible to bat. Is New Zealand’s only chance to try and counterattack? It feels like there are no good options.
OVER 13: New Zealand 37/3 (Conway 13 Ravindra 0)
Link copied to clipboard
The lights are on at Lord’s and these are perfect bowling conditions. Rain is imminent so England will be keen to strike asap.
Robinson is right on the money. He hits Conway on the thigh with a big nipbacker, then beats Ravindra with one that goes the other way. Lovely bowling.
Robinson changes ends
Link copied to clipboard
Well, we won’t have a completely cricket-less day. Robinson is going to have a go from his preferred Pavilion End.
OVER 12: New Zealand 36/3 (Conway 12 Ravindra 0)
Link copied to clipboard
Ravindra defends his first ball, the last of the over that Gus Atkinson began last night. Not sure the players are going to be on for too long.
Here come the players
Link copied to clipboard
Hopefully the forecast is a lie. For now the players are on the field and ready to resume this Test match. Rachin Ravindra, who is on a king pair, is about to face Gus Atkinson.
You couldn’t make it up
Link copied to clipboard
Thanks Kieran, hello everyone. According to Accuweather, it will starting raining in North London at ... 12.59pm.
Time will tell – about two minutes’ time – but I’m sure we can all agree that cricket really doesn’t help itself.
Start coming soon
Link copied to clipboard
Hopefully I am not jinxing it but we are set to get going in just over 10 minutes. Unfortunately I have not seen any action today but hopefully Rob Smyth will have more success this afternoon so I will hand you over into his very capable hands. It would just be so predictable if it starts raining just as the players come out!
Gearing up
Link copied to clipboard
The players are warming up in readiness for a 1pm start. I would be surprised if Shoaib Bashir gets a bowl in this game.
Wouldn’t that be entirely predictable!
Link copied to clipboard
There’s more clouds looming ominously. We might yet be delayed again. England will hope not, given how conducive the conditions look for seam bowling. Shoaib Bashir is warming up diligently, practising his off breaks - what price he doesn’t bowl a ball this Test match?
Can the tourists chase this total down?
Link copied to clipboard
For New Zealand to knock off these runs on this shocker of a pitch, there will have to be two circumstances. 1. The sky will have to be a cloudless blue, which isn’t likely to happen today. 2. Ollie Robinson will have to bowl slow long hops as he did at Kyle Jamieson but Ben Stokes won’t tolerate that.
Have your say
Link copied to clipboard
Feel free to vent your frustrations at the lack of play in the comments section at the bottom of the blog!
This feels unrealistic but anyway
Link copied to clipboard
An optimistic message arrives from the authorities:
If no further rain timings for today will be:
Afternoon session: 1300-1610
Tea: 1610-1630
Evening session: 1630-1900
Extra 30 mins to make up the overs
86 overs for the day
Sounding like a stuck record
Link copied to clipboard
We seem to have these debates all the time and everyone seems to be in agreement that things need to change but yet the only people who do not acknowledge that we could change things like this are those in charge. No-one can look at this situation and think it is right that we are not resuming sooner than 1pm, when predictably it will probably start raining.
This is farcical!
Link copied to clipboard
The weather right now is beautiful; why can’t we get out there soon! You just know that it will start raining just before the resumption.
So cricket!
Link copied to clipboard
I know there has been plenty of rain this morning and you cannot mop up immediately but it seems farcical that it is bright sunshine now at Lord’s and we are at least another hour away from play. We seem to complain about this all the time but it really is true. Surely we could get on earlier than 1pm; the laws of the game state that conditions do not have to be perfect to play, only suitable to play. In typical cricket style, it always feels like we are waiting for it to rain again and tempting fate really.
Lunch is being taken at 1220. We could, in theory, start at 1. The sun is shining and the covers are being taken off at the moment. What are the odds on the heavens opening just before 1?
News from Lord’s
Link copied to clipboard
Lunch will be taken at 12.20 so the hope would be that play will begin at 1, providing there is no more rain. It would be entirely predictable that the players will enjoy their fantastic lunch at Lord’s while the sun is out and then it will probably start raining just as they are ready to resume. Why not take lunch now and take advantage of this window of sunshine earlier, considering we might not get too much play before the rain returns.
Even the weather gods do not know what they are doing
Link copied to clipboard
The rain comes down, then the sun comes out, and then the rain returns. Well, now the rain has gone again and the sun is shining once more. The groundstaff are removing some of the covers and there is a hope that there is a window of opportunity for play coming up over the next couple of hours. The groundstaff have said it will take an hour to mop up, providing there is no more rain.
Nathan Smith, who took six wickets in the England second innings, speaking to Sky Sports
Link copied to clipboard
“It is special [to get on the Lord’s honours board]. It is stuff you dream of as a kid. The walk after taking the wickets is something I will never forget. There has been a lot of seam movement and variable bounce so it was about smashing out a hard length and keeping the stumps in play.
“Bowling against these sorts of players [like Joe Root] brings the best out of you. You have to be on every ball, clear in what you are trying to do. For me, it was about trying to bring both edges in. He is nice and proactive and like to move around a little bit. So it was about trying to drag him across with out-swingers and then set him up for the one that came in.”
Weather getting worse
Link copied to clipboard
The heavy rain appears to have returned and the darker clouds look to have set in. Play before lunch appears to be seemingly impossible and the news from the groundstaff is that it will take around an hour to mop up once the rain stops, but the crucial part to that sentence is when the rain stops and if it stops for long enough.
Some quotes from Emilio Gay
Link copied to clipboard
“Cricket can bring you back down to earth quite quickly. I have just tried to absorb the emotions as best I could: the national anthem on day one, Jerusalem yesterday. A full crowd here. It has been a bit bit surreal. That is about your preparation. Not just with the bat but when you go to sleep you try and imagine how the day is going to pan out.
“I tried to play out that situation 100 times in my head. It felt new when it came to that but I felt as prepared as I could have been and hopefully that showed with how I went out and showed confidence.”
Maybe the good news has come to an end
Link copied to clipboard
The covers are now... back on. I can’t see anyone, third ump included, with an umbrella up, so it can’t be raining hard. Down to our right, Isa Guha is broadcasting for the BBC and doesn’t appear bothered by any precipitation.
More positive news
Link copied to clipboard
Covers are coming off. It is sunny and the drainage at Lord’s is super fast so hope we will see play before lunch.
News from India
Link copied to clipboard
Indian wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has England’s bowlers in his sights after receiving his first T20 call-up for India at the age of just 15.
Sooryavanshi will become the youngest male player to feature in an India squad after being named in India’s T20 squad for two matches in Ireland this month and five in England in July, as well as the Asia Games in Japan later this year.
The 15-year-old was the outstanding batsman in the recent Indian Premier League, topping the run-scoring charts with 776 from just 327 balls, at an extraordinary strike-rate of 237. The Rajasthan Royals batsman struck 72 sixes, easily breaking the record for the most in an IPL season, set by the West Indian great Chris Gayle in 2012.
Another good day for bowling?
Link copied to clipboard
An on-off day under clouds is a nightmare for batsmen: they can’t find a rhythm, conditions are rough and the bowlers can remain fresh. New Zealand would rather we had no play today and they could bat under sunnier skies tomorrow.
Better news!
Link copied to clipboard
It has brightened up, and there is a very gentle clean-up operation beginning. Not an umbrella in sight.
Maiden Test fifty
Link copied to clipboard
In tough, challenging conditions to bat, Emilio Gay impressed yesterday in just his second innings in Test cricket. He made his first half century, ending up with 57, which included some impressive cover drivers. He had to survive some good bowling in bowler-friendly conditions and will surely take a lot of confidence from that knock. He has been in fine form for Durham in the County Championship this season, thus why he received a call-up, and scored a hundred at Lord’s earlier in the season against Middlesex. He has just been speaking to Sky Sports and spoke very impressively. You would imagine there would be plenty of nerves during his first Test but spoke very calmly and in such a composed manner.
For any young cricketers out there, I would definitely recommend listening to that interview as he was very engaging and explained eloquently some of the aspects of his game, which includes a drill where he intentionally does not move his feet to exaggerate his contact point, working on his head and his hands to hit the ball as late as possible. The 26-year-old has come into this England team with plenty of county experience in the bag and knowing his game well. Due to that experience in the county game, he would have gone through the peaks and troughs of batting. Whereas someone like Ollie Pope, who now finds himself out of the team having been dropped, has not gone through a big drop in form until now so has no prior knowledge to fall back on.
Don’t tell us that Will!
Link copied to clipboard
It’s a pretty sorry scene at Lord’s at the moment, with the covers on and drizzle falling. No prospect of play any time soon. As ever, the third umpire is the only person on the ground with a brolly up.
Is Stokes’ batting in decline?
Link copied to clipboard
England’s captain announced before this Test that he was going to bat at number seven, with Jamie Smith promoted to number six. Stokes has scores of 12 and 0 in this game, granted in very tough batting conditions. Here are some of his batting statistics during his Test career, which show that in recent years his numbers with the bat are not as good as they were in the late 2010s:
Our senior cricket writer Tim Wigmore has been taking a closer look at Stokes’ batting.
Not a great forecast ahead
Link copied to clipboard
England potentially may only need a few hours of play today to get the job done but the forecast is looking iffy. There could be windows for play but it depends on how long those periods are and whether we can actually get on once the mopping-up job is completed. The forecast for tomorrow looks dry.
Emilio Gay has ticked two of the three boxes required to be Test opener
Link copied to clipboard
On one of the most difficult Test pitches seen in England in modern times, the debutant Emilio Gay scored 57, which could well turn out to be the highest individual innings of this match.
Whether this Lord’s pitch has been steamed, or grilled or baked or roasted, it has been far too seamer-friendly, all too like the Melbourne pitch for the fourth Test last winter that was so over-grassed that it was concluded in two days.
Gay, as the successor to Zak Crawley, was therefore thrown in at the deep end. It could have been even deeper, if Matt Henry’s back had not played up and if New Zealand had caught their chances. In any event, Gay’s fifty was worth a hundred on a normal Test pitch.
Has he got a long Test future ahead of him at the age of 26 like the two knights Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss? Cook attended Bedford School before Gay and, for Strauss, day two of this Test was Red for Ruth day, in support of his late wife and the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
Not the image we want to see
Link copied to clipboard
A lot of focus on the Lord’s pitch
Link copied to clipboard
Plenty of former players have been having their say on the surface this Test match is being played on and it is safe to say the reaction to the pitch has not been positive. Here is an excerpt from Will Macpherson’s piece on this Lord’s pitch:
What is the solution? There are a number of options. Back in the day, they would have regularly used the winter to dig up one of the pitches on the square, and relay it, giving it new life. The trouble is, doing so takes it out of commission for three years, which would cost MCC a major match a year. Across three years, that would cost the club about £10m. However, games finishing early can cost millions per day, because of ticket refunds and lost revenue from food and beverages.
Reluctant to take that radical step, MCC is trying innovative alternatives to improve its pitches. This winter, the ground staff “steamed” the pitches, which is a process used on the turf at Wimbledon, sterilising the soil without using chemicals, eradicating weed seeds, pathogens and pests living in the soil. The steam used reaches temperatures of around 200 degrees.
On day one, former England batsman Mark Butcher explained to Sky Sports viewers that Lord’s was trying the steaming technique in an attempt to bring more pace and carry to the strip after several years of Tests in which the bounce was low and slow. Soon after, Matt Henry’s first ball of the match bumbled through to the keeper.
Weather update
Link copied to clipboard
The groundstaff were out mopping up a few minutes ago but the rain has returned. We probably only need a couple of hours of play to finish this match off and it looks as though there are enough dry gaps in the forecast for that to happen. Rain is the only way ticket holders for Sunday will see any cricket.
Williamson’s probable last appearance at Lord’s
Link copied to clipboard
So a fond farewell, from Lord’s at any rate, to Kane Williamson. Forgive me a pleasant recollection: when he gave me an interview in Dunedin, and the half-hour slot was up, and the media manager came to tell him, he noted the fact and carried on our conversation. I like to think he was absorbed in our talk about his past, and it’s a rare privilege to get a prolonged insight into the mind of a great batsman.
Will the weather play ball?
Link copied to clipboard
England head into day three needing seven wickets to win the first Test over New Zealand after another wicket-laden day at Lord’s, although the weather will play its part in whether we see a result today. Following 16 wickets on a dramatic opening day at the Home of Cricket, 17 wickets then fell yesterday.
Ollie Robinson’s five-for helped England dismiss New Zealand for 113 in their first innings, giving England a 27-run lead going into their second innings. Debutant Emilio Gay’s maiden Test half century helped England to a score of 226, setting New Zealand 254 to win. In theory, midway through the afternoon, England looked like posting a much higher total than 226 but, as we have seen far too often of late from this England team, a collapse then ensued. Ben Stokes’ side lost four wickets for one run in 11 balls to put the hosts under pressure, with bad memories of squandering a good position in the first Test of the Ashes coming back. However, some useful runs down the order set a challenging total for New Zealand to chase.
A strong spell of bowling from England late on day two helped them take three New Zealand second-innings wickets to leave the tourists at 36/3 at the end of day two, still needing a further 218 runs to win. Speaking at the end of day two, Gay admitted his frustration at his dismissal despite reaching his maiden Test fifty.
“I was disappointed when I got out; the overheads, the lights were on and Brooky and Rooty followed soon after,” Gay said. “There was a natural disappointment that I had done all the hard work, faced nearly 100 balls, so the timing of it was a bit frustrating. I got a pretty good ball but it felt like a real shift in momentum.
“Baz and Stokesy have been really supportive of what has got me here has put me in good stead for Test cricket. That has given me a lot of confidence. At this level, with more cameras, more people watching, that is the biggest separator; having confidence in your technique. Everyone has different plans for how they bat. Baz said as long as you have conviction when you cross the white line, however you want to play, just back it. That is great for me on debut. I have the full backing of the changing room.”
Devon Conway will resume on 12 not out for New Zealand and, following the wicket of Will O’Rourke from the final ball of day two, he will be joined in the middle by Rachin Ravindra, who will be on a king pair. Play is set to get under way at 11am, although the weather forecast looks pretty dubious for today so we could be in for some delays.