England vs New Zealand, First Test at Lords

First topic message reminder :

England: Cook (c), Compton, Trott, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Finn.
NZ: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum (c), BJ Watling, Southee, Wagner, Boult, Martin

England win the toss and will bat first

all over, Bairstow tries to drive Southee on the up, tough shot on this pitch and Southee takes a great reflex catch on his follow-through. Now, over to the bowlers, conditions are very good for bowling in, need to made the most of it.

Bairstow c&b Southee ...very sharply !

Sensible from the last pair ...only added 11 but no point in prodding at that stage. 232 doesn't look much but if England can get the ball moving like NZ since lunch ...

England end up with 232 in their first innings, 4 wickets for Tim Southee. New Zealand batting, other than Ross Taylor and Brendan McCullum to an extend, is not too experienced or established. England do have a quality bowling unit. So England can still come back into this game, but its fair to say it has been a poor effort from the batting unit. All up to the bowlers now.
For NZ, their bowlers were very disciplined and stuck to their stack throughout, and they have set up a superb platform for their batsmen to take advantage off.

Time to wheel out the classic "don't judge a pitch until both teams have batted on it" line. Will be interesting to see how NZ go, see if they are as passive as England or if they try to get after the bowling a bit. Key for England is too keep it tight up front, the early break through isn't crucial but if NZ get away to a flyer it will be very hard topull it back. Patience is the key!

Blimey, another poor start. Top class bowling needed now or NZ will surely win this one.

Anderson strikes, Rutherford goes after hitting a boundary. NZ 5-1.

that could be a huge wicket! Anderson gets it to swing away, gets the edge and it's a fine grab by Cook at slip. Rutherford, one of the main danger-men IMO, gone for 4.

Good start for England !

299 for Jimmy

Interesting start that.

definitely plenty of swing on offer, Broad finding some decent shape away from the right-hander so far.

Good to see Broad pitching it up...decent pace too. Like the way they have started with the ball...

Ideal start for England. Good stuff from both openers so far.

Jimmy

nothing sort of shot from Fulton, poking at a good length ball outside off and Swann takes a very nice low catch at second slip. 7-2.

Wicket number 300 for James Anderson in Test cricket!. Fulton goes, and NZ in early trouble at 7-2.

And 300 for Jimmy

Good ball...great catch by Swann.

Well done Anderson

And NZ 7/2 ...

Great from Jimmy.

Pretty sure these guys were getting better starts at home.

If eng can take a couple more then they could truly trouble NZ.

Few better sights in cricket than Anderson on an early season seamer. A true artist at work.

Important period of play here. Another quick wicket, and New Zealand would lose the advantage that their bowlers earned for their side. Kane Williamson, the batting future of his side, and Ross Taylor, his side's best batsman together in the middle, and NZ would hope they stay together for quite a while there.

NZ batsmen clearly don't want to be tied down...three boundaries already , in contrast to England's start.

But if they lose another one now to a loose shot they are going to be in all sorts...

alfie wrote:NZ batsmen clearly don't want to be tied down...three boundaries already , in contrast to England's start.

But if they lose another one now to a loose shot they are going to be in all sorts...

maybe, but it's hardly free-flowing scoring is it? 9 and a half overs in, and we've had 5 scoring shots...

here's Finn, big moment in the game...

Finn's on now.

bit of an erratic start for Finn, though he does rap Taylor's gloves with a nasty lifter.

Bit surprised to see Finn on for Anderson so early...

Bit concerned to see him spraying down leg too : in these conditions accuracy is important and that is my reservation about Finn's place in this attack. Hopefully he will settle.

much better second over from Finn, finding good lines and plenty of bounce from the pitch, though this pair is looking nicely settled at the moment.

The two look to be taking comfortable control now. No doubt looking to ease their way to good scores.

Yes much better from Finn. Important to keep the pressure on ...probably not going to be a "skittle them for 100" game , but as NZ showed if you don't concede easy runs on this pitch batsmen tend to make a mistake sooner or later.

If Finn can keep this good line his extra bounce will surely get him results...

Broad just erring in line a little bit there, though Taylor's probably a bit fortunate he got his pad in the way of the last inside-edge or it could have been another strangle down leg.

Teas getting closer, and I think Swanny should be given an exploratory spell now. One of those first over wickets could put England pretty much in front. Anderson's back on. Taylor continues to play his shots.

Anderson with a lousy over really, too short and too wide, England need to be careful here, dig in a bit. The ball's stopped doing much so they need to just tighten up a bit.

England bowlers feeding on Taylor's strength, down the leg side or short in length balls. New Zealand 45-2.

too short from England, look at how full NZ were and England have been much too short for my liking, much easier to bat on the back foot on this pitch.

Anderson not so happy at the Nursery end...

Must say I am surprised he isn't at his preferred end : I know Cook is juggling his three seamers , but after taking two for practically nothing at the start I'd be wanting to keep my main man where he's been doing the damage.

Taylor showing more intent than any other batsman in this match...a lot depends on whether he gets a frisky 35 or goes on to something serious.

Taylor looking very busy out there, something that was cruelly lacking from England's batsmen, and suddenly you feel the whole complexion of the game has changed.

Was a very decent start, Anderson reaching 300 , but it's tailed off a bit now. This partnership is looking settled.

better from Anderson there, nips one back to Williamson who survives a decent LBW shout (question on height, hawkeye had it clipping the top of leg), before poking and missing the follow-up outswinger.

I must say, Taylor is finding scoring a heck of a lot easier than what our English batsmen could do.

Tea. Good little recovery from these two, but you feel the break's arriving at a good time for England, gives their bowlers a bit of time to regroup. Taylor's given the initiative back to NZ with his sparky little knock, though he's had moments of good fortune.

Taylor's approach has changed things a bit...gives ammunition to those who are very critical of England's top order yesterday.

Do think though that England have fallen into the trap of allowing him to play off the back foot too much...see what happens after tea.

New Zealand 54-2 at tea. Good recovery after those 2 early wickets. Ross Taylor has looked good, and Kane Williamson has stayed out there with great determination

Well Taylor has started off after tea extremely well...three boundaries off Broad and he is already top scorer in the match !

Broad has to stay full to him...he'll still hit boundaries but you have a decent chance of getting him out.

And I reckon England need to get him or he is going to put NZ into a pretty strong position. Williamson can just defend while Taylor supplies the fireworks, so the pressure isn't being maintained.

Might be time to have a look at Swann soon.

Problem for England here is NZ really only needs one good partnership and they will level the scores.

50 for taylor.

lol will Nasser ever apolgise to straussy?!

Important innings from Taylor, full of intent so far. But the job is only half done.

Top fifty for Taylor , given how everyone else has struggled.

Anderson bowling well but he hasn't really been backed up quite well enough by the other two. Nass is suggesting a fielder to cut off Taylor's favourite cut , and I tend to agree.
But Broad is just bowling too short here...

I love listening to Bumble, he is my favourtie commentator.

Much like the winter NZ just seem better prepared and at a higher intensity

Swann on now so this will be a different challenge for the Kiwis.

England need a wicket here. Preferably Taylor. Wonder if he'll try to go after Swann ?

Hundred up for NZ.

Well, Anderson gets Taylor.