England v New Zealand: first Test, day two – live! | Sport

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?”

Bracey certainly, if he gets runs in this series. I think parliament should pass a law banning England from picking Haseeb Hameed until next summer at the earliest, but it wouldn’t be a shock if he plays this year. Rory Burns’ place isn’t secure either; he was dropped during the recent India series. They all need runs, as do Pope, Lawrence and Bracey.

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…”

With the way this is going, it could be 11 out of 12 by stumps.

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?”

Definitely, especially as he can – and indeed wants to – bat in the top three. They all need runs, even the ones who look the part like Pope and Crawley. (I’m not sure Bairstow will be returning, btw, but Buttler will surely start against India.)

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.

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.”

I’ve seen many No11’s whack it – Wood last year, for instance – but has any put together a collection of better shots than this? Special.

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.”

Like it! Maybe a market-based solution, ala this for the toss.

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?”

I speak for all paid-by-the-day freelancers in saying… bring it on.

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?”

She is going very well, I’m pleased to report. Closer to 16 months than 15 now, with about 30-odd words. She’s quite content watching cricket, shouting “ball!” at the screen (or occasionally “apple” when confused), and claps along when she hears the cloud doing so. Has a brand new pink cricket ball in her toy box, which she grips like a future left-arm orthodox spinner and bites into ala Shahid Afridi.

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%”

Glorious. Surely nobody is matching that?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.