Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Live Report - England vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Lord's, 3rd day

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Friday, 04 June 2021 05:22
Welcome to day three of our live report of the first Test between England and New Zealand from Lord's. Join us for updates, analysis and colour. You can find our traditional ball-by-ball commentary here.
*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local

1pm: Lunch

Let's get meta and embed a self-referential tweet, because why not? There is a whole heap of not a lot happening here, though the rain may have slackened off a touch. Lunch was officially kept to 1pm, so the players will banging their cutlery on the tables by now, demanding chow. Hopefully Devon Conway will take his overloaded plate off to sit below the away dressing room honours board and look smug.
If it's actual cricket you're after, then old faithful, the County Championship, is your best bet. Contrary to rumour, stumps in the ground doesn't automatically cause a summer downpour.

12.15pm: And the band played on

Still very dreich and drear at Lord's - though, on the plus side for Kane Williamson, the players will probably be let loose on the catering pretty soon.
Do tweet us using the #LiveReport hashtag with your best idle pastimes and wet weather bantz, by the way, since doom-scrolling is all we've got right now. Strikes me there's something familiar about the fella modelling Nottingham Forest's new kit, but I can't quite be sure...

11.30am: Southee speaks, we listen

Tim Southee had a chat with Sky before, ahem, play this morning. As you would imagine, he had plenty of praise for Conway, who score more than half of New Zealand's total - but suggested the fact their innings fell away after England dug out Henry Nicholls gave them hope that there was a bit in the surface for the bowlers, especially against batters new to the crease.
"His [Conway's] innings was incredible when you look at the rest of the innings. We needed someone to go big and he was the guy to go big. Henry Nicholls [also] showed once you get in [you could score], and they formed a crucial partnership, we were just over 100 for 3 and the game was teetering on the edge and they were able to put a partnership together.
"Yes we probably didn't kick on through the middle and lower order as we would have liked but I think that shows as well that, if you get in you can make runs, but if you can break that partnership and open up an end it is tough to start on. So hopefully we can capitalise on that this morning, with two guys that are in and forming a nice partnership - but we know if we can break that and put some pressure on the guys coming in, it's not that easy to start on."
Obviously, there's been no chance for the New Zealand seamers to have a crack so far, but you'd imagine that a bit of weather around won't harm their chances of breaking the Burns-Root stand and getting a look at England's green middle order.
"We started nice with the two early wickets but we've got two guys now that are set. If you get in, you can get used to the pace of the wicket and go big, like Devon did. So as a bowling group, we know we're going to have to execute our plans for a long period of time and when we do make that breakthrough hopefully we can make the most of that and grab a couple of wickets at a time. We know it's not going to be easy, we saw a little bit of variable bounce yesterday afternoon so hopefully we can exploit that.
"Keep it simple, there's talk about when the clouds are around here the ball tends to a little bit more [so] it's just about putting the ball in the right areas for long periods of time, asking questions for long period of time. Nothing changes from our point of view, we've just got to do it better for long. I think we did it okay at times yesterday but it's about being better for longer as a group and hopefully we can make some early inroads."

11am: Nothing to see here

The covers are firmly in place at Lord's, where sadly it is hosing down right now. We all know about the legendary drainage, but given the forecast it would be a surprise to see much in the way of play this morning. Is it too much to say that the sight of a crowd huddling in the stands while it rains is a comforting one, after last summer's behind-closed-doors fare? Probably... But anyway, here are some reheated Devon Conway stats to keep you going for now.

10.30am: Morning call

1:02
Devon Conway: It'll take a few days for debut ton to sink in
Hello and welcome back to the #LiveReport, with the Lord's Test limbering up for what could be a pivotal day. England had to battle in the shadow of Devon Conway's double-bubble debut ton, slipping to an uneasy 18 for 2 before the two most-experienced members of a youthful batting line-up made sure they got their hands dirty. Rory Burns and Joe Root kept New Zealand's vigorous and varied attack at bay until the close on day two, but will have to restart this morning in their attempts to set up the England first innings. Or, at least, they will have to restart at some point - when that may be looks a little uncertain, with rain falling steadily in the capital and a delayed start in prospect.

Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick

Read 343 times

Soccer

Ange laments Spurs' wastefulness in Roma draw

Ange laments Spurs' wastefulness in Roma draw

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLONDON -- Ange Postecoglou lamented his Tottenham Hotspur side's wa...

Amorim admits anxiety despite first Man Utd win

Amorim admits anxiety despite first Man Utd win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRuben Amorim has said his Manchester United side are causing him to...

Rasmus Højlund's performances could define Ruben Amorim's stint at Man United

Rasmus Højlund's performances could define Ruben Amorim's stint at Man United

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United are up and running under R...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Leaks, team meetings, losses: The factors driving the Sixers' dreadful start

Leaks, team meetings, losses: The factors driving the Sixers' dreadful start

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTHE JULY 6 POST on Daryl Morey's Instagram page is even more perfec...

Injury-plagued Beal hobbles off in loss to Nets

Injury-plagued Beal hobbles off in loss to Nets

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- Suns guard Bradley Beal limped off the court in the four...

Baseball

Dodgers minor leaguer suspended for doping

Dodgers minor leaguer suspended for doping

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Jose D. Hernandez was sus...

Crawford, 2-time WS champ with Giants, retires

Crawford, 2-time WS champ with Giants, retires

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN FRANCISCO -- Brandon Crawford is retiring after 14 major league...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated