New Zealand series 2026

[dazedpenguin]

Is this the start of a new era? A very wet Lord's- it had better clear up for the second day because I've got a ticket. 24/1 before rain set in.

There is at least some Essex involvement. Areeb Rashid, Daniel Gladwell and Jack Auld from the Essex academy will be the substitute fielders. Will any of them do a Don Topley (and stay inside the boundary this time)? I think Toppers was on the Lord's ground staff at the time of that catch that never was against the West Indies in 1984.

[vim]

Yes Don Topley was on the ground staff. He was there to sell scorecards.

This from Don Topley. Who has dined out on something that he did not do. For the last 40 years, far more than people who actually did something have done.

[nat]

34-4. Normal service has resumed.

[bobw]

England 100-6. Good to see that the England batsmen made full use of the six Championship matches to get the right amount of match practice in.

[dazedpenguin]

New Zealand 61/6 in reply to England's 140. What a crazy day. If this was a county match, would Lord's be due a visit from the pitch inspector?

Not that many batsmen have the excuse of being in the IPL. Just Bethell for England and Stokes has had his preparation hampered by that nasty injury. The rest have played a lot of Championship games.

[vim]

On Friday, Phil Tufnell. Speaking about his old home ground. Gave the opinion that the pitch was a disgrace for the second day of a Test Match. There will be refunds for tickets holders on Sunday, and possibly part refunds for today.

[vim]

So the pitch is continuing the tradition with the pitch. Following on from win the toss, win the game in the 60 over Final.

[bwildered]

 Pitch played like a normal wicket  first game of the season in the Championship, with typical irregular bounce, that the rest of us are expected to watch.
 Anyway nice to see bowlers applying their trade and batters struggle, much better than two giant scores and the game going nowhere.
 England, Stokes requires runs to justify his place in the middle order.

[Craig]

Good win for England.    i attended todays short play at lords. a bowlers test match.  well played in particular to Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson. also well done to Emilia Gay on getting an importnant 50 on his test debut.

[nat]

Good win for England.    i attended todays short play at lords. a bowlers test match.  well played in particular to Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson. also well done to Emilia Gay on getting an importnant 50 on his test debut.

Emilia?

They're getting everywhere.

[dazedpenguin]

I went on the Friday and saw Emilio Gay's 50. He started a little nervily, but settled in and played some classy drives. He could have a good summer and he's such a contrast to Crawley.

As for the rest, a win that doesn't really tell us much, apart from Tongue being the best bowler England have and Robinson deadly on these kind of pitches. The Oval will be a whole different proposition.