New Zealand Elect to Bowl First in First Test Against England
Time for the action to commence. The sun is out, which makes for a pleasant sight after all the concerns about the weather earlier in the morning. The two umpires make their way out to the middle, while Tom Latham leads his side onto the field. It will be the new English opening pair of Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay. Matt Henry will kick things off with the new ball. Duckett to face the first ball. Here we go...
We are moments away from the national anthems, but before that, there will be a moment of silence as a mark of respect for the former England cricketers who have passed away since the side's last home fixture. There is also a moment of remembrance at Lord's as we mark a decade since the passing of New Zealand great Martin Crowe. His daughter, Emma Crowe, has been given the honour of ringing the five-minute bell ahead of the start of play. It is time for the national anthems now. It will be New Zealand's first, followed by that of England.
PITCH REPORT - Nasser Hussain says the weather looks fine for now, although a glance at the radar suggests heavier rain could arrive around the middle of the day. Mark Butcher feels it is a very good-looking surface. There is plenty of hardness in the pitch, with only a tiny amount of moisture still present. He adds that the ground staff have worked hard to ensure the surface retains good pace and bounce.
The captain of England - Ben Stokes says they would have bowled first as well, given the conditions. He describes Emilio Gay's debut as a special moment, not only for the left-hander but also for his family, and adds that seeing someone receive their first cap is always one of the most rewarding parts of being involved with the side. On the team selection, Stokes informs that Sonny Baker misses out from the 12-man squad named in the lead-up to the game.
TOSS - Time for the coin to go up in the first Test of the English summer. It is overcast but, importantly, dry. Ben Stokes and Tom Latham are out in the middle. Latham calls correctly, and New Zealand elect to BOWL first.
0 Overs0.1 Score0 - 0 Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, First sign of the lack of pace and bounce as early as the first ball. Angling across off, on a length. Duckett lets it be. The ball does not rise at all and goes towards the keeper on a bounce.
0 Overs0.3 Score0 - 0 Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, A play and a miss! Closer to the off pole, full in length. Duckett has a fiddle at the ball and is beaten as the ball leaves him with the angle.
0 Overs0.5 Score0 - 0 Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Henry makes the batter play now. Honing in line with the off stump, on a good length. Duckett hangs back to deal with it. Gets squared up as the ball nips away a touch and the ball squirts off the outside half to gully.
4 Overs1.1 Score4 - 0 Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, FOUR! Thank you, Kyle, says the debutant. Jamieson starts from around the stumps and goes full in search of swing. Ends up dishing out a low full toss, outside off. Emilio leans into the drive and plays it through point. Opens his account in Test cricket with a boundary.
0 Overs1.3 Score4 - 0 Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, Angled in and then nipping away a touch, on a back of a length, on the off stump. Gay is opened up as he leans across and brings the bat out in front. Gets it off the outer half to point.
0 Overs2.1 Score4 - 0 Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Serves it full, just outside the off stump. Duckett presses onto the front foot for the drive. The bat turns in his hand and he mistimes it to cover.
4 Overs2.2 Score8 - 0 Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Easy pickings. Henry goes searching for the swing but ends up delivering a juicy half-volley, on off. Duckett is quick to transfer his weight onto the front foot and cracks the drive to the left of cover for his first boundary.
It is not the first time that the ball has not carried on the full to the keeper. Does the keeper need to adjust his position and stand a few steps in front of where he is right now? We will find out as the game goes on.
0 Overs2.6 Score8 - 0 Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, A bit of nip back into the left-hander, on a back of a length, on middle. Ben stays back to keep it out but the ball decks back in and beats him on the inside edge. Duckett wears it high on the thigh pad.
4 Overs3.1 Score12 - 0 Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, FOUR! Fine shot. Angled into the left-hander by Jamieson, a bit too full, in line with the off stump. Gay leans forward and presents the full face of the bat. Plays the drive with a high elbow past the bowler's left and it races away.
0 Overs3.2 Score12 - 0 Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, Good comeback! More like it by Jamieson. Kyle hurls it on a good length, outside the off stump. Gay is drawn into the stroke as he pushes a bit away from his body. The ball whistles past the outside edge.
0 Overs3.4 Score12 - 0 Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, That kept low. Bowled a bit into the surface, outside off. Emilio shapes up for the cut but the ball does not rise as much as the left-hander expected. Chops it down beside the strip on the off side off an inside edge.