First Test Match, Day Two
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Admission: £70.00
Programme: £6.00
Scorecard: Free
Having enjoyed my day at the England against India Test Match at The Oval last September, I wanted to take in a day’s play at the Home of Cricket this year.
Normally tickets are hard to come by for a Lord’s Test Match, but plenty were available this year, for probably a combination of reasons. Lord’s wanted to explain it by the match falling on the Jubilee bank holiday weekend, with people having other plans. Another factor is the poor performance of the England Test team at the moment - which is hardly surprising given the almost total focus on one day cricket these days, and in particular on a format which is as unique as it is ghastly to England. But probably the biggest factor is the crazy prices spectators were being asked to pay, ranging from £50 to £160. I chose one of the cheapest tickets available with an unrestricted view, still far more than I would want to pay, but as a one-off to watch England play at the most iconic venue, I felt it was acceptable. I was happy with my seat, quite high up in the Upper Compton stand, but that gave a great overview of the day’s play. Given that I felt that Lord’s had already had more than enough money out of me with the admission and the programme, I refused to indulge in buying any food or drink inside the ground, instead taking in some snacks and a water bottle to make use of the water fountains throughout the day.
The first day of this match had been one of the more chaotic days in Test Cricket with New Zealand, who had won the toss, being bowled out for 132 within 40 overs, with veteran James Anderson and debutant Matt Potts grabbing four wickets each. England made a good start in their, passing 50 without loss, but after losing their first wicket for 59, and thereafter the wickets fell in quick succession, losing 5 wickets for just 8 runs, going from 92-2 to 100-7, before rallying a little to end the first day on 116-7.
On a mostly cloudy, occasionally sunny but always warm day, England's final three wickets fell fairly quickly, within half an hour, but at least they secured a narrow lead of 9 runs. Stuart Broad was bowled by Tim Southee for 9, Ben Foakes was caught by Mitchell off of the bowling of Southee for 7, and debutant Matt Parkinson, who was a concussion substitute for the unfortunate Jack Leach, was the last man out for 8, caught by Mitchell off the bowling of Trent Boult.
It felt like England had squandered a great chance to build a commanding first innings lead, but the wickets soon continued tumbling, New Zealand losing Will Young for 1, caught by Foakes off the bowling of Anderson, and then Kane Williamson for 15, caught by Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Matt Potts. And the tourists were reduced to 35-3 when Latham was caught by Foakes off the bowling of Potts. By the time lunch arrived, New Zealand were 38-3, still 29 runs behind with 6 wickets left.
And soon after lunch, New Zealand lost their fourth wicket when Devon Conway was caught by Foakes off the bowling of Broad. At that stage, a result inside two days looked possible, but Mitchell and Blundell more than steadied the ship, and they saw the day out unbeaten, having come together at 2.15. By tea, they had taken New Zealand's score to 128-4, a lead of 119, and by the end of the day, their score had moved onto 236-4, a lead of 223. And so, after England had looked in command just after lunch, it felt like the day was slipping away fast, and perhaps New Zealand ended the day as slight favourites, particularly if Mitchell and Blundell could stay at the crease well into the third day.
Video highlights of the day's play can be viewed by clicking here , and the overall scorecard can be viewed by clicking here
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