MATCH REPORT
Follow UsOld-fashioned Test cricket was at its best on its return to Lord’s on the first day of the opening day of international summer in England. Batting first, New Zealand were led by a memorable hundred from the debutant Devon Conway who broke a few records en route his unbeaten 136. Not only he got himself to the coveted Lord’s Honours Board but also broke Sourav Ganguly’s 25-year old record of the highest individual record by a debutant at Lord’s.
Conway was supported by the gritty Henry Nicholls who walked back unbeaten on 46 off 149 balls. The duo have added 132 runs for the fourth wicket off 290 deliveries, leaving the hosts empty handed post tea.
England would feel they did not do much wrong on a pitch which had little to no help for the bowlers. The ongoing 2021 County Championship and the recent record at Lord’s showcase the venue as one of the better places for the bowlers. But the pitch today, supported by bright sunshine in the first session, turned out to be dry. Conway and Tom Latham added 58 runs for the opening wicket, the highest by a visiting team at Lord’s in the last five years.
In a similar vein with the Kiwis, the home side also had a debutant proving to be most fruitful for them today. Ollie Robinson broke the stand when Latham prodded half-hearted at a delivery which he should have left. As a result, he edged the ball onto his stumps and walked back for 23 in the 16th over.
Robinson, who had talked about his plans to dismiss Kane Williamson prior to the match tested the Blackcaps skipper towards the end of his first spell in Test cricket. However, Williamson and Conway saw through the phase as New Zealand won the first session at 85 for 1.
The first hour after lunch hinted at a turn around by England. Facing his first ball of the session, Williamson fell to his strength. He played a rising delivery by James Anderson a bit too late, onto his stumps. Ross Taylor never looked comfortable and eventually fell LBW to Robinson for 14. This was also the phase when the sunshine was replaced by a transient cloud cover. Conway and Nicholls weathered the storm from thereon.
Conway’s 136, adorned with 16 boundaries, came at a strike rate of 56.7 while no one else managed a mark of 41. He batted with such calmness and control that it would trouble you believing that he was on his debut. He paid respect to the good deliveries but was not shy from attacking anything marginally in his scoring zone. It reflects on his wagon wheel. While most of his runs came on the on-side, the boundaries were evenly dispersed.
As he reached 96, England went with short ball ploy, keeping fielders in the deep on the on-side and asking Mark Wood to bowl short from over-the-wicket angle. Wood had been the only bowler who had troubled Conway a touch with odd bumpers. On this occasion, the southpaw picked two singles from the over and then whipped Robinson for a four to complete a historic ton.
Nicholls on the other hand was never bothered with runs against his name. He batted in a manner that will irritate the bowlers and the T20 enthusiasts. He was diligent in leaving anything offered on the probing line outside the off-stump. Consequently, he was beaten only five times out of the 122 deliveries he faced from the pacers.
England manifested brief signs of frustration when they conceded 46 runs in 42 balls post over number 56. Skipper, Joe Root opted for the second new ball as soon as it was available and handed it to Anderson who was asked to hustle for his third spell of the session.
Anderson and Broad bowled three overs each with the second new cherry but the best they could extract was beating the bat a few times, nothing which bothered the two batsmen who had already shut their shop.
Lord’s is traditionally a better batting track on Day 2 and the Kiwi duo would aim to take fresh guard and continue on their merry way. England need to make inroads as soon as possible.