HIGHLIGHTS England vs New Zealand, Crowe-Thorpe Trophy 2026, 1st Test- Result, Scorecard

That's all from the Home of Cricket - That is it from this opening Test, with England taking the early lead while New Zealand are left with a few things to rethink. The Crowe-Thorpe Trophy now moves to The Oval, London, for the second Test starting on 17th June, Wednesday. The first ball is scheduled for 10 am GMT, but you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The victorious skipper of England - Ben Stokes calls it a good result and also highlights how much has happened away from the field coming into this Test. Mentions that to put in a performance like this under such circumstances means a great deal. He says England identified the conditions quickly and it worked in their favour, though he is quick to note that Test cricket is tough and you never quite know what you are getting. On the two-day finish and the team's approach, he says the conversations in the dressing room this week were clear and quick. With a lot of people and a lot of ideas, he stresses that clarity matters. Notes that the wicket challenged them as a batting unit, but they knew what they had to do, and had clear plans against the New Zealand batters, and executed really well. On Emilio Gay's debut, Stokes points out that fifty at the top was on the top end of Test cricket. He calls it a monumental contribution that gave England the lead, and a tough introduction to the format, which Emilio handled exceptionally well. On Robinson's bowling, he says the skill Ollie possesses has never been in question. Says he is relentless with his lines and lengths, incredibly competitive in attitude, and a phenomenal bowler who led the attack really well alongside Atkinson. He adds that the bowling unit as a whole was great, and chuckles that he himself just chipped in at the backend every now and then. On any broader concerns, Stokes keeps it simple. Says that they just want to play their best brand of Test cricket, and that is all they are concentrating on.

The captain of New Zealand - Tom Latham says that the bowlers dominated this Test entirely. He says that they started well but failed to form partnerships, and that is what hurt them. He reckons that they weren't able to get through that tricky phase on day 1, and the dropped catches is something they need to work on, especially in a low-scoring game. Further says that the surface was difficult to bat on and the ball was moving sideways. The bowlers exploited the conditions well. Ends by saying that they could have done some things in a better way and that they will bounce back stronger, as they have a lot to work on.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Ollie Robinson wins the award on his return to Test cricket for his excellent figures of 7/77 in the match. Robinson says it was his dream to come back, and there was a time he genuinely thought he would never play for England again. He admits the nerves were probably the worst he has ever felt before a game, with anxiety through the roof and no feeling in his legs through that first over. When being reminded about his triple-wicket maiden, Ollie says that was something he had never done before, and he adds there are no words to describe what it felt like with the crowd behind him. He adds that they bowled well as a unit with real clarity of plans, hitting the stumps constantly from both ends, and generating good seam movement. He then singles out Emilio Gay for a really fine debut, and then praises Gus Atkinson for once again thriving at Lord's. On Josh Tongue, he says he is simply unbelievable, rarely missing his lines and lengths. He says it was a really enjoyable week to be part of that seam attack and hopes they can carry it through the summer. He closes by saying he knows this is just the start and there is plenty of hard work still ahead.

Presentation Time...

Catches win matches - You would expect the big names to deliver in conditions like these, but that wasn't the case. Joe Root managed just 9 runs across both innings, while Kane Williamson, likely in his final Test at Lord’s, could only muster 18. The real difference came in the field, with New Zealand spilling as many as five catches, including Harry Brook, one of only two half-centurions in the match, and missing a key LBW review against Emilio Gay, who made a vital maiden fifty. In a game dominated by the bowlers, with four five-wicket hauls shared between Kyle Jamieson, Ollie Robinson, Nathan Smith and Gus Atkinson, England’s batters did just enough to edge ahead. As Michael Atherton noted on air, this 150th Test at Lord’s also turned out to be the second-shortest in the venue’s history, with a record 24 dismissals coming via bowled or LBW, a brutal, fast-moving contest from start to finish.

The Lord's bully strikes again - It didn't take long for England to strike on Day 4, with Josh Tongue trapping Tom Blundell plumb in front to set the tone. Glenn Phillips then injected some energy into the chase, playing with intent as he and Devon Conway added 53 valuable runs, before Conway's resistance ended on 41 off 91 balls. Gus Atkinson then tore through the innings with a quick double blow, continuing his remarkable record at Lord’s, reaching 25 wickets in just three Tests at the venue. With only one wicket left, Phillips was forced to farm the strike and go after the bowling, managing to keep things alive briefly, but he eventually fell, and fittingly, it was Atkinson who sealed the deal with a memorable five-for as the Kiwis folded under pressure, remaining winless in Tests at this venue since 1999.

Drizzle and dominance - Persistent rain meant only 9.4 overs were possible, but Robinson was once again the man making things happen. He removed Rachin Ravindra (8) with a delivery that kissed the top of off stump, then trapped Daryl Mitchell lbw for a three-ball duck. That took his match tally to seven wickets, a stunning return after more than two years away from Test cricket. New Zealand crawled to 55 for 5 at the close, still needing 199 runs with only five wickets standing. The pitch claimed 35 wickets in less than two days of normal playing time. England were closing in but with rain still threatening, nothing was certain.

Grit, chaos and another collapse - New Zealand were polished off for 113 in the morning, Robinson (5/39) deservedly claiming his place on the honours board. England's second innings then seemed to be building towards safety. Debutant Emilio Gay batted beautifully for 57, and at 126 for 2, the lead was 153. Then came the implosion. Four wickets fell for one run in just 11 balls - Gay, Brook (0), Root (8), and Stokes (0) all gone in a blur of indecision and edge. England limped to 226 all out, setting New Zealand 254 to win. The visitors survived a tense final hour to reach 36 for 3, with 18 wickets tumbling across another breathless day. This Test refused to follow any script.

The Robinson revival - The 150th Test at the Home of Cricket delivered drama from the very first ball, with 16 wickets falling on a treacherous surface. England, sent in to bat, were blown away for just 140, with Kyle Jamieson (5/62) rolling back the years on his return to Test cricket. Harry Brook's belligerent 56 was the only innings of substance while the rest of the order simply had no answer to the relentless movement. But the day belonged to Ollie Robinson. Recalled after two years in the wilderness, the seamer produced a triple-wicket maiden, removing Conway, Williamson (0), and Ravindra (0) in four devastating deliveries. New Zealand slumped to 61 for 6 at Stumps, trailing by 79 runs, and Lord's was left shaking its head in disbelief.

Survival of the fittest - England draw first blood in the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, taking a 1-0 lead at Lord’s on a surface that was a batter's nightmare and a bowler's paradise. After the Ashes drubbing, this was a timely response from England - composed, clinical, and full of intent. New Zealand will rue a few missed chances in a low-scoring contest where every moment mattered, and England made them pay. The hosts sealed a 115-run win with more than four sessions to spare, mastering brutal conditions and reminding everyone of their resilience at home.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, OUT! BOWLED! It was Robinson in the first innings, and now a five-wicket haul for Gus Atkinson at Lord's as well. He is on the Honour's Board yet again. England win the first Test match by 115 runs. A comprehensive win for the hosts, as they were lethally efficient with the ball and just good enough with the bat. Coming to the delivery. Back of a length on off, and it jags back just enough. Henry is caught on the crease, searching for it in front of his body, and is beaten on the inside edge. The ball sneaks through and crashes into the middle stump, which is uprooted and flattened. New Zealand have been bundled out for a mere 138 runs.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Much fuller, on off, Matt Henry drives it to the cover fielder.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Good length, angling in, on off. Matt Henry blocks it to mid on.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, A half-hearted appeal for a caught behind, but turned down by the umpire. Stokes ponders a lot for a review, but gets no support from anyone. And the timer runs out. Well-directed short ball, and angling down leg from middle with extra bounce. Phillips swings across to hook it away, but the ball beats the bat, and in fact, it flies over his helmet on its way to Jamie Smith behind the stumps.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Threads the gap nicely! Good length, kicks up and cuts in on off. Glenn Phillips lets the ball arrive, plays it very late. Opens the bat face at the point of contact and splits the gully and slip fielders for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, BEATEN! By a kitten-whisker. Hard length, outside off, Glenn Phillips stays put and throws his hands at it to smash into the cover region, but the ball leaves him and whistles past the outside edge.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, This one stays underground from a fuller length, nipping in on the pads. Phillips look to whip it over mid-wicket, but the ball flirts the bottom edge and hits the front pad.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Two is the call from Phillips, but he bails out. Back of a length, around off. Glenn Phillips crisply punches it to deep cover. The initial thought is to take two, but the fielder is quick to charge to the ball to his left and prevents any run. Henry, who is almost halfway through, is forced to retreat back. He does so safely, though.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Huge nip-backer on a good length, on leg. Glenn Phillips steps across and tucks it to the mid-wicket fielder.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Much fuller, on middle, Matt Henry flicks it to the fielder at leg gully. He does his job quite well.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Nice and full, on middle, Matt Henry blocks it to the right of the bowler. Matt Henry survives yet another ball.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Good length down the leg side, Matt Henry looks to flick it but the ball brushes his pads and rolls towards the fielder at leg slip. Dot.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Too full, on leg, Matt Henry flicks it to mid-wicket.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Much fuller, on off, Matt Henry blocks it to mid off.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Good length, on off, Matt Henry punches it to the cover fielder.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Width, way outside off, Glenn Phillips looks to play at it but misses. That means, Henry will be on strike in the next over.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, SIX! Josh Tongue bangs it short, on middle and leg, Glenn Phillips stays back and pulls it. Doesn't quite connect it well but the ball goes all the way over fine leg for a six.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Good effort by Root in the deep! Length again, outside off, Glenn Phillips slices it through backward point. Joe Root covers a decent ground and dives to his right near the fence and stops it just before the ropes. Glenn Phillips denies the single once again.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! That races away to the fence. Hard length, outside off, Glenn Phillips latches onto it and times it perfectly through point for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Sways it down leg, Glenn Phillips flicks it towards the fielder at short fine leg.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length, on off, Glenn Phillips pushes it to point. He denies for a single.

Gus Atkinson to Matt Henry, Nice and full, on off, Matt Henry blocks it to mid on.

England are almost there now. It's been a fabulous bowling display by Atkinson to get his fourth. Matt Henry is the last man in for New Zealand.

Gus Atkinson to Kyle Jamieson, OUT! TAKEN! That's a sharp catch by Ben Duckett, and England are just one wicket away now. Not a threatening delivery by Atkinson by any means, as it is a long half-volley, angling in on middle and leg. Kyle Jamieson gets forward and looks to flick it off the pads, but doesn't quite connect it properly as he is not up to the pitch of the ball. Ends up chipping it towards short mid-wicket. Ben Duckett dives to his right and snaps a sharp catch in front of his face. New Zealand are 124/9 now.

Gus Atkinson to Kyle Jamieson, Keeps it on off, Kyle Jamieson punches it to the cover fielder.

Gus Atkinson to Kyle Jamieson, Beaten! Hard length, outside off, shaping away. Kyle Jamieson has a waft at it but misses.

Gus Atkinson to Kyle Jamieson, Short, on leg, Kyle Jamieson ducks under it.

Gus Atkinson to Kyle Jamieson, FOUR! That's a good-looking shot! A touch full, outside off, Kyle Jamieson leans onto it and cracks a drive through the point region for a cracking boundary. New Zealand need 130 more runs.

Josh Tongue to Kyle Jamieson, Keeps it full, on middle and leg, Kyle Jamieson flicks it off the inside half of his bat towards backward square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Kyle Jamieson, Nice and full, on off, Kyle Jamieson eases it to short cover.

Josh Tongue to Kyle Jamieson, Good length, on middle, Kyle Jamieson stays back and blocks it solidly. He gets it off the bottom of his blade.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Shaping in, on off, Glenn Phillips stays put and pushes it through cover-point for a single.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Much fuller, outside off, Glenn Phillips drives it to the cover fielder.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Nice and full, on middle, Glenn Phillips flicks it to mid-wicket.

Josh Tongue (10-2-32-2) is back on. He replaces Ben Stokes.

Gus Atkinson to Glenn Phillips, Good length, on off, Glenn Phillips punches it to cover for one more.

Gus Atkinson to Kyle Jamieson, Much fuller, on off, Kyle Jamieson flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

England close in further. The Kiwi tail is exposed from one end now. Out walks the towering figure of Kyle Jamieson to the crease.

Gus Atkinson to Nathan Smith, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! And just like that, Nathan Smith comes and goes. Another one goes down for New Zealand. Hard length, on off, and with a hint of away movement. Nathan Smith stays in his crease and tries to block it, but gets undone by the ball leaving him. The ball kisses the outside edge of Nathan Smith's blade and goes towards the keeper, Jamie Smith, who makes no mistake with a straightforward grab behind the stumps. New Zealand are now 116/8, chasing 254.

Gus Atkinson to Nathan Smith, FOUR! Nathan Smith will take those. Hard length, outside off, Nathan Smith tries to block it with soft hands but gets a thick outside edge. The ball races through short third for a boundary.

Gus Atkinson to Nathan Smith, Angling in, on a length, on middle. Nathan Smith blocks it back to the bowler.

Gus Atkinson to Glenn Phillips, Nice and full, on off, Glenn Phillips pushes it to cover for a single.

Drinks Break! That's a brilliant catch from Jacob Bethell. It was a partnership that was starting to frustrate the hosts. But now, England are almost at an arm's distance closer towards the win. The equation is simple, yet so far away from the tourists. New Zealand need 143 more runs. In the context of how the pitch is behaving, that’s a mountain to climb with just 3 wickets in the bank. England will continue their hunt for wickets, while the only plan for New Zealand right now is to bat their way out.  Nathan Smith is the new batter, in at number 9.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Stokes ends Conway's resistance along with the 53-run partnership. Comes from around the stump, hits the deck hard and angles the ball into the batter, on middle and leg. Conway looks to flick it to the leg side, but he closes the bat a bit too early and the ball nips away. A fat outside edge is found and it shoots towards gully where it dips on Jacob Bethell. But he does well to dive low to his left and scoop the ball before the ground. However, the umpire wants to have a check for the legality of the catch. The replay confirms that Bethell's fingers are clearly under the ball, and it is deemed a clean catch. Conway departs after a hard-fought knock on a difficult pitch. New Zealand are 111/7, needing 143 more.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, In front of the stumps, full, Devon watchfully bunts it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Too short and going down the leg stump line. Devon Conway misses to pull as it flies over his shoulder height. It is given as a No Ball for height.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Good length, angled in on middle. Conway tucks it to mid on.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Length ball, on the stumps, defended down the pitch.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, FOUR! Top placement! Full and on the pads, Devon Conway leans on a bit and flicks it to the left of the square leg fielder. It is going down the hill and the deep fine leg fielder loses the race as the ball trickles to the ropes. This brings the 50-run partnership ​​​​​​between Conway and Phillips. In a rather quick time.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, A spitting cobra, on off and middle, on a length. Glenn Phillips is squared up on the defence, and the ball hits the shoulder of the bat and rolls to the cover-point region for a quick single.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Kicks up a bit from a length, nipping from middle to off. Devon Conway's bottom hand slips off the handle as he knocks it down the pitch. That seemingly struck on the splice of the bat.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Charges in from over the stump now, does Gus. Back of a length, on middle and leg. Devon tucks it to the leg side, in front of square.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Hits the length hard, on top of off, Devon Conway lets the ball angle into him and blocks it off the back foot to point.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Beaten! In the channel of the off pole, good length, nibbling away a shade. Devon Conway hangs the bat away from his body to block and the ball zips past the outside edge.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Goes a bit full now and on off, Devon Conway leans on and stabs it on the bounce to the gully region.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Slanted on the leg stump from around the wicket. Devon Conway hops to nudge this length ball to the square leg fielder.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Cannoned in and around middle and leg, full in length. Conway gets the bat out in front of the pads and steers it wide of backward point for a single. New Zealand now need 149 runs to win.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Similar length, but the line is a bit around off now and it nips away a shy bit. Devon Conway covers the stumps and blocks it down the strip.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Shoots low from a fuller length, aimed on middle. Conway drops the bat down and stabs it to the pitch.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, On a back of a length, skidding through around off. Conway fends it with soft hands in front of point.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Length ball, stays low and is angled back on the off stump, Conway defends to mid on.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, Attacks the stumps, full and on middle. Conway presses in front and knocks the ball to mid on.

Gus Atkinson to Glenn Phillips, Cuts back in from off, Glenn Phillips tries to get on top of the bounce to punch it to the cover region. Gets an inside edge onto the boot instead, and he drags the ball away from his bat to prevent it from spinning back onto the stumps.

Gus Atkinson to Glenn Phillips, Nagging length, fired onto the pads. Glenn Phillips is hurried on the back foot, misses to glance it to the leg side, and is struck on the thigh pad before rolling to backward square leg.

Gus Atkinson to Glenn Phillips, Beauty! Angles in on the off stump and then straightens up after pitching. Glenn Phillips is drawn into the front foot drive, but gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball keeps leaving him.

Gus Atkinson to Glenn Phillips, Nips away from outside off, on a length. Left alone.

Gus Atkinson to Glenn Phillips, Wowza! Good response by Atkinson. Lands it in and around off with extravagant bounce, on top of middle. Glenn Phillips looks to defend, but is taken aback by the lift and the ball hits the gloves. But Phillips manages to keep it down and the ball rolls away to backward point.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Excellent piece of running once again by these two! Pitched fuller, on the off stump. Devon Conway's bottom hand comes off the handle while playing the straight drive, but he manages to beat the mid off fielder to his left. Shoaib Bashir sprints from mid off and manages to chase the ball before the ropes. Three taken.

Double change as Gus Atkinson replaces Josh Tongue.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Jags in a mile from off, on a good length. Glenn Phillips defends it to the leg side.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Oh, what a timing! Length-delivery, on the leg stump line, nipping in. Glenn Phillips is still at the crease and knocks it wide of the mid-wicket fielder to pick up another boundary to his name. Stroke of high quality given the conditions. 100 up for New Zealand! They need 153 more runs.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Another one that is lasered onto the pads, on a fuller length. Glenn Phillips forces the drive to the right of mid on.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Nips in from middle, on a good length. Phillips gets across on the front foot and eases it to mid on.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, A lot straighter on the pads, going down leg. Devon Conway flicks the full ball behind square on the leg side. It beats Emilio Gay to his right at leg slip and is mopped up by Shoaib Bashir in the outfield. Just a single.

Ben Stokes to Devon Conway, From around the stump, Stokes bashes the length hard, on off. Devon Conway hangs back and knocks it solidly to the off side.

Ben Stokes brings himself into the attack.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Length-delivery, slanting into the batter. Glenn Phillips watchfully blocks this one out.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Review lost! Back of a length, and this one jags in a long, long way and stays low on bounce as well. Glenn Phillips is cramped for space as he tries to play at it. He is cut in half as the ball beats the inside edge and ramps into the thigh pad. Half an appeal for LBW, but the umpire remains unmoved. Tongue looks a bit doubtful, but Ben Stokes is keen to get it checked. He walks up to his bowler and after a mini-conference, Stokes goes for a review, challenging the on-field decision. This looks to be doing a bit too much, it seems. UltraEdge shows a clear gap between bat and ball. Ball Tracking comes up with the ball projected to miss the leg stump by a fair bit. England burn a review here.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Oh, dear! This one stays underground from a good length. Shoots low, outside off. Glenn Phillips is absolutely undone by the lack of bounce. Tries to punch it off the back foot to the off side, but the ball sneaks below the bat and rolls back to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Nips back in hugely, in and around off, on a length. Glenn Phillips sees the ball all the way through to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Good running! Serves it full and on middle, angling in. Devon Conway leans forward and drives it to the right of mid on. Ollie Robinson gives it a chase and manages to stop the ball with a slide as it slows down in the damp outfield. Three taken.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Hard length, onto the pads. Glenn Phillips gets across and steers it to deep backward square leg for a single.

The first half hour on Day 4 is done and New Zealand would be actually pleased to have lost just one wicket. The partnership is budding along nicely between Phillips and Conway with the two playing differently.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Indecisive again! Short of a length and around off, nips back in, Devon Conway tries to leave it very late. The ball hits the face of the bat but drops well in front of the slip cordon.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Full and angling into the pads, Devon Conway steps across and tucks it mid-wicket.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Full again and on off, Glenn Phillips just opens the bat face and pushes it towards cover for a quick run. New Zealand need 162 runs to win now.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Pitched up and on middle, attacks he stumps, Glenn Phillips knocks it with a straight bat to mid off.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Fuller and on off, angling in this time, Devon Conway tries to blocks but gets an inside edge towards square leg for a single.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Lands this on a good length and around off, holds its line, Devon Conway plays for the inward movement and gets beaten on the outside edge. Good take from Smith, who is back up to the stumps now.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Fuller delivery, on off, angling in, Glenn Phillips blocks it out solidly.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length and around off, Glenn Phillips rides the bounce and punches it through backward point. Ben Stokes gives a good chase and dives to push the ball back inside just before the ropes. Perhaps the ball going up the hill slowed it down, and the dampness in the outfield did not help either. Two taken.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Hits the deck hard, around off, nips back in, Glenn Phillips fends it onto the ground as the ball goes towards short cover.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Short of a length and on middle, angling in, Glenn Phillips pats it down on the pitch.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, There is nothing he could have done about that one. Good length and around off, nips back in and keeps low again. Glenn Phillips tries to play at it, but it goes under his bat and misses the off pole by a whisker.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Fuller in length and on middle, keeps low, Devon Conway adjusts well and clips it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Ever since Phillips has arrived at the crease, there's an evident shift in intent to score runs, at least from him. Attack is the only way for New Zealand to put pressure on England.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Put away! Slightly fuller in length and just outside off. Glenn Phillips gets his hands through the shot and smacks it through covers for another boundary. Maybe this is a sign that the Kiwis are going to be more proactive now.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Good length but going way down the leg side, Glenn Phillips fails to glance it away. It keeps moving in, but Jamie Smith dives to his left to grab it one-handed.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Pitched up and angling into the leg side, Devon Conway tucks it to mid-wicket for a run.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Fuller and on the pads, Glenn Phillips flicks it to deep backward square leg for a single. New Zealand need 172 runs to win now.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length and on off, Glenn Phillips dabs it down to point.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Nice shot! A half-volley, just around off, Glenn Phillips, without much footwork, does his hands do the thing, driving it beautifully through extra covers for a boundary.

My goodness me, is what Conway muttered as that last ball of the over flew back to the keeper. It jumped like there's a spring underneath. The ball is doing all sorts at Lord's now.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Bashes the length hard and around off, nips back in with good bounce, Devon Conway offers no shot at it.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, On a length and on middle and off, Devon Conway blocks it out.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, DROPPED! That should have been the second wicket of the Day. Josh Tongue bangs this into the pitch, around off, takes off a bit. Devon Conway gets into two minds, whether to play it or leave it. He decides late to let it go but fails to get his bat out of the way. It catches the top edge and flies towards second slip, where Harry Brook leaps to grab it with both hands above his head but the ball bursts through behind him. Two taken.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, FOUR! Gets it away! This is a bit fuller and around off. Devon Conway gets drawn into a loose drive but gets an outside edge that flies just past gully for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Short of a length and on off, nips back in, Devon Conway stays deep inside his crease and dabs it towards point.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Back of a length and on off, holds its line, Devon Conway lifts his hands and lets it go to the keeper.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Dug into the surface, on off, Glenn Phillips watches it through and leaves it alone.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Lovely shot! Hard length and just outside off, Glenn Phillips uses the width on offer this time. He gets on top of the bounce and punches it with sweet timing through covers for a boundary.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Action replay! Ollie Robinson keeps bowling in that in-between length, on off, gets it to move away with bounce. Glenn Phillips tries to defend from the crease, but the ball zips past the outside edge. Good take from Jamie Smith behind the stumps.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Beaten! On a nagging length and just on off, straightens a bit, Glenn Phillips has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Streaky! Back of a length and around off, jags back in this time, a long way, Glenn Phillips pushes at it with hard hands but gets an inside edge, just past the stumps. The keeper is up to the stumps and has no chance of stopping as the ball races to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Ollie Robinson to Glenn Phillips, Just short! Ollie Robinson lands this on a good length and on off, angles in but then nips away after hitting the deck. Glenn Phillips tries to play with a straight bat but gets an outside edge that goes on the bounce to a bit left of Joe Root at first slip.

Fantastic over from Tongue. Sets the tone perfectly for the hosts. New Zealand need 191 runs, with 4 wickets in hand. Ollie Robinson (10-2-18-2) to continue from the far end.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length and angling into the leg side, Glenn Phillips nudges it off his hips through square leg for a run.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, FOUR LEG BYES! Runs for New Zealand! Josh Tongue bangs this into the pitch, on middle, gets it nip back again with bounce around the ribs of the batter. Glenn Phillips tries to glance it away but misses as the ball brushes his body and goes past the diving keeper to the fine leg fence

Well, it didn't take long enough for the hosts to strike. New Zealand's misery pile up further. In walks Glenn Phillips to the crease, at number 8. Was one of the few Kiwi players who played positively in the first innings. Let's see how he goes about on a pitch that has only got more difficult since then.

Josh Tongue to Tom Blundell, OUT! LBW! Josh Tongue strikes early on Day 4, and the Kiwis slip further. This is a good-length delivery, just around off, jags back in a long, while keeping low as well. Tom Blundell gets stuck in his crease and fails to get his bat down in time and gets wrapped on the pads right in front of the stumps. There is a big shout for LBW, and the finger goes up right away. Blundell has a chat with his partner but does not take the review, as this is as plumb as it gets. New Zealand are 58/6, still needing 196 runs to win.

Josh Tongue to Tom Blundell, Comes over the wicket for the right-hander, serves this full, on the pads. Tom Blundell flicks it a bit uppishly but over and wide of short leg for a couple of runs.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Hard length and on middle, angling in a bit, Devon Conway stays back and clips it off the inner half of the bat through square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Fuller in length and around off, Devon Conway opens the face of his bat and steers it towards point.

Assuming Tongue to bowl from the opposite end. Though live visuals showed Shoaib Bashir stretching out his arms and shoulders. But here's Josh Tongue to bowl now.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Back of a length and on off, Tom Blundell rides the bounce well and keeps it out to the off side.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Touch fuller and on off, angling in, Tom Blundell gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Ollie Robinson starts the day with a good-length delivery, on off, Tom Blundell gets half-forward and pushes it to cover.

All set for Day 4 to get underway at the Home of Cricket. It continues to be overcast out there, but it is bright enough, which is indeed a pleasing thing to watch after the way rain swamped the park yesterday. Perfect bowling conditions and the seamers will be licking their lips once again. The English players have taken their spots on the field, with Ollie Robinson all set to complete his remaining over. Devon Conway and Tom Blundell bump fists and make their way to the middle to resume their batting. So the Kiwis need 199 runs, and England are 5 good balls away from winning. Let's play...

Hopeful morning at Lord's - A bit more hopeful morning at Lord's compared to Day 3, as the rain has stayed away and the surface is currently dry. While there is still some typical dark clouds hanging over the ground, conditions are far more encouraging this time around, and everything suggests that play should get underway on schedule.

England scenting victory - On the other side of the coin, England are firmly in the driver's seat. With clear favourites as of now, Ben Stokes and his men will be sniffing blood. The pitch has offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers throughout this match, as we saw with Kyle Jamieson's five-for and Nathan Smith's incredible 6 for 70. Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson will be raring to exploit the early morning moisture. Grab your coffee and settle in, folks! Will England’s bowlers clinical finish the job, or do the Kiwis have a historic fightback up their sleeves? Let's find out soon...

The task ahead for the Kiwis - It is an uphill task for the visitors, but they aren't out of it just yet. Opening batter Devon Conway has shown immense grit, fighting his way to an unbeaten 19 off 55 balls. He holds the key for New Zealand. Joining him is Tom Blundell, who is fresh off a career-best century against Ireland last week and knows exactly how to navigate tough situations. This pair needs to dig deep, weather the initial storm from the English pacers, and build a partnership if New Zealand are to harbor any hopes of chasing down 254.

Yesterday's short but spicy session - Day 3 was heavily dominated by rain, but the brief afternoon session we did get was pure gold for England. Ollie Robinson was the chief destroyer after changing ends, steaming in to dismantle the Kiwi middle order. He removed the dangerous Rachin Ravindra for 8 and then sent Daryl Mitchell packing for a duck. That clinical burst left New Zealand reeling at 55 for 5 before the heavens opened up again and forced an early Stumps. England will localise all their energy on carrying that exact momentum into this morning.

Welcome back to Lord's for Day 4! A very warm welcome back to the Home of Cricket for what promises to be a riveting and potentially decisive Day 4 of this first Test between England and New Zealand. After the frustrating, rain-marred day we endured yesterday, where the weather gods permitted less than ten overs of play, the clouds have cleared, and we are all set for an intriguing battle between bat and ball. The equation is crystal clear. New Zealand need 199 more runs to pull off a brilliant chase, while England require 5 wickets to wrap up a memorable victory.

... DAY 4, SESSION 1 ...

Sunday's plans? Aha. You can still have your Sashas. You might still want to watch your Hamiltons or Russells. Who knows, even before these legends begin their respective sport, this Test match might be done and dusted. But we are having a Sunday at Lord's as its 150th Test enters into its fourth day. England would be pumped up to finish the game off quickly, lest they are forced to wait once again by the weather, but the forecast looks much better, even though I have been denied a certificate in reading it. From New Zealand's point of view, this would be a perfect time for them to reassess the grit they famously possess. Can they make a fist of this target and give the crowd a much-needed spectacle? Day 4's first ball on Sunday, 7th June, 2026, is scheduled to be bowled at 10 am GMT (weather permitting) but our updates will begin well in advance. So do tune in early to catch all the news beforehand. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

10 balls of pain - Saturday had only 58 balls of action in store. Not even an innings of T10 cricket. But that is not quite the problem. The first session was wiped off and due to unfavourable ground conditions, the players were forced indoors for lunch amidst bright sunshine. Rain then kept playing hide and seek but even amidst that game of musical chairs, the Kiwis did fairly well, not losing any wickets for around 6 overs. Then, the real fun began. Ollie Robinson got through the defenses of Rachin Ravindra and in his next over, got Daryl Mitchell trapped in his crease. Ironically, 2 overs after the Mitchell dismissal, the players were taken off the field, never to return. Without a doubt, 254 is a massive ask in testing conditions. But given the amount of play that we had on Day 3, if the Kiwis had not lost those two quick wickets, they would have entered Sunday with a bit more hope.

Stumps on Day 3! Our misery comes to an end. We waited and waited and waited for some play to happen only to keep longing for more. And what we got instead is a prolonged wait for play. The umpires have officially drawn Stumps on Day 3 and that ends a very damp, damp Saturday at Lord's.

Rain's back again - 4.30 pm GMT update - Forget the inspection. The weather is forcing the inspectors to take a holiday. The umpires came out for the inspection as scheduled, but no sooner did they enter the ground than the drizzle returned. That started to get heavier and eventually, the discussion between them and the groundstaff started to look pointless. They are off the ground and one suspects that the final word might be around the corner.

Hope rising higher - 4.10 pm GMT update - Of course, Shai Hope has already risen a lot through his ranks but this is not the proper noun. This is the verb hope that we are talking about. The work being talked about in the previous para has quickly speedened up, with an official inspection scheduled for 4.15 pm GMT. That's not too far away!

4:08 pm GMT update - Hope peeks through! Just when it felt like the rain had settled in for a permanent residency, there is a bit of activity. We are hearing that the rain has eased and the groundstaff are hard at work clearing water off the covers. The umpires can also be seen. Now, before anyone gets too excited, the rain has teased us before, only to return a few minutes later with renewed enthusiasm. Still, the sight of people actually doing something other than staring at the weather radar can be counted as progress. Yawn.

A left-handed Joe Root - With no cricket to watch, I did what any desperate cricket lover would do and went scrolling through social media. There, hidden among the rain updates, was a little clip from the England dressing room featuring Joe Root. Front and centre was Joe Root, no longer in his whites and comfortably settled into his training kit. And what was he up to? Doing left-handed shadow batting. Root mimicked a stylish drive, then immediately set off as if stealing a quick single. Even during a rain break, the cricket brain never quite switches off. The mood inside the camp seemed pretty laid back. Given what the weather radar is showing, this Test match, in all likelihood, will stretch into a fourth day.

3.39 pm GMT update -  Don't be too excited about the prospect of a fresh update coming. Yes, this is a fresh para, but it's the same old update. It's like selling the old product in a new package. If it interests you, I can share that one of my colleagues is off for his dinner break. He has officially waved the white flag.  Meanwhile, I am still here, staring at the covers and wondering, what to update next? The rain is falling, the ground is covered, and the most intense contest at the moment is between patience and boredom. At this rate, my next update might be a review of the dinner menu rather than the cricket.

Raining again - 3.10 pm GMT update - Whatever little optimism was being generated in the previous rain stopping update has been crushed as the rain returns. A sequel no cricket fan is interested in viewing. Chances look extremely bleak of any further play happening tonight, but let's hope the glass is half filled.

Tea done. Now? The wait resumes. If any, the conditions seem to have gotten a bit better at Lord's, with the rain taking a break as well. But it is very heavily overcast. The groundstaff keep trying its best to get the conditions fit for playing.

Ruthless? Or practical? March 2026 - Suryakumar Yadav helps India become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cup titles and claim their third crown in this format. June 2026 - After a fairly quiet World Cup by his standards and a quieter IPL, the 2026 World Cup winning captain finds himself relinquished of captaincy and even out of the squad. Unfair? Not giving the captain a longer run to find his mojo back? Maybe, in some views. But in other views, it is the best way to utilize form and talent in your country. Just have a look at the depth of talent in the Indian camp and you would find at least 10-15 players deserving a place in the squad. So, if they come in, some have to go out, right? It may sound harsh or surprising to Indian fans as they are not used to this kind of treatment to Indian players in the past. But for those who have been following global cricket, this is more or less a norm in other countries. Legends have famously quoted, 'You are as good as your latest match.'  Even someone like a Steve Waugh was politely (debatable) asked to step down, to welcome a more aggressive Ricky Ponting. That led to another era of Australian dominance. Some talents like Brad Hodge did not even get much chances to play for their country. Maybe, this is the start of long-term dominance for Indian cricket. Selection or removal is not a problem, as long as it is consistent. Welcome to the world of dominance, India.

Tea at 2.40 pm GMT - This was coming. With the rain unrelenting, the umpires have been forced to call for Tea at the original time, which is at 3.40 pm local. There is nothing much anyone can do, apart from waiting for this rain to stop. England will feel miffed, as they are in pole position in this match, but given the vagaries of this pitch, they will back themselves to finish the job as and when they get the chance. The Kiwis, on the other hand, will welcome this break and focus on how can they try and make a match out of this.

No effect on WC warmups - London has not been spared by the rain gods but it is not the same story elsewhere. The warmup matches for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup have kicked off and barring a couple of showers in the opening two games, we have largely had uninterrupted action over there.

Rain and more rain - 2 pm GMT update - There has been no positive change in the conditions from the previous update. If any, the conditions have gotten gloomier. Proper rain seems to be in the offing now, with the forecast staying true.

Imperfect pitch? That's more or less the joint opinion of two of English cricket's greatest ever captains in Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan. Neither is happy with the way the pitch has played so far. Irrespective of the overhead conditions, it is the indifferent bounce that has caught everyone's attention, with no batter seemingly confident in the middle for too long. As per the current situation, as many as 147 overs have been completed in this match and 35 wickets have gone down. Doing the math, on an average, a wicket is falling roughly every 25 balls. That's not even 5 overs. Not surprisingly, only two batters have managed to touch the 50-mark across 3-and-a-half innings. It is not a problem to see batters struggle. Neither is it to see not a single over of spin being bowled across 2-and-a-half days. The problem is the batters are forced to guess the bounce in a pitch, which should never be the case in any format.

Keep working - 1.30 pm GMT update - The groundstaff is doing all it possibly can to try and keep the covers less soaked. But the weather gods are just not kind enough. The rain has intensified and the people in the stands are moving to protected places for cover. As per the updates by the ECB which now seems eons ago, Tea was scheduled to be taken at 3.10 pm GMT, which is still roughly 90 minutes away. I am sure we will have another revised itinerary if and when we get a chance to get back on the field. Hoping for the best. Oh yes and by the way, plenty of covers are on the ground now.

Up and close - That's what England's coach Brendon McCullum seems to have been suggesting to his bowlers since Day 2. He has been animatedly gesturing to his players to have more players in catching positions and it has had a remarkable effect. The latest example is that of Daryl Mitchell playing from his crease, to a ball which he would have otherwise been forward to, simply because Jamie Smith was standing upto the stumps. Going further, there have been 22 dismissals of bowled and LBW combined in this match, with as many as 10 LBWs. A couple more, and which seems highly likely, going by this match so far, and we would end up creating a new record for the most number of dismissals as bowled and LBW in a Test match at Lord's.

Time for another visit to the dressing rooms - 1.10 pm GMT - It is not as bad as the previous rain, but it is still an interruption. The rain droplets are getting bigger and the umpires are taking the players off the field again. The good thing is that only the hover cover is on, with the rest of the outfield uncovered, meaning that we can resume quickly, as, if and when the light gets better. The bad thing is now, the umpires will have to deal with both, rain and bad light before coming back onto the field. Additionally, the poor forecast for the evening is already lingering. Fingers crossed.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Serves it on a length, on off, Blundell gets forward and defends it to the off side.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Excellent accuracy from Ollie Robinson. He lands it on a testing length in the line of the stumps, and the ball keeps a little low after pitching. Blundell is quick to adjust, crouching into his defense and getting his bat down in time to smother it.

Oh dear. The light meters are out. It has gone dark again and there are rain drops in the air. The umpires get together, take the reading, observe it, have a chat but deem light fine to continue playing.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Shaping into the batter, from a good length around off, Tom Blundell defends from the back foot with Jamie Smith standing up to the stumps.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Tongue targets the pads but gets it too straight. Devon looks to flick but falls over a touch and misses, getting hit on the pads. Going down the leg side.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Better line and length. Fuller and closer to the off stump, 140 kph, Conway shoulders arms.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, A bouncer, but misdirected. Down the leg side, from around the wicket, Devon Conway ducks comfortably.

Josh Tongue to Tom Blundell, This time, Tom gets the run. Back of a length, outside off, the batter stays back and dabs it towards gully with soft hands. Calls for the single and Conway's immediate response makes the single comfortable. For the numbers, New Zealand now require under 200 runs to win.

Josh Tongue to Tom Blundell, On a good length this time, outside off, Blundell pushes it towards the slip cordon, with an open bat face. Ben Duckett dives to his right from third slip and makes a half stop. Blundell looks for the run but gully comes across quickly.

Josh Tongue to Tom Blundell, Full and outside off, 140 kph, zoning in threateningly, Tom Blundell watches it closely all the way and blocks it off his front foot towards point.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, Fuller and on off, shaping in, Conway is not looking convincing as he defends it from the inner portion of his bat.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, In the zone outside off, skidding away, Conway pushes at it and misses.

Ollie Robinson to Tom Blundell, Identical to the wicket delivery, but Tom Blundell is lucky to get some bat on it as he clips it behind square leg for a single.

And just like that, two batters have come and gone. 53/3 has quickly become 53/5 in the span of 10 balls. Tom Blundell walks in at number 7 now, replacing Daryl Mitchell. These are perfect bowling conditions and England have New Zealand under the cosh. Maybe, the best way now is to play Bazball against Baz' team?

Ollie Robinson to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! GIVEN LBW! The moment the keeper came up to the stumps, it added another layer of pressure on the batter. Mitchell could no longer freely leave his crease to counter the movement, and Robinson makes full use of it. He slips in an inswinger from a probing length around off, beating the inside edge of the defensive push. Mitchell's footwork leaves him stranded, neither fully forward nor comfortably back. The ball thuds into the pads, the appeal goes up, and the finger follows almost immediately. Mitchell reviews, hoping for a reprieve, but the replay only confirms England's celebrations. Impact is in line, and Ball Tracking shows it is clipping the leg stump. Umpire's call stays. New Zealand are now five down, with another 201 runs still required. England, meanwhile, are halfway to the ten wickets they need.

Ollie Robinson to Daryl Mitchell, Ollie Robinson bowls it on a length and close to off, angling in, Daryl Mitchell stays on the back foot and defends it down.

Ollie Robinson to Daryl Mitchell, Robinson bowls it on a length and outside off, Daryl defends it off his front foot.

Seeing the stumps rattled is a wonderful sight for a bowler. But it is death rattle for a batter. Of the 12 bowled dismissals in this match, 7 have been that of the Kiwi batters. They seem to have found it more difficult to adapt to the seaming conditions. It is more of the movement off the deck than the air which has been catching the batters off guard.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Sliding down the leg side, Conway tries to clip it late but misses. It goes off his pads to leg gully. End of a testing over.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Extra bounce again, around off, DC defends it to the leg side with a loose bottom hand.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Around off on a length, defended from the back foot.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Ouch, that would have hurt! A lively delivery once again. Back of a good length around off and shaping in, Conway presses forward to defend, but the ball kicks up unexpectedly after pitching. It climbs sharply and strikes him high on the gloves, forcing him to take his bottom hand off the bat immediately. The surface has certainly come to life, and batting is becoming an increasingly uncomfortable task.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, Shortish and on off, dabbed down in front of the slip cordon.

Josh Tongue to Devon Conway, What was that! That one reared up like a spitting cobra. Pitched in the corridor outside off, it explodes off the surface and climbs sharply at Conway. Caught by surprise, he attempts to sway out of the way while also half-thinking about playing at it, but ends up doing neither convincingly. The ball flies past him, leaving the batter beaten by both the bounce and the pace off the pitch.

So Ollie Robinson keeps one of his traditions intact - of never going wicketless at Lord's. Now, for the other tradition, from England's point of view - to at least take 2 wickets in every innings at this venue. Daryl Mitchell walks in next, at number 6, replacing Rachin Ravindra. By the way, that was the 12th bowled dismissal of this match!

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, OUT! SOUND OF TIMBER! Robinson had beaten Ravindra on a couple of occasions in this over and this time he has found the top of the off stump. Not the first bowled dismissal of this Test match and believe us, not the last either. A beauty from the bowler, and Ravindra is left rooted to the spot. Angled across from a probing length just outside off, the ball straightens enough after pitching to find a way through. Ravindra's footwork is caught in between, neither fully forward nor properly back, and he ends up hanging on the crease. He pushes tentatively inside the line, only for the ball to whistle past the outside edge and crash into the stumps. The timber is disturbed, and New Zealand lose their fourth wicket at a crucial stage. Ravindra departs after being drawn into indecision, and England tighten their grip on the contest. The visitors still need another 201 runs, while England are now just six wickets away from taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Fuller and on off, angling in, Ravindra wrists it towards short leg and the fielder there fails to stop. The ball goes in the wet outfield and they take two.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Shortish and on off, angling in, this time Rachin Ravindra goes on the back foot and blocks it down.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Beaten again! This one is quite wide outside, and could have been left alone without any threat. But Rachin Ravindra gets on the front foot, tries to push at it and misses.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Nearly takes the outside edge. Robinson serves it on a length and around off, angling in and staying low as well. Ravindra pushes inside the line and is beaten around the toe end of his bat.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Gentle hands at work. Length delivery outside off, Ravindra brings an angled bat into play and pushes it softly through the gap between gully and backward point. Two taken. 203 needed more.

Back on! The game of musical chairs continues. The players are back on the field and we are ready to resume. Ollie Robinson gets a change of ends. 7-1-13-0 so far.

Not a lengthy delay (hopefully) - Well, Shai is busy captaining the West Indies against the Sri Lankans at home but England would need a lot of hope right now. And not just England, any cricket fan would hope the same. Michael Atherton on air informs that when the rain began, things looked pretty bleak but as quickly as the gust came, it seems to have gone as well. The rain has already reduced to a drizzle. Not far from resumption, one would say.

Off we go again - 12.37 pm GMT - The wind has picked up in intensity and the flags have started to sway around a bit. In fact, it has become pretty gusty. This could be a good as well as a bad sign. The immediate assumption would mean that rain is around the corner. In fact, the rain is sweeping in now and off go the players again. The good sign could be that, given that this is a gust, this might just be a passing shower and some rain clouds might get blown away. So we wait again.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Josh Tongue to Rachin Ravindra, That was nearly costly. Josh serves it on a good length outside off, the ball jags and wobbles a touch after Ravindra shoulders arms. Smith cannot gather it cleanly behind the stumps, and it trickles away behind him. For a moment, it threatens to run into the unattended helmet on the ground, placed behind the keeper, but it misses by a whisker. A bye is taken, and England escape without the five-run penalty. The replays show that Root had reacted to his right to stop the ball with a dive and on closer look, it appears that the ball anyway was heading wide of the head gear.

Josh Tongue to Rachin Ravindra, This one is fired in at 88 mph with a bit of extra pace behind it, but the line is well outside off stump. Ravindra watches it closely all the way and is happy to let it pass. An easy leave and nothing to trouble the batter there.

Josh Tongue to Rachin Ravindra, Shortish and outside off, left alone.

Josh Tongue to Rachin Ravindra, Back of a length, on off, defended off the back foot.

Josh Tongue to Rachin Ravindra, FOUR! That's a lovely way to get off the pair. Full and around off, angling into the batter, and Ravindra is quickly into position. He leans forward, presents the full face of the bat and drives beautifully through mid off. The timing is exquisite, and the ball races away to the fence. A classy stroke to open his account, and one that will ease any nerves.

Josh Tongue to Rachin Ravindra, Tongue begins with a gentle loosener, full and outside off at 84 mph, it curls away a bit as well. Ravindra looks at it after pressing forward and then leaves it for the keeper.

The mystery of zero - Zero is such a intriguing digit. Place it after a number and the former's value increases magnificently. But place it without any number and 0 has no value. That's exactly how Rachin Ravindra would be feeling at the moment. He has faced just 9 balls in this innings, but given that he got a first-baller in the first innings, he will be eager to get that first run of this match. Here's Josh Tongue to make things harder. 3-1-10-1 so far.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Atkinson hurls across an 85 mph delivery, in the corridor outside off, Devon Conway has nothing to do with it.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Targets the off stump with a length ball, around off, Conway is forward and defends it near his front pad.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Skiddy delivery, full and outside off, angling in, Devon Conway is doing a good job in judging these deliveries and leaving. We have already seen plenty of left alone and bowled in this Test, so judgment is paramount.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, 85 mph in pace but not much life in this delivery. Back of a length, outside off, it's left alone once more. It dies down as it reaches the keeper.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Gus serves it on a length and just around off, Conway strides forward to cover the line and leaves this time.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, At 86 mph, this is pitched on a good length around off and kicks on sharply after striking the seam. Conway is drawn into a tentative push, feeling for the ball outside his body line, but it zips past the bat. A lively delivery that carries through nicely to the keeper.

4 months adrift - Eagerly awaiting October 1. Among the newly proposed rules by the ICC, one of them is to swap to pink balls in Test matches, if the conditions become overcast and floodlights need to be switched on. The lights are on in full effect at the Home Of Cricket and the last thing we need now is for players to walk off the field for bad light.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Bowled on a length and outside off, an easy leave for Ravindra again.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Robinson delivers it on a good length, close to off, and there is some extra bounce as Rachin Ravindra leaves it alone. Jamie Smith collects the ball near his face. We have seen plenty of uneven bounce in this game already.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Inviting length, there to be driven outside off, Ravindra watches closely, makes sure that it's not nipping in to target his pads and then leaves it alone.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, Identical to the last delivery and once again Rachin Ravindra offers the same treatment. He is calm on the back foot and blocks it safely towards point.

Ollie Robinson to Rachin Ravindra, This is on a testing length just outside off, Ravindra presses forward and plays with soft hands, presenting a slightly angled bat face. He guides the ball towards point.

Ollie Robinson to Devon Conway, On and around off, shaping away a touch, Devon Conway plays late and dabs it towards point. They take a quick run.

Gus Atkinson to Rachin Ravindra, In the zone outside off, Rachin leaves it to complete the over.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, Taps a length ball down to covers and takes a single.

Tom and Jerry show begins - One runs, the other tries to catch. One of our most celebrated cartoons in our childhood. Or even now. The weather is doing the same to us. We are trying to have some action but the weather is trying to drive us out of the ground. Let's hope we stay for a bit longer this time.

Gus Atkinson to Devon Conway, NO BALL AND FOUR! That's aerial but safe. Full and outside off, Conway slices his attempted drive and his bottom hand comes off the handle. The ball flies over gully-point and finds the fence.

12.22 pm GMT resumption time! Covers coming off? Well, that's what we are hearing! Nasser Hussain mentioned that we might have missed the best weather window, which was during the time Lunch was being taken. But it seems like the weather is showing some kindness to all of us. It just seems like play might resume soon, but this is England. Before we can type resume, the job might get cancelled. As of now, the resumption time is 12.22 pm GMT.

Bizarre decision? Well, that's what Nasser Hussain feels on air, regarding the umpires' decision to call for an early Lunch, when the conditions were bright and sunny. But let's not forget, there are always multiple angles to one story. It is easy to say that play should have started at around, say 11.30 am GMT and carried on, with Lunch being scrapped. Logical thinking. But what we don't know is, what was the exact talk between the groundstaff and the umpires. From what we can assume, we feel that the groundstaff might have requested for around 30-40 minutes of time to clear the outfield. Remember, it has been raining since morning today. And looking at that, the umpires might have felt it best to take the Lunch break, since play would not have been possible any which ways. Till we get the full story, unwise to comment on anything. For now, we can just request these unwanted visitors to leave.