Key events
“I expect this was known to everyone apart from me until today, but here goes: I was today years old when I found out Russell Crowe is a cousin of Martin and Jeff. What a family!” writes Suhmit Rahman
“I saw a clip of Russell trying to explain cricket to Joe Rogan. We know about lots of cricketing families but are there other examples of top class cricketers who are close family with people at the top of other parts of the entertainment world? I’m guessing Zak Crawley and Hugh Grant share some genes.”
I don’t think Foxy and Elton are related but my mind goes immediately to this:
“There’s been loads of chat – rightly – about this Lord’s pitch and how it’s not up to the mark” emails Guy Hornsby.
“I’d agree that we should expect a better strip, and I don’t think it’s that different in match outcome then the MCG (where I was present for Day 1). I think it’s the variable bounce that’s worse. But arguably both sides have bowled better and batted better (way better) than Melbourne too.
It’ll be a big loss for Lords’ coffers, but then they’ve got three Tests this summer, which is disgraceful really. Either the ECB wants cricket to be for all, or they don’t. But let’s not pretend that two men’s and one women’s Test out of seven is anything but completely unequal.”
The weather is teasing us at Lord’s, a heavy cloak of drizzle relenting into watery sunshine and then back again.
Gregg Bee is in provocative mood it seems:
“While the suits are twiddling their thumbs at HQ today, maybe someone can get that WACA practice match booked for November 2029? No time like the present!”
Gregg…
Thanks to Peter Haining for overseas TMS link furnishing:
Of course India have called up The Six Hitting Kid:
There is a milling of groundstaff at Lord’s, for a moment it looked like they were taking the outer covers off but they’ve actually just paused for a moment to see if the rain stays away. We won’t have any play for a while but things are looking a bit more promising than the radar suggested this morning. Keep the faith!
Can I just stop you… the sun has come out at Lord’s!
It’s mizzling at Lord’s currently. A few minutes ago I spied Emilio Gay signing autographs and posing for selfies with a group of fans as he headed to have a net in the indoor school. He spoke really well after play last night and Andy Bull wrote a lovely piece about his fifty.
Preamble
James Wallace
Was there anything more soul-sappingly disappointing as a child than flicking on the television on a Saturday morning fully expecting to luxuriate in a day of Test cricket watching only to be met with the sight of gun metal skies, drizzle and full covers stretched across the outfield. Urgh.
Welcome to the third day of the first Test from Lord’s. I’m afraid to say that it is a wet one, folks. The good news is that the weather is much better tomorrow and so we should see a result in this match but today’s prospects are gloomier, with a high percentage chance of rain through most of the day.
The match has progressed at a rapid rate due to skilful bowling on both sides in helpful conditions on a pitch that contains the dual threat of unexpected lift off a length and also scudding ankle height balls that are nigh on impossible to keep out.
Just ask Jacob Bethell, he was done by an absolute worm burner courtesy of Matt Henry. It’s fair to say young Jacob got a good/bad one. Test Match Special’s Andy Zaltzman confirming as much by revealing (somehow) that of all the balls bowled in Test cricket in England in the past 20 years that have pitched between nine and ten metres from the stumps – NONE had bounced LESS than Henry’s ball to shoot out Bethell. It was only the 96th over of the match.
Still, the batting on display hasn’t been vintage, Harry Brook and Kyle Jamieson’s biffing in the first innings resulted in vital contributions for each side and Test debutant Emilio Gay played nicely and showed resilience in scoring his a maiden half century yesterday.
England are on top having pocketed three wickets before the close yesterday but New Zealand are only one decent partnership away from making things interesting, they need 218 more with Devon Conway and Ravindra Ravindra at the crease and Darly Mitchell, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips still to come.
Fingers crossed we see some action on day three. I’ll keep you informed on any updates as we get them, in the meantime, please do get in touch with your rainy day thoughts and theories. I reckon we’ll need them to keep this OBO afloat.
