England Summer 2021

[Admin]

Wednesday 3rd - 1st Test vs New Zealand, Lord's - 11.00
Thursday 10th - 2nd Test vs New Zealand, Edgbaston - 11.00

Highest Innings Totals

1. England 567- - Trent Bridge, 2nd June 1994
2. New Zealand 551-9d - Lord's, 21st June 1973
3. England 546-4d - Headingley, 8th July 1965
4. England 526 - Headingley, 3rd June 2004
5. New Zealand 523 - Lord's, 21st May 2015


Lowest Innings Totals

1. New Zealand 47 - Lord's, 19th June 1958
2. New Zealand 67 - Headingley, 3rd July 1958
3. New Zealand 67 - Lord's, 24th August 1978
4. New Zealand 68 - Lord's, 21st May 2013
5. New Zealand 74 - Lord's, 19th June 1958

14. England 126 - Edgbaston, 1st July 1999


Highest Individual Scores

1. John Edrich 310* - Headingley, 8th July 1965
2. Graham Gooch 210 - Trent Bridge, 2nd June 1994
3. Martin Donnelly 206 - Lord's, 25th June 1949
4. Len Hutton 206 - The Oval, 13th August 1949
5. Graham Gooch 183 - Lord's, 24th July 1986


Best Bowling Figures In An Innings

1. Derek Underwood 7-32 - Lord's, 24th July 1969
2. Anthony Lock 7-35 - Old Trafford, 24th July 1958
3. James Anderson 7-43 - Trent Bridge, 5th June 2008
4. Stuart Broad 7-44 - Lord's, 16th May 2013
5. Anthony Lock 7-51 - Headingley, 3rd July 1958

6. Lance Cairns 7-74 - Headingley, 28th July 1983


Most Runs In A Series

1. Len Hutton 469 - 1949
2. Martin Donnelly 462 - 1949
3. Bert Sutcliffe 423 - 1949
4. David Gower 404 - 1983
5. Allan Lamb 392 - 1983


Most Wickets In A Series

1. Anthony Lock 34 - 1958
2. Derek Underwood 24 - 1969
3. Ian Botham 24 - 1978
4. Phillip DeFreitas 21 - 1994
5. Stephen Harmison 21 - 2004

6. Richard Hadlee 21 - 1983


Most Runs In Total

1. Graham Gooch 987 - 1978-1994
2. David Gower 982 - 1978-1986
3. Martin Crowe 845 - 1983-1994
4. Michael Atherton 763 - 1990-1999
5. Geoffrey Boycott 737 - 1965-1978


Most Wickets In Total

1. Richard Hadlee 70 - 1973-1990
2. Ian Botham 37 - 1978-1986
3. Anthony Lock 34 - 1958
4. Dion Nash 34 - 1994-1999
5. James Anderson 34 - 2008-present

Squad: Joe Root (Yorkshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Sam Billings (Kent), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Zak Crawley (Kent), Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Craig Overton (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (Captain), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryll Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Will Young.

[Admin]

NZ win toss bat
Bracey and Robinson make debut

[Admin]

New Zealand 246-3 against a side without a frontline spinner

[Admin]

New Zealand 246 for 3 (Conway 136*, Nicholls 46*) vs England
An unbeaten hundred from New Zealand's debutant opener, Devon Conway, set the platform for the visiting side as the return of Test cricket to Lord's was marked by a day of hard yakka in the field for England.
Ollie Robinson, another man on Test debut, claimed two of the three wickets to fall before a century stand for the fifth wicket between Conway and Henry Nicholls put New Zealand in control of proceedings.
With the scoreboard on 113 for 3 midway through the afternoon session, and with New Zealand's three most-experienced batters back in the dressing room, England would have aspired for a firmer foothold in the match - despite a placid surface of the variety that Chris Silverwood and Joe Root have called for as they seek to develop a side capable of winning attritional cricket away from the green fields of home.
But Conway, the 29-year-old South African-born batter who spent three years qualifying for New Zealand on residency, produced a near-faultless performance after being brought into the side as Tom Latham's newest opening partner, as he and Nicholls ground down England's four-man seam attack.
Not for nothing are New Zealand, who have perfected the blueprint of capitalising on favourable batting conditions and then transferring pressure on to the opposition, over here to contest the World Test Championship final.
Conway was fluent throughout, capably adjusting his tempo according to the situation - he scored just four runs in a 50-minute period after lunch during which Kane Williamson was dismissed, before driving Stuart Broad for the boundary that brought up his fifty.
There were no nerves as he moved through the 90s in the space of 10 balls, a flamingo-flicked boundary through backward square leg off Robinson taking him to three figures and a place on the Lord's honours board. In doing so, he became the 12th man to score a hundred on Test debut for New Zealand, and the sixth man to do so at Lord's. No overseas opener had ever achieved the feat previously in England.


Conway's day began with a wait of three full overs before he faced a ball. But then he has long learned the value of patience. Conway came to England for his maiden Test tour in possession of one of the most-formidable first-class records in the world, having churned out runs in New Zealand's domestic circuit while serving his qualification period. For Wellington, he has scored more than 2000 runs at 66.25, and his Test debut had become a matter of when rather than if.
He barely gave a chance during a full day in the middle, although he was briefly discomforted by a short-ball barrage during Mark Wood's opening spell, in which the England quick was clocked at 96mph/154kph. A flicked inside edge flew past the diving Zak Crawley at leg slip when he had made 77, and a top edge at Wood just cleared the leap of wicketkeeper James Bracey after he had brought up his century.
Nicholls was the man out in the middle to congratulate Conway when he reached his landmark, and New Zealand's No. 5 was happy to play the foil as he batted unobtrusively through the evening session to finish within sight of a fifty of his own. England found his pads on a few occasions, but the one time they did review, Wood's delivery was found to have pitched outside leg stump.
The morning began with Lord's relaxing into a Test match routine for the first time since the 2019 Ashes - albeit on a smaller scale, with crowd capacity capped at 25% due to Covid-19 restrictions. After England's 2020 international summer was played entirely behind closed doors, the atmosphere was lively and expectant, though some way removed from the fevered scenes that accompanied New Zealand's last trip to Lord's for the World Cup final two years ago.

As he did on that day, Williamson won the toss and chose to bat - the traditional approach in Tests and never easier decision than on a bright, sunny morning in St John's Wood. New Zealand were trying out their fourth opening partnership since England toured there in late 2019, but Conway and Tom Latham immediately slipped into a groove together, adding a 58-run stand in even time as England's venerable new-ball pair of James Anderson and Broad sought - largely in vain - for signs of seam and swing.
Unusually, Anderson opted to open the bowling from the Nursery End, with Broad running in from in front of the Pavilion. The experiment did not last long, however, with Joe Root bringing on Robinson in the 10th over and switching Broad's end. Robinson started with a front-foot no-ball but soon found his rhythm, nibbling the ball both ways in the channel outside off - and he made the breakthrough for England in his fourth over, a hint of seam movement taking the ball into Latham's timbers via an inside edge.
With Lord's beginning to look like one of the shirtfronts that were familiar here during the 2000s, New Zealand reached lunch on 85 for 1. But their equilibrium was briefly disturbed when Williamson made a rare misjudgement to his first ball after the interval, steering a delivery from Anderson down into his off stump. Robinson then continued his encouraging first appearance in Test whites by trapping Ross Taylor lbw, and ending a skittish innings during which he had been troubled in particular by Broad.

[Admin]

NZ 378 all out Conway 200

[Admin]

First LV= Insurance Test (day two of five)
New Zealand 378: Conway 200, Nicholls 61, Robinson 4-75
England 111-2: Burns 59*, Root 42*
England trail by 267 runs

England made strides towards a first-Test fightback on an entertaining second day against New Zealand at Lord's.

The home side recovered from 18-2 to close on 111-2, 267 behind New Zealand's 378 all out.

The tourists' total included 200 from Devon Conway, who became only the seventh man to make a double century on Test debut.

While Conway was unmoved, it was a fine effort by England to take wickets at the other end, at one stage claiming four for six runs.

They were inspired by the energy of Mark Wood, who produced a spell of 3-7 to earn the rewards his wicketless first day deserved.

Debutant Ollie Robinson, a day after apologising for historical racist and sexist tweets, picked up two more wickets to end with 4-75, while James Anderson took 2-83.

England were teetering when Dom Sibley was dismissed without scoring and Zak Crawley for two, only for Rory Burns to make 59 not out and Joe Root an unbeaten 42 in a third-wicket stand of 93.


This Test - England's first home match in front of a crowd for almost two years - is showing signs of becoming a wonderful contest.

The second day was both intriguing and fluctuating, largely played in glorious sunshine in front of spectators that first appreciated England's resurgence with the ball, then enjoyed their growing momentum with the bat late in the evening.

England leaked runs in the morning before Wood seized the initiative with the support of the persistent Robinson.

Conway was able to eke 71 runs from the final two wickets, a roll New Zealand carried into the new-ball bowling before Burns and Root were able to build their partnership.

By the end, England had played themselves back into contention, albeit with New Zealand in the stronger position, especially when they are set to bowl last on a pitch that has suggested it will bounce unevenly later in the match.

Recent history is against England too. Not since 2011 have they conceded so many runs in the first innings of a home Test and gone on to win.


From 246-3 overnight, New Zealand tucked into the unusually ineffective Anderson and Stuart Broad, with left-hander Conway moving from his 136 not out with more crisp cover drives.

Wood was rapid on Wednesday, regularly in the mid-90s, yet an understandable drop in pace on Thursday was offset by a full length and clever use of the short ball.

Henry Nicholls was bounced out for 61 to end a stand of 174 with Conway, BJ Watling edged to second slip and Mitchell Santner pushed to mid-off.

Mark Wood's pace in his first six spells
Robinson, who took the catch to dismiss Nicholls, pinned Colin de Grandhomme leg before then had Kyle Jamieson brilliantly caught by a diving Crawley at deep square leg.

Conway, though, was unmoved, sharing a riotous last-wicket stand of 40 with Neil Wagner, whose stylish strokeplay included disdainfully lofting Broad over long-off for six.

Conway went to his double-century with a hook for six, only to be run out by Ollie Pope's throw from the deep when attempting a needless second run.


'What an innings!' Conway completes brilliant double century with a six
Burns and Root dig in
If New Zealand fell short of the huge total they once looked primed for, they set about making amends with the ball.

Jamieson produced a beauty that moved down the slope, with Sibley playing across the line in ugly fashion. When Sibley reviewed, the ball was shown to be clipping the off bail, condemning him to a sixth successive single-figure score in Tests.

Tim Southee swung the new ball and drew Crawley into a reckless drive which resulted in an edge to wicketkeeper Watling.

Batting looked fraught with danger, but England gradually got a grip through their own skill and determination, as well as a drop in New Zealand's potency.

Burns, recalled after scoring only 78 runs in his previous five Tests, scored with tucks off his pads and was happy to attack Wagner's bouncer barrage. This is the left-hander's first half-century in nine Test innings.

Root struggled with De Grandhomme's tricky medium pace, at one point taking a painful blow on the bottom hand, and it is to the captain's credit he was able to battle through a lack of fluency.

'The game is in the balance' - what they said
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on Test Match Special: "England have just got to try and bat the day out and see where it takes them. If they're still batting into day four, they're going to put New Zealand under a lot of pressure.

"If they come out and lose two or three early ones, which can happen with this England side, then all of a sudden New Zealand are going to be in the box seat. I'm excited because, going into day three, the game is still in the balance."

England batting coach Graham Thorpe: "We said yesterday that, although we only picked up three wickets, we never let them get away. We knew if we made inroads today we could come back in.

"To bowl New Zealand out from where we were at the start of the day, we're really pleased."

[Admin]

No play today

[lancsdes]

First bit of good fortune I've had since Covid started. Should have been there today but tickets recalled because of reduced capacity and was just MCC members in ballot.

[Admin]

New Zealand 378 (Conway 200, Robinson 4-75) & 62-2 (Robinson 2-8)
England 275 (Burns 132, Southee 6-43)
New Zealand lead by 165 runs
England face the prospect of batting to save the first Test against New Zealand despite Rory Burns' determined 132 on day four at Lord's.

Burns dragged England to 275 after they found themselves 140-6 when three wickets fell for no runs.

The left-hander should have been stumped on 77 and was dropped on 88, but kept England afloat by adding 63 with debutant Ollie Robinson, who made 42, and 52 with last man James Anderson.

New Zealand were still able to secure a first-innings advantage of 103, pace bowler Tim Southee superb in taking 6-43.

In the face of some threatening England bowling, the tourists reached 62-2 by the close - both wickets fell to Robinson - to extend their lead to 165.

With Friday lost to rain, a draw is the most likely result, but New Zealand could declare on Sunday and leave England about two sessions to survive on a pitch that is becoming increasingly uneven.

Although Burns' effort was admirable and England's pace bowlers were impressive in a hot evening session, the hosts are behind in this game because of an awful batting showing in the first hour of the day.

Resuming on 111-2 with the contest delicately poised, England's loss of captain Joe Root to the very first ball of the morning seemed like a huge blow, a suspicion confirmed when Southee got to work on the middle order.



Without Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, England's batting is inexperienced, but that is hardly an excuse for the loose shots and flimsy defence that brought about the downfalls of Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and James Bracey.

Amid the carnage, Burns was almost at a standstill, only opening his shoulders when joined by Anderson to first reach his century, then chip away at New Zealand's lead.

Still, even with the entertainment of the 10th-wicket partnership, England were left with a sizable deficit, upon which New Zealand slowly built.

England are not completely out of this Test, but it would take something remarkable for them to win it.

Defeat will only come via a collapse on the final day, although recent history tells us that is far from impossible.

Burns battles to make his point
Burns endured a difficult tour of India earlier this year. Not only was he dropped after two Tests, but was also "reminded of his responsibilities" after a Twitter exchange with England women's spinner Alex Hartley.

The opener had made only 78 runs in his previous five matches, but has been in fine form for Surrey this season and extended that to make his third Test century, and first since November 2019.



Resuming on 59, he was required to show guts, patience and bravery. Wickets fell around him, he was twice hit on the helmet and runs were scarce - he added only 13 in the morning session.

When he was joined by Anderson, Burns was on 91, having scored 32 runs from 128 balls faced on Saturday. Immediately finding a sense of urgency, he took nine from the next five and celebrated in the direction of his wife Victoria and daughter Cora, who was born in January.

Emboldened, Burns unfurled some glorious strokes through the off side and even got down on one knee to sweep pace bowler Neil Wagner for six over mid-wicket.

Like fellow opener Devon Conway, who made 200 in New Zealand's first innings, Burns was last man out, edging behind to give Southee his sixth wicket.

Leading the New Zealand attack in the absence of the rested Trent Boult, Southee was magnificent, swinging the ball away from the right-handers and occasionally nipping it back up the slope.

After Kyle Jamieson had Root taken at first slip, Pope played some breezy shots, only to fall leg before to one that jagged in.

Lawrence played an awful drive at his second ball to be caught at third slip, while debutant Bracey was bowled between bat and pad.

Southee, however, was culpable in dropping Burns at second slip off Wagner. By that point, wicketkeeper BJ Watling had missed a straightforward stumping off Mitchell Santner.


'There's the wicket New Zealand wanted' - Robinson caught by Jamieson
Southee was recalled to break the partnerships between Burns and Robinson, then Burns and Anderson, after which New Zealand openers Conway and Tom Latham absorbed some fine England new-ball bowling.

Robinson's Test debut will be remembered for the revelation of historical racist and sexist tweets, but his fine on-field performance continued when he bowled Conway and had captain Kane Williamson lbw on review.

'My daughter might be a good omen' - reaction
England batsman Rory Burns on BBC Test Match Special: "My wife and daughter were here on Thursday and today. The daughter might be a good omen.

"Being left out of the last couple (of Tests) in India is not a nice thing. To come back and at the next opportunity to take that is really pleasing. I am really satisfied with the hundred.

"We bowled really well tonight and could have had a couple more wickets as well. The third innings is difficult to pace. It is on them to make the move. They are just edging it at the minute."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "I have loved today. It has had pretty much everything.

"We have seen outstanding batting from Rory Burns. We have seen outstanding bowling - Southee was high class - and we have seen some rubbish as well. You can always rely on England. They very rarely give you boring days.

"Robinson looks high class. It is early and he has had a tough week. As a bowling all-rounder, I would put that right up there with as good a debut I have seen.

"He outskilled Jimmy Anderson in that spell this evening. It take some doing, which tells you that England have found a bowler.

[Admin]

Robinson now suspended

[Admin]

First LV= Insurance Test, Lord's (day five of five)
New Zealand 378 (Conway 200) & 169-6 dec (Robinson 3-26)
England 275 (Burns 132, Southee 6-43) & 170-3 (Sibley 60*, Root 40)
Match drawn; two-Test series level at 0-0
England resisted the temptation of a final-day chase against New Zealand, doggedly batting through to secure a draw in the first Test at Lord's.

New Zealand's lunchtime declaration on 169-6 left the tantalising prospect of England chasing 273 in 75 overs.

However, the target was never seriously pursued, with England instead opting for a safety-first approach led by Dom Sibley's vigilant unbeaten 60 from 207 balls.

England had reached 170-3 when a draw was agreed with five overs remaining.

The second and final Test of the series at Edgbaston begins on Thursday.


New Zealand captain Kane Williamson's declaration at the end of a morning when his side bumped along at five runs an over was designed to entice England into a chase that could bring about their downfall.

Perhaps a carefree attempt at a remarkable win would have been a fitting conclusion to England's first home Test in front of spectators since 2019 on a sun-drenched afternoon at Lord's.

However, it is understandable that England opted for caution given the inexperience of their team, the absence of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, the quality of the opposition and the deterioration of the pitch.

This has been a Test where New Zealand have held the upper hand, with their chance of winning severely hampered by the loss of the third day to rain.

Some will argue that England should have made a better fist of the chase, but they instead chose to be on level terms going into the series decider.
.

Historical tweets of a racist and sexist nature from debutant Ollie Robinson were a direct contradiction to a message of anti-discrimination the home side displayed on the first morning.

On the field, Robinson was impressive in taking seven wickets and scoring 42 runs, but his actions in 2012 and 2013 leave his immediate international future in doubt.


Wagner caught behind as Robinson claims another wicket
Plenty of young batsmen will go to Edgbaston in need of a score. Zak Crawley followed his two in the first innings with the same in the second, again aiming a loose drive at Tim Southee.

Dan Lawrence and debutant James Bracey failed to score in their only innings, while Ollie Pope's cameos are hardly enough to guarantee a long-term place.

At least Sibley ended his run of six successive single-figure scores in Tests, albeit in turgid fashion.

England also have to decide if they want to field a specialist spinner at Edgbaston after the selection of a four-man pace attack and the omission of Jack Leach at Lord's.


Rain brought an early lunch and with it the surprise declaration, but there was never an indication England would take the bait.

After his first-innings century, left-hander Rory Burns was troubled by uneven bounce outside his off stump and edged Neil Wagner to second slip. When Crawley fell, New Zealand had an opportunity with almost 43 overs remaining.

By this point, Sibley was digging in. He prodded and poked, only playing at the ball when absolutely necessary.

Root was marginally more enterprising, yet there arrived a point when the crowd erupted into ironic cheers when either man showed signs of aggression.

Wagner trapping Root for 40 lbw encouraged New Zealand to press on, leaving Pope to accompany Sibley in the gathering gloom.

Were England right to turn down chase?
England captain Joe Root told BBC Sport: "On another surface it would have been a very juicy target. The carrot was dangled.

"But the way the wicket was behaving, especially against the new ball, was difficult. It would have been nice to see after the 20-over mark if we could have a sniff at it, but unfortunately that wasn't to be."

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on BBC Test Match Special: "We were also looking forward to a lively afternoon.

"We thought there'd be a few more inconsistencies out of the surface. We saw glimpses but didn't see it regularly enough, and it just sort of fizzled out a bit.

"No doubt the England camp would have wanted to get a really strong base to have a crack at that. it's always a fine balance on the last day."


Root 'didn't trust his batters' - Vaughan on why England opted against chase
Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "It's an opportunity missed - a decent crowd, no Test match Championship points up for grabs.

"Williamson wanted to have a go for it. England have just not shown that intent. Why don't we have a bit of a go and if we lose three or four wickets, then we'll shut up shop. But to not to have got to that stage...

"It's disappointing for many fans in the ground."

Former England spinner Vic Marks: "England are meant to be an improving, up-and-coming team. There was so much to gain, for a young team, to explore what might be possible. All they've managed to improve is their ability to grind out a draw."

[Admin]

Three more on the naughty step
Anderson, Buttler and Morgan
Will they be suspended?

[Admin]

Williamson injured

[Admin]

Won toss and bat no spinner again

[Admin]

England 258 for 7 (Burns 81, Lawrence 67*, ) vs New Zealand
Half-centuries to Rory Burns and Dan Lawrence restored order for England after a New Zealand attack bolstered by Trent Boult threatened to derail the hosts on an opening day when the ball and the momentum swung at Edgbaston with entertaining effect.
Boult, New Zealand's leading seamer, linked up with the squad on Saturday having served his post-IPL quarantine period and was an automatic inclusion amid a staggering six changes to the side which drew the first Test at Lord's.
With Kane Williamson (elbow) and Mitchell Santner (finger) out because of injury and BJ Watling (back problem) replaced by Tom Blundell shortly before play began, Will Young and and Ajaz Patel came into the side. They were joined by Boult for Tim Southee and Matt Henry for Kyle Jamieson, while Daryl Mitchell replaced Colin de Grandhomme as New Zealand showed an embarrassment of riches ahead of next week's World Test Championship final against India.
When Boult prised out opener Rory Burns for 81 with his 12th ball after the tea break, he removed England's main hope for recovery at that point. It came soon after England had lost three wickets for 13 runs in less than 20 minutes and slumped to 152 for 4 in the afternoon session.
But Lawrence stepped in with an assured and unbeaten 67 to guide England to the close in a far more comfortable position than had looked likely between lunch and tea.
After removing Burns, Boult struck with the first delivery of his next over, removing James Bracey for a duck - his second in as many innings - but Olly Stone survived the hat-trick ball and went on to steady the innings with Lawrence, the pair putting on 47 runs for the seventh wicket.

The Stone-Lawrence union was a much-needed bright spot for England, along with Burns' opening stand of 72 with Dom Sibley, which had steered their side to the lunch break at 67 without loss. What ensued in between times had the potential to devastate England's innings.
Burns and Sibley batted sedately but smartly in the morning, Sibley's knock bearing little resemblance to his grinding 60 off 207 balls which helped England salvage a draw in the fourth innings at Lord's. Sibley struck five fours on his way to 35 from 84 deliveries, including one through square leg to bring up England's fifty.
But when they returned from lunch, New Zealand's bowlers started to find some swing and it proved a weapon.
Henry struck with the sixth ball after the break when Sibley was caught betwixt and between by a ball just back of a length and in the corridor which swung away enough to find an edge and carry to stand-in keeper Blundell.
Zak Crawley's lean patch continued as he followed up twin scores of two at Lord's with a duck. Having been rushed into a defensive shot by a Neil Wagner ball that swung in, Crawley hung his bat out to the next delivery which moved less and edged to Mitchell at third slip.
Henry then claimed his second wicket - the prized scalp of Joe Root - with a late outswinger that caught the edge and was snapped up by Blundell.
Burns brought up his fifty with an authoritative drive through extra cover for two as the wickets tumbled around him. Ollie Pope stuck with him for a while but not long enough, falling for 19 when he was caught behind off Patel.

As Burns and Lawrence looked to rebuild, Boult came to the fore, luring Burns into an attempted cover drive with a ball that swung away and clipped the outside edge, with Tom Latham, acting captain in Williamson's absence, taking a good, low catch at second slip. Bracey followed and with six men down, only three had reached double figures.
That's when Stone and Lawrence got to work and they managed to stall New Zealand's momentum until Patel had Stone out lbw. From there, Lawrence really took control though. He struck Boult for two fours in an over late in the day, the first a gorgeous drive through extra cover and then a neat clip off the pads.
Mark Wood stuck with him to be 16 not out at the close, his straight hit for four off Henry mirrored by Lawrence off Boult on the next ball and the 70-percent-capacity crowd enjoyed it - and every moment of the day - if the noise, colour and movement that heralded the return of fans under a post-pandemic Government trial was anything to go by.