England v New Zealand: first men’s cricket Test, day two – live | England v New Zealand 2026

Tongue’s first ball of the day fractionally straightens and Philips plays… and misses. A satisfying crunch of stumps.

20th over: New Zealand 65-6 (Phillips 34, Smith 6) Ben Stokes, newly shorn of his 1950s sweep-back, completes his over started yesterday. A no ball and Phillips sends him sweetly down to backward point for three.

“Plus ca change,” says Mark Puttick.

“Almost exactly four years since England last played New Zealand at Lord’s

2022: England’s 1st inns, 141-10, 42.5 overs

2026: England’s 1st inns, 140-10, 39.4 overs

2022: NZ 1st inns, found themselves 2-2 & 12-4, both Mitchell & Blundell were bowled as NZ folded to 36-6.

2026: NZ 1st Inns, found themselves 2-2 & 12-4, both Mitchell & Blundell were bowled as NZ folded to 29-6

England batted 2nd in 2022 though.”

Incredible symmetry.

“Good morning Tanya,” hello Krishnamoorthy V!

“Looks like the match may get over today. While we wait for it to start , have you been following this new sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who is one part Viv Richards, one part Sachin Tendulkar and one part Matthew Hayden. Bowlers world over must be having nightmares featuring him.”

He’s incredible isn’t he? There’s part of me that things he’s too young to deal with the pressure and adulation, but he seems to be taking it in his stride. It can’t be long before he gets a tap on the shoulder from the Indian hierachy.

Ninety-eight overs are due today after yesterday’s rain.

Morning Session: 1100-1315

Afternoon Session: 1355-1610

Evening Session: 1630-1830

A deeply moving piece of television on Sky about the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Two young mums speak about living with a stage four cancer diagnosis, and another about the death of her husband – 127 children lose a parent every day in the UK. For some reason I can’t access the Ruth Strauss Foundation website, but you can google it if you would like to donate.

A thoughtful piece from Andy Bull on Brendan McCullum which contains the killer line – “only two of that team that played [at Lord’s] back in 2022, Ben Stokes and Joe Root, made it all the way through the cycle back to this match.”

Mike Atherton and Stuart Broad are in red blazers on Red for Ruth day at Lord’s. They laud Ollie Robinson. “He moved the ball and in such a dangerous area,” says Broad, “he was immaculate in his length and more importantly in his line.”

Good morning and welcome to day two of the first Test of the summer, the morning after the evening before, when everyone staggered over the line at twenty past seven, punch drunk and 16 wickets poorer.

It was a fast-food order of a first day, punchy innings from Harry Brook and Glenn Phillips the only ballast against the clattering of wickets between the showers. Kyle Jamieson finished with five for 62 on his comeback after a stress-fracture, and Ollie Robinson four for ten, including an extraordinary triple-wicket maiden in his first over back after a two-year hiatus.

The weather looks better for today, batting should be easier, which may be some consolation for those looking at their weekend tickets and wondering whether they’ll have anything to watch. Play starts at 11am BST, do join us.