Gloomy, damp and curtailed at both ends it may have been, but the
first day of the Lord's Test was cracking entertainment. We started
with the by now familiar routine of England's pace bowlers knocking
over the NZ top four for not very many, and then moved on to the main
course, a meaty 97 by McCullum which occasioned a standing ovation
from the crowd as he departed. Were today's conditions likely to
persist throughout the match, it would be evenly poised, but with the
forecast predicting much better weather for the next couple of days,
England have a distinct advantage as things now stand.

Now that a man with the initials BJ runs London it is only to be
expected that the buses suck; I therefore missed Redmond's debut
innings, such as it was.

Anderson and Sidebottom were bowling at a decent pace, but their lines
were both a bit variable, hindered in part by some fairly lively
movement through the air. Neither How nor Marshall looked comfortable,
Marshall edging one behind off Anderson only to be reprieved by the
umpire's horizontal arm indicating the no-ball. In his next over,
though, he failed to overstep as How played at one ripe for the
leaving and Ambrose safely pouched it.

Just watching the England kit - and that is seriously bright white!