London: Devon Conway became just the sixth player to hit a test century on debut at Lord’s, with the left-handed opener brilliantly anchoring New Zealand to 246/3 against England on Day 1 of the first match of the series Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Conway was unbeaten on 136 to maintain the stunning start to his international career in all formats, making an array of shots, leaving well and showing a compact defense to blunt England’s all-seam attack under blue skies at the home of cricket.
Tom Latham (23), skipper Kane Williamson (13) and Ross Taylor (14) were the three wickets to fall. England pacer Ollie Robinson, also playing his first Test, picked up two wickets while fast-bowling spearhead James Anderson bagged the other.
New Zealand won an important toss. Getting first use of a good pitch, their batsmen made sure to take advantage with a display of determination and solidity that gradually wound England down. It is what New Zealand do. Their batting is not the most exciting to watch. They do not generally race along at three and a half runs an over. They bat time and they bat big. It has been one of the hallmarks of their eleven Test series wins in their last 14 rubbers.
In the middle session, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor fell cheaply as England redeemed themselves after a meek start. New Zealand had the perfect start in the morning with Tom Latham and Conway adding 58 for the opening wicket. England needed quick strikes were they to break the budding stand between Williamson and Conway after Lunch. James Anderson, who statistically has the wood over Williamson, proved why as he struck in the opening over after the first break with Williamson playing a tad too late, chopping onto his stumps. Taylor couldn’t turn around his lean run of form, jittery in the middle with Stuart Broad posing problems, being beaten over and over again. Meanwhile, Conway was steady in the middle and reached his maiden Test fifty. Ollie Robinson trapped Taylor leg before soon after, who missed the flick shuffling across to be struck plumb in front. Robinson was looking to get the ball back in and pin Taylor on the front foot and the fifth inswinger did the job for him.
England lost a review after a leg-before appeal against Conway – when on 54 – had ball-tracking reveal it to be pitching outside leg. Thereafter, he barely offered them anything as conditions eased up for the batsmen. England rued the absence of a spinner on this track that doesn’t have much for the pacers, with Joe Root having to make up for it.