TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: James Anderson profits at Lord's vs New Zealand

TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: James Anderson profits at Lord’s once again after the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand… while Jonny Bairstow reaches 200 Test catches

  • James Anderson took his career haul at Lord’s to 114 after taking four wickets 
  • The veteran seamer helped England dismiss New Zealand for 132 on the first day 
  • Jonny Bairstow also became the fourth England player to take 200 Test catches

England started brilliantly but faded badly on the opening day of a topsy-turvy first Test against New Zealand.

The hosts, playing their first match with Brendon McCullum as red-ball coach and Ben Stokes as captain, dismissed the Black Caps for 132 but collapsed from a promising position to 116-7. 

Below, Sportsmail‘s  Lawrence Booth takes a statistical look at the facts, figures, quirks and anomalies after the first day’s play at Lord’s.

James Anderson took his career haul at Lord’s to 114 after taking four wickets vs New Zealand

James Anderson’s four wickets took his career haul at Lord’s to 114 – the third-highest total for a Test bowler at a single venue. 

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is both first and second, with 156 wickets at Colombo’s SSC and 117 at Kandy. He also claimed 111 at Galle. 

Anderson has now dismissed both openers in a Test innings on a record 27 occasions, surpassing Australian Glenn McGrath.

Anderson’s Test career has now lasted longer than WG Grace’s, whose England duty spanned 18 years 270 days. Anderson’s appearance here takes him to 19 years 11 days.

Jonny Bairstow (left) became the fourth England player to take 200 Test catches, on Thursday

Jonny Bairstow became the fourth England player to take 200 Test catches when he held on at the second attempt to Tom Latham. 

Moments later, he caught Devon Conway, to move to 201, of which 23 have come without the gloves. 

Only Alec Stewart (263 catches), Alan Knott (250) and Matt Prior (243) are ahead of him.

If New Zealand go on to win this game, they will make Test history. 

No side have ever won after losing their first four wickets for 12 or fewer in the first innings.




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