ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the third day at Lord’s
George Dobell at Lord's18-May-2013Decision of the day
It was something of a surprise to see Stuart Broad given the opportunity to bowl from the Pavilion End at the start of the third day. Broad had been disappointing on day two while James Anderson, so impressive the previous evening, has tended to prefer that end. But the decision was immediately vindicated as Broad immediately settled to a far more probing, fuller length and claimed the important wicket of Brendon McCullum, drawn into pushing at one outside off stump, with his second legitimate delivery. It set the tone on a vastly improved England bowling performance which saw New Zealand lose their final seven wickets for just 60 runs, including 6 for 54 in the session. It gave England a first innings lead of 25 which seemed unlikely when New Zealand fourth-wicket pair were together on the second evening and trailing by only 85.Comedown of the day
It is remarkable how quickly fortunes can change in cricket. The last time Matt Prior played a Test, he walked off having saved the match with a defiant century and, earlier this week, was the recipient of England’s player of the year award. He will leave Lord’s this week having suffered a pair and having dropped a catch in the first innings that, by his high standards, must be required relatively straightforward. In the second innings he attempted to pull the first short ball send down by Tim Southee but mistimed the shot and presented a simple catch to square leg. It made his decision to turn down an apparently comfortable single in the previous over all the more unfathomable. Prior remains a high-class player, but this has been a miserable game for him.Ball of the day
James Anderson produced an absolute gem of a delivery to account for Bruce Martin. Set up with two searing inswingers, Anderson then produced one angled in to pitch middle and leg, but seaming away to clip the top of off stump. It was a delivery good enough to account for most batsmen and a fine way for Anderson to claim the 13th five-wicket haul of his Test career and the fourth at Lord’s. Only two men have taken more five-wicket hauls at the ground: Sir Ian Botham, who claimed eight in 15 Tests and Fred Trueman, who claimed five in 12 Tests. This is Anderson’s 13th Test at Lord’s.Review of the day
New Zealand thought they had dismissed Alastair Cook from the second ball of the England second innings when he was drawn into a drive outside off stump by Trent Boult. The umpire, Aleem Dar, thought differently, so New Zealand utilised the DRS. The third umpire, Marais Erasmus, asked for audio and a blown-up image of Hot Spot but concluded there was not enough evidence to overturn the original decision. Part of the problem was that a white mark appeared on the Hot Spot image of the bat even before any possible contact with the ball, so the worth of the evidence was diluted. The noise from the stump microphone was also inconclusive, but Snicko – a device not available to the third umpire – later showed enough evidence to suggest Cook had edged the ball. He only scored 21 more runs but, had New Zealand struck early in England’s second innings it is quite possible that nerves would have spread in the England dressing room. It is also worth noting that, earlier in the day, BJ Watling had walked after edging a catch in New Zealand’s first innings before it later transpired that Hot Spot showed no mark. It was more supporting evidence for those who continue to doubt the value of the DRS.Chance of the day
So secure did Joe Root and Jonathan Trott appear for most of their partnership that, for long periods, it seemed a run-out was the most likely mode of dismissal. Perhaps New Zealand’s best chance came when Root had 40. Pushing the ball into the off side, he set off for a sharp single only to see Trott refuse to move. Root, turning in mid-pitch, would have been run out by some distance had McCullum’s throw hit the stumps or had BJ Watling, rushing to take the ball from behind the stumps, been able to take the ball and remove the bails cleanly. As it was Root survived and Watling, who jarred his knee as he dived to take the throw, was forced off the pitch. McCullum took the gloves and kept wicket but did so without pads.
