Jamieson ends Gay's debut innings before rain forces early lunch

New Zealand draw first blood in rain-shortened morning session at Lord's

Andrew Miller

Published: Jun 4, 2026, 9:48 AM (2 hrs ago)

England 24 for 1 (Duckett 12*, Bethell 4*) vs New Zealand

Emilio Gay came and went early in his Test career, though not without glimpses of his potential, as a heavy band of rain swept across north London to force an early lunch on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

Only ten overs were possible before the heavens opened, in which time England pushed along to 24 for 1. It was a notably steady tempo from a team so renowned for fast scoring, and when Ben Duckett offered consecutive leaves to the first two balls of Matt Henry's opening maiden over, it was as if he was channelling Ben Stokes' pre-match commitment to "smarter cricket".

Watching on from the other end was Gay, who had been handed his first Test cap by Alastair Cook in the team huddle before the start of play. Of all the scenarios he might have envisaged for the first ball of his England career, he could not have hoped for a juicier welcoming present, a rusty full-toss from the returning Kyle Jamieson, which he duly laced through the covers for four.

Gay added another, even better, boundary in Jamieson's second over, a crisp on-drive straight back past the stumps, at which point the bowler - playing his first first-class match for six months after lengthy back-stress issues - was looking somewhat out of rhythm, and perhaps hampered by the Lord's slope.

However, at the third attempt Jamieson got his length spot on. Gay was squared up by an angled delivery from round the wicket, and Daryl Mitchell at first slip scooped up a low edge as the ball nipped up the slope.

That brought Jacob Bethell to the crease at No.3, for his first Test innings on home soil, and his first anywhere since making a superb 154 in the final Ashes Test at Sydney in January. He had been hampered by an injured finger in the lead-up to the Test, sustained during his unremarkable stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, but looked unencumbered in reaching 4 not out before the rain arrived at the end of the tenth over.

An early lunch was duly taken at 12.45pm, but with more rain forecast, a lengthy stoppage seemed on the cards. It all made for an unremarkable prologue to England's new era, although there was one glimpse of their old ways, when Duckett unleashed a confident drive through the covers off Henry for his only boundary in 31 balls.

Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket

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