LONDON, 21 May 2004 — New Zealand opener Mark Richardson repulsed the England attack for more than six hours yesterday to put his side in charge on the first day of the first Test at Lord’s.
Playing rigidly within his limitations and relying primarily on pushes through the off-side to collect his runs, the compact left-hander contributed a painstaking 93 to his country’s cause as the tourists finished the day on 284 for five.
Jacob Oram, playing his first Test against England, ensured New Zealand’s supremacy with 10 cleanly struck boundaries in the final hour during an unbeaten 64 from 75 deliveries. After playing provincial cricket as a left-arm bowler, Richardson transformed himself from a tail-ender to his present status as New Zealand’s most reliable batsman. He averaged 46.32 in Tests before yesterday’s innings and is the only Kiwi who has featured recently in the world’s top 10-ranked batsmen.
Richardson survived a chance to Graham Thorpe at third slip after scoring 24 in the morning session and was put down by Ashley Giles in the gully diving to his left after tea when on 56. He was also hit a nasty blow in the ribs by Steve Harmison but allowed nothing to disturb his relentless concentration on the task in hand.
He put on 58 for the first wicket with his captain Stephen Fleming (34), opening for only the second time in 83 tests, followed by a partnership of 103 with Nathan Astle (64).
Astle, scorer of the fastest double century in Test cricket, threatened to tear England’s pace attack apart, striking 11 boundaries from only 77 deliveries before he fell caught behind off the persevering Andy Flintoff.
Two square drives off Matthew Hoggard hit with stunning power were the shots of the day and there was also a savage pulled four off Harmison, England’s hero in this year’s 3-0 series win in the Caribbean.
Astle’s dismissal signaled a temporary turn in England’s fortunes. Simon Jones, the pick of their attack in three spells of controlled hostility from the Pavilion End, followed up four balls later with the wicket of Scott Styris, also caught behind by Geraint Jones, who was dismissed for a duck in his first match against England. Craig McMillan punched one boundary through extra-cover but managed only six from 52 deliveries before he was lbw to Hoggard, stabbing down too late on a straight delivery.
