New Zealand tour of England 2021

03 Jun 2021

In the end, it had to be a run-out. England looked like they had run out of ideas against Devon Conway who put on a masterclass in his debut Test at the iconic Lord's cricket ground. The New Zealand opener became the first batsman to hit a double hundred against England on debut in a Test match.

Devon Conway also became only the first New Zealand batsman since Matthew Sinclair in 1999 to hit a double hundred on Test debut. He is overall the 7th batsman to achieve the feat. Conway, who has had a remarkable start to his international career, got to the landmark in style as he hit a six to get to the 200-run mark while batting with No. 11 Neil Wagner on Day 2 of the first Test.

Batsmen who have hit double hundred on Test debut

Reg Foster (England) - 287
Jacques Rudolph (South Africa) - 222
Lawrence Rowe (West Indies) - 214
Matthew Sinclair (New Zealand) - 214
Kyle Mayers (West Indies) - 210
Brendon Kuruppu (Sri Lanka) - 201*
Devon Conway (New Zealand) - 200.

Notably, Conway's 200 is also the 3rd highest Test score by a left-handed batsman on debut. Conway went past Shikhar Dhawan's tally of 187. Only Rudolph (222) and Mayers (210) have hit more runs than the New Zealand opener in their first match in whites at the international level.

Incidentally, Devon Conway has never opened before the Lord's Test in first-class cricket. But the left-hander looked assured and confident, opening the batting for the Black Caps at the iconic venue. Conway kept the scoreboard moving and finished unbeaten on 134 at Stumps on Day 1.

Conway continued putting pressure on England as he stitched a 174-run stand for the 4th wicket with Henry Nicholls. Following Nicholls's wicket, Conway did not have partners sticking around with him but he looked in absolutely no trouble even as Mark Wood and debutant Ollie Robinson were helping England claw their way back into the contest.

Conway hit 22 boundaries and a lone six in the knock that was stamped with class. The opener was run-out on 200 as he looked to up the ante along with Wagner, who chipped in with an entertaining 25 not out.

For England, debutant Robinson, who had a turbulent start to his Test career over racism controversy, picked up 4 wickets while Wood picked up 3 wickets. James Anderson had 2 wickets, including that of captain Kane Williamson, while Stuart Broad bowled 27 overs without finding success.