McCullum falls short

James Anderson removes Aaron Redmond in the second over © Getty Images

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Brendon McCullum suffered more century heartbreak at Lord’s as England cut short New Zealand’s fightback on the opening day of the first npower Test.

The wicketkeeper, who made 96 in the corresponding match on this ground four years ago, fell for 97 shortly before bad light brought play to a premature close after 52.1 overs midway through the evening session.

McCullum’s thrilling run-a-ball innings was the centrepiece of New Zealand’s total of 208 for six, which represented a major recovery from the depths of 104 for five shortly before tea.

James Anderson struck twice inside his first four overs to account for Aaron Redmond and Jamie How, and followed up Stuart Broad’s dismissals of the irresponsible Ross Taylor and rather more obdurate James Marshall by removing Daniel Flynn.

But McCullum, batting with a freedom that belied his side’s perilous position, helped prevent the ignominy of being bowled out on the first day.

Though he rode his luck somewhat, it was a measure of his aggression that Jacob Oram - no slouch himself with the bat - contributed just 23 to a sixth-wicket stand of 99 inside 19 overs.

McCullum’s departure two overs before the close punctured New Zealand hopes of setting a testing first-innings total, however, and reaffirmed England’s dominance on an abbreviated yet entertaining first day of the international summer.

Persistent rain had forced the sides to wait before locking horns again following England’s 2-1 series victory in New Zealand in March.

The skies cleared sufficiently for umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Bucknor to announce that play would start at 12.20pm, but further showers forced the players to take an early lunch at 12.30pm.

When play finally got under way at 1.20pm, it did not take long for Anderson to capitalise on conditions weighted heavily in favour of the bowlers.

Ian Bell takes to the air as Brendon McCullum frees his arms en route to a wonderfully entertaining 97

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He found enough movement off the seam to account for debutant Redmond courtesy of a thick outside edge - Alastair Cook took a smart catch low to his right at third slip - and overcame the disappointment of seeing Marshall reprieved by the umpire to remove How with an almost identical delivery, shaping away from just short of a length.

However, Anderson’s composure deserted him when Marshall and Taylor found themselves at the non-striker’s end following a mix-up, fielding the ball off his own bowling and instinctively shying at the unguarded stumps when time was on his side.

Taylor failed to make the most of his reprieve. Indeed, he showed few signs of permanence at the crease during an innings of 19 which ended when he top-edged a pull off Broad to Paul Collingwood at second slip.

Marshall also lived a charmed life - allied to his no-ball reprieve, he was fortunate that Kevin Pietersen failed to catch sight of a slashed cut at gully - before Broad struck for a second time to end a fourth-wicket partnership worth 35.

The seamer, in the third over of his second spell, drew Marshall forward with a full-length delivery that left him slightly, and Andrew Strauss made no mistake at first slip.

Flynn, having taken 16 balls to get off the mark, threatened to deny England until tea, only to be bowled by Anderson around his legs for nine as he walked across his stumps.

Typically, the scoreboard had little bearing on McCullum’s approach, and England’s thoughts had turned to restricting his strokeplay long before he brought up a 65-ball half-century containing eight fours.

Panesar was driven for a straight six, Broad was swatted over the rope at extra cover in glorious fashion, and a richly deserved hundred looked on the cards until McCullum was bowled off his pads as he attempted to work Panesar to leg.

Head bowed, he departed ruing another missed opportunity to make the Lord’s honours board, and provided England with a much-needed fillip as they left the field moments later.