Dream start for Strauss as England take control

England 246 for 2 (Strauss 112, Trescothick 86) trail New Zealand 386 (Richardson 93, Cairns 82, Oram 67, Astle 64, Harmison 4-126) by 140 runs
Scorecard

Andrew Strauss became only the fourth player to score a Test century on debut at Lord's to put England on top in the first Test. After New Zealand were bowled out for 386 shortly before lunch, boosted by a whirlwind innings from Chris Cairns, Strauss scored a memorable 112 on his home ground, and put on 190 with Marcus Trescothick as England closed on a healthy 246 for 2.

Apart from that thumping thunderbolt of a knock by Cairns - 82 from 47 balls - in which time he went past Viv Richards for the most sixes ever hit in Tests, it was unquestionably England's day. Stephen Harmison helped wrap up the tail with three quick wickets in the morning, and then Trescothick and the impressive Strauss put their side in control with a commanding batting display.

It couldn't have gone much better for Strauss, who joined several exclusive clubs. He became the first England player to score a hundred on Test debut since Graham Thorpe in 1993, and the first Middlesex player to do so for England at Lord's (indeed no Englishman had ever scored a Test-debut century on his home ground before). He also became the second Englishman, behind John Hampshire, to score a debut ton on this ground, and the second Middlesex cricketer to make a century in his first Test match, after Pelham Warner against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1898-99.

Strauss must have had a few extra nerves jangling when he came out to bat shortly before lunch. However, he was in good touch from the off and looked like an old hand. He was surprisingly assured for a debutant, driving well through the off side, and also quick to pick off anything on his legs. He was positive from the start, smacking Chris Martin through the covers, and then lifting him over gully for his half-century.

His confidence then grew and grew, and Martin, in particular, came in for punishment as Stephen Fleming was left scratching his head for ideas to break Strauss's impressive partnership with Trescothick. Strauss did have one spot of bother when, on 74, he was nearly run out by Mark Richardson at short leg after coming down the track to Daniel Vettori. He continued to make good progress towards his century, but became stuck in the nervous nineties - and also survived an enormous slice of luck at 91, when he inside-edged Martin firmly onto his off stump, but the bails miraculously stayed put as the ball flew for four.

He spent all of 40 minutes scratching around in the nineties, but it was worth the wait when he stroked Martin through the covers to start the celebrations. Strauss punched the air and took off his helmet as the crowd rose to their feet. He even got a handshake from Fleming, the New Zealand captain and a former Middlesex team-mate. His adventure finally came to an end, though, when he clipped Vettori, via his pad, to Richardson at short leg with four overs remaining (239 for 2).

Strauss's enthralling entrance to Test cricket rather overshadowed the captain Trescothick's innings, which was all about timing and placement. As usual, he didn't move his feet much, but waited for the ball to come to him. He got going by punching Daryl Tuffey down the ground for four, and then cut Jacob Oram to the boundary in the next over. Not even Cairns could repeat his earlier heroics with the ball, as he was cut and driven with ease. Trescothick then signalled his half-century, and the hundred partnership, with a crunching cover-drive off Martin. Trescothick received the applause, but he was quick to thank Strauss at the other end.

However, Oram finally put a smile on the New Zealanders' faces when Trescothick nibbled at an awayswinger through to Brendon McCullum, the wicketkeeper, for a captain's innings of 86 (190 for 1).

Mark Butcher survived a few close shouts for lbw before the close, but he played an important part in helping Strauss before finishing on 22 not out at the end of a good day's work for England, started by Harmison under early gloomy skies. Harmison struck on his fifth ball of the day when Oram nicked him through to Geraint Jones for 67 (287 for 6). But just when England managed to get rid of one big hitter, another one, in the form of Cairns, strode to the crease with intent.

He walloped Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones all round Lord's with some outrageous and extravagant strokes. But the fun really started as he approached a lightning half-century, which he notched up from only 37 balls by flicking Jones over midwicket. Jones was then deposited into the Mound Stand for six, and then Cairns somehow squirted Harmison over point for another. That shot took him to 84 Test sixes, equal with Richards at the top of the list.

The six which took him clear was probably one of the highest of the 85, over square leg. For good measure, he hit the next one into the crowd over point. Andrew Flintoff did get his man the third time, when Cairns went for another big one, but scooped it down to fine leg, where Harmison took a good running catch to close the innings.

Cairns's cameo was all the more important considering the tumble of wickets around him. Tuffey, the nightwatchman, was bowled all ends up by Harmison (324 for 7), McCullum inside-edged a Jones half-tracker into his stumps (329 for 8), and Vettori also played on, to Harmison, for 2 (338 for 9).