I was a spectator at two Ashes Tests over the winter, as I was lucky enough to be in attendance at both Perth and Melbourne.

So seemingly, I only deal in two-day Tests, but I don't think we're going to get one of those this week. It is still raining heavily, the full covers are still in place and I wouldn't be surprised if the ground staff have gone for an early lunch.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

It’s two words for me: discipline and maturity. On and off the field. I think both of those were lacking in Australia. The way you approach the matches, the decision making process in the matches but off the pitch it was very loose, very relaxed, very easy going. This is the top of our sport.

Kieran Parmley
CricViz analyst

There's been plenty of talk around the lack of bounce at Lord's in recent years and the early data in this Test certainly backs that up - good length deliveries are reaching the stumps 7 cm lower so far today compared to 2022.

Average height for good length balls passing the stumps on day one at Lord's:

• 2022 - 76 cm
• 2023 - 73 cm
• 2024 - 72 cm
• 2025 - 71 cm
• 2026 - 69 cm

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

England are going to have to [play in a different way] if they want to be a team that consistently beats the better teams. If you look at the whole Bazball cycle, they’ve won some incredible games. You’ve got to remind people of the start England made in the Ashes series. It was a good start, that bowling on day one was as good I’ve seen in Australia from an England attack. There wasn’t one person that wasn't thinking England are going to go 1-0 up.

I don’t think they’ve lost the fans, the England cricket fans are very loyal. How do they get them back on side? It’s just winning.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special

We kept saying that England were contributing to their own downfall, we kept raising it. The Ashes was different because it was about the preparation and none of it was in hindsight. Everyone was saying it, you’re not going to go to the Ashes and win it without preparation and getting a sense of where you are.

From my perspective, I’m glad that Ben Stokes is saying it but what we don't know was were they saying that to each other at the time. The impression they were giving publicly at the time was ‘we’ll just move on’ and that’s why I think so many of us were quite outspoken and critical because it was so obvious what was going on and they wouldn’t accept it.

It is still raining pretty heavily at Lord's.

It looks unlikely that the players will get back out there before lunch.

During this rain delay, the TMS team are going to be discussing how England can win over their fans after the Ashes disaster.

Do let us know your thoughts, too - use the 'Get Involved' button to have your say.

Emilio Gay was the one wicket to fall during that brief period of play, as he nicked to slip off Kyle Jamieson for eight.

In favourable bowling conditions, it was a beautiful delivery and there wasn't much that Gay could've done about it.

That heatwave was nice while it lasted, eh?

Image source, Getty Images

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
CricViz analyst

Image source, Reuters

Since the start of the 2025–26 Ashes, Ben Duckett's false shot percentage stands at 42% - the highest of any England batter to have faced 100+ deliveries in this period.

Hover cover on, square covered, bowlers' run-ups covered.

I'd go and put the kettle on if I were you.

Ben Jones
CricViz analyst

24-1 is England's equal lowest score after 10 overs in a Test during the Bazball era.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Lord's

And here comes the rain. Brief discussion between the umpires and just after they decide to wave the players off, the heavens open.

Settle in, folks. I don't think this will be a short delay.

Rain stops playpublished at 11:46 BST

11:46 BST

All of a sudden, it's hammering down and the players are off.

I don't think this'll be the only time I say this over the next few days, either.

Has anyone ever received a friendlier first ball in international cricket?!

Jeremy Coney
Former New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

It's a New Zealand side that we've come to expect. I like to see a specialist spinner in a Test side and New Zealand haven't gone with that but I don't think there are any real surprises in the batting line-up.

Nathan Smith is into the attack, and starts with a maiden to Jacob Bethell, who has started patiently.

New Zealand will be sensing a big opportunity to take another wicket before the rain comes.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport at Lord's

We had a short spell with the playing area bathed in sunshine but it has clouded over and it is starting to look that much darker behind the pavilion, where the weather tends to come from at Lord's.

It looks like the wind has picked up a bit, with Kyle Jamieson's blonde hair whipping sideways across his face as he charges in, boosted by the wicket of Emilio Gay to his name.

He extracts some sharp bounce, which has been a rarity on this surface so far, as Ben Duckett fends the ball to point.

Jeremy Coney
Former New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

I've seen Ben Duckett leave more deliveries this morning than in his whole career. He's having trouble timing the ball.