May 23: Both England and Zimbabwe concede the first Test is still in the balance after an attritional opening day at Lord's. The home side reached 184-3 before bad light stopped play on a day that began 80 minutes late and suffered a further interruption in mid-afternoon.
England opener Marcus Trescothick, who top-scored with 59, was pleased with the side's performance in conditions that heavily favoured seam and swing.
"We're in a pretty good position - after being put in to bat on a difficult wicket we came out of it well," he said.

"Ideally we'd get hundreds each but, on a wicket like that, you don't expect a massive amount of runs."

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Trescothick said Butcher had had little choice in his style of play.
The Somerset opener said: "You can still get a hundred on this wicket but you've only got to look at the way Mark Butcher played to see it wasn't free-scoring, the ball kept moving around."

Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh was disappointed his bowlers did not take at least six wickets, but paid tribute to an inexperienced attack.

"They would like 350: we would like a lot less," he said.

"Hopefully we can start on time tomorrow and bowl them out cheaply.

Pace bowler Travis Friend did not enter the attack until the 50th over but dismissed Nasser Hussain first ball, caught off a hook at backward square leg.
BNureau Report But Marsh conceded the field-placing was done more as support for a bowler low on confidence than as a tactic to dismiss the England skipper.
Marsh was more annoyed about the two protesters who walked onto the field of play during the day, campaigning against the regime of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe.

"It was disappointing that, with all the security, the protesters got on the ground," he said.
"The players weren't threatened but it needs to be looked at.
"I'm sure the senior management of both sides have said something."