Butcher hit his second ton at Lord's Day two photo gallery

England's batsmen dominated at Lord's, reaching an imposing 472 thanks to a ton for Mark Butcher and a half-century for debutant Anthony McGrath.

Zimbabwe replied well, reaching 48-1 in the 45 minutes available before bad light brought an end to the second day.

But the tourists, who need 273 to avoid the follow-on, could still regret allowing an England tailend rebellion that saw 64 runs added for the last two wickets.

England's batsmen dominated the day, with Butcher hitting 137, McGrath 69 and Ashley Giles a maiden half-century in his 20th Test.

Butcher hit his seventh Test century just before lunch and McGrath upped the pace on an increasingly sunny afternoon, the heavy swing of the opening day decreasing.

Ushered to the wicket when Alec Stewart was caught behind for 26, McGrath became the first England batsman to pass 50 on debut since Marcus Trescothick in 2000.

The highlight of the Yorkshire captain's innings was a hooked four off Sean Ervine, the last of three boundaries in a single over from the seamer.

But Ervine denied him the chance to reach three figures, and bagged a second wicket in the same over.

McGrath impressed with 69 on debut

McGrath was bowled off his pads to give the debutant his first Test wicket and Steve Harmison edged his second delivery to square leg.

Butcher was delighted when a push down the ground off Andy Blignaut brought his second hundred at Lord's from 205 balls, including 15 boundaries.

Spinner Ray Price finally dealt with the left-hander, courtesy of a one-handed diving catch by Mark Vermeulen at short midwicket.

It was Vermeulen's first catch in Test cricket, although he later shelled a chance at slip off Giles, who had made just three at the time.

And he was punished in unlikely fashion, Giles topping his previous Test best 45, recorded against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last year, on the way to an 80-ball 52.

Matthew Hoggard joined Giles in a ninth-wicket partnership of 57.

The Yorkshireman added 19 himself before he was out in farcical fashion, after a mix-up between the third umpire and the operator of the big screen.

However, if England had expected the tourists to crumble in the final hour of the day they were mistaken.

James Anderson's eagerly-awaited Test bowling debut was nightmaring, his first over including two no-balls and three boundaries for Dion Ebrahim.

Anderson bounced back well to bowl Mark Vermeulen but Ebrahim went on to reach 40 not out at stumps.

England: N Hussain (capt), MP Vaughan, ME Trescothick, MA Butcher, WRT Key, A McGrath, AJ Stewart, AF Giles, MJ Hoggard, JM Anderson, SJ Harmison.

Zimbabwe: Mark Vermeulen, Dion Ebrahim, Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Tatenda Taibu (wkt), Sean Ervine, Heath Streak (capt), Andy Blignaut, Travis Friend, Raymond Price, Douglas Hondo.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor, West Indies, and Dave Orchard, South Africa.