London, Jun 7: England wrapped up a 115-run victory over New Zealand before lunch on Day 4 of the first cricket Test at Lord’s on Sunday, marking a positive start to its “Bazball” reset after the Ashes humiliation Down Under.
Resuming on 55-5 and requiring 254 for an unlikely win, New Zealand lost its remaining five wickets inside the first two hours of play and was dismissed for 138.
England pacer Gus Atkinson finished with team-best figures of 5-30 on what has been a bowler-friendly surface at the home of cricket that has seen 24 batters out bowled or lbw, and no spinners getting a single delivery.
Glenn Phillips was New Zealand’s top scorer on 44 not out, the best of a disappointing test for the tourists.
This first test series of the summer has been regarded as a fresh start for England and its under-pressure leadership after a 4-1 loss to Australia during an Ashes tour featuring reports of excessive drinking and when England was accused of slack preparation and a wrong tactical approach.
The headline selections early in this second iteration of “Bazball” under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes were opener Emilio Gay and seam bowler Ollie Robinson — and both delivered.
With a second-innings 57, Gay had the highest individual score from either team on his test debut. Robinson, recalled for the first time since 2024 when he was dropped over misgivings about his fitness and attitude, took seven wickets in the match (5-39 and 2-38).
However, given the state of the pitch, perhaps little should be gleaned from a match that lasted 166 overs, making it the second shortest completed test of the record 150 to take place at Lord’s.
“It’s a surface that we weren’t expecting,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham said. “I don’t think anybody expected a surface like that.”
McCullum said it was a “challenging” surface but was happy to see how his team adapted and executed what he described as a “low-scoring shootout.”
“We were brave at times and calculated at other times,” England’s New Zealand-born coach said.
The second test of the three-match series is across London at The Oval, starting June 17. (AP)
