The moment Ollie Robinson marked his return with a stunning triple-wicket maiden on the opening day, England’s victory seemed destined. Just under two hours into the fourth day, Gus Atkinson bowled Matt Henry, and celebrated with a clenched fist, a gesture that likely spoke for all of English cricket. It was a win over New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test of the series, but it also brought with it a collective sigh of relief.
This triumph, however, doesn’t erase the sting of the Ashes. That wound requires more time and effort to heal. The conversation over the past few days has been dominated by criticisms of the pitch, with impassioned calls for Lord’s to face sanctions, as if it were the sole venue in the nation with such issues.
When Ben Stokes was queried about the pitch at his first press conference, he responded with a wry smile, noting the shift in focus from victory to conditions. That smile was a rare sight lately, a semblance of relief amid the scrutiny.
Stokes understood the stakes; victory here was essential, given the harsh lessons of the winter. The specifics mattered less than the outcome: England had to rediscover their winning ways, and in this, they delivered. Despite the pitch’s shortcomings, England’s ruthless execution was undeniable, as New Zealand crumbled, losing 20 wickets in just 70 overs. Two truths can coexist.
Head coach Brendon McCullum may not have gleaned all he hoped for, but some players showcased their capabilities decisively. Harry Brook and debutant Emilio Gay both scored half-centuries, the only ones in the match, while England’s seamers capitalized on the conditions effectively, reminiscent of Australia’s strategies during the Ashes. Crucially, England held onto their catches, a feat New Zealand struggled to match. Given the circumstances, England could hardly have done more.
In their differing ways, Harry Brook and debutant opener Emilio Gay scored the game’s only half-centuries, while England’s three specialist seamers took turns exploiting conditions, just as Australia’s did so well during the Ashes. Unlike New Zealand, England held almost all their catches. What more, in the circumstances, could they have done?
Gus Atkinson took a five wicket haul as England wrapped up victory against New Zealand
Atkinson sent Matt Henry’s stumps flying to seal a victory by 115 runs at Lord’s
The victory began England’s rebirth following their dismal showing in the Ashes
Atkinson, in his first Test since limping off the MCG in December, finished with match figures of seven for 37, and now has four five-wicket hauls in his three Lord’s Tests; Robinson, relentless and accurate, managed seven for 77; and Josh Tongue, his awkward action honing in on the stumps, collected five for 88. Stokes, otherwise anonymous, chipped in with the wicket of Devon Conway, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir proved a luxury item, completely unused.
It all added up to the shortest Lord’s Test (166 overs) in terms of balls bowled since 1888, and the lowest balls-per-wicket figure (24.9) at any English venue since 1907. Had it not rained on the first and third days, it might have been over in two. The only people wandering around St John’s Wood looking more shellshocked than New Zealand’s batsmen were MCC officials.
Never before have as many as 24 batsmen been either bowled or lbw in a Test in this country, which spoke volumes for the players’ mistrust of conditions. Play forward and risk a broken finger, or stay back and risk a grubber? The constant menace of both injury and insult made batting a lottery.
It also meant New Zealand’s hopes seemed cooked even before they resumed under grey skies on 55 for five, needing another 199. And when Tongue nipped one back into Tom Blundell with the day’s seventh ball, an even swifter conclusion seemed likely.
But Conway and Glenn Phillips counter-attacked in a stand of 53 in 11 overs, and England were grateful when Conway’s leading edge was well held by a tumbling Jacob Bethell in the gully.
The end came swiftly, Atkinson drawing an edge from Nathan Smith, then persuading Kyle Jamieson to clip to midwicket. Phillips helped Tongue over fine leg for six, before Atkinson knocked back Henry’s middle stump to leave New Zealand with a solitary win, back in 1999, from 20 visits to Lord’s.
For all the angst about the pitch, England deserved the win after losing an important toss. Gay made a solid first impression, playing the kind of pragmatic innings of which Zak Crawley was rarely capable, while the return of Robinson – named player of the match – received instant and dramatic vindication.
His 83 Test wickets have now come at under 22 each, while Atkinson has paid just over 22 for his 76. Tongue, meanwhile, has 54 at 25. These are early days for this England attack, but they are building up a head of steam, and Jofra Archer is yet to return. On this evidence, it’s not immediately obvious who will make way.
No win is perfect, though, and this was no exception. Robinson regularly dipped below 80mph, despite pre-match claims he has been operating at 83-84mph for Sussex, and Stokes’s batting is a major concern. The justification for Bashir’s recall remains unproven.
England were fortunate that Matt Henry, New Zealand’s attack leader, suffered back spasms after four overs, and operated at less than full tilt. It’s hard to imagine, either, that Tom Latham’s team will be as scrappy as this when the second Test starts at The Oval on June 17.
But there were moments during the two-month danse macabre around Australia when Stokes would have taken any kind of win, embraced any slice of luck. The English game has been through too much of late to turn its nose up at a result like this. Now they just need to keep it in front.
