Last Updated: 02/06/22 6:39pm
Ben Stokes made just one as England collapsed to 116-7 after razing New Zealand for 132
England’s new era started with an all-too-familiar batting capitulation as Ben Stokes’ side crumbled to 116-7 after skittling New Zealand for 132 on a wicket-laden day one of the first LV= Insurance Test at Lord’s.
New captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took over an England side with 11 defeats and just one win in their last 17 matches and their lowest Test points rating since August 1995.
The hosts were full of confidence with the ball as they razed the reigning World Test champions in exactly 40 overs with debutant Matthew Potts snaring 4-13 and the recalled James Anderson 4-66.
However, they wilted with the bat in scenes akin to the Ashes series after a 59-run opening stand between Zak Crawley (43) and Alex Lees (25) was snapped, losing seven wickets for 41 runs before closing with a deficit of 16 runs.
Stokes (1) was caught behind ninth ball and former skipper Joe Root (11) steered to gully, with new No 3 Ollie Pope (7) and Jonny Bairstow (1), who was preferred to the in-form Harry Brook at No 5, also falling cheaply.
New Zealand were 45-7 at one stage but made it into three figures thanks principally to Colin de Grandhomme (42 not out from 50 balls) before Stokes bagged the final Black Caps wicket on a day dominated by the seamers.
It was the home pacers initially – including Potts, who made Kiwi captain Kane Williamson his maiden Test wicket – but then New Zealand’s, with Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson each striking twice.
Durham seamer Potts made a two-ball duck late in the day having shone with the ball earlier on, leaving Ben Foakes (6no) and Stuart Broad (4no) unbeaten at stumps and England ruing letting a superb position slip.
Another sour note for the home side was the withdrawal of spinner Jack Leach to concussion after he took a heavy fall in the field in the sixth over – Matt Parkinson becoming the side’s first concussion substitute as he hotfooted it down from Manchester to make his debut as a like-for-like replacement.
More to follow…