The Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum era got off to a winning start as England beat New Zealand by five wickets in the opening Test match of the summer at Lord’s.
Stokes’ predecessor Joe Root led the hosts home to their target of 277 with his 26th Test century, surpassing 10,000 Test runs in the process.
Here, Sportsmail‘s DAVID LLOYD picks out his talking points from a very brief fourth day of the first of three Test matches.
Joe Root led England home to victory in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s
Statement from the new kids
Make no mistake, this is a huge win for England’s new kids on the block – Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Rob Key.
No matter they’ve only just started. They were at Lord’s for the first Test of the summer, the spotlight was on them and they had to win.
People would have said ‘same old, same old’ had they lost. As The Who once sang ‘here comes the new boss same as the old boss…’
This is a huge win for England’s new kids on the block – Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Rob Key
Root able to focus on his strength
Giving up the captaincy has allowed Joe Root the freedom to concentrate on what he does best – bat.
There will be no animosity from Joe after losing the job and I’m sure he’s going to really enjoy himself now.
That was a special hundred, even by Joe’s standards, and it will mean the world to him to get his mate Ben off to a winning start.
Lessons learnt for England
England have learnt lessons from the last months of Root’s captaincy.
There were times when he seemed to be doing everything and I think a lot of the off-field stuff will be taken away from Stokes.
When I was England coach I saw my job primarily as clearing the decks for Michael Atherton and then Alec Stewart. Their work is on the field – you have to make it as easy as possible for them to deliver.
Giving up the captaincy has allowed Joe Root the freedom to concentrate on batting
Changes will be made despite this victory
The same England squad have been picked for the second Test and it will be after that when the new regime will start making their presence felt.
They were quite conservative in their first selection but they will make changes, don’t worry about that.
If anyone thinks they can block their way into this side moving forward they will be sadly mistaken…
Stars still struggling with defence
And blocking is very different to having a good defence. Some of the England lads are still struggling with that.
Bob Woolmer used to ask his players ‘when do you think you’re in?’ And they would say ‘when I’m on 20 or 30.’ Wrong. You’re never in unless you have a proper defence.
Kevin Pietersen did a bit on Sky where he said he’s teaching his lad to defend before he attacks. And that’s from one of the most flamboyant batsmen we’ve seen!
Foakes responds well to the pressure
That was a really big innings for Ben Foakes, too. He kept very well in this Test but we know how capable he is with the gloves.
It’s with the bat at seven he will have to deliver too. And be dynamic.
He’s got Jonny Bairstow and, knowing what the new regime think, Jos Buttler breathing down his neck so this will do him the world of good.
Ben Foakes kept very well in this Test but it’s with the bat at seven he will have to deliver too
Bell-ringing nightmare
Update on my new future as a campanologist. I rather fear ‘Romford Kenny’, the chief bell ringer in our village, is having me on.
First I was told there were a couple of vacancies because some regular ringers were indisposed but now he says he can’t get me started yet because he can’t find a left-handed rope. Looks like that’s another career I’ve lost…
England to return to the ‘people’
The pomp and ceremony of the Jubilee and the Lord’s Test is over and now it’s on to a very different but equally special place in Trent Bridge on Friday.
It’s a great, intimate ground and it will be packed for the second Test. England are going back to the ‘people’. I can’t wait…
Now it’s on to a very different but equally special place in Trent Bridge on Friday
