Joe Root and Ben Stokes resurrected England after a woeful start in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.
The kiwis won the toss and sent the hosts into bat on a slightly green looking pitch.
It appeared to be a great decision with debutant Adam Lyth, Alastair Cook, Gary Balance and Ian Bell all falling cheaply to leave England reeling at 4-30.
However, the game quickly changed as Root and Stokes counter-attacked with a brilliant 161-run stand off just 191 balls.
Stokes was particularly brutal and showed he could be a serious threat to Australia in the Ashes – providing he keeps his concentration.
On 92 and with a Lord’s century in sight, Stokes completely misjudged a straight ball from off-spinner Mark Craig. It felt similar to Glenn Maxwell’s famous leave in the Big Bash minus the zing bails and stunned facial expressions of commentators Adam Gilchrist and Damien Fleming.
Joe Root also couldn’t make it on the Lord’s honour board, falling on 98 to fast-bowler Matt Henry, who finished day one with three wickets.
England will resume day two on 7-354 after wicketkeeper Jos Butler was dismissed on the very last ball of play for 67.
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While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
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