Cricket: England in dominant position

New Zealand's Matt Henry celebrates after dismissing England's Joe Root. Photo Action Images via...
New Zealand's Matt Henry celebrates after dismissing England's Joe Root. Photo Action Images via Reuters
New Zealand seized the initial advantage but England are in the dominant position after the opening day of the first test at Lord's.

England recovered from the jitters at 30 for four to take the middle session, scoring 106 runs for the loss of one wicket and move to 219 for five. The hosts then capitalised in the final session to complete the resurrection at 354 for seven.

New Zealand lost B-J Watling to a bruised knee for the final two sessions. It's hoped RICE treatment will allow him to play the rest of the match. Tom Latham took the gloves in his absence.

The 'Bring Back KP' barometer was threatening to go off the scale in the first hour but settled for a low, rumbling equilibrium by stumps.

A 161-run fifth-wicket partnership between Ben Stokes and Joe Root was the main panacea, which gave England parity at tea.

The pair played an array of controlled strokes, particularly through the legside, as they came to grips with the pace of the pitch and the visitors' frenetic start.

Stokes wicket was valuable. The New Zealand-born all-rounder fell eight runs short of a place on the ground's famed dressing room honours board.

Spinner Mark Craig looked a dangerous prospect after four overs. He troubled Root from the start, including a close lbw shout, and was getting turn and bounce. With the start of his fifth over, he used the slope towards the Pavilion End and got the ball to slide straight on. Stokes shouldered arms, playing for the spin, and had his castle dented.

The all-rounder had demonstrated the capacity to punish, making 25 runs from two consecutive overs to go to 89.

Root (98) benefited from playing late with soft hands, an example his top order teammates will have noted. He lost his wicket feathering an edge behind off Henry as he approached a third test century at the ground.

Jos Buttler (67) and Moeen Ali (49 not out) sustained the momentum with a 103-run stand to finish the day. Both reveled in the spring sunshine on a flattening pitch with plenty to prove in their test careers.

Earlier, Matt Henry became New Zealand test cricketer No.266 and proved his worth by removing Alastair Cook and Ian Bell in his opening spell.

Matt Henry celebrates the wicket of England's captain Alastair Cook. Photo / AP

Henry had trained in the Indian Premier League under the eye of New Zealand test captain Brendon McCullum at the Chennai Super Kings. He made the transition to the test game look effortless with the rhythm mustered taking two for 19 in five overs from the Nursery End. He finished with three for 93 from 24 overs.

As it happened: Re-live day one

Cook, Henry's maiden test wicket, tried hooking a ball towards Edgware Rd on 16. He was constricted down the legside and Watling took the catch. It wasn't an ideal delivery but Cook endeavoured to establish some respite after a demanding opening 10 overs following his side's insertion by McCullum on a Kermit-green wicket.

Henry's best delivery came with a ball deviating slightly off the wicket to take the top of Ian Bell's off stump. The sea of bacon and egg ties in the pavilion watched wicket-to-wicket as he announced himself as a competitor to be respected on cricket's ultimate stage.

Tim Southee and Trent Boult also played important roles establishing early dominance, but struggled to maintain their impact over the day. Each worked with the Lord's slope to earn their respective wickets. Importantly, knowing his three pace bowlers were coming from the IPL, McCullum never bowled them in spells of more than five overs.

Southee dismissed debutant Adam Lyth for one with a vintage delivery which drew the opener into a defensive stroke before the ball angled away. Lyth paused to see whether he should query but Cook wisely advised him to keep walking. A Hotspot edge wouldn't have helped the home cause.

Southee was in the action again at third slip catching Gary Ballance for one. Boult angled away to the left-hander from the Pavilion End and his bat took a nibble.

McCullum's decision to field in the 100th test against England was warranted. It was a fine spring day to start but cloud cover built as they hoped to generate movement with the receptive Duke ball.

New Zealand are seeking their second win in 17 attempts at the St John's Wood ground.

 

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