Gus Atkinson’s Five-For Seals England Victory Over New Zealand In First Test

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England needed less than three hours on the morning of Day 4 against New Zealand to kick-start their summer, following a disastrous winter Down Under.

In their first Test since a 4-1 defeat in Australia, England took advantage of the challenging batting conditions on a heavily criticised Lord’s pitch.

They beat the All Blacks by 115 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-test-series. The visitors started Day 4 needing to chase down another 199 runs after ending Day 3 on a score of 55-5.

Fortunately for Ben Stokes and his England side, the captain selected the ‘Lord of Lord’s’ Gus Atkinson. Atkinson took 5-30, bowling New Zealand out for 138 in the second innings.

After Saturday was almost entirely lost to rain and patrons receiving refunds, Josh Tongue needed only two deliveries to take his first wicket of the day, getting one to skid into the pads of Tom Blundell with the New Zealander given out after an LBW decision.

The hope is that the surface for the second Test at The Oval, starting on 17 June, offers a more even contest for batters and bowlers. That said, Atkinson, Robinson and Tongue are unlikely to be moaning if they find similar conditions across the capital.

With the ball moving up and down, and side to side, Glenn Phillips began an overdue New Zealand counter-attack.

Phillips and Devon Conway added 53 for the seventh wicket, helped by Harry Brook, who scored the second largest score in the match behind debutant Emilio Gay, dropping Conway at second slip.

But after England captain Stokes induced a miscue from Conway, the end came quickly.

Nathan Smith edged behind, Kyle Jamieson clipped to mid-wicket and last man Matt Henry was bowled, all by Atkinson, giving the Surrey man yet another place on the Lord’s honours board alongside Tongue.

The rapid, seam-dominated nature of this match followed a recent trend of matches involving England. Two of the Ashes Tests were done in two days, while this was the first Test in this country without a single delivery of spin bowled by either team since 1988.

The hope is that the surface for the second Test at The Oval, starting on 17 June, offers a more even contest for batters and bowlers. That said, Atkinson, Robinson and Tongue are unlikely to be moaning if they find similar conditions across the capital.