England’s 115-run win over New Zealand at Lord’s moves them 1-0 up in the three-Test series, with Gus Atkinson’s brutal effectiveness and Ollie Robinson’s return to form standing out. Yet captain Ben Stokes’ demotion to No 7 produced a Test that felt anonymous
England didn’t just take a 1-0 lead in their three-Test series against New Zealand at Lord’s. They did it the hard way—by turning the ground into a weapon and keeping the tourists trapped there long enough for a 115-run win.
For England, it was their first Test since their 4-1 Ashes thrashing by Australia in the winter, and this one carried the kind of momentum you feel in the batting collapse that follows a bowler’s spell. It also marked the second-shortest Test in Lord’s history.
Gus Atkinson’s latest showcase said most of what England needed to hear. He took another five-wicket haul as New Zealand’s batters were swiftly chopped down on Sunday, continuing an exceptional record at this ground.
On the brink of their next two Tests—at The Kia Oval on June 17 and at Trent Bridge on June 25—England head out with their plans intact. The player ratings tell the story of who ran the match and who simply had to survive it.
Ben Duckett earned 6 for his handy scores of 19 and 33 on what was described as a bowler’s paradise. He and Gay built an opening stand of 52 on the second day to set the tone for England’s initiative.
Emilio Gay, rated 7.5, couldn’t do much about his first-morning dismissal, but his careful and classy second-innings 57 stood out as arguably the innings of the match.
Jacob Bethell—rated 3—never looked at ease in his first red-ball appearance since January. He was even unlucky to be caught out by a grubber as early as the fifth session.
Joe Root also found the day’s swing against him. Rated 3, he suffered a rare double failure: out to a loose nibble on the first day and then trapped LBW on the second.
Harry Brook scored 7.5 after hitting 10 of England’s 19 fours during a bold counter-attack on the first day. Twenty-four hours later, though, he got into a tangle against O’Rourke.
Jamie Smith received 6.5 for being bowled while offering no shot, but he made amends with a cleanly struck 39 in the second innings before being undone by low bounce. Kept well, especially standing up to Robinson.
Ben Stokes’ rating was 2.5, and the number carries a particular sting because of what England were asking of him. Demoted to No 7. he endured two failures and it was difficult to remember his captaincy looking so quiet across an entire Test. He did chip in with the big wicket of Conway on the fourth morning. but across the rest of the match. his Test felt anonymous.
That contrast only made the brilliance of England’s bowling feel sharper.
Gus Atkinson’s rating of 8 reflected how ruthlessly he dealt with New Zealand’s top order. He removed New Zealand captain Tom Latham cheaply twice and finished with match figures of seven for 39. At Lord’s, his Test record now stands at 26 wickets at 9.5.
Ollie Robinson—also rated 8—made his first over in Test cricket for more than two years a triple-wicket maiden. Even as his pace regularly dropped below 80mph, he never relented. His second-innings 29 helped push the game beyond New Zealand’s reach.
Josh Tongue scored 7.5 for becoming a nightmare for batsmen unsure whether to leave him outside off. He hit the stumps three times and won two LBW decisions.
Shoaib Bashir was rated 6. His off-breaks went unused, which was hard to blame him for. But the 14 runs he made on the first day mattered, contributing to a precious last-wicket stand of 22 in England’s first innings—the second-highest of that total.
New Zealand’s ratings were harsh in places, but the pattern was clear enough.
Tom Latham was rated 0. Devon Conway got 6. Kane Williamson scored 2.
Rachin Ravindra was rated 1, while Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell were both given 2.
Glenn Phillips earned 7, Nathan Smith 8, Kyle Jamieson 7, and Matt Henry 4.
Will O’Rourke’s rating was 7.
The match set up what England wanted: another Test where the conditions belonged to their bowlers. and where a captain’s underwhelming personal night couldn’t stop the team’s bigger picture from moving forward. The series now turns to what England can do with momentum at The Kia Oval and Trent Bridge. and whether they can keep New Zealand from ever settling into their rhythm again.
England vs New Zealand Lord's England player ratings Ben Stokes Gus Atkinson Ollie Robinson Josh Tongue Test cricket three-Test series 115-run win