England struggling in first Test as New Zealand pick apart shaky batting lineup

England’s new chapter got off to a deflating start as New Zealand picked apart their vulnerable batting lineup on day one of the first Rothesay Test at Lord’s. Head coach Brendon McCullum has flooded the airwaves with his vision for reinvigorating a team that was drubbed 4-1 in Australia, but five months on they appeared to be suffering from an extended Ashes hangover. At tea they had faltered to 118 for eight, with Harry Brook’s dicey half-century their only real resistance against a highly skilled Kiwi attack. Debutant Emilio Gay, plucked from county cricket as Zak Crawley’s replacement after a glut of runs for Durham, received his cap from fellow Bedford School alumnus Sir Alastair Cook before play and was thrust straight into the action after New Zealand won the toss under gloomy skies.

Things started well as he punched his first ball in international cricket through point for four, then doubled his score with a crisp on-drive. But his big day turned sour when he nicked 6ft 8in seamer Kyle Jamieson to first slip, nudging forward to away swinger to depart for eight. As forecast, rain arrived soon after, stalling the scoreboard on 24 for one after 10 overs. It took two hours, and an early lunch, before the skies cleared and when they did New Zealand seized the initiative.

In the first five overs after the restart they took three wickets for 10 runs, brushing aside Matt Henry’s absence with back pain. Ben Duckett, who left the ball with unusual regularity for a player known as one of the busiest openers in the game, was pinned lbw by Nathan Smith for 19. The left-hander was making a conspicuous attempt to bat with greater care and attention than he had during a damaging Ashes campaign but still came up short. Jacob Bethell’s experience Down Under was more positive following his brilliant 154 in Sydney but, having spent most of the last two months at the Indian Premier League, that was also his last red-ball innings.

His return lasted just 22 balls, trapped lbw by the slippery Will O’Rourke, who quickly added the prize wicket of Joe Root. Root managed just a single before feathering a lifter behind. By the time Jamie Smith fluffed his promotion to number six, offering no shot as Jamieson dragged one back up the slope and flattened off stump, England were in trouble at 55 for five. Brook batted with his usual intent, racking up 10 boundaries in a frenetic knock.

He was put down by Devon Conway at backward point on eight and again on 45 by Rachin Ravindra, who grassed a regulation take at deep midwicket, but saw his luck run dry when he flicked Smith wildly to fine leg. Jamieson grabbed two more to claim four for 50 on his first Test outing since February 2024, Ben Stokes brilliantly caught by Kane Williamson for 12 to cap a miserable 35th birthday and Gus Atkinson plumb lbw.