England captain Joe Root defended his aspect’s strategy by saying the “series is very much alive” after they laboured to a draw within the first Test towards New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday. New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson’s enterprising declaration at 169-6 throughout lunch on the final day left England with a goal of 273 in 75 overs.
But England, within the face of some disciplined bowling and with an inexperienced middle-order, made a cautious begin to their chase on a difficult pitch in a match the place the entire of Friday’s third day was washed out.
England, who haven’t misplaced a house red-ball sequence since 2014, had been 170-3 in 70 overs when a draw was agreed to depart this two-match contest all sq. forward of subsequent week’s second Test at Edgbaston. It additionally meant England ended a run of three straight defeats following a 3-1 sequence loss in India this yr.
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“We didn’t attempt to win it towards the back end of it,” Root informed the BBC. “We felt that, in the grand scheme of things, winning the series was (more important than) potentially giving them a 1-0 lead going into the second Test. The series is very much alive.”
‘Incredible Conway’
New Zealand opener Devon Conway was named man-of-the-match after marking his Test debut with a exceptional 200 within the vacationers’ first-innings 378.
“He has come into the side and shown his class — a debut Test at ‘the home of cricket’ and he just looked so comfortable,” stated Williamson of Conway. “To score a double century is an incredible feat.”
Williamson additionally praised Tim Southee for the veteran seamer’s 6-43 in England’s modest first-innings 275.
“Tim led the attack beautifully and the other guys complemented him,” he stated.
Root, in at 56-2 on Sunday, tried to up the tempo in a match that marked the return of spectators to worldwide cricket in England following final yr’s Covid-19 restrictions.
But the star batsman was lbw for 40 to left-arm paceman Neil Wagner (2-27).
Earlier, opener Rory Burns, who made 132 in England’s first innings, fell for 25 when he edged Wagner low to second slip.
And 49-1 quickly grew to become 56-2 when Southee had Zak Crawley out for his second two of the match through a sliced drive to gully.
New Zealand, of their first match at Lord’s since an agonising Super Over defeat by England within the 2019 World Cup remaining, had been lacking left-arm fast Trent Boult, who solely arrived within the UK on Friday after a interval of household depart.
England, nevertheless, had been with out 4 batsmen well-suited to a run chase in injured all-rounder Ben Stokes, with Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes all rested following quarantine after their stints within the Indian Premier League.
New Zealand, who face India within the inaugural World Test Championship remaining at Southampton later this month, resumed on Sunday on 62-2 earlier than Ross Taylor made a brisk 33 that includes two sixes.
England debutant paceman Ollie Robinson took 3-26.
That adopted his 4-75 within the first innings and the 42 he made with the bat first time round.
But a formidable on-field show was overshadowed by the republication of racist tweets he posted as a young person, with the Sussex fast set to face disciplinary motion.
“Ollie has made a huge mistake,” stated Root. “He’s very remorseful. He’s fronted up to the dressing room and the rest of the world.
“We want to make the game as diverse and inclusive as we possibly can and we’ll keep looking at ways to make that possible.”
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