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Sunday, June 7, 2026

England first Test ratings: Who was ‘anonymous’ despite victory?

England took a 1-0 lead in their three-Test series against New Zealand as they won by 115 runs at Lord’s.

In their first Test since their 4-1 Ashes thrashing by Australia in the winter, England recorded the second-shortest in Lord’s history.

Gus Atkinson took another five-wicket haul as New Zealand’s batters were swiftly chopped down on Sunday, continuing an exceptional record at this ground.

It stands England in good stead as they prepare for encounters at The Kia Oval (June 17) and Trent Bridge (June 25). Lawrence Booth brings you our player ratings from across the Test.  

England beat New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test of their three-part series

England beat New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test of their three-part series 

England

Ben Duckett 6 

Handy scores of 19 and 33 on a bowler’s paradise, and took the initiative on the second day during an opening stand of 52 with Gay.

Emilio Gay 7.5 

Could do little about his first-morning dismissal, but his careful and classy second-innings 57 was arguably the innings of the match.

Jacob Bethell 3 

Never looked at ease in his first red-ball appearance since January, even if he was unlucky to receive a grubber as early as the fifth session of the game.

Joe Root 3 

A rare double failure for England’s leading run-scorer. Out to a loose nibble on the first day, he couldn’t do much about his lbw dismissal on the second.

Joe Root suffered a double failure on consecutive days and only scores a 3 from Booth

Joe Root suffered a double failure on consecutive days and only scores a 3 from Booth

Harry Brook 7.5 

Hit 10 of England’s 19 fours during a bold counter-attack on the first day, before getting into a tangle against O’Rourke 24 hours later.

Jamie Smith 6.5 

Not alone in being bowled offering no shot, but 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 2.5 

It’s hard to remember England’s captain enduring a more anonymous Test. His demotion to No 7 produced two failures, though he did chip in with the big wicket of Conway on the fourth morning.

Ben Stokes was aonymous throughout this Test and his demotion to No 7 produced two failures

Ben Stokes was aonymous throughout this Test and his demotion to No 7 produced two failures

Gut Atkinson's Test record at Lord's now stands at 26 wickets at 9.5

Gut Atkinson’s Test record at Lord’s now stands at 26 wickets at 9.5 

Gus Atkinson 8 

Removed New Zealand captain Tom Latham cheaply twice, and finished with match figures of seven for 39. His Test record at Lord’s is now 26 wickets at 9.5.

Ollie Robinson 8 

His first over in Test cricket for more than two years was a triple-wicket maiden, and he never relented, even if his pace regularly dropped below 80mph. His second-innings 29 helped extend the game beyond New Zealand’s reach.

Josh Tongue 7.5 

A nightmare for batsmen unsure whether to leave him outside off: he hit the stumps three times and won two lbw decisions.

Shoaib Bashir 6 

His off-breaks went unused, which can hardly be held against him. But the 14 runs he made on the first day contributed to a precious last-wicket stand of 22, the second-highest of England’s first innings.

Ollie Robinson was relentless - his first over in Test cricket for more than two years was a triple-wicket maiden

Ollie Robinson was relentless – his first over in Test cricket for more than two years was a triple-wicket maiden

New Zealand

Tom Latham 0

Devon Conway 6

Kane Williamson 2

Rachin Ravindra 1

Daryl Mitchell 2

Tom Blundell 2

Glenn Phillips 7

Nathan Smith 8

Kyle Jamieson 7

Matt Henry 4

Will O’Rourke 7

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