ENG vs NZ, 1st Test Live: England eye first innings lead after Robinson's dream return

Everything about the conditions at Lord's screamed opportunity for fast bowlers. Heavy cloud cover, rain interruptions, floodlights during the afternoon and a surface offering movement combined to create a difficult environment for batters. The evidence was visible in the scorecard. England were bowled out for 140, while New Zealand ended the day at 61-6. Not a single over of spin was required by either side. Seam bowlers dominated every session. The weather played a significant role throughout the day.

A two-hour rain delay around lunch and another stoppage because of bad light around tea repeatedly interrupted play. Floodlights were switched on at 2:30 p.m. and remained on for the rest of the day. Even then, poor light eventually forced an early finish. For batters, survival became the priority rather than scoring runs. Every delivery carried a threat. The opening day demonstrated how dramatically conditions can influence a Test match. Day 2 may offer a similar challenge, meaning both teams will need patience and discipline if they hope to build meaningful innings.

Before Ollie Robinson stole the spotlight, the day belonged to Kyle Jamieson. The towering New Zealand fast bowler produced a reminder of why he has been such an important figure in Test cricket when fully fit. Playing his first Test since February 2024, Jamieson claimed 5-62 and led the destruction of England's batting lineup. The 2.07-metre pacer generated bounce and movement throughout the day, constantly troubling England's batters. His wickets came at key moments and prevented England from building any substantial partnerships.

Particularly impressive was the way he returned after a lengthy injury absence and immediately looked comfortable at the highest level. Jamieson's five-wicket haul was his first in Test cricket since helping New Zealand win the inaugural World Test Championship final against India in 2021. His performance was a major positive for the visitors and showed why they value him so highly. Although New Zealand ended the day under pressure at 61-6, Jamieson's contribution ensured they remained firmly in the contest. If New Zealand can add some runs on Day 2, his bowling spell could still prove decisive in the outcome of the match.

The opening day at Lord's was one of those rare Test match days where neither batting lineup could find any rhythm. England were bowled out for 140 in just 39.4 overs after being ripped apart by New Zealand's pace attack. At that stage, the visitors looked firmly in control and appeared ready to take a substantial first-innings lead. However, cricket can change quickly. England's bowlers produced an equally destructive response, reducing New Zealand to 61-6 by the close.

The result was a day dominated entirely by fast bowling. There was not a single over of spin bowled throughout the day. Conditions heavily favoured seam movement, with overcast skies, rain interruptions and floodlights switched on during the afternoon. England supporters had little to cheer when their side collapsed, but the mood changed dramatically when Ollie Robinson began his spell. New Zealand's experienced top order simply had no answers. As a result, the match remains delicately balanced despite England's disappointing total. The visitors still have a chance to move ahead through Glenn Phillips and the lower order, but England will believe they have an opportunity to seize control early on Day 2.

Few players could have imagined a better return to Test cricket than the one Ollie Robinson produced on the opening day at Lord's. Playing his first Test since February 2024, Robinson tore through New Zealand's top order and left the visitors struggling at 61-6 by stumps on Day 1.

The fast bowler needed only one over to change the mood of the match completely. He dismissed Devon Conway, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra in the same over, sending the Lord's crowd into celebration after a difficult day watching England get bowled out for just 140. Robinson finished the day with remarkable figures of 4-10 from six overs.

The conditions certainly helped the seamers, with heavy cloud cover and movement off the pitch, but Robinson still had to make the most of those conditions. His performance was also emotional because it marked a successful comeback after a long absence from Test cricket. Reflecting on the moment, Robinson said: “Feels a bit surreal, I couldn't have dreamt being back. It was so loud. I was in a bit of a daze and just trying to focus. The crowd were amazing, it's one of the loudest I've heard them here." England will hope he can continue the same form on Day 2 and help secure a first-innings lead.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length, around off, Glenn Phillips blocks this out.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Hard length, on top of off, Glenn Phillips punches this to covers.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, Nice and full, on off, Smith leans into the drive and plays it past cover. It is played up the hill, and it slows down in the outfield. Two runs taken.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, Stays full and in line with the off stump. Nathan is solid in defence.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, On the fuller side, moving back in off the deck. Smith opts to leave without covering the off stump. Hands on head for Tongue as the ball was not that far away from the off stump.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, Lands it on a back of a length, outside off. Smith offers no shot.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, Dug in short, over middle. Nathan Smith swivels for the pull but eventually bails out.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, Full and at the sticks. Smith stays back and clips it to the right of mid-wicket for a couple of runs. New Zealand trail by 81 runs.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Fuller and moving away, too wide to make the batter play. Glenn lets it pass.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Easy pickings! Stokes goes wide on the crease and tries to angle it back, but he errs in his line. This is too straight, on the pads, Phillips glances it down to deep fine leg for a boundary.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Stokes pushes the length up, on off. Phillips swings through the line to force it down the ground but mistimes it to mid on.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Doing too much? Looks like it. Jagging back in, on a good length, on middle and leg. Phillips plays all around it and the ball catches him on the front pad. That seemed to be going down leg.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, In the channel, bowled on a good length. Glenn makes the leave.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Bowled by going wide on the crease, full and on the off stump. Phillips pushes out in front with hard hands. Gets it off the outer half behind point for a couple of runs.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Slanting in on middle, on a nagging length. This stands up a bit on Phillips, who manages to fend it down in front of cover and pinches a quick single.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, And again! Tongue pulls the length back a bit, outside the off stump. Glenn pushes at the ball away from his body and is beaten on the outside edge.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, A play and a miss! Fuller in length, outside off. Phillips' feet go nowhere, and he goes for the big booming drive. He is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Oh, that took off. Tongue hits the deck hard, on off. Phillips stays back to tap it down on the off side. The ball rears up to catch the outer half and it dribbles to point.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, Honing in on the off pole. Nathan drops it with soft hands in front of point and they cross over for a single. The 50 comes up for New Zealand. The deficit is now 90 runs.

Josh Tongue to Nathan Smith, At the sticks, on a nagging length. Smith hops back and defends it with a straight bat.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Pitched up now, on off. Glenn blocks it off.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Good shot. Stokes keeps it on a back of a length, on off. Glenn Phillips lets the ball come to him and gets on top of the bounce. He punches it through covers and the ball goes down the hill. Shoaib Bashir gives it a chase and tries to flick the ball away from the fence, but the ball drops beyond the ropes after deflecting off his body.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Not all that short, on middle and leg. Phillips swivels and swings across for the pull. The ball sneaks under his bat and catches him on the thigh. Half a shout for LBW but that was high.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Nicely done. A bit too full by Stokes, on middle and leg. Glenn Phillips brings his bat out in front and firms the drive down the ground. The sub fielder, Sonny Baker goes after it from mid on but his chase is in vain.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Just outside the off pole, on a nagging length. Glenn Phillips dabs it to backward point.

Ben Stokes to Nathan Smith, Angled in at the pads, on a good length. Smith clips it through backward square leg and crosses over. New Zealand trail by 99 runs.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Full and on middle and off, Glenn Phillips blocks it out.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Hard length, on middle and off, Glenn Phillips almost gets squared up and the ball squirts off an outside edge towards backward point.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Put away. Short and wide outside the off stump, Glenn Phillips gets up on his toes and punches this off his back foot through the point region for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Around that nagging length from Josh, outside off, shaping away from the batter. Glenn Phillips leaves it.

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Short-pitched delivery, around leg. Glenn Phillips gets inside the line and pulls this past the left of Shoaib Bashir at deep backward square leg for a boundary. 

Josh Tongue to Glenn Phillips, Full and on the pads, Glenn Phillips flicks this to short mid-wicket for no run.

Ben Stokes to Nathan Smith, Short and around off, shaping away a hint after pitching. Nathan Smith plays inside the line of it and gets beaten.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length, around off, the ball keeps climbing on the batter. Glenn Phillips gets taken aback by the extra bit of bounce but pushes this in the gap at covers for one.

Ben Stokes to Glenn Phillips, At the stumps, on the fuller side. Glenn Phillips pushes it to mid on.