Saturday 30 May 2015 10:08, UK
England’s Test summer began in absorbing fashion as Alastair Cook’s side secured a stunning turnaround victory, beating New Zealand by 124 runs with just 9.3 overs left.
So what did we learn from five fascinating days at Lord’s?
Stokes fits at six
Inevitably comparisons will be drawn between Ben Stokes’ match-winning contribution and those of a certain Sky Sports commentator, but this new breed of Durham all-rounder is very much his own man. The memory of Stokes’ dark days with the bat in 2014 melted away with his momentum-changing 92 off 94 balls in the first innings, then was well and truly banished as he thumped the fastest ever hundred at Lord’s off 85 balls.
Luckless with the ball first-time around thanks to rare butter-fingers moments from Ian Bell, his dismissal of Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum with successive balls on the final day once again lit England’s spark. This guy is going places…
Cook’s still class
His 27th Test ton did more than elevate Alastair Cook to within 31 runs of England’s all-time Test run-scorer Graham Gooch – Cook’s own mentor, of course – it demonstrated that his mental strength and capability to score hard runs remains undiminished, whatever the circumstances.
Cook rated it as one of his best innings for England so who are we to disagree? His knowledge of where he could and couldn’t play in difficult conditions against Trent Boult and Tim Southee was a masterclass of self-control and discipline. Cook might well disagree, but if you can play this well after being overlooked for one-day international cricket, why resist?
Williamson’s a wonder
Ok – we knew this already other than the bit about playing in English conditions. As it turns out, the 24-year-old can cut it – in fact he can cut it, drive it and dab it down to third man all day long – so England might do well to remember to set the right field up in Headingley. From the way he manipulated England’s attack for his 262-ball 132 you’d never have guessed he’d only batted twice since the World Cup final – innings of 26no and five for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
But when your last Test knock was a career-best 234no (against Sri Lanka in Wellington in January) and you’ve a reputation to protect as one of the leading young lights of the game, keeping up with the likes of Steve Smith and Joe Root, runs must come naturally.
Trust in talent
England sent out all the right messages from the start – picking Adam Lyth and Mark Wood, who should have got a decent go on England’s tour of the West Indies. Lyth, like many debutant openers before him, was on a hiding to nothing on the first morning and got a cracker of a delivery from Trent Boult. He followed up his seven with 12 in the second innings, nicking a ball he should have left, but don’t back against him scoring big on his home ground this week.
Effervescent Wood, (once he felt the pain of losing a wicket to a no-ball), was a menace – utilising that rarest of qualities, genuine pace, to great effect. His abbreviated run-up and dynamic action may foster long-term fears for his fitness, but for now he looks guaranteed to ruffle feathers.
Bring on Bayliss
Or give Paul Farbrace the job full-time! The caretaker coach, ever self-deprecating, said he tried to do nothing different during England’s Test since the departure of Peter Moores and look how that turned out! But with new Director of Cricket Andrew Strauss interviewing in the background, his tenure appears to be short-lived with Bayliss – an old-fashioned cricket coach, who likes to get stuck in at practice - now the favourite to step in.
He’s had a lot of experience around the world so quite why he wasn’t the favourite early doors is a bit of a mystery (or perhaps why he didn’t get the job last time), but if he does take up the role let’s hope Farbrace remains involved.
Watch the second Test between England and New Zealand live on Sky Sports 2 from 10.30am on Friday.
