Friday 22 May 2015 14:05, UK
England showed plenty of ‘style’ and ‘character’ as they fought back on the first day of the first test against New Zealand at Lord’s, says David Lloyd.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, England slipped to 30-4 but an 161-run partnership between vice-captain Joe Root and Ben Stokes helped steady the ship, before Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali helped propel the hosts to 354-7 at stumps.
And Bumble believes we saw the brand of cricket ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss wants England to play in their fight back, particularly through the younger players.
"You know that first session is going to be difficult with a new ball and a fresh pitch,” Lloyd told Sky Sports.
“You’ve got to bat clever and bat well in that first session and it becomes easier. That’s what we’ve seen. There was a golden opportunity for New Zealand to push it home but it’s been a thrilling day’s play.
England fought back with a lot of character and a lot of style and I think that’s important.
“England fought back with a lot of character and a lot of style and I think that’s important,” he added.
"We’ve had Andrew Strauss in. It’s a style and brand of cricket that they played. At 30-4 the kids come in and Joe Root has a big smile on his face. Then you’ve got that counter-attack which I thought was terrific from England.
“I’m going back to this brand of cricket that they want to play and for the public to fall back in love with the team. It’s there. These younger players have said: 'Come and have a look at us. We can play'.”
Meanwhile, former New Zealand wicket-keeper Ian Smith believes England took the spoils on the opening day of the series after posting 354-7 and thinks their recovery from 30-4 will spur them on when eventually get their chance to bowl at New Zealand.
He told Sky Sports: “I think this will lift the England side. I think it will lift their bowling performance and their fielding performance as well.
“To have two young guys in a spirited resistance and a positive one at that, I think the whole thing will lift them.
“That 354 is a very good score not just because of the fact they got it from 30-4. It would have been good had they got it in anyway having been sent in,” he added.
“I really think it is England’s day, even though they lost that wicket right at the end. I think New Zealand will feel pretty hollow after having them 30-4.”
