{"id":177866,"date":"2026-06-07T09:28:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T14:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=177866"},"modified":"2026-06-07T09:28:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T14:58:56","slug":"stokes-bats-for-better-pitches-after-englands-four-day-win-over-new-zealand-at-lords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=177866","title":{"rendered":"Stokes bats for better pitches after England\u2019s four-day win over New Zealand at Lord\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"content-body-71073519\">England captain Ben Stokes warned Sunday that test cricket, a format under massive threat from the Twenty20 game, needs better pitches than the one served up at Lord\u2019s for his team\u2019s 115-run win over New Zealand in the first match of the series.<\/p>\n<p>The test at the home of cricket lasted just 166 completed overs \u2014 making it the second shortest ever in the 150 to be staged at Lord\u2019s \u2014 and with just 617 runs scored by the two teams combined.<\/p>\n<p>On an untrustworthy and nightmarish pitch for batters, there was a wicket every 25 balls \u2014 which, according to the        <i>BBC<\/i>, is the lowest in England since 1907.<\/p>\n<p>Some 24 of the 40 dismissed batters were out either bowled (13) or lbw (11), the most in a test in England.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking as a winning captain, Stokes \u2014 one of the biggest proponents of test cricket \u2014 said this match wasn\u2019t a good look for a longer format that many believe is dying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI get asked a lot about the future of test cricket, I get asked a lot about what we need to do to keep it growing, what we need to do to keep it such a strong format in the future,\u201d Stokes said post-match in a long answer that ended with something of a warning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs someone who loves test cricket, my one thing to say is \u2014 is this something that will benefit test cricket going forward? I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The match might have reached Day 4, but only because almost the whole of the third day\u2019s play was washed out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you got tickets on Day 1, you would have absolutely had a great time \u2014 wickets going everywhere, balls flying off everywhere, because that\u2019s how the batsmen decided it was the best way to score runs,\u201d Stokes said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut the other side of it &#8230; if there wasn\u2019t any rain, the game\u2019s going to end early. Is that what we want to end up doing? You sort of want to find somewhere in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stokes, however, praised his team for adapting to a pitch that had batters laughing as they were walking back to the dressing room after dismissals, such was their bemusement at the ball movement and uncertainty of their own footwork.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Stokes was seen shaking his head in disbelief after he was removed for a three-ball duck in the second innings by a delivery from Nathan Smith that straightened as it angled in and hit the top of off-stump.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t take anything away from the way that we had to operate this week,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve come here. We played a game and a brand of cricket that allowed us to be successful in these conditions.<\/p>\n<p><b>ALSO READ:<\/b><b><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/india-vs-afghanistan-test-day-2-report-suthar-three-wickets-debut-massive-total-news\/article71072994.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IND vs AFG Test: Suthar strikes thrice on debut after India piles on the runs<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe might turn up next week, and it\u2019ll be completely different, and then we have to do something there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a message supported by New Zealand captain Tom Latham ahead of the second test at The Oval starting June 17.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s important we don\u2019t delve too much into this game,\u201d Latham said. \u201cWe understand we\u2019ll go to The Oval and conditions will be a lot better than they have been here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"publish-time\" id=\"end-of-article\">Published on Jun 07, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/england-new-zealand-first-test-lords-eng-vs-nz-ben-stokes-2026-pitches\/article71073519.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>England captain Ben Stokes warned Sunday that test cricket, a format under massive threat from the Twenty20 game, needs better pitches than the one served up at Lord\u2019s for his team\u2019s 115-run win over New Zealand in the first match of the series. The test at the home of cricket lasted just 166 completed overs &#8230; <a title=\"Stokes bats for better pitches after England\u2019s four-day win over New Zealand at Lord\u2019s\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=177866\" aria-label=\"Read more about Stokes bats for better pitches after England\u2019s four-day win over New Zealand at Lord\u2019s\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":177867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-177866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T123011Z_1510545216_UP1EM670YQ9FB_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":177881,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=177881","url_meta":{"origin":177866,"position":0},"title":"MCC apologises for subpar Lord\u2019s pitch in 1st England vs New Zealand Test","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) had admitted the pitch for the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord\u2019s was not satisfactory in a statement released on Sunday. England emphatically beat the Black Caps in a 115-run win shorly before lunch on the fourth day. The Test also experienced\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1218224057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1218224057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1218224057.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1218224057.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1218224057.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":176286,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=176286","url_meta":{"origin":177866,"position":1},"title":"Stokes backs Archer amid criticism over IPL commitments and absence from first Test against New Zealand","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England captain Ben Stokes said the \u201clandscape of cricket\u201d has changed as he defended Jofra Archer\u2019s absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord\u2019s because of the fast bowler\u2019s IPL commitments. Archer was part of the Rajasthan Royals side that lost to Gujarat Titans in the IPL qualifier\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":176191,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=176191","url_meta":{"origin":177866,"position":2},"title":"England aims to erase Ashes scars against New Zealand","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England will have a chance to prove it has learned from its Ashes drubbing when it faces New Zealand in the first Test of its home season at Lord\u2019s on Thursday. The English were swept aside 4-1 in Australia in a series that ended in January, sparking renewed criticism of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_A7QJ8CQ.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_A7QJ8CQ.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_A7QJ8CQ.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_A7QJ8CQ.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_A7QJ8CQ.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":176668,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=176668","url_meta":{"origin":177866,"position":3},"title":"England vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1 LIVE Score: Gay, Duckett open; Kiwis opt to bowl","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome to Sportstar\u2019s live coverage of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord\u2019s in London.PLAYING XINew Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (w), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, William ORourke England: Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jacob\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TH28-INSTA-DUCKGEOFC3CE0.3.jpg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TH28-INSTA-DUCKGEOFC3CE0.3.jpg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TH28-INSTA-DUCKGEOFC3CE0.3.jpg.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TH28-INSTA-DUCKGEOFC3CE0.3.jpg.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TH28-INSTA-DUCKGEOFC3CE0.3.jpg.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":174256,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=174256","url_meta":{"origin":177866,"position":4},"title":"IRE vs NZ, one off Test: Tickner strikes as New Zealand thrashes Ireland ahead of England series","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"May 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Blair Tickner took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket as New Zealand hammered Ireland by an innings and 79 runs in a one-off match in Belfast on Friday. The comprehensive victory saw New Zealand win with more than a day to spare in a match that was only scheduled\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ireland_New_Zealand_Test_Cricket_28479.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ireland_New_Zealand_Test_Cricket_28479.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ireland_New_Zealand_Test_Cricket_28479.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ireland_New_Zealand_Test_Cricket_28479.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ireland_New_Zealand_Test_Cricket_28479.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":176954,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=176954","url_meta":{"origin":177866,"position":5},"title":"ENG vs NZ, 1st Test: Robinson rocks New Zealand on return after England collapse","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Ollie Robinson marked his first Test for more than two years with four wickets, including three in a sensational opening over, as New Zealand suffered a stunning collapse to 29 for six on the opening day of the first Test at Lord\u2019s on Thursday. England had been dismissed for just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP06_04_2026_000502B.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP06_04_2026_000502B.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP06_04_2026_000502B.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP06_04_2026_000502B.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP06_04_2026_000502B.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgnRh4-KgO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=177866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177866\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/177867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=177866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=177866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=177866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}