ENG VS NZ - 1st Test, New Zealand tour of England, 2022

"A full refund for 15 overs or less because of weather conditions or completion of the Match for first four days of this Test" - One of the clauses regarding refund policy of the historic Lord's venue couldn't have found a better timing with Joe Root scripting history for England. Well, if you have been there at Lord's, you got your refund's worth. Has been one heck of a ride this. The ebbs and flows of this wonderful game continues to amaze us. Until Trent Bridge this Friday (second Test), it's a goodbye from all of us (Ramakrishnan MS, Raju Peethala, Siva and Vinod) down here. Cheers!!

An embarrassing Ashes (0-4) defeat. Leaving out England's best Test bowling combo for the Caribbean tour and losing the series 1-0. Only one win in last 17 Tests as captain. Covid (bio-bubble) crisis. Stepping down from captaincy despite recording most Test wins for his National side. Well, at least you get a few minutes/seconds of respite between wrestling newer opponents in a Royal Rumble special, but as the cliche goes - when it rains, it pours. Joe Root, in the last couple of years, not only had the pressure of captaincy, but had to tinker with his batting position to accommodate certain players and combinations in the side. And for all that sacrifice, pain and torture of constant gruel from the press - Root rumbles with one of his finest innings in Test match cricket. "I am very passionate about taking this team forward," the former skipper said weeks before giving up captaincy and he truly walked the walk in this game by becoming only the third player (Gordon Greenidge and Nasser Hussain, the other two) to score a 4th innings ton at Lord's.

Where did it go wrong for the visitors? Heading into day 3, England had everything stacked against them with New Zealand's lead swelling past 220 and a near 200-run game-changing partnership between Mitchell and Blundell. A bit of a delayed start due to rain and with a new dukes ball - England sensed blood, and picked up a team hat-trick destructing all of New Zealand's dogged fightback in a matter of minutes. 6/34 - blink and you miss kinda implosion. Ah, the ebbs and flows of Test cricket. It must, however, be said that Colin de Grandhomme had a key role in tilting of the momentum. Firstly, he had a brain-fade moment with the bat and then cleaned up Stokes for 1, only to be adjudged a front-foot no ball later. An hour later, he injured his ankle aggravating matters for his side, denying Williamson a much-needed control between spells of his premier bowlers. A hard outfield and lots of long spells meant some tired legs at the end of yesterday, and that allowed Root to take maximum advantage, steering the ship with a busy approach and timely boundaries. While skipper Stokes injected life into the run-chase, the former skipper Root got the job done with a bit of help from the ever-impressive Foakes who played the perfect second fiddle, knocking off almost 150 runs in the last 30 overs.

Joe Root | Player of the Match: Feels fantastic, winning a Test match after a long team is a great experience. I have really enjoyed it and looking forward to the rest of the summer. I always feel that we get great support and appreciate whether home or away and it is nice to see them (crowd). Ben has won many Tests for us when I was captain, it's a great chance for me to give it back to him. so I just want to keep batting as long as I can, win as many games for my side. As long as I have got the energy and drive to do it, i will do it. I could not have wished for a better person to be leading this team (Stokes). I am gonna be backing and do everything I can to help him become successful.

Ben Stokes | England captain: Amazing, great Test match always seems to be with England v New Zealand, especially at Lord's. Summer is always special, regardless of captaincy, always a special feeling to start with a win. I really enjoyed the first week working with him (Baz McCullum). We obviously got to a great start and pleased with how everyone operated the last week. The game ebbed and flowed and no-one really ever had the upper hand at any stage, to chase down 279 on this wicket is fantastic. To score 10000 runs and a century in the fourth innings, what a player and what a man. He (Potts) took a wicket almost every time he came on, he's got amazing attitude about the game and it is very exciting to see such a good start. Hopefully it will continue. We know it's not gonna happen overnight, it will take time but its about those little things. The way Lees and Bairstow played, even for a brief period, that's the kind of attitude we want. Broad and Anderson were really good, inspiring us to do many great things.

Kane Williamson | New Zealand captain: We saw how difficult batting was when the ball was hard. Both teams fought hard. We hoped for some assistance from the overheads when we came today but it wasn't to be. It is about moving on quickly and taking the learnings - whether it is quality from the opposition quality, whether it is our own. We thought we could take the game a bit longer. But it was a fantastic game, finely balanced. Amazing player, Joe took them over the line. Absolutely (we respect him a lot in New Zealand). Truly unbelievable achievement (10000 Test runs). Recognizing the quality of the player for such a long period of time, world class player. Everybody wants to be contributing more. Definitely top order runs would help, but we saw the assistance with the harder ball and how tough it was for top order, so it's those fine margins.

12:07 Local Time, 11:07 GMT, 16:37 IST: The New Zealand players congratulate Root and Foakes. Kane has some congratulatory words for Joe! The England team balcony as all smiles. Baz McCullum gets his team off to a win in his first game as England coach. An emotional Root leads the players off the field. He was under a lot of pressure with the way the England Test team was performing over the last year or so. Change in management and leadership, but Root did not let any of that disturb his focus. After a collapse in the first innings and four quick wickets in the second, everyone thought nothing has changed for England, but Root stayed calm on end, played some lovely shots for four and more important ran brilliantly between the wickets and did not let the bowlers bowl to one particular batter. The intent was so evident today. They ran twos after twos and alongside a solid Foakes, the duo did not open the gate for their opponents. New Zealand were down and out, but they bounced back in style. England were put on the back foot earl but they roared to a win. What a game!

Southee to Root, FOUR, short delivery, pulleddd away, in the gap at mid-wicket and England win this outstanding Test match! Root jumps, pumps his fists and roars as the crowd go Rooooot! Ben Stokes, the full-time captain is off the mark in style.

Southee to Root, no run, walks forward and tries to punch this short of length delivery for four, but point dives to his right and stops the ball

Southee to Root, no run, short of length delivery outside off stump, Root tries to dab but this keeps low and takes the under edge, luckily it bounces to the keeper

Southee to Root, FOUR, he wants to get this done quickly. Full and in the slot, Root leans forward and off-drives, sweetly timed and it's running away for four. Just two more now!

Southee to Root, FOUR, and he finally does send that dab between slip and gully. He frustrates the bowlers by playing this shot late and if it's in the gap and running away for four, nothing like it! Controlled this so well

Drinks! Perfect morning for England. First the weather has held on, then they have come with intent and scored 50 runs in the first hour. Foakes upped his game from yesterday and Root ran so well between the wickets to keep ticking. Two more overs for the new ball. Can they finish it off before?

Boult to Root, 1 run, low full toss, Root slices it past backward point and just 10 needed now

Boult to Root, no run, very full delivery, Root drives but Boult gets a hand on it

Boult to Root, no run, defended

Boult to Root, no run, fullish delivery, Root covers the line and keeps it out

Boult to Foakes, 1 run, worked away to fine leg

Boult to Root, 1 run, short of length delivery on the stumps, Root works it to backward square leg

Trent Boult [23.0-3-70-1] is back into the attack