Ollie Robinson made a remarkable return to cricket, taking three wickets in his first over in two years. England scored 140 runs, while New Zealand struggled at 61-6 on the first day of the Rothesay Test at Lord's.
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Figure caption,
How's that for a return?! Robinson takes three wickets in first over in two years
First Rothesay Test, Lord's (day one of five)
England 140: Brook 56; Jamieson 5-62, N Smith 3-38
New Zealand 61-6: Phillips 31*; Robinson 4-10
New Zealand are 79 runs behind
Ollie Robinson took three wickets in his first over for England in more than two years to breathe life into their post-Ashes rebuild on day one of the first Test against New Zealand.
Robinson had been ignored since 2024, including on the dismal tour of Australia, but showed England what they have been missing on an astonishing day when 16 wickets fell at Lord's.
After the home side lost a crucial toss and were hustled out for only 140, it was vital they made use of the favourable bowling conditions after two lengthy rain delays.
And seamer Robinson did so in sensational fashion. With his third delivery he trapped Devon Conway lbw then, with the crowd singing his name, had the great Kane Williamson bat-pad to short leg.
In an electric atmosphere, the Sussex seamer completed a triple-wicket maiden by having Rachin Ravindra lbw to the first ball he faced.
Robinson later bowled Daryl Mitchell to claim four wickets for 10 runs. When Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue took a wicket apiece, New Zealand were in tatters at 29-6. The Black Caps eventually closed on 61-6 - 79 behind.
It leaves England on top of a Test match they could have batted themselves out of when they were dismissed inside 40 overs.
New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, also playing his first Test in more than two years after a string of injuries, was superb in taking 5-62.
England's approach to batting is so often under scrutiny, but on this occasion they deserve some leeway because of the conditions.
In fact, as many of his team-mates seemed reluctant to take an attacking approach, it was the aggression of Harry Brook that gave him a priceless 56, albeit in an innings when he was dropped twice.
Figure caption,
Drops, boundaries and a 50 - the best of Harry Brook's eventful innings
After five months of Ashes post-mortem, this had all the ingredients to heap more misery on to England, and to pile more pressure on the management of Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.
On a pitch that had been under cover for the previous two days, under leaden skies and with showers forecast, England would have been desperate to win the toss. They lost and were exposed to the skilful New Zealand attack.
Ollie Robinson took three wickets in his first over and finished with figures of 4-10.
England scored 140 runs, while New Zealand was at 61-6 at the end of the day.
Kyle Jamieson took 5 wickets for 62 runs, and Neil Smith claimed 3 wickets for 38 runs.
Harry Brook was the top scorer for England with 56 runs.
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In returning their lowest total in a home Test since McCullum and Stokes took charge four years ago, England did not self-destruct.
If anything, they were too timid. This was an occasion when McCullum would have been right to urge his team to "go harder", as proved by Brook.
For all the attention on England's batting, it is the seam bowling that is in a bigger state of flux, and a new-look attack had to deliver on Thursday evening.
A poor session with the new ball could have gone a long way to settling the Test, even at such an early stage.
Instead, there are already similarities to England's last post-Ashes rebuild four years ago, on the same ground, against the same opponents.
On day one of the first Test against New Zealand, England bowled out the visitors for 132, only to be then dismissed for 141. The hosts eventually won by five wickets, kick-starting the first Bazball summer.
Now, England have a gilt-edged opportunity to begin the latest McCullum-Stokes reset with a desperately needed victory.
Figure caption,
'Robinson has got another one!' - Mitchell bowled for 12
For so long, it looked as though Robinson would never play for England again, certainly under this regime.
England explained his exile on grounds of conditioning, on a tendency to lose pace or hobble out of matches altogether. His skills were not in doubt - Robinson averaged less than 23 with the ball in his 20 previous Tests.
Humbled in Australia and in need of an attack leader, England returned to the 32-year-old. Robinson has benefitted from being given the captaincy at Sussex and admitted he has matured. If England had him bowling like this in Australia, how different might the Ashes have been?
Bowling the second over of the innings, Robinson found movement down the Lord's slope, into left-hander Conway. After two balls, captain Stokes posted a short leg and Conway instantly played all around a full ball. Robinson roared with delight, while Conway was disgruntled to see the review showing the ball clipping leg stump.
Robinson's length was immaculate. Facing his second ball, Williamson failed to get far enough forward, looping the catch to debutant Emilio Gay at short leg. Ravindra, another left-hander, was pinned by another nip-backer. The noise was deafening.
At 2-3, New Zealand were in disarray. Captain Tom Latham could have been run out by Stokes before he was lbw, getting only half-forward to Atkinson. Robinson showed his full array of skills to find seam movement up the slope, bowling Mitchell, who offered no shot.
When the pacey Tongue castled Tom Blundell, New Zealand were in danger of being dismissed before the close. Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 31, supported by Nathan Smith, somehow got them through without further loss.
Figure caption,
Jamieson rips through England with five wickets
The incredible evening session masks questions of England's batting. Not that they were reckless, instead arguably too passive. Perhaps the criticism of their approach in Australia has created doubt.
In England's defence, New Zealand were outstanding, even with Matt Henry limited to only four overs because of a back spasm. The touring pacemen were kept fresh by the rain breaks, moved the ball in the air and off the pitch, and exploited the uneven bounce.
Jamieson got most reward with his 5-72, yet Smith and Will O'Rourke were just as impressive.
Left-hander Gay drove his first ball in Test cricket for four, though could do little against one Jamieson got to move away, other than edge to first slip.
It was after a two-hour delay that England really struggled. Ben Duckett uncharacteristically left three of the first four balls he faced, then was lbw to Smith. Jacob Bethell was guilty of a loose drive to be leg before to O'Rourke, who also produced a beauty to find the edge of Joe Root. Jamie Smith characterised England's timidity, playing not shot to be bowled by one Jamieson got to dart back.
Brook's batting is anything but timid. After 10 balls on nought he began the counter, often advancing down the pitch. He should have been caught on eight by Conway at point, then was badly dropped by Ravindra at deep square leg on 45.
Brook drove and pulled his way to a 64-ball half-century, before one pull too many at Smith ended in the hands of long leg. Tongue and Shoaib Bashir added 22 for the last wicket, a priceless contribution in the context of the match.