Stokes criticizes Lord's pitch after England win first Test against New Zealand
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 7, 2026, 2:55 PM
Last updated Jun 7, 2026
Ben Stokes, England's captain, expressed concerns about the pitch at Lord's following their victory over New Zealand in the first Test. The match concluded on the fourth day, with England winning by 115 runs, but Stokes stated that the pitch, which heavily favored seam bowlers, does not bode well for the future of Test cricket. All 40 wickets fell to seam bowlers, marking it as the first Test in England since 1988 without spin bowling. The Marylebone Cricket Club acknowledged issues with the uneven bounce and variability of the pitch, attributing it to weather conditions leading up to the game. Lord's will continue its summer schedule with more international fixtures, including the first women's Test between England and India later this summer.
- •England won by 115 runs on the fourth day of the first Test.
- •All 40 wickets fell to seam bowlers, no spin used.
- •Pitch caused issues with uneven bounce and variable conditions.
- •Marylebone Cricket Club admitted the pitch fell short of expectations.
- •Lord's scheduled to host England women's Test against India this summer.
- 2:55 PMYahoo Sports — Lord's pitch does not benefit Test format - Stokes
- 2:44 PMBBC Sport — Lord's pitch does not benefit Test format - Stokes
"England captain Ben Stokes says the Lord’s pitch on which his side won the first Test against New Zealand is not helpful for the future of the game’s longest format.
"England captain Ben Stokes says the Lord’s pitch on which his side won the first Test against New Zealand is not helpful for the future of the game’s longest format.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 7, 2026, 2:55 PMLord's pitch does not benefit Test format - Stokes
England captain Ben Stokes says the Lord’s pitch on which his side won the first Test against New Zealand is not helpful for the future of the game’s longest format.
- BBC SportJun 7, 2026, 2:44 PMLord's pitch does not benefit Test format - Stokes
England captain Ben Stokes says the Lord’s pitch on which his side won the first Test against New Zealand is not helpful for the future of the game’s longest format.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
ICC•Sep 20, 2026, 11:40 AM'Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can't transition to Test cricket': Ex-cricketer says 'he doesn't have the technique'
ICC•Sep 20, 2026, 7:34 AMZimbabwe wins toss, elects to bat against Australia in third ODI
ICC•Sep 20, 2026, 7:04 AMFleming promises evolution not revolution as England era begins
ICC•Sep 19, 2026, 3:32 PM‘Main jhooth nahi bolunga’: Rohit Sharma reveals the comfort food he craved during sleepless Test-match nights
ICC•Sep 19, 2026, 8:56 AMNew Zealand star's India series participation in doubt after freak injury- ICC•Sep 18, 2026, 8:00 PMCramping, vomiting, unbroken: Remembering Dean Jones’ Madras epic 40 years on
