Cricket: New Zealand dominate opening session

New Zealand are bowling first in the opening test at Lord's. Photo / Getty

Matt Henry became New Zealand test cricketer No.266 last night and immediately earned his cap with the removal of England's talisman batsmen Alastair Cook and Ian Bell in his opening spell.

At lunch England were 113 for four.

Henry had trained in the Indian Premier League under the eye of New Zealand test captain Brendon McCullum at the Chennai Super Kings. He made the transition to the test game look effortless with the cadence and rhythm mustered taking two for 19 in five overs from the Nursery End. He went to lunch with two for 32 from eight overs.

Henry's maiden test wicket was Alastair Cook, as he tried hooking a ball towards Edgware Rd on 16. It probably wasn't the ideal delivery but Cook endeavoured to seize on some respite after a demanding opening 10 overs after his side was sent in by McCullum on a Kermit-green wicket. He ended up constricted down the legside and B-J Watling took the catch.

Henry's best delivery came with a ball which deviated slightly off the wicket to take the top of Ian Bell's off stump and left the hosts 30 for four after 12.2 overs. The sea of bacon and egg ties in the pavilion watched wicket-to-wicket as MJ Henry announced himself as a competitor to be respected on cricket's ultimate stage.

Tim Southee and Trent Boult also played important roles establishing early dominance. Each worked with the Lord's slope to earn their respective wickets. Southee finished with one for 34 and Boult took one for 33; each bowled eight overs. Importantly, knowing his three pace bowlers were coming from the IPL, McCullum never bowled them in spells of more than five overs.

Southee dismissed debutant Adam Lyth for one with a vintage delivery which drew the opener into a defensive stroke before the ball angled away. Lyth paused to see whether he should query the decision but Cook wisely advised him to keep walking. A Hotspot edge wouldn't have helped the home cause.

Southee was in the action again at third slip catching Gary Ballance for one. Boult angled away to the left-hander from the Pavilion End and Balance's bat took a nibble.

England enjoy a productive second hour courtesy of graft from the 83-run partnership between Ben Stokes and Joe Root. Both played an array of crisp, controlled strokes, particularly through the legside, as they came to grips with the pace of the pitch and the visitors' frenetic start.

McCullum's decision to field in the 100th test against England was warranted. It was a fine spring day to start but cloud cover built as they hoped to generate movement with the receptive Duke ball.

New Zealand are seeking their second win in 17 attempts at the St John's Wood ground.