England secure Ashes rebuild win over New Zealand in first Test 2026

England defeated New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test of their three-match series at Lord's in June 2026.

Match result and series lead England claimed a rapid victory on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, winning by 115 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. This was their first Test since the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, and they achieved the win in less than a session on a challenging pitch. The victory marked the start of their post-Ashes rebuilding phase following the heavy series loss Down Under. ## England's bowling dominates final session New Zealand were bowled out for 138 in their second innings, chasing 254, with Gus Atkinson taking 5-30 to finish off the tourists' resistance. The match resumed on Sunday with England needing just seven balls after rain washed out most of Saturday's play. Josh Tongue claimed an early wicket when Tom Blundell was trapped LBW, while Atkinson then removed Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway to trigger New Zealand's collapse. ## Key contributions in England's victory England's first innings of 140 saw Harry Brook score 56, while opener Emilio Gay top-scored with 57 in the second innings. Gus Atkinson completed his five-wicket haul in the second innings, adding to his earlier success. Ben Stokes, England's captain, made crucial catches to dismiss Conway and Phillips, turning the game in his team's favor. The match ended before lunch on Sunday, with Atkinson finishing with figures of 5-30 in the second innings. ## Conditions favor seam bowling dominance This Test followed a recent trend in England matches where seam bowling has dominated, with no spin bowlers used by either side. Two Ashes Tests earlier this year were completed in just two days, and this match at Lord's produced little turn for spinners. The Lord's surface provided seamers with movement both ways, making batting extremely difficult throughout the game. Stokes expressed after the match that the team was focused solely on securing the win. ## England's fielding lapses and missed opportunities New Zealand dropped five catches during the match, including a crucial one at second slip when Harry Brook failed to hold Conway at 24. The tourists also struggled with a back injury to key bowler Matt Henry, which further weakened their bowling attack. Despite this, England's poor catching was their only blemish in a match that saw them take advantage of the conditions. The dropped chances proved costly in a low-scoring contest. ## New Zealand's batting struggles continue New Zealand's batting lineup failed to cope with England's seam attack, managing just 113 in their first innings and 138 in the second. Glenn Phillips was the only batter who showed aggression, scoring 44 in the second innings. The rest of the top order failed to capitalize on the difficult conditions, with only Kyle Jamieson providing some resistance with 38 in the first innings. This marked the seventh loss in nine Tests for New Zealand against England since Brendon McCullum took charge. ## Individual performances and challenges Ollie Robinson returned to Test cricket with strong figures, taking 5-39 in the first innings, while Gus Atkinson continued his Lord's mastery with another five-wicket haul. Debutant opener Emilio Gay impressed with 57 in the second innings, suggesting a bright future. Atkinson now has 26 wickets at Lord's across three Tests, averaging 9.5, including four five-wicket hauls. Robinson's challenge now is to prove his durability over longer spells. ## Looking ahead to the second Test England will aim to carry this momentum into the second Test at The Oval, starting on 17 June 2026. The hope is that a better-quality pitch will produce a more competitive match. Stokes emphasized that any win was valuable for rebuilding confidence after the Ashes disaster. The series is now poised for a potential series-clinching victory at The Oval if England can maintain their form.