New Zealand tour of England

‘A new era of English cricket’ Twitter praises England as they start their home season with a win against New Zealand

When England entered the Lord’s Cricket Ground to play against New Zealand on June 2, not many expected them to win. After all, the last time the team had won a Test match was way back in August last year when they beat India. In fact, the two games which they have won in their last 16 matches since February 2021 were against the Asian team.

Apart from that, they have lost five against India, four against Australia, and one against the West Indies in this period. This had resulted in Joe Root stepping down from the Test captaincy last month. His deputy, Ben Stokes, was then appointed the skipper of the team. Stokes had the responsibility to take the side back to the winning ways.

However, it wasn’t going to be easy for the Three Lions as they were playing the World Test Championship winners. However, even the Blackcaps haven’t won a series in the current cycle of the WTC, but still were better placed. During this cycle, the Kiwis lost to India and levelled a series against Bangladesh and South Africa at home. Meanwhile, the hosts had a dream start as they bundled the visitors for just 132.

It seemed like the team will roll over the Kiwis. However, the Kane Williamson-led side came back strongly after restricting the opposition to 141, conceding a lead of just nine runs. Notably, the Ben Stokes-led side had a decent start as they were 59/0 at one stage. The English side staged another comeback after picking four wickets for 56 runs.

However, the likes of Daryl Mitchell (108) and Tom Blundell (96) stitched a partnership of 195 runs. It looked like the team will post a big total but the team went from 251/4 to 285 all-out, setting the opposition a rather reachable target of 277. Chasing the target, England had a poor start as they lost four wickets for 69 runs.

The partnership of 90 runs from skipper Stokes and Joe Root for the fifth wicket and the unbeaten partnership of 120 runs from Ben Foakes and Root took the team over the line as the team won by five wickets.

This is how Twitter reacted

Amazing to think this was Joe Root’s first 4th innings ton. Second Englishman to cross 10000 Test runs and equal youngest ever with Sir Alistair Cook at 31yrs and 157 days. Job done for England – well played 👏👏#ENGvsNZ

— Isa Guha (@isaguha) June 5, 2022

Root and Cook 10,000 runs same age TO THE DAY! You can’t write this #bbccricket #ENGvsNZ #joeroot

— Georgie Heath🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27) June 5, 2022

Outstanding and so deserving for Joe Root.His home conditions are probably the toughest place to bat in the world. He does well in the subcontinent. He is superb in white ball as well. Need to celebrate Root a lot more. What a player!! #ENGvsNZ

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) June 5, 2022

Considering the state of the game, the quality of the New Zealand attack, the conditions, the expectation…this must rank as one of the greatest centuries for England. It may be a new era of English cricket…but the protagonist remains the same. The astounding Joe Root #ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/YV3LP8OfpC

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) June 5, 2022

#JoeRoot has been exceptional. A hundred to win the game for his team and also completes 10k runs in the purest format of this beautiful game. #ENGvsNZ #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/8Wz3tCO1Qs

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) June 5, 2022

Joe Root has 10,000 Test runs. And he's just 31 🤯 Well played and congratulations @root66 👏🏽 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/l5dDL5v7Iz

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 5, 2022

England won the Test match against New Zealand from 69/4 at that moment by chasing in the 4th innings – Joe Root scored hundred in 4th innings, his 26th Test Tons, he also completed 10,000 runs in Test cricket – What a test match for England and Joe Root. #ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/HUDqihPABG

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) June 5, 2022

https://twitter.com/srinjoy1845/status/1533428661562785792?s=20&t=N5mj2dpyZVkqLbCt90lwGQ

Joe Root leads everyone off the park! A great knock. It's a huge ovation for him. No drama in the morning. England stayed focused. #JoeRoot #ENGvsNZ #NzvsEng #Cricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/leZ180vF1O

— Vtrakit Cricket (@Vtrakit) June 5, 2022

Only Sir Alastair Cook has scored more runs for England as Joe Root enters the elite 10,000 Test Runs Club and finishes the job with his 26th Ton in Test Cricket. Stokes-McCullum era off to a good start💯 #ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/TvBjxmHISk

— Akhila Seneviratne (@AkhilaSene97) June 5, 2022

Year when they got to 10000 run landmark in Tests

Gavaskar – 1987
Border – 1993
Waugh – 2003
Lara – 2004
Tendulkar – 2005
Dravid – 2008
Ponting – 2008
Kallis – 2009
Jayawardene – 2011
Chanderpaul – 2012
Sangakkara – 2012
Cook – 2016
Younis – 2017
Root – 2022#ENGvNZ#ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/fe0wYfNtNy

— Arnav Singh (@Arnavv43) June 5, 2022