Alastair Cook admitted he had never experienced a louder Lord’s crowd after an electric fifth day in which his Ben Stokes-inspired England side bowled out New Zealand to claim a pulsating 124-run win in the first Test.
Stokes, fresh from his 85-ball century on Sunday, took two wickets in two balls – including the key scalp of Brendon McCullum – for figures of three for 38 before Moeen Ali’s tumbling catch at third man sealed the victory to take a priceless 1-0 series lead.
“When Stokesy got those two wickets in two balls I can’t remember Lord’s having been louder,” said Cook, whose second innings 162 with the bat turned around a 134-run deficit and set the tourists 345 to win. “It is so exciting the way Ben has played,” said Cook.
“All the plaudits will be for his century but for me his 92 in the first innings in tough conditions was unbelievable batting. We have always known how talented Ben is and full credit to him, he should enjoy this.”
On his own century, the 27th of his Test career, Cook added: “When the team is behind like that, you need someone to get a really big score – luckily it was me in this game. Once I went past three figures, I was determined to make it a big one.”
Man-of-the-match Stokes admitted his “legs were wobbly” when running in for his hat-trick ball: “The crowd was electric and the noise was incredible. I didn’t get the ball where I wanted but the supporters geed us up and got behind us all day.
“That [the century on day four] was a little bit of a fluke I guess,” he added.
“I’m happy with how the game went but more importantly we got the win. It makes the game feel easier when you can be out there having fun with your mates.”
New Zealand’s captain, McCullum, praised his opposite number for his personal performance with the bat following that fortnight of off-field turmoil that began with the news of Kevin Pietersen’s continued exclusion from the team by the director of cricket, Andrew Strauss.
“I have a heck of a lot of respect for him. He’s a tough character, he’s been going through a tough time and to play that innings under pressure just shows how much steel he’s got,” McCullum said.
“It helps when you have guys like Joe Root and Ben Stokes who are able to play with that freedom. In years gone past they haven’t had the same flamboyance in the middle order as they do now. His role allowed those guys to play with freedom.”
On the result, McCullum added: “It hurts a lot, I won’t lie about that. But at the same time there is pride in continuing to play the style of cricket that gives us the greatest chance of winning. We’ve played well, scored 743 runs, taken 20 wickets and ticked a lot of boxes that would lead to a Test win. In the key moments we weren’t quite up to it and credit to the opposition for their courage and skill in withstanding that pressure.”
England now head to Leeds for Friday’s second Test with the fast bowler Liam Plunkett added to the squad and the news that Trevor Bayliss will be appointed as head coach.
“It’s been a rocky road for us in the past two weeks,” Cook said. “We have been in limbo but the way the guys have focused to come out and play with that freedom and passion is all credit to them.”
