London, June 8 -- New Zealand slipped from second to fourth place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings after suffering a 115-run defeat against England in the opening Test at Lord's on Sunday.

The loss marked a disappointing start to the Black Caps' three-match tour of England and dented their hopes of maintaining a strong position in the race for a place in the WTC final, scheduled for June 2027. Only the top two teams at the end of the cycle will qualify for the title clash, according to ICC.

England produced a spirited all-round performance to seal victory in a match heavily influenced by weather interruptions and a challenging Lord's surface that drew attention for its uneven bounce.

After being bowled out for...