New Delhi, June 8 -- England captain Ben Stokes warned Sunday that test cricket, a format under massive threat from the Twenty20 game, needs better pitches than the one served up at Lord's for his team's 115-run win over New Zealand in the first match of the series.

The test at the home of cricket lasted just 166 completed overs - making it the second shortest ever in the 150 to be staged at Lord's - and with just 617 runs scored by the two teams combined.

On an untrustworthy and nightmarish pitch for batters, there was a wicket every 25 balls - which, according to the BBC, is the lowest in England since 1907.

Some 24 of the 40 dismissed batters were out either bowled (13) or lbw (11), the most in a test in England.

Speaking as a winn...