London, June 8 -- New Zealand's tour of England began with a disappointing 115-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.
Due to the result, the Black Caps have slipped from second to fourth in the 2025-27 World Test Championships points table.
Only the top two teams will contest in the WTC Final, which will be held in June 2027.
While the weather played havoc in the match, the pitch also came under scrutiny for its uneven bounce. After England were bowled out for 140 in the first innings, their bowlers came to party, dismissing New Zealand for 113. With Emilio Gay giving the hosts a steadier start in the second innings, with a well-crafted 57, England posted 226, according to ICC.
New Zealand, however, continued to struggle with...