England captain Joe Root defended his side's approach by saying the "series is very much alive" after they laboured to a draw in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on Sunday. England, who have not lost a home red-ball series since 2014, were 170-3 in 70 overs when a draw was agreed to leave this two-match contest all square ahead of next week's second Test at Edgbaston. It also meant England ended a run of three straight defeats following a 3-1 series loss in India this year. "We felt that, in the grand scheme of things, winning the series was (more important than) potentially giving them a 1-0 lead going into the second Test. Root, in at 56-2 on Sunday, tried to up the tempo in a match that marked the return of spectators to international cricket in England following last year's Covid-19 restrictions.

Source: News 24 June 06, 2021 19:30 UTC