England will continue to ‘throw punches’ in breathless NZ Test – Matthew Potts

Debutant Matthew Potts claimed England’s entertainers would continue to “throw punches” after 17 wickets fell on the opening day of their first LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand.

England have promised to wow the fans with an aggressive brand of cricket and were on course for a dominant start to the international summer when they dismissed the tourists for a meagre 132 at Lord’s.

Potts was at the forefront of that effort, taking standout figures of four for 13 to outshine the great James Anderson and Stuart Broad, but ball continued to dominate bat to drag them back into a dog fight at stumps.

From the relative serenity of a 59-run opening stand, England fell in a heap in the evening session to finish on 116 for seven and throw a spanner in Ben Stokes’ first day as new Test captain.

The highs and lows of the day proved a dizzying introduction to the Test arena for 23-year-old Potts, but he was happy with the way England went about their business.

“Yes, it was a rollercoaster. We’ve kind of had an eventful day, but we’ve come to entertain, that’s our first and foremost thing,” he said.

“It’s been an entertaining day of cricket and it’s one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. We’re still in a contest to win a game of Test cricket here so we’re going to attack the next day.

“I think we’re going to throw our punches. Personally I think it’s very, very entertaining and I think it’s what we all want to see. We want to exchange blows, and if they throw us two we’ll throw them four.”

England supporters would probably have been even happier had the final session been lighter on thrills and spills and higher on care and attention, but Potts’ bullish outlook was understandable.

He had, after all, just outshone returning great