On a picture-perfect early-summer morning three players have been handed their Test debuts at Lord's while Brendon McCullum inserted England on a green-tinged pitch but the overhead conditions looked ideal for batting. Adam Lyth, the Yorkshire opener, and Durham quick Mark Wood make their first appearances for England while paceman Matt Henry has been brought in by New Zealand.

Lyth becomes Alastair Cook's sixth opening partner since Andrew Strauss' retirement in 2012. Both he and Wood come into the side having carried drinks during the recent tour of West Indies which ended as a 1-1 draw and was swiftly followed by the sacking of Peter Moores as England coach. The build-up to this Test has been dominated by the fall-out to that decision and the continued banishing of Kevin Pietersen, leaving Cook under pressure to lead England to success.

The contrast to the feeling around New Zealand cricket following their World Cup run is stark. The two debateable positions in their side - the second opener and third quick bowler - have been filled as had been suspected from a couple of days ago.

Martin Guptill returns to the top of the order for his first Test since 2013, against England at Headingley, following a prolific World Cup - including the unbeaten 237 against West Indies - his impressive form for Derbyshire which included another double ton and most recently his 150 against Worcestershire in the tour match. He will partner Tom Latham at the top of the order with Hamish Rutherford dropped.

Henry, meanwhile, has been handed his Test debut as the support to Tim Southee and Trent Boult. He has been preferred to Neil Wagner and Doug Bracewell having impressed against Worcestershire last week. Henry was a late addition to New Zealand's World Cup squad after injury to Adam Milne.

McCullum had hinted yesterday that he would favour bowling - giving first crack to Southee and Boult - although it remains something of a gamble. Under the top covering of grass the pitch was said to be quite dry so there could be some help for the spinners later.

England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Adam Lyth, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Ben Stokes, 8 Jos Buttler (wk), 9 Mark Wood, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson

New Zealand 1 Tom Latham, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Brendon McCullum (capt), 6 Corey Anderson, 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Mark Craig, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult