ENGLAND were unable to get out of first gear on a sluggish pitch at Lord’s, but insist they have laid a platform from which they can dominate the rest of the first Investec Test.

Jonathan Trott’s top-score of just 39, out of 160 for four, and strike rates in the 20s for three of the top four meant England made mediocre progress at best after winning the toss.

New Zealand left-arm seamer Trent Boult, whose two wickets accounted for Trott and captain Alastair Cook, described the hosts’ approach as ‘‘reserved’’.

But Trott, citing a slow outfield – relaid in the winter after last year’s Olympic archery – as well as an unusual lack of pace in the middle, believes England have made an acceptable start to this two-match series.

‘‘It was pretty tough,’’ he said, acknowledging that the spectacle was perhaps not what most were anticipating to whet the appetite at the start of this Ashes summer.

‘‘It’s not what you expect when you arrive for the first day of the summer at Lord’s, and it’s a whitish pitch.

‘‘It was obviously a lot slower than people are used to, the crowds and the batsmen.

‘‘Then add in the fact the relaid outfield is a little bit slower – the ball is sort of stopping going down the hill, when it normally speeds up – it was a little bit different.

‘‘It was a different day to what people are accustomed to. But it was a good day.’’ Trott gave the Kiwis due credit too, for limiting England’s scoring options.

‘‘I felt New Zealand bowled well, and we sort of combated that okay,’’ he said.

‘‘Generally, whenever there was a loose ball, it sort of stopped in the wicket and there was no real pace in it to get punished.

‘‘Also with the outfield holding up a bit, balls that would normally run away for two or three were only going for one.’’ England’s patience did not pay off in terms of permanence, with no batsman reaching a half-century.

‘‘My dismissal just before teatime, and Belly’s (Ian Bell) just before the close of play, weren’t ideal,’’ added Trott.

‘‘You just have to adjust to the circumstances and conditions that confront you.

‘‘We’ve spoken a bit about our batting, first innings setting up games, and I still think there’s potential there to set up this one well and to kick on a bit.’’ England began cautiously – and after opener Nick Compton went before lunch, trying to take the attack to spinner Bruce Martin, they never felt able to up the ante.

Trott would have made a duck had Martin held a simple return catch.

‘‘The ball stopped a little bit for the spinner, and I found that as well,’’ he said.

‘‘It tells you just to rein it in; you’ve got to get used to it a bit more.

‘‘You have the intention to go out there and play your game. But they made it difficult for us, and I thought we fought back pretty well.’’ On the face of it, Boult had more reason to smile.

‘‘I reckon it was a pretty successful day for us,’’ he said.

‘‘As a bowling group, we did our jobs. We were pretty patient, and to have them 160 for four at the end of day one is pretty satisfying. They were pretty reserved, and just looked to bat time.

“They looked to outlast us, and didn’t really look to dominate us.”