McCullum: England ‘blew us off the park’

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum did not mince words when describing his side's humiliation at the hands of England in the first ODI at Edgbaston, saying the hosts had been the far superior side.

England scored a whopping 408 for nine, with centuries from Joe Root and Jos Buttler taking the game away from the Kiwis, and then the visitors were bowled out for 198, thus losing by 210 runs.

A gracious McCullum, who was out in the first over of the chase to Steve Finn, said after the match: "They were special performances from Joe Root and Jos Buttler.

"To post 400 in any game is outstanding. Credit to England, they blew us off the park.

"I think sometimes you've got to admit when you get it wrong at the toss.

"But I still don't think it should take away from how outstanding they were with the bat and the ball and in the field."

The skipper also said that crowds for the remaining four matches could expect some exciting cricket, as his side would recover and make things a lot tougher for England, and replicate their World Cup form.

He added: "There will be some cliffhangers at some point, no doubt.

"I think the crowds are going to be in for some outstanding cricket over the next week and a half."