England win toss, captain Alastair Cook chooses to bat

England have won the toss ahead of the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

Captain Alastair Cook has decided to bat for the start of the two-match series, while Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and his teammates have been resigned to the field for the first day of the contest.

Both bowlers Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan were in contention to start for England after overcoming their respective injuries, but it's only Swann that has been included in the team as Bresnan is left out despite recovering from an elbow problem.

For New Zealand, spinner Bruce Martin has been given the nod over seamer Doug Bracewell as the Black Caps enter the field with the same side that lined up for the reverse series.

Teams in full:

England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Swann, Finn, Anderson

New Zealand: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum, Watling, Southee, Wagner, Boult, Martin