Alastair Cook's England put in a wonderful performance for a team he admits are 'in limbo' as they wait to hear for sure the identity of their next coach.
Under caretaker Paul Farbrace, England learned at lunchtime on the final day of the first Investec Test that Trevor Bayliss - rather than Jason Gillespie as it had long seemed - is likely to be the Australian who will succeed the sacked Peter Moores.
But none of that intrigue stopped them completing a remarkable victory over New Zealand, despite having conceded a 134-run first-innings lead.
Cook's second-innings 162 was the cornerstone of a recovery which owed almost as much to man-of-the-match Ben Stokes - who hit the fastest ever century at Lord's, and then took three wickets for good measure as the tourists were bowled out for 220 to lose by 124 runs.
England can therefore head for the second Test at Headingley, starting on Friday when they do not yet know whether Farbrace will still be in charge or Bayliss may be in situ.
Asked if it will be a relief to finally see the issue settled, Cook said: "Yes, I think so.
"We are a little bit in limbo, not quite sure what's happening behind the scenes.
"It broke at lunch, and kind of took us all by surprise a little bit."
After England stuck to their task admirably to close out the win, Cook was already planning to ask England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss - his former Test captain - if there is something he should know about the coaching roles before he heads north.
"I've probably now got to go and ring Andrew and see what's going on."
Cook's opposite number Brendon McCullum knows Bayliss already, having played under him for Indian Premier League big-hitters Kolkata Knight Riders - and hopes to catch up with the "champion fella" if the Australian is Leeds-bound.
Cook, meanwhile, will travel in great heart thanks to his and his team's improved form.
The opener had spent almost two years between Test centuries, until putting that right in Barbados last month, and he believes that innings has made sure he is back on track.
"A lot of hard work has gone in behind the scenes in the last three or four months - and long may the form continue," he said.
"Clearly Barbados was a big step for me. Getting that hundred was a huge relief for me.
"That was a monkey off my back, and has just allowed me to concentrate on batting.
"It's not always going to work. But when it does, you've got to make sure you get a big one."
He certainly did that, with a nine-hour tour de force performance in England's first assignment of a summer in which Australia will be the headline tourists from July onwards.
Cook added: "I think my highest score here was 106 - I hadn't got a big Lord's hundred.
"So once I got in, and past three figures, I was determined to try to make it a very big one.
"I'd love to score as quickly as Ben. But the bottom line is I can't.
"So I've got to play to my strengths."
Yorkshire seamer Liam Plunkett has been added to the 12 England chose at Lord's, putting him in with a chance of featuring on his home ground in Leeds.
Source: PA
