DashMajor
EntMnt Knight
The first Test of the English summer brings the in-form Blackcaps looking to continue their great form in Test Cricket. The last time New Zealand toured England, it lost the two-Test series, 2-0. Since that home triumph in May 2013, England has gone on to win an Ashes series at home, but then lost 5-0 in Australia and at home to Sri Lanka, before beating India at home, and, most recently, drawing a three-Test series in the West Indies, 1-1.
New Zealand, meanwhile, has been on a roll and established itself as a force to be reckoned with by going undefeated in six consecutive Test series. It ended 2014 with five wins for the calendar year to make it its most successful year ever in the format. It then put up a smashing run to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 even as England suffered an early exit.
Corey Anderson had picked up an injury during an Indian domestic T20 league and, if he isn’t ready for action, it could open the door for Mitchell Santner, the uncapped all-rounder, to make his first international appearance.
New Zealand warmed up with wins in its two tour matches, even though several members that are likely to take the field on Thursday were absent due to commitments to their franchises in the Indian domestic T20 league – something England would be wary of.
Teams (from)
England: Alastair Cook (capt), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt), BJ Watling, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson.
England set for New Zealand test - ICC Cricket
New Zealand, meanwhile, has been on a roll and established itself as a force to be reckoned with by going undefeated in six consecutive Test series. It ended 2014 with five wins for the calendar year to make it its most successful year ever in the format. It then put up a smashing run to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 even as England suffered an early exit.
Corey Anderson had picked up an injury during an Indian domestic T20 league and, if he isn’t ready for action, it could open the door for Mitchell Santner, the uncapped all-rounder, to make his first international appearance.
New Zealand warmed up with wins in its two tour matches, even though several members that are likely to take the field on Thursday were absent due to commitments to their franchises in the Indian domestic T20 league – something England would be wary of.
Teams (from)
England: Alastair Cook (capt), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt), BJ Watling, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson.
England set for New Zealand test - ICC Cricket
