England v New Zealand Test Series 2021

England Squad
Root ©
Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Bracey
Lawrence
Pope
Foakes (w)
Leach
Robinson
C Overton
Broad
Anderson
Stone
Wood

1st Test - Lords June 2-6
2nd Test Edgbaston June 10-14

You would have to assume that England will line-up with just a 4-man bowling attack. Stokes is so important for the balance of the side, giving a 5th bowling option. I expect Broad & Anderson to play both matches, I always like a spinner in the side, but they could go with 4 seamers.

I agree that Broad & Anderson will play both but wonder if they will experiment a little with the batting order in this series for later in the summer and I would for once love to see a settled solid batting line up. It's not often that we have one. Expecting Stokes to feature later in summer.

What is also key that both Broad and Anderson get the good back up they deserve and I hope Wood gets his fair share of wickets this summer. I also think it is possible they could tempt Ali back if he is having a good summer. I would like to see a bit of competition for the wicket keeper position too.

(18-05-2021 18:00 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  1st Test - Lords June 2-6
2nd Test Edgbaston June 10-14

You would have to assume that England will line-up with just a 4-man bowling attack. Stokes is so important for the balance of the side, giving a 5th bowling option. I expect Broad & Anderson to play both matches, I always like a spinner in the side, but they could go with 4 seamers.

where is Stokes? I don't see him mentioned

^^ Broke a finger in the IPL, he's had surgery on it, & was expected to be out for around 12 weeks. He is set to play for Durham in the T20 Blast, at some point, starting June 9.

Ben Foakes is out of the squad with a hamstring injury. Haseeb Hameed & keeper Sam Billings are added. Not sure about hameed's inclusion, unless there's another injury to one of the top order.

1st Test Lords
New Zealand won the toss & elected to bat.
England award debut caps to Bracey & Robinson, & go with 4 seamers & no spinner. New Zealand see it differently & pick slow left-armer Santner, & with Trent Boult resting, the 6 foot 8 seamer Jamieson gets his chance in England for the first time. Opener Deon Conway will make his debut.

the pitch is doing nothing for the seamers at the moment it looks very flat and good for batting, i wonder if the members wanted to make sure of 5 days of cricket lol,
it dose look dry though so maybe see it spinning on day 4 and 5,

Looks a good toss to win, New Zealand will be able to drive the game from a good morning session as the go to lunch on 85-1. Tom Latham played on, off the bowling of Robinson for his debut wicket. This wont be easy working through what looks like a long Kiwi batting line-up. You would have to worry about this England 4 man attack tiring if New Zealand bat long. Root will likely have to bowl on a pitch that wont be as helpful as the dust-bowl in India.
Conway has looked good & scored at a decent rate, he has a reputation as an aggressive white-ball player. The extra pace of Wood has made him look uncomfortable at times. The worlds number 1 test batsman, Williamson is already digging in for a big innings.

Williamson gone ! Anderson strikes, another batsman chops-on. 86-2