England Test series v New Zealand (2 matches)

Two match series begins on Thursday 16th February at The Bay Oval in Tauranga.
The second match is at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Squad:
Ben Stokes (Durham) Captain
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Ben Foakes (Surrey)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire)

These two match series are a nonsense!! Three minimum. In fact, if the Test schedule was managed centrally with the Test Championship at the heart of it, a governing body (not the ICC clearly) would set the fixture schedule, with 3 matches to each series (including the one ..... you know!!) on tracks (allowing for unique country environments) which reacted to the skills shown. The track in the first test IND v AUS isn't too far away from the ideal really!

A tough on to call this series! Pretty equally matched!

The first test is a day-night pink ball affair.
Ollie Robinson seemingly not impressed by the prospect .

The test matches are on bt sport for anyone who didn't know
Looking forward to this series if its half as exciting as last summers we could have fireworks

(10-02-2023 21:15 )hornball Wrote:  These two match series are a nonsense!! Three minimum.

New Zealand don't want to play anything more than 2 tests in a home series. It isn't financially viable for them.

(12-02-2023 13:27 )Geriisgreat Wrote:  The test matches are on bt sport for anyone who didn't know
Looking forward to this series if its half as exciting as last summers we could have fireworks

Yes and they have got in their pitch early with 'England continue their build up to the Ashes' So there you have it NZ, you are world champions, but only a convenient match intensity net practice opportunity for England! Man some things never change! I am confident though, that Baz will not see it like that - so silver linings!

(12-02-2023 14:55 )William H Bonney Wrote:  

(10-02-2023 21:15 )hornball Wrote:  These two match series are a nonsense!! Three minimum.

New Zealand don't want to play anything more than 2 tests in a home series. It isn't financially viable for them.

I know that plays into it, but still, (and I also know that NZ won the WTC playing the matches/series as they do) it makes the WTC lop sided! If the ICC want to promote this competition as the pinnacle, then they need to finance it to such an extent that NZ etc see it as being worth their while!

England team for the first test:
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wk), Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

(14-02-2023 12:16 )Snooks Wrote:  England team for the first test:
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wk), Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

That is as strong a middle order as England have had for some time - 3 thru 7! Maybe not a proven opening partnership just yet, but with NZ missing some pivotal bowling resources, it evens up a little bit!

First Test - Bay Oval, Tauranga.

New Zealand v England - Day One

NZ won toss and field

England 1st inns: 325/9 dec
Brook 89, Duckett 84, Pope 42.
Wagner 4/82, Southee 2/71.

New Zealand 1st inns: 37/3
Conway 17 no.
Anderson 2/10.

Close of play.