Two teams looking to get into the WTC 2025 final contention
Two teams coming off the back of away series losses into a crucial red ball series with regards to the World Test Championship 2025 final contentions. Ben Stokes leads England in New Zealand as they look to get their Baz-ball era back on track.
Ahead of the first Test between New Zealand and England, here’s our match preview and predictions.
New Zealand vs England 1st Test | England tour of New Zealand 2024 | 03:30 IST, November 28
The visitors will be led by Ben Stokes, who has returned from injury and will have their full strength batting lineup including the likes of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, their talisman Joe Root, Harry Brooks and Stokes himself. The bowling department will see the veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes lead the charge with two young guns Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, both of whom have shone in practice game. The Hagley Oval at Christchurch is a pacer bowlers’ paradise and Stokes will count on Woakes, Atkinson, Carse and Matthew Potts to put the hosts under all sorts of trouble.
New Zealand will have Tom Latham continue to lead them after their recent historical red-ball series win in India and has a fully fit Kane Williamson at his disposal. Williamson will have a talented batting lineup around him which includes Latham, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway. The veteran Tim Southee, playing his final Test series, will lead the attack with Matt Henry, who impressed in India recently. Mitchell would be handy for Latham with his seam-ups while Jacob Duffy also might get some game time, especially in Christchurch.
The Hagley Oval will suit the fast bowlers and will have some runs as well and expect the Baz-ball exponents to go hard at the hosts and start the Test series with a win.
Fantasy XI: Zak Crawley, Tom Latham, Joe Root, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Glenn Phillips, Gus Atkinson, Matt Henry,
Venue: Christchurch
Winners Prediction: England
Leave a Reply