Here are two teams coming on the back of away series losses into a crucial red-ball series as far as their respective aspirations for next year’s World Test Championship final are concerned. 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 are our match preview and predictions.
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The visitors will be led by Ben Stokes, who has returned from injury, and have their full strength batting line-up, including the likes of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, the talismanic Joe Root, Harry Brooks, and Stokes himself. Their bowling department will see the veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes lead the charge alongside Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, both of whom have shone during practice.
The Hagley Oval in Christchurch is a pacer bowler’s 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 continuing to lead them after their recent historical red-ball series win in India. They also have a fully-fit Kane Williamson at their disposal. Williamson re-joins a talented batting line-up which includes Latham, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, and Devon Conway. The veteran Tim Southee, playing his final Test series, will lead the bowling attack alongside Matt Henry, who impressed in India. Mitchell will be handy for Latham with his seam-ups, while Jacob Duffy may also get some game time, especially in Christchurch.
The Hagley Oval will suit the fast bowlers and will have some runs for the batters as well. 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
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