So the place are England now?
The boys’s staff rocked up in Queenstown, New Zealand earlier this week (the ladies and Lions are in South Africa, the place they may even be joined by the Beneath-19s within the coming days). They may play a two-day tour match over the weekend, main into the primary Check, which begins at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday.
Weren’t England solely within the Caribbean a number of days in the past?
Sure, that is proper. Their white-ball tour concluded on Sunday, when the fifth T20I towards West Indies in St Lucia was deserted as a washout. That tour started with an ODI on October 31, simply days after the tip of the Rawalpindi Check in Pakistan, which meant a number of multi-format gamers – equivalent to Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse – could not be concerned within the journey to the Caribbean.
Sure, that is proper. Their white-ball tour concluded on Sunday, when the fifth T20I towards West Indies in St Lucia was deserted as a washout. That tour started with an ODI on October 31, simply days after the tip of the Rawalpindi Check in Pakistan, which meant a number of multi-format gamers – equivalent to Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse – could not be concerned within the journey to the Caribbean.
So it is again to Check cricket and Bazball once more?
Sure and, presumably, sure. England suffered a chastening 2-1 sequence defeat in Pakistan, regardless of racking up 823 for 7 in a crushing victory within the first Check. A change of techniques from the house aspect noticed England’s batters come totally unstuck towards the unlikely lags spin pairing of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. After his staff misplaced the deciding third Check, Brendon McCullum referenced the short turnaround to this tour, saying “it might be good to bounce again in New Zealand”.
Sure and, presumably, sure. England suffered a chastening 2-1 sequence defeat in Pakistan, regardless of racking up 823 for 7 in a crushing victory within the first Check. A change of techniques from the house aspect noticed England’s batters come totally unstuck towards the unlikely lags spin pairing of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. After his staff misplaced the deciding third Check, Brendon McCullum referenced the short turnaround to this tour, saying “it might be good to bounce again in New Zealand”.
As for Bazball, their technique has been present process a technique of refinement, however the prospect of flatter and pitches and extra benign situations may be simply the tonic – albeit England have not gained a Check sequence in New Zealand since 2007-08.
Presumably they have not made wholesale modifications after Pakistan?
Appropriate. The McCullum-Stokes axis is all about giving gamers backing – all of the extra so since their main objectives are successful towards India at house subsequent summer season, earlier than making an attempt to regain the Ashes in Australia. There was just one change to the squad for New Zealand, with Jacob Bethell known as up because the spare batter on account of Jamie Smith’s absence on paternity depart; they’ve stored the religion to the extent that the three frontline spinners who went to Pakistan – Shoaib Bashir, Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed – are all on this journey, too.
However Baz again in NZ ought to be enjoyable…
It was final time. England rattled alongside within the prescribed method to win the day-night Check in Mount Maunganui earlier than the much less high-profile of Stokes’ unsuccessful declarations in 2023 noticed them grow to be solely the second staff in historical past to lose a Check by one run at Basin Reserve.
It was final time. England rattled alongside within the prescribed method to win the day-night Check in Mount Maunganui earlier than the much less high-profile of Stokes’ unsuccessful declarations in 2023 noticed them grow to be solely the second staff in historical past to lose a Check by one run at Basin Reserve.
And the Kiwis all the time current a troublesome problem
Yep. Except for England’s aforementioned drought within the land of the lengthy white cloud, New Zealand will are available off the again of whitewashing India 3-0 in India, with out the providers of Kane Williamson. Which, as Brian Clough would most likely put it, won’t be the best Check sequence win of all time, nevertheless it’s within the prime one.
Yep. Except for England’s aforementioned drought within the land of the lengthy white cloud, New Zealand will are available off the again of whitewashing India 3-0 in India, with out the providers of Kane Williamson. Which, as Brian Clough would most likely put it, won’t be the best Check sequence win of all time, nevertheless it’s within the prime one.
A end result which will need to have reignited their World Check Championship remaining hopes?
It actually has. Whereas England have slipped nicely out of competition, New Zealand are hovering simply outdoors the highest two after selecting up most factors in India. If they’ll do the identical at house to England, it might push their win proportion as much as 64.29% and provides them an honest likelihood of reaching the ultimate for the second time in three cycles.
It actually has. Whereas England have slipped nicely out of competition, New Zealand are hovering simply outdoors the highest two after selecting up most factors in India. If they’ll do the identical at house to England, it might push their win proportion as much as 64.29% and provides them an honest likelihood of reaching the ultimate for the second time in three cycles.
Given England acquired whupped 4-1 in India earlier this 12 months, maybe they need to be afraid…
New Zealand have been going by one thing of a transition interval – they misplaced an unbeaten house document that stretched again to 2017 when Australia went there and gained 2-0 earlier this 12 months – however Tom Latham’s stint as everlasting captain couldn’t have gotten off to a greater begin. Williamson can be again for the England sequence, and whereas they’ve moved on from Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson continues to be sidelined by again issues, Matt Henry has had his most prolific 12 months in Exams and Will O’Rourke appears a frighteningly good prospect.
New Zealand have been going by one thing of a transition interval – they misplaced an unbeaten house document that stretched again to 2017 when Australia went there and gained 2-0 earlier this 12 months – however Tom Latham’s stint as everlasting captain couldn’t have gotten off to a greater begin. Williamson can be again for the England sequence, and whereas they’ve moved on from Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson continues to be sidelined by again issues, Matt Henry has had his most prolific 12 months in Exams and Will O’Rourke appears a frighteningly good prospect.
Thanks, I really feel like I am getting up to the mark. Is there the rest I ought to know?
Sure! This may even be Tim Southee’s remaining Check sequence earlier than retirement. Southee, who turns 36 between the second and third Exams, gave up the captaincy final month and has now determined to bow out on his personal phrases, towards the identical opposition as when he made his debut nearly 17 years in the past. He’ll end as New Zealand’s second-leading wicket-taker in Exams, behind Richard Hadlee – and might be simply too far shy of catching McCullum’s six-hitting mark, too.
Sure! This may even be Tim Southee’s remaining Check sequence earlier than retirement. Southee, who turns 36 between the second and third Exams, gave up the captaincy final month and has now determined to bow out on his personal phrases, towards the identical opposition as when he made his debut nearly 17 years in the past. He’ll end as New Zealand’s second-leading wicket-taker in Exams, behind Richard Hadlee – and might be simply too far shy of catching McCullum’s six-hitting mark, too.
On the different finish of the profession spectrum, with Smith awaiting the start of his youngster, England are set to offer Jordan Cox a Check debut as wicketkeeper. Hopefully Cox can have had time to get his bearings, having been concerned in squads throughout all three codecs in Pakistan and the West Indies over the previous couple of weeks (and never stored wicket in first-class cricket since July final 12 months).
