England will host New Zealand in the opening game of the two-match Test series, scheduled to begin on Wednesday at Lord’s.
The series offers the Black Caps a great opportunity to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the World Test Championship final against India, slated to be held in Southampton from June 18.
For England, who were out of the race for the WTC final earlier in the year, it’s a fantastic chance to stand resurrected and plug holes in their game in home conditions before proceeding with the next cycle of the league intended to revitalise Test cricket.
With New Zealand developing unprecedented riches in the fast-bowling department, their tour of England – in conditions similar to their home terrain – was long-awaited. The Kiwis previously visited England back in 2015. The latest series wasn’t there in the FTP until it was scheduled earlier this year by the two countries, as England seek to boost the pandemic-hit county clubs in the UK and New Zealand get to build up nicely towards their ultimate clash versus India.
Some riveting cricket is in store at Lord’s and Edgbaston, the venue for the second Test to be played from June 10.
Key Players
Kane Williamson topped the run-charts for New Zealand during the league stage of the WTC, scoring 817 runs from 9 Tests at an average of 58.35. He was especially dominant in the last home summer where the Kiwis hosted Pakistan and West Indies. Williamson made three centuries in four Tests against the helpless visiting attacks. His excellent form, to go with his undoubted leadership qualities, augurs for the Black Caps heading into their challenging tour of England.
Joe Root also ended his team’s WTC campaign as England’s highest run-maker, with 1,660 runs from 20 Tests at an average of 47.42. His tournament tally included three centuries and eight half-centuries. The magnificent right-hand batsman has been preparing nicely for the Kiwi challenge through the first half of the County Championship for Yorkshire. The England skipper holds great importance in his team’s often vulnerable batting unit and will be a prized scalp for the Kiwi attack in the coming two weeks.
Tom Latham New Zealand’s longstanding opening batsman has been his team’s second-highest run-maker since the start of the WTC cycle. Latham has struck 680 runs at a respectable average of 40.00 from his 11 Tests in this period, including five half-centuries and a solitary hundred. The Kiwis will depend heavily on Latham weathering the storm at the top of the order in English conditions and provide them solid starts. Latham has more often than not stood up for New Zealand and has grown in stature within the setup on the back of sheer quality of his performances.
James Anderson may be getting old but hasn’t lost any of the spice in his bowling. The ace swing bowler remains England’s most skillful and threatening quick, especially in home conditions where the red Dukes and friendly surfaces multifold the danger posed by him for the opposition. In the twilight of his career, Anderson has only expanded his range as a bowler and has been performing very well on foreign shores as well. He took 39 scalps from his 12 Tests during England’s WTC campaign at an average of only 19.51.
Stuart Broad was England’s top wicket-taker in their WTC campaign, as he ended with 69 wickets from his 17 Tests at an average of just 20.08. Broad, who was facing question marks over his place in the side from a certain section of English fans, rejuvenated himself with some outstanding seam bowling, especially in home conditions. Broad will be hoping to continue in the same vein after a long break against the Kiwis.
Kyle Jamieson is easily the biggest positive to have come out of New Zealand Test cricket in recent years. The young paceman has added greater depth and incisiveness to the Kiwi bowling attack, with his tall stature and pace making it tough for the opposition batsmen to comfortably pick the line and lengths against him. Jamieson has also been a valuable contributor with the bat for New Zealand.
Prediction
Despite the similar nature of the conditions, New Zealand have historically found it tough to deal with England in their own den. The Kiwis have won only 5 and lost as many as 30 of their 54 Tests played in England since their maiden outing in the UK in 1931.
However, their current group of players make up inarguably their greatest Test team in the history of the game. They’ll be taking a lot of confidence from that, especially facing up to a quite vulnerable English team.
England, though, have still found a way to maintain their unbeaten streak in home series across summers despite their issues and are slight favourites heading into the first Test at Lord’s.
