New Zealand vs England Match Preview, 1st Test (Source – BCCI)
New Zealand (NZ) is set to host England (ENG) in a highly-anticipated three-match Test series. The first Test is set to be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, starting on Thursday, November 27.
New Zealand’s last red-ball assignment was the unforgettable India tour, which concluded earlier this month. Tom Latham’s men became the first team to whitewash India 3-0 on Indian soil. If they manage to whitewash England in the upcoming series, it will take their percentage point to 64.29. While this will not guarantee them a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, it will certainly keep them in contention.
Meanwhile, England will look to bounce back from their 1-2 defeat against Pakistan last month in a three-match Test series. After winning the first Test, the Three Lions were all at sea against the spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. However, the conditions at the Hagley Oval will not offer much turn as pacers are expected to be the main threat. Ben Stokes’ men have dropped out of contention for a spot in next year’s WTC final. They will look to play for pride and build towards a better campaign in the next cycle.
Match Details
| Match | New Zealand vs England, 1st Test |
| Venue | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Date and Time | Thursday-Monday, November 28-December 2, 3:30 AM IST |
Pitch Report
The average first innings score at the Hagley Oval is 284 after 13 Test matches. Seamers will have a massive role to play as there will be ample movement in the air and off the surface. Teams batting first have won four matches, while teams batting second have emerged victorious on eight occasions. Batters will have to trust their defensive techniques and leave the ball well outside the off-stump.
Head-To-Head Records
| Matches | 112 |
| Won by New Zealand | 13 |
| Won by England | 52 |
| Draw | 47 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture | 10 January, 1930 |
| Most-recent Fixture | 24 February, 2023 |
NZ vs ENG Probable Predicted XIs
New Zealand:
New Zealand announced their playing XI ahead of the first Test and the biggest positive was the return of Kane Williamson, who missed the entire series against India due to an injury. Will Young, who was the Player of the Series in India, made way for the former New Zealand skipper.
Playing XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and William O’Rourke.
England:
England also announced their playing XI ahead of the first Test and there is a nice blend of youth and experience in the side. The talented Jacob Bethell is all set to make his Test debut. He will be batting at No. 3, while Ollie Pope, who will be donning the wicketkeeping gloves, will drop down to No. 6.
Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Shoaib Bashir.
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