Match Preview - England V/s New Zealand 1st Test

Image Source

Good evening to all, From tomorrow it will be a great contest will go on as New Zealand is on a tour of England where play series of 2 test matches and the first test match will start from today at most wonderful stadium Lords. Lots of players want to play at least one match here as it's a dream ground and scoring century here is a very special one for them.

Image Source

It will be an advantage for New Zealand as they will take on India in the World Test Championship Final match in England so it will be like a good practice match for them as New Zealand and India finished top 2 teams in the World Test Championship table. England is in good form in all formats of cricket and playing in home condition will also give them some advantage But both teams looking very strong and will also try some new players too so let discuss it in details.

Image Source

England Squad: Joe Root(C), Dominic Sibley, Zack Crawley, Daniel Lawrance, Haseeb Hameed, Rory Burns, Olie Pope, Sam Billings, James Barcey, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jake Leach, Mark Wood, Olly Stone

In England squad, there are no Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Joss Buttler, and Jofra Archer which will be not good for the England side as These are good all-rounders who balance their team a lot but still England is the strong team as they have a strong squad with the addition of Sam Billings, Ollie Robinson and wicket-keeper batsman James Bracey who may get their maiden test cap. England is good balanced with batting and bowling but need to see how their allrounder will play. Their batting will mostly depend on Root as there is no Ben Stokes, Joss Buttler and Moeen Ali. In bowling Department, Stuart Broad and James Anderson will take charge as they are best together in test matches and took many wickets. My finger cross with Olly Stones as I seen his bowling in Last Test series against India and England Domestic League as he is an excellent fast bowler and I think he is feature of England Fast bowling.

Image Source

England Lastly played against India in India where they started well with first match won in 4 test matches series but unfortunately not able to won any test match as lost all three remaining matches of series but its look like long time ago as after it they not play test match cricket but kept played ODI, T20 and franchise cricket so it will not affect much which I am thinking.

Image Source

New Zealand Squad: Kane Williamson(C), Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Colin De Grandhomme, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamiseon, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Doug Bracewell, Ajaz Patel

New Zealand comes with their full strength with their best player as they are preparing their team for World Test Championship so they also bring some new talented player like Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Will Young and Devon Conway. These new players are performed well but there is one player who chances are maximum for maiden test cap and he is Devon Conway. Devon Conway is second South African who will play for New Zealand and his recent form is an excellent. New Zealand batting is look more strong on paper compare to England as they have Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watlings are in great form. They have also good pair of bowling with combination of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. They also very successful in International cricket where as they get support of Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamison. New Zealand has balance in all department as Batting, Bowling and Allrounder.

Image Source

New Zealand is in tremendous form as they comes with No 1 rank in World Test Championship as last they beat Pakistan, West Indies and India so This time New Zealand will be comes as favourite, New Zealand Captain Kane Williamson is in great form as scored century and double century against Pakistan so It will be great for New Zealand as Ross Taylor, Tom Latham also in form but They all played last long time ago in January so it will be fresh start again for them.

Key Player to Watch

Image Source

• Zack Crawley is good in opening and I think his techniques are good and very aggressive player compared to Sibley and Burns. He scored wonderful double century against Pakistan and he is good stroke player.

Image Source

• Joe Root is main player to watch out as England teams main batsman as this time he will play with more responsibility as his team's batting will mostly depends on him.

Image Source

• Stuart Broad & James Anderson is best pair of recent time in test matches as they took 895 wickets together which is also one record. They are very dangerous while play together and their contribution is big in England success. We always talk about partnership in cricket for batting but in bowling this one is best.

Image Source

• Kane Williamson is in great form and he is one of best batsman of test matches. He is one of that players whose form is same weather he played at home or away and always for watch out player in any form of cricket.

Image Source

• Ross Taylor is also very Important player for New Zealand as his recent form is an excellent and in last 2-3 years he is just tremendous form so it will great to see him support with Kane Williamson.

Image Source

• Neil Wagner & Kyle Jaimeson is one of pair to lookout as we know Tim Southee and Trent Boult but Neil Wagner is more impressive with Bounce and variations. Kyle Jaimeson also very high reputation player and one of player to watch out as lot of expectation from him as his height will be useful in England condition for pace and bounce.

Head to Head Record

Matches Played	105
England Won	48
New Zealand Won	11
Tied	0
Drawn	46
England Win %	45.7%
New Zealand Win %	10.4%
Draw %	43.8%

As you can see that New Zealand is no way near England in test matches as won only 11 matches where England is leading with 48 matches whereas 46 matches also drawn too. Overall record is not good for New Zealand but if we going to see last 6 years records then New Zealand not lose any series as well as only lost one match and won 2 matches here 3 went drawn. New Zealand not played any test in England since 2015 so it will be long period for them.

Best Batman

Image Source

Batsman	Matches	Runs	Avg	Highest	100's
Ross Taylor (NZ)	17	1145	40.89	154*	3
Joe Root (ENG)	11	895	44.75	226	2
BJ Watling (NZ)	10	778	55.57	205	2
Kane Williamson (NZ)	11	743	43.70	132	3

Ross Taylor is most runs scorer in both current team as scored maximum runs 1145 with average of 40.89 where Joe Root is highest run scorer in one inning is 226. BJ Watling is also loves to play against England as scored 778 runs with average of 55.57 and also scored double century. Kane Williamson scored 3 century against England with highest score of 132.

Best Bowler

Image Source

Bowler	Matches	Wickets	Best Bowling
Stuart Broad (ENG)	16	66	44/7
James Anderson (ENG)	14	60	43/7
Tim Southee (NZ)	13	50	50/6
Trent Boult (NZ)	10	48	32/6
Neil Wagner (NZ)	9	37	44/5

In bowling department England is on top as Broad is highest wicket taker in both team with 66 wickets whereas James Anderson is second best with 60 wickets in just 14 matches. Tim Southee and Trent Boult also not behind as they took 50 and 48 wickets respectively. Neil Wagner is on 5th place with 37 wickets in 9 matches.

Prediction

It will be great match as both team is strong and ready for their preparation for different challenges as New Will do preparation for World Test Championship whereas England will do preparation for Ashes. New Zealand looks strong on paper as well as they coming with lots of win in test but all at home so it will also a challenge for play them in England as well as they also playing in England after 6 years. England has strong domestic background and even though without their start players they still look strong and favourite to win this test so it will be very excited that who will get to place in playing eleven and who will win because whatever and however we say anything but final result will get to know on match day so don't forget to watch this first match between England and New Zealand from tomorow 3:30 PM IST.