*Official* New Zealand in England 2021

[Chewie]

Williamson XI v Latham XI only a two day game now, with Hampshire Cricket net bowlers rounding out the teams, starting on Thursday

 

[nzfan]

Classic early English weather...

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

I just saw a promo for this series on Willlow and the didn’t include that this was a warmup before the WTC final.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

The is probably the worst thread title ever. Is the England v India series going to have (Test Championship Epilogue) after it?

 

[Athlai]

Nah those matches are part of the Test championship unlike these warm ups

 

[Magrat Garlick]

point taken

 

[srbhkshk]

Is the England v India series going to have (Test Championship Epilogue) after it?

This but unironically.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

If NZ wins this series, it is a fully-fledged series. If England wins or draws it is a warm-up.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

The is probably the worst thread title ever. Is the England v India series going to have (Test Championship Epilogue) after it?

Those are road to the 2023 final.

 

[Bahnz]

Anyway, my NZ XI for the first test

Latham, Conway, KW, Taylor, Nicholls, Watling, CdG, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner, Ajaz

I know this isn't supposed to be a warm-up series, but NZ needs to get a look at how CdG's looking in terms of his fitness in the run up to the WTC final, so he gets the allrounders gig. If he's fully fit, then he's just about the best bet in the squad for the 4th seamers spot anyway, so I'd use Boult's absence as an opportunity to trial one of the spinners. I go with Ajaz.

 

[nzfan]

Anyway, my NZ XI for the first test

Latham, Conway, KW, Taylor, Nicholls, Watling, CdG, Jamieson, Southee, Wagner, Ajaz

I know this isn't supposed to be a warm-up series, but NZ needs to get a look at how CdG's looking in terms of his fitness in the run up to the WTC final, so he gets the allrounders gig. If he's fully fit, then he's just about the best bet in the squad for the 4th seamers spot anyway, so I'd use Boult's absence as an opportunity to trial one of the spinners. I go with Ajaz.

Can't complain about that starting XI. CDG's bowling gets him ahead of Darryl.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Who opens the bowling with Southee in that case? CDG or Jamieson?

 

[Bahnz]

Jamieson

 

[nzfan]

I think both Kane and Stead are quite conservative. They won't go left field selection of say Duffy or Rachin. At most they'd do is fall back to Santer in place of Ajaz.

 

[Athlai]

Santa is coming to town folks

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Matt Henry is still a decent chance to start imo

 

[nzfan]

There are photos of all but Rosco training. Still nursing an injury I suppose. In that case we'll likely see Young in his place.

 

[Apex Predator]

I think they will go with Blundell as a tried n tested option first at the top. Having two lefties at the top can be risky.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

The Bracey bandwagon is a slightly odd one. He was a bit of a left field call up last home summer when England picked a massive initial squad for the first covid bubble but scored runs in the intra squad game and generally impressed the coaches enough to keep him around for the rest of the summer and then take him on the Asia tour too as a backup. It helps that he can bat in the top or middle order and keep, so a useful squad guy.

He's started the county season well batting in the top 3 for Gloucestershire. I think it's Burns' slot he's threatening. Butter will still be first choice wk when the IPL guys are made available again and Foakes probably still his deputy.

The Bracey subplot takes another twist. A freak injury to Foakes (apparently he fell over in the dressing room...) means Bracey is all but certain to debut in this series now as wicketkeeper. Billings has been called up to the squad to be the backup, backup keeper and Hameed makes his first England squad since his breakout series in India as a teenager as cover for the top order.

Means the England top 7 is very likely to be set as:

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Lawrence
Pope
Bracey

Bowling line up to be determined via roulette wheel on the first morning of the Test.

 

[honestbharani]

Anderson and Broad will be certain to start, right?

EDIT: The Foakes thing sucks though, it may well have been his only opportunities to play home tests.