The first of three test matches between England and New Zealand gets under way at Lords on Thursday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting.
Let's begin with the squads.
Kiwi Brendon McCullum now coaches the England side, Ben Stokes takes over as skipper, Broad and Anderson are included in the squad and Harry Brook (batsman) and Matthew Potts (bowler) are potential debutants.
England: Ben Stokes (C), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Joe Root
Kane Williamson returns from injury and Michael Bracewell is a potential new cap as New Zealand will select from the following squad.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Cameron Fletcher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Will Young
Recent Form
England
England were in West Indies in March, the first two tests were drawn and West Indies took the series with a 10 wicket win in the third match.
England suffered a 4-0 series defeat in the Ashes in Australia over Christmas and New Year. They hosted India in August / September last year and lost a 4 match series 2-1 (5th test was cancelled).
New Zealand
New Zealand hosted South Africa in March. They won the first test by a record innings and 276 run run margin but the Proteas squared the series with a 198 run victory in the second and final test.
New Zealand hosted Bangladesh in the new year and they were on the wrong end of a shock result in the first test, going down by 8 wickets. They squared the series with an innings and 117 run victory in the second and final contest. At the tail end of 2021 the Black Caps were in India for a 2 match series and they drew a thrilling first test before losing the second match by 372 runs.
Recent Head to Head
In May / June last year New Zealand won a 2 match series in England 1-0 prior to beating India in the one off World Test Match final.
In New Zealand in November 2019 the Black Caps won the first test by an innings and 65 runs and the second test was drawn.
In March 2018 New Zealand won another home series 1-0, winning the first test and drawing the second.
In England in May 2015 a two match series was shared 1-1.
Lords, London
Over the course of the last decade England have played 17 test matches at Lords, winning 7, drawing 4 and losing 6.
The most recent test at Lords saw India beat England by 151 runs.
In June 2021 England draw with New Zealand at Lords. The Black Caps made scores of 378 and 169/6 declared and England replied with 275 and 170/3.
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The Betting - 1st Test Match
At the time of writing England are 12/10 to win the match with the draw at 13/5 and New Zealand are 37/20
Joe Root is 13/8 to top score for England in the first innings and Williamson is 9/4 to do likewise for New Zealand
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
England have been in the doldrums in this format but its new era in terms of coach and skipper and I think that makes this a tricky call in terms of the match result.
Joe Root is expected to bat at 4 and Stokes at 6 which leaves decisions to be made in terms of the top 3. I'm going to speculate Bairtsow might move up to 3 which would make his price to be to England first innings bat all the more attractive.
Last time New Zealand were at Lords Tim Southee picked up 6 England wickets in the first innings and using a horses for courses approach he gets the vote to be top NZ bowler in the first knock.
On a similar train of thought Devon Conway scored a double ton in that same match and that caught my eye in terms of any player to score a double ton this time around.
Bets: Top England 1st Innings Bat, Jonny Bairstow at 9/2
Top NZ 1st Innings Bowler Tim Southee at 11/4
Double Centuty Scored in Match ? (Yes) at 7/2
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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