The second test between England and New Zealand gets under way at Edgbaston on Thursday and after the first contest was drawn any winner here will claim the series.
The first test was staged at Lords last week, we saw plenty of good cricket but the game failed to produce a winner.
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first and the most telling contribution of the whole game came from opening bat Devon Conway who made exactly 200 on debut in the Black Caps total of 378 (all out). Henry Nicholls made 61 and no other batsman made it past 23 whilst for England Ollie Robinson took 4 wickets and Mark Wood 3.
England's reply was in trouble at 18/2 but Rory Burns made 132 and Joe Root 42 and another 42 from Robinson down the order helped England to 275. Tim Southee was the pick of the NZ bowlers with 6 wickets.
With a keen eye on the time remaining in the test New Zealand declared their second innings on 169/6 with Robinson claiming 3 more wickets. England needed a solid start and they got it with an unbeaten 60 from Dom Sibley whilst Joe Root made another 40 and their innings closed on 170/3 with the game drawn and Conway was named man of the match.
This was how the teams lined up for the first test.
England: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Daniel Lawrence, Ollie Pope, James Bracey (wk), Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner
As far as the teams news for Birmingham is concerned Ollie Robinson is suspended and Dom Bess has been added to the England squad whilst Trent Boult could be available for New Zealand.
Recent Head to Head
The most recent series came 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.
The most recent test series in England came in May 2015 and was shared 1-1.
The Venue Edgbaston, Birmingham
The most recent test match England played at this venue came against Australia in August 2019 and the Aussies won by 251 runs.
Prior to that England had a terrific record with 5 wins and 1 draw in the previous 6 Edgbaston tests over the last decade.
The Betting
England are currently trading at around 13/10 to win the second test with the draw a 7/2 chance and New Zealand can be backed at around 15/10
As far as the top 1st innings bat markets are concerned Joe Root is 2/1 for England and Kane Williamson is 9/4 for New Zealand.
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
England are still missing a number of key players and it will also be worth monitoring the team news to see whether Trent Boult is available for New Zealand for a game which the betting suggests could go either way.
Joe Root showed decent enough form in the first test and gets my vote to make 50 in the first innings this time around. New Zealand will take on India in the World Test Championship after this and runs from their skipper would be most welcome so Williamson is the choice to do likewise in the first knock.
Devon Conway will be in dreamland after his 200 in the first innings at Lords, England will be targeting his wicket and on gut feel I feel he may be first to fall in NZ's first innings.
Bets: To score 50 in the first innings Joe Root? (yes) at 12/10
To score 50 in the first innings Kane Williamson? (yes) at 5/4
Next man out New Zealand, Devon Conway at 0.87/1
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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