England tour of New Zealand (2023)

[MenInG]

England Men’s Test squad announced for the tour of New Zealand

England Men's selection panel have named a 15-strong squad for the two-match Test tour of New Zealand starting in February.

England Men's Test squad:

Ben Stokes (Durham) Captain

James Anderson (Lancashire)

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)

Zak Crawley (Kent)

Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)

Ben Foakes (Surrey)

Will Jacks (Surrey)

Dan Lawrence (Essex)

Jack Leach (Somerset)

Ollie Pope (Surrey)

Matthew Potts (Durham)

Ollie Robinson (Sussex)

Joe Root (Yorkshire)

Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire)

Seamers Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts and Essex batter Dan Lawrence are returning to the Test squad.

Nottinghamshire quick Olly Stone, who last played for England in June 2021 against New Zealand, will be looking to add to his three Test caps.

Durham fast bowler Mark Wood, who was impressive in the recent 3-0 victory over Pakistan, will take a break from all international and franchise cricket in January to fully recover after a busy winter in all formats. He is expected to tour Bangladesh in March, where England will play three ODIS and three IT20s.

Leg spinner Rehan Ahmed, as part of his management for this winter, will go to the UAE T20 League in January with a view to joining up with the white-ball team in Bangladesh if selected in March.

Yorkshire and England batter Joe Root will play a handful of matches in the UAE T20 League ahead of the tour to New Zealand. He will then have a short break before joining up with the Test team. We believe this is the best way to enhance his game ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India in the autumn of 2023.

Those players involved in the ODI series in South Africa – Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Olly Stone and Will Jacks, who is playing in the South Africa T20 League - will fly directly to join the squad in New Zealand following the conclusion of that series.

==

England Men's Test Tour of New Zealand Schedule: (All timings are local)

Two-day warm-up (red-ball): NZ XI v England, 8-9 February, Seddon Park, Hamilton (11am start)

Two-day warm-up (pink-ball): NZ XI v England 10-11 February, Seddon Park, Hamilton (2pm start)

First Test (pink ball): New Zealand v England, 16-20 February, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui (2pm start)

Second Test: New Zealand v England, 24-28 February, Basin Reserve, Wellington (11am start)

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good balanced sqaud for the conditions.

A pink ball test in NZ will be interesting especially if we get a green wickets, plus pink ball under lights i think both sets of bowlers will be licking their lips.

Broad, Potts etc.. will enjoy Kiwi conditions.

 

[Double Trouble]

Horses for courses selection

Whilst PCB select bowlers who can’t make it into there current domestic first team.

 

[Robert]

Good to see Stone back.

 

[MenInG]

Jamieson set for potential international return against England | Sodhi retained

Bowler Kyle Jamieson has been selected in a BLACKCAPS squad for the first time since he was forced out of last year’s England Test Tour with a back injury.

Jamieson features in a 14-player squad to face England in a two Test series, starting with a Pink-Ball day-night Test at Bay Oval in Tauranga from February 16-20.

The squad also features leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, who has retained his place in the BLACKCAPS squad following his successful return to Test cricket against Pakistan.

The 30-year-old made an impressive return to the Test arena in Pakistan, ending the series as the leading wicket-taker (13) while also adding valuable runs at number eight.

Off-spinning all-rounder Michael Bracewell provides the other spin option in the squad, alongside the pace bowling group of captain Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Jamieson, Neil Wagner and Blair Tickner.

A smaller squad for home tours means there’s no room for spinner Ajaz Patel or batsman Glenn Phillips, both of whom also toured Pakistan recently.

BLACKCAPS Test Squad to face England

Tim Southee (c) (Northern Districts)

Michael Bracewell (Wellington Firebirds)

Tom Blundell (wk) (Wellington Firebirds)

Devon Conway (Wellington Firebirds)

Matt Henry (Canterbury)

Kyle Jamieson (Auckland Aces)

Tom Latham (Canterbury)

Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury)

Henry Nicholls (Canterbury)

Ish Sodhi (Canterbury)

Blair Tickner (Central Stags)

Neil Wagner (Northern Districts)

Kane Williamson (Northern Districts)

Will Young (Central Stags)


BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said the fact Jamieson was available for selection was testament to his dedication to his recovery programme

“Kyle is a very determined character with a strong desire to play international cricket for New Zealand,” said Stead

“Since he was forced from the field in Nottingham he’s been very clear that he wants to get his body right to return.

“He’s reported good progress since his return to professional cricket with Auckland and he will get the opportunity to play some long form cricket as part of the New Zealand XI Squad to face England in their warm-up match next week at Seddon Park.”

Stead said Sodhi’s retention reflected his strong impact on the series against Pakistan.

“Ish really impressed us with his approach with bat and ball. He’s worked very hard on both in recent years and it was great to see that on the international Test stage.”

Wellington Firebirds keeper Tom Blundell and Canterbury bowler Matt Henry both finished the Pakistan Tour with injuries but are both expected to be fully fit when the squad assembles in Tauranga.

Auckland Aces head coach Doug Watson will join up with the Test Squad ahead of the Bay Oval Test as batting coach with regular BLACKCAPS batting coach Luke Ronchi taking a break following the India Tour and joining the group in Wellington.

The second Test of the series will be held at Wellington’s Cello Basin Reserve from February 24-28, where strong crowds are expected with three days already close to being sold out.

NZC will continue to theme the weekend days of Test matches this year with Saturday remaining as ‘Dress Up’ day when prizes will be on offer, and Sunday is as Kids go free with an adult.

The Test Squad will assemble in Tauranga on Sunday February 12.

 

[MenInG]

Jamieson and Young to lead NZ XI against England in Hamilton

Test players Kyle Jamieson and Will Young have been included in a NZ XI squad to play England in a two-day, pink-ball warm-up match, starting at Seddon Park on Wednesday.

The pair last featured for the BLACKCAPS in June and July, respectively, last year, and will be looking to use this opportunity to put the finishing touches on their preparation for the Test series against England, starting at Bay Oval on 16 February.

BLACKCAPS and NZ XI selector Gavin Larsen said the warm-up match would provide another step towards Jamieson’s return to international cricket following a back injury that sidelined him for seven months.

“This is a great opportunity for the NZ XI players, from younger emerging players through to established domestic players, to experience playing against quality international opposition,” said Larsen.

“And it’s another important step for Kyle as he looks to get more quality overs under his belt before the England Test series begins.”

International experience within the squad will also be provided by Central Stags skipper Tom Bruce, who has previously featured in the BLACKCAPS T20I side.

Auckland Aces skipper Robbie O’Donnell and teammate Sean Solia are in the NZ XI mix, the pair (along with Bruce) recently representing New Zealand A in a first-class and List A series against India.

19-year-olds Jacob Cumming and Curtis Heaphy are skilful youngsters taking the field tomorrow who are a look into the next generation of talent.

The remainder of the NZ XI squad, to be captained by Tom Bruce and coached by Paul Wiseman, is made up of players emerging on the domestic scene.

New Zealand XI squad

Tom Bruce (c) (Central Stags)

Adi Ashok (Auckland Aces)

Jacob Cumming (Otago Volts)

Sean Davey (Canterbury)

Curtis Heaphy (wk) (Central Stags)

Kyle Jamieson (Auckland Aces)

Jarrod McKay (Otago Volts)

Robbie O’Donnell (Auckland Aces)

Will O’Donnell (Auckland Aces)

Quinn Sunde (Auckland Aces)

Sean Solia (Auckland Aces)

Theo van Woerkom (Canterbury)

Will Young (Central Stags)

 

[MenInG]

Harry Brook hit five sixes in an over as England warmed up for the first Test against New Zealand with typical aggression in Hamilton.

Brook made 97 of the 465 all out England piled up in only 69.2 overs on day one of the two-day pink-ball match against a New Zealand XI.

After defending the first ball of an over from leg-spinner Adi Ashok, Brook hit the next five balls for maximums.

Dan Lawrence weighed in with 85, Joe Root made 77 and Ben Foakes 55.

England were due to play two two-day matches - one with a red ball and another with the pink - but instead are playing just one, under floodlights, to prepare for the day-night opener to the two-Test series in Mount Maunganui on 16 February.

This batting day was pre-determined and England exhibited all of their attacking intent against a home side that included pace bowler Kyle Jamieson, who has been included in the New Zealand Test squad after recovering from a back injury.

Brook defended the first ball from Ashok's over into the off side, then slog-swept the next ball over the mid-wicket boundary and out of the ground to start the onslaught and he only missed out on a century when he uppercut seamer Jarrod McKay into the hands of third man.

Brook, who made hundreds in all three Tests of England's 3-0 win in Pakistan, has the opportunity to become just the second England batter to score centuries in four successive Tests - after Ken Barrington did so twice in the 1960s - when the tourists meets the Black Caps at the Bay Oval.

"I'm not bothered about that," Brook told BBC Sport. "If I don't get runs, so be it, but if I do get runs it's an absolute bonus.

"All I want to do is try to win as many games as I can for England and hopefully I can be a vital part of that."

"There are so many players in the country," added Yorkshire's Brook. "There are a few sat back at home or playing in a T20 league. There is always competition for places, that is why you have to keep on scoring runs."

Lawrence is playing after captain Ben Stokes opted to sit out and the Essex man demonstrated England's batting depth with a 55-ball knock that included 12 fours and three sixes.

Stokes batted in the nets, bowled in the middle during an interval and chatted to New Zealand skipper Tim Southee, who was in attendance as a spectator.

He again handed the captaincy reins to Ollie Pope, the Surrey man being groomed for leadership. Pope made 26, Ben Duckett 32 and Zak Crawley 17.

Root looked in supreme touch before he edged a sweep down the leg side off a poor delivery from Ashok.

The former captain will be looking to end a run of six Tests without a hundred, a relative lean spell given his spectacular form stretching back to the beginning of 2021.

Jonny Bairstow remains sidelined with a broken leg sustained in an accident playing golf.

 

[Robert]

I'll have.....


Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Stokes - Captain
Foakes - wicket
Robinson
Stone
Leach
Anderson

 

[MenInG]

Pace bowler James Anderson says England have to "deal with the challenge" of Cyclone Gabrielle during the build-up to the first Test against New Zealand.

Some 46,000 homes are without power in northern New Zealand and hundreds of flights have been cancelled.

England trained in covered nets on Monday in Mount Maunganui, but the weather began to worsen by the evening.

"Getting out in the middle, seeing the wicket and practising on the field is unlikely," Anderson told BBC Sport.

The unusual build-up to this series follows the start of England's tour of Pakistan in December, when the squad was hit by a virus that almost caused the first Test to be delayed by a day.

That match ultimately went ahead as scheduled, with England securing a memorable win in Rawalpindi that set them on the way to an unprecedented 3-0 clean sweep.

Cyclone Gabrielle: Thousands left without power in New Zealand
"As a team you get challenges all the time and you have to try to deal with them," said 40-year-old Anderson.

"We dealt with what was thrown at us in Pakistan very well. We came through that and the same will happen here."

Ahead of the day-night match starting on Thursday (01:00 GMT), England trained on grass nets covered by a giant marquee.

Though Joe Root and Will Jacks chose to skip the optional practice session, England at least have a full complement of players in Mount Maunganui. Five of the New Zealand team were missing from training.

Pace bowler Matt Henry is in Christchurch awaiting the birth of his first child, while opener Tom Blundell is still in Wellington after the birth of his second child.

Seamer Blair Tickner and batter Will Young were forced to drive from Napier, while Henry Nicholls will not arrive until Tuesday after his flight from Christchurch was cancelled.

Though the Bay Oval has a reputation for fast drainage, the weather could mean the first Test is a truncated affair.

On the tour of Pakistan, captain Ben Stokes said his shared philosophy with coach Brendon McCullum of risking a defeat in the pursuit of victory could one day lead England to forfeit an innings in order to speed up a match.

"When you see the weather, I'm sure they are putting their heads together and thinking of scenarios that might be thrown up throughout the game," said Anderson.

"I wouldn't write anything off with those two. Even as players we're not quite sure what Ben and Brendon might come up with. They think very outside the box and can come up with some surprises."

England have played six previous day-night Tests, losing their last five.

On Sunday, seamer Ollie Robinson called pink-ball Tests "gimmicky" and Anderson, who has played in all but one of England's day-nighters, said he "hasn't been thrilled" with them.

"It's not something you really look forward to, a day-night game. I don't know who benefits from it," said Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker.

"I'm a traditionalist. I love the red ball and think that is how Test cricket should be played."

There has been only one previous day-night Test in New Zealand, an England defeat in 2018 when the visitors were bowled out for 58 in Auckland.

England beat the Black Caps 3-0 at home last summer, but have not won a Test here in 15 years and New Zealand coach Gary Stead said the hosts will look to exploit any dislike the tourists have for the pink ball.

"We're always looking for something to exploit," said Stead. "It's different, that adds an element of excitement not just for the players, but for the crowds as well."

 

[Saj]

BLACKCAPS bowler Kyle Jamieson has been ruled out of the England Test series with a suspected back stress-fracture, while Matt Henry will miss the first Test at Bay Oval as he awaits the birth of his first child.

The uncapped duo of Jacob Duffy (Otago Volts) and Scott Kuggeleijn (Northern Districts) have been called into the squad and will arrive in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the opening day-night Test against England which starts on Thursday at 2pm.

Tom Blundell, who recently welcomed his second child will also link up with the side later today, along with Henry Nicholls who had his original flight from Christchurch on Monday cancelled due to Cyclone Gabrielle.

BLACKCAPS coach Stead acknowledged it had been a busy few days, but was hopeful with the changes now confirmed the team could focus on the preparation ahead.

“Firstly, we’re delighted for Tom and Kate to have welcomed their second child into the world,” he said.

“Family is always the priority in our environment and that’s informed the decision around Matt and his availability for the Test. We wish him and his wife Holly all the best as they await the birth of their first child in Christchurch.”

Stead confirmed Jamieson’s suspected back stress-fracture was picked up in an MRI scan and is a reoccurrence of the injury that ruled him out of the England Test tour in June.

Since then Jamieson has returned to play for the Auckland Aces in the Dream11 Super Smash and Ford Trophy as well as last week’s New Zealand XI warm-up match against England in Hamilton.

While Jamieson came through those games without issue, Stead said the latest scan results post the two-day warm-up match revealed the suspected fracture which required more investigation.

“It’s really gutting for Kyle to have this happen after he’d put so much hard work in to getting himself back on the park.

“Since the injury in June we’ve certainly taken a cautious approach to managing his return with regular monitoring by our medical staff which has included scans.

“While Kyle’s not feeling any pain, the evidence is pretty clear he has a stress-fracture and so he’ll return to Christchurch today and have a CT scan on Friday before we decide on the next steps.”

Duffy has been included on the past two BLACKCAPS Test tours to England and is the second top wicket-taker at the halfway stage of the Plunket Shield with 22 wickets and two five-wicket hauls to his name.

With Henry expected to be available for the second Test in Wellington starting February 24, a decision on the make-up of the squad will be made post the first Test.

 

[PakLFC]

They should have played 3 tests. Two is neither here nor there.

 

[Robert]

They should have played 3 tests. Two is neither here nor there.

NZ are not a big enough draw sadly. Only Australia and India are now.

It was always the same. The great Hadlee never played a five test series, and only one four test series.

 

[PakLFC]

NZ are not a big enough draw sadly. Only Australia and India are now.

It was always the same. The great Hadlee never played a five test series, and only one four test series.

NZ ate home deserve a three Test series. Defeat Pak away from home is no mean achievement for anyone. a 1-1 draw seems inconclusive if that is how the series finishes.

 

[U$ofA]

Is Boult now only playing IPL and picking and choosing what else he plays for NZ?

 

[MenInG]

Pace bowler Stuart Broad will return to the England team for the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui.

The 36-year-old missed the 3-0 series win in Pakistan in December following the birth of his daughter.

Broad joins James Anderson and Ollie Robinson in the pace attack for the day-night opening match of the two-Test series on Thursday (01:00 GMT).

The match goes ahead despite New Zealand declaring a state of emergency due to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Mount Maunganui has not been hit as badly as other areas in the north of the country and the worst of the weather appeared to have passed by Tuesday morning.

Although both teams still netted under cover on Tuesday, they were able to hold parts of their training sessions on the outfield at a Bay Oval ground that has a reputation for swift drainage.

Missing West Indies tour saved my career - Broad
The prospect of wet weather affecting the Test is receding, but England captain Ben Stokes said he was prepared to think unconventionally in order to force a result if time is lost.

"I'm sure we'll still come up with a way to hopefully force a result regardless of how much time is taken away," said all-rounder Stokes, who confirmed he is fit to bowl despite not having done so in the nets so far this week or taken part in England's warm-up game in Hamilton last week.

England XI for first Test v New Zealand: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Whereas England have a fully fit party to choose from, New Zealand have a shortage of fast bowlers after both Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry were ruled out.

Jamieson, 28, who had only just made a return from seven months out with a back injury, has been ruled out for a lengthy period with a stress fracture of the back.

Henry misses out for the birth of his second child, meaning call-ups for uncapped pair Jacob Duffy and Scott Kuggeleijn.

The Black Caps have resisted summoning Trent Boult, who has taken 317 wickets in 78 Tests, but was released from his central contract last August in order to play in franchise leagues and spend more time with his family.

Boult, 33, is back in New Zealand after playing in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates and lives close to the Bay Oval.

"It's been decided since he gave up his contract that we would give priority to contracted players," said New Zealand coach Gary Stead.

"We discussed it internally but our decision was not to go with Trent on this occasion."

Stead also said there were no "moral issues" over the call-up of Kuggeleijn, 31, who was cleared of a rape charge in 2017. He has since won 20 caps for New Zealand in white-ball formats, although there were protests by fans at international games he played in 2019.

"I get given the players I can select from and he was on the list," said Stead. "When you lose two key bowlers, you look around and ask who are the guys who can do a job for us internationally and he is one who can."

England seamers Anderson and Robinson have both expressed their dislike for the pink ball, with Robinson calling day-night Tests "gimmicky".

But opening batter Ben Duckett said: "I've just faced them in the nets, so I'm not sure why they're not happy. It was tough in there.

"It's no different to any Test match, you've got to play well against a good attack."

Duckett is set to play his first Test outside of Asia after winning his seven previous caps in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

He is part of a top seven that will all be under pressure from Jonny Bairstow when he returns to fitness from a broken leg in time for the home summer.

"I take every game as it comes," said Duckett. "My biggest learning has been not to look too far ahead.

"I just want to keep enjoying myself and keep scoring runs. I don't want to start thinking about what's coming up in the future, just the next few days."

BBC

 

[Nikhil_cric]

This is the Bay Oval pitch 24 hours before the toss tomorrow. It has been a flat, slow pitch in the past with Watling scoring a double hundred .

Some would consider this pitch tampering for altering the natural state of the pitch to counter Bazball. Also, this should put an end to those arguments which claim that NZ can't produce green pitches because of climate change.

 

[MenInG]

New Zealand Test skipper Tim Southee regarded the longest format as the pinnacle of the game, while reflecting on his team selections ahead of the first of two Tests against England, beginning Thursday, 16 February.

Having gone down to India in T20Is as well as ODIs on their recent tour, New Zealand are set to kickstart their home season with a two-match Test series against England, with the first Test to be played at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui from Thursday.

Blair Tickner, the 29-year-old right-arm quick, is set to make his Test debut in the series opener, as confirmed by Blackcaps skipper Tim Southee, with a host of premier quicks unavailable.

Senior quick Trent Boult, having stepped back from his national contract last year, isn’t a part of the squad, while Kyle Jamieson will miss the series with a back injury. Matt Henry too, is unavailable for the first Test as he awaits the birth of his first child. That presents a great opportunity for Tickner, who has bagged 13 wickets from nine ODIs and 16 scalps from 17 T20Is in a fairly young international career to date.

"He's been around the group for a while now and had a taste in the one-day and T20 formats," Southee said of Tickner. "It's exciting for him and his family for what should be a very special occasion."

England captain Ben Stokes too, spoke highly of Tickner, having watched him from close quarters during a domestic stint in the country back in 2017.

"Any team without Trent Boult playing against you gives you a little bit - we know he's a quality performer,” said Stokes. "I played out here for Canterbury a few years ago and played against Tickner, he's a big fella. Runs in and hits the deck hard. Yeah, I think he loves to get into the contest."

Though the series is not a part of the ongoing ICC Men’s World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle, there’s an added spice to it even before the start. England, under Stokes and Test coach Brendon McCullum, have embraced an ultra-aggressive style of play ever since the two took over in their respective roles at the start of last home summer, having won nine of the ten Tests since - a run that started with a 3-0 sweep of New Zealand at home.

The Blackcaps meanwhile, haven’t lost a Test series at home since their 0-1 defeat to South Africa back in 2017.

Southee acknowledged his former New Zealand skipper McCullum’s influence on Test cricket during his ongoing stint as the England coach, regarding the format as the “pinnacle” of the game.

"I think if you ask the majority of people they still see Test cricket as the pinnacle," Southee said. "Credit to Ben and Brendon (McCullum) and the way they've turned things around and made it exciting for people to come and watch and be part of it.

"Just look at the ticket sales for this series, there's still plenty of interest in Test cricket and that's exciting. For me it's still the pinnacle of the game. Times are changing with franchise cricket and short-format cricket, but the majority of players still see it as the pinnacle.

ICC

 

[MenInG]

Feb 23 (Reuters) - England will play the same style with the same team in the second test against New Zealand, skipper Ben Stokes confirmed on Thursday, while the hosts look set to bring Matt Henry into their bowling attack as they try to level up the series.

The tourists romped to a 267-run victory in the day-night opening test in Tauranga last weekend on the back of the "Bazball" style of cricket they have been playing under Stokes and coach Brendon "Baz" McCullum.

Seamers Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson all played key roles in the win and Stokes said it was a no-brainer to send out the same side at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Friday after all three had indicated they were good to go.

"It was just a case of seeing how the bowlers pulled up and they've all pulled up pretty well so, yeah, unchanged team," he told reporters.

"It is a fine line between picking your strongest 11 and ensuring that the bowlers that you pick are 100%. It was pretty easy to pick the team once they told me they were ready to go."

Last week's victory was a first in a test for England in New Zealand since 2008 and they now have a chance to inflict a first home test series defeat on the Black Caps in six years.

In keeping with the philosophy of "Bazball", however, Stokes said England would be focusing on playing entertaining cricket rather than the result.

"It would be great to leave here with a 2-0 series win but I don't think we'll be looking to go in here to achieve that," Christchurch-born Stokes added.

"I think we'll be looking to play the exact same cricket we've been playing the last 10 to 12 months and if New Zealand are better than us this week, then we'll be able to say that."

New Zealand skipper Tim Southee has made it clear his side will be glad to be back playing red ball cricket this week after being thoroughly out-strategised by England in the pink ball match at Bay Oval.

The seamer added that New Zealand were highly unlikely to try and copy England's aggressive style of play in the second and final test in Wellington.

"You've got to look at your side and try and work with what you've got," he told reporters.

"That works for England because of the makeup of their side but it's about us finding a way that works for us.

"We know these conditions reasonably well and I guess that's where your home advantage comes into it."

Home advantage in test cricket usually includes the preparation of the wicket, although Stokes noted that former New Zealand test captain McCullum would have a fair idea of what the grassy track at the Basin Reserve might serve up.

Southee said there was unlikely to be any change to a New Zealand top order that got poor returns in Tauranga but that seamer Henry, who missed the first test because of the birth of his first child, would probably come back into the side.

"Matt's been a new-ball bowler for a while and been around the test side for a good long time so I guess he'll slide back in," he said.

"That's a decision that we have to make once we get a decent look at the wicket."