Engalnd v New Zealand in 2015

New Zealand will play two Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international from 21 May to 23 June. Originally designed as an Ashes warm-up, the resurgence of NZ cricket will mean a very stiff test for England. Early season weather conditions will also suit the Kiwi attack.

 

Fri May 8 - Mon May 11
Somerset v New Zealanders - County Ground, Taunton
Thu May 14 - Sun May 17
Worcestershire v New Zealanders - County Ground, New Road, Worcester
Thu May 21 - Mon May 25
1st Test - England v New Zealand - Lord's, London
Fri May 29 - Tue Jun 2
2nd Test - England v New Zealand - Headingley, Leeds
Sat Jun 6 (50 ovs)
Leicestershire v New Zealanders - Grace Road, Leicester
Tue Jun 9 (50 ovs)
1st ODI - England v New Zealand - Edgbaston, Birmingham
Fri Jun 12 (50 ovs)
2nd ODI - England v New Zealand - Kennington Oval, London
Sun Jun 14 (50 ovs)
3rd ODI - England v New Zealand - The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Wed Jun 17 (50 ovs)
4th ODI - England v New Zealand - Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Sat Jun 20 (50 ovs)
5th ODI - England v New Zealand - Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
Tue Jun 23 (20 ovs)
Only T20I - England v New Zealand - Old Trafford, Manchester

 

New Zealand have recalled batsman Martin Guptill to the Test squad for their forthcoming tour of England.
Guptill, 28, has not played a Test since the 2013 tour to England, but last month hit 237 against West Indies, the highest score in World Cup history.

 

Test squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson.
ODI and T20 squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson.

 

Looking forward to the T20 game. Shame it's just the one - and will probably end with 8 overs to spare if England bat first.

 

This warm-up series should help give our boys a bit of confidence going on to the main course.

 

I'm not sure being smacked back over your head repeatedly for six by McCullum does much for confidence

 

Quite a few of their side will fly in just before the 1st test (due to IPL) - will be interesting to see how well prepared they are for red ball cricket

In terms of test rankings - England are ranked 4th and NZ 5th

 

Peter Moores sacked. Farbrace coach for NZ series

 

Hopefully they will get rid of Whittaker as well

 

New Zealand wrapped up a 66-run victory over Somerset in their opening tour match despite an entertaining final-day hundred from James Hildreth.

 

England squad for first Test against New Zealand
Alastair Cook (capt, Essex), Adam Lyth (Yorkshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jos Buttler (wkt, Lancashire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Mark Wood (Durham)

12 players named so Adam Lyth will make his debut - Mark Wood will compete for the 4th seamer spot

 

No spinner.

 

Yes - worrying - wait until the Australians go after him

 

Ali and Root to fudge it again. Wickets usually fall to swing/seam in May at Lords but come the drier pitches of summer, England need a proper solution.

Rashid was picked for the WI tour, didn't play and has returned to take 8-118 or thereabouts in his first CC game. What does he have to do to get selected? They picked him for a tour but have done everything since to avoid playing him in a match!

 

New Zealanders 261 for 9 dec (Rutherford 75) and 275 for 9 dec (Guptill 150, Choudhry 5-78) beat Worcestershire 291 for 7 dec (Whiteley 103*) and 230 (Kohler-Cadmore 55, Craig 4-56) by 15 runs

 

Not the best start - counter attack on with Root and Stokes?

 

Great recovery, rapidly approaching 400.

 

A great day for England's younger players.

Nice to see runs scored at a good tempo (fraction under 4 an over). Had the top order got runs, we'd be discussing whether 230-4 was a good score.

 

A great days test cricket - wish I had been there

England are 354 for 7 (Root 98, Stokes 92, Butler 67,Moeen 49*, Henry 3-93) against New Zealand at the end of the first day at Lords

Good recovery from 30-4