Welcome to Sportstar‘s LIVE protection of the first Check match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s, London.
MATCH PREVIEW
England will hope to make a contemporary begin below its new management duo of captain Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum towards the coach’s native New Zealand at Lord’s on Thursday.
Stokes, himself born in New Zealand however introduced up in Cumbria, northwest England, has succeeded Joe Root as England’s Check skipper after his shut buddy stood down following a run of poor outcomes.
Chris Silverwood’s sacking after a 4-0 Ashes collection loss in Australia paved the best way for McCullum’s appointment as England’s new Check coach, with the previous New Zealand captain’s first match in cost pitting him towards a aspect he is aware of so nicely.
England hope the attacking method McCullum pioneered whereas kick-starting a New Zealand revival that culminated within the Black Caps being topped World Check champion final yr, by when he had retired as a participant, will rub off on his new workforce.
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“My job will probably be to plan as should you’ll stay perpetually, however stay as should you’ll die tomorrow,” mentioned McCullum forward of a three-match collection.
He would seem to have a kindred spirit alongside him in aggressive all-rounder Stokes.
England has additionally ‘gone again to the long run’ by recalling skilled new-ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad to its squad at Lord’s.
The pair, England’s two most profitable bowlers at this stage, with 1,177 Check wickets between them, have been controversially omitted from a latest 1-0 collection loss within the Caribbean.
‘Mindset’
That reverse meant England had received simply considered one of its final 17 Checks and it’s now backside of the World Check Championship desk.
However a coverage of relaxation and rotation, a consequence in a part of tight coronavirus restrictions, is now not favoured by a brand new regime eager to focus on the sport in entrance of them.
Broad is keen to play his half, though he could also be denied a twenty fifth Check look at Lord’s this week amid competitors from Craig Overton and the uncapped Matthew Potts.
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“From the surface if you see a Brendon McCullum and a Ben Stokes mindset come collectively, it is fairly thrilling,” mentioned Broad, 35.
“Brendon mentioned to the bowling group: ‘do not focus an excessive amount of on economic system charges, I would like wickets. Let’s attempt to get as many wickets as we will, as quickly as attainable’. So it is ‘the place can I get an additional slip from? The place can I get a brief leg from?’ reasonably than being too defensive.”
New Zealand, which may very well be with out Trent Boult following the left-arm fast’s latest arrival from Indian Premier League responsibility, has had simply two warm-up video games in England previous to the primary Check.
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Final yr, nonetheless, it had even much less preparation forward of a two-match collection in England and nonetheless emerged 1-0 winner earlier than beating India within the inaugural World Check Championship remaining at Southampton.
Enjoying at Lord’s has impressed many a touring workforce, with New Zealand paceman Tim Southee — who has taken 20 wickets in 4 Checks at Lord’s, together with five-wicket hauls in 2013 and 2021 that gained him a spot on the dressing room honours board — eager so as to add to his tally on the ‘House of Cricket’.
“It is a particular place,” he mentioned. “I have been lucky to play right here a couple of instances and also you get that tingling feeling each time you flip up right here…You stroll in, you lookup and I believe the very first thing everybody does is lookup the honours board and also you see some fairly cool names.”
However the groups will not be greeted by the sight of a conventional packed crowd for a Check at Lord’s, with some 16,000 tickets over the primary 4 days on the London floor nonetheless out there 48 hours earlier than the beginning of the match.
Peak ticket costs of £160 ($202) per day amid price of residing issues could have performed an element in diminished gross sales, with occasions surrounding the platinum jubilee of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II one other potential issue.
However Broad mentioned England had a responsiblity to enthuse their followers.
“It is not simply outcomes, it is the fashion of cricket,” he defined.
“To draw the followers we have now to construct on that fashion of cricket and have a method that folks wish to watch.”
PLAYING XI
England: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Matthew Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson
New Zealand: To be introduced
SQUADS
England: Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes, Matty Potts, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Harry Brook, Craig Overton
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Colin de Grandhomme, Will Younger, Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell, Cam Fletcher, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel