Two teams that are in different confidence levels are up against each other in the southern most part of the world. England and New Zealand are two contrasting teams with one of them still has an outside chance of making it to the WTC finals in June. New Zealand are really buoyant after their historic and significant whitewash of India in India whereas England, after an impressive win in the first Test against Pakistan, was disillusioned by two chastening defeats against the same opposition. However, the conditions in New Zealand is not that different from England and so, England must feel at home. England in New Zealand offers a chance for both set of cricketers to show the world that they are among the good teams around.
The last time these teams met in New Zealand, England, on the back of impressive Bazball cricket, were extremely ebullient and cheerful that they were expected to win the series quite easily. The New Zealand that reached the final of the inaugural WTC, was far removed from the New Zealand that fronted up against England. If not for a shocking and mind-numbing declaration on the part of Stokes, England would have won that series rather comfortably. The current series, I expect England to prevail. More onto that later.
The presence of Ben Stokes
From a fabulous first year as captain, Stokes has hit a road-block. Under his captaincy, England were unable to win the two important series. Against Australia at home, they were only able to draw the series. If Nathan Lyon had not hobbled off after the 2nd Test, Australia may have even won the series. The only saving grace of that series was the fact that England came back from a 0-2 deficit to draw the series. What followed in India was even worse, with the series lost 1-4. England went to Pakistan hoping that they could repeat the result of the previous tour. Until the first Test, it appeared so and then Pakistan found the secret to defeat England.
In Pakistan, Stokes wasn’t really present. He missed the Sri Lankan series because of a hamstring tear. He went to Pakistan with the same injury and missed the first Test. Though he returned for the last two, his conduct was anything but professional with drop catches. misfields and a lacklustre captaincy. It later emerged that his home was burgled in England with the inmates present. Hence, his lack of leadership was quite understandable. Based on reports, he has since then, apologised to the England team for his poor conduct on the tour.
“It was one of my hardest trips,” said Stokes. “But also one that I’ve hugely benefited from. That definitely has an impact on, not only the players around me, but also the group and the management around you as well. Because everyone’s walking on eggshells around you, because they can sense it. But it wasn’t till I got home that I realised that then, obviously, with the robbery happening, that made more of everything for me out there.”
England need a rejuvenated Stokes.
How the teams stack up?
On paper, both the teams looks equal. I think that it is the attitude of the Englishmen that will determine who wins the series. England are yet to register a series win in 4 attempts. Bazball has done wonders for England except in Asia. They followed the same approach last time around in New Zealand and they were better off for it if not for that ridiculous decision to declare. Rachin Ravindra, a fabulous and talented New Zealand batsman will be key. He has all the bases covered and it not perturbed by pace, swing or spin. England know what to expect of Williamson but Ravindra is new to them. On the tour of India, Ravindra showed that he can adapt to the dramatically different conditions. At home, he will be a handful. He is pleasing to watch and is patience personified at the wicket.
England has taken tall fast bowlers in a bid to prepare them for the next year’s Ashes in Australia. Guy Atkinson, Oliver Stone and Brydon Carse are tall with pace to boot. The pitches in New Zealand is unlikely to help their style of bowling but the experience will be vital. Oliver Stone, who is back after a prolonged injury, he will be able to understand whether his body can withstand the rigours of Test cricket.
New Zealand do not possess a strong bowling attack. Matt Henry, Tim Southee and William O’Rourke, these bowlers are not someone England have not seen in County Cricket. For Southee, this is his final series and he would like to retire on a high note. It will all boil down to how New Zealand batsmen are able to mitigate the England bowlers.
Wrapping up England in New Zealand
I will sign off with the thoughts of Tom Latham, “New conditions, new team – for us, it’s about trying to take as much confidence as we can from that series. The way we played, the approach we tried to take into that series in conditions that were tough. Knowing that we can do it all around the world is the confidence we need to take into here. And obviously, nice coming home to familiar conditions.”