The Black Caps know that a series whitewash against England will secure their place in the WTC final. The three-match series gets underway on Thursday in Christchurch. Jonhenry Wilson previews.
New Zealand v England – First Test
28 November – 2 December 2024
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Christchurch is a venue of few draws. In the last 13 Tests played at Hagley Oval, there has been just one draw. The side batting second has won the bulk of those games (eight). Win the toss and field will be the expectation.
Last time these sides met in a Test series was at the start of 2023. Back then it was just two matches, and the series ended 1-1 with the hosts drawing the series in dramatic fashion as they won the second Test by a single run. It should be close once again in 2024.
A series whitewash for New Zealand will secure their place in the final of the World Test Championships. It would be their second Lords final in three cycles.
The standout feature of this series will undoubtedly be the battle between the two batsmen currently regarded as best in the world.
New Zealand batter Kane Williamson has been out with injury and missed the series against India, but he’s back. As the second-ranked batsman in the world, he will be looking to make an impact against England’s Joe Root, who’s ranked number one.
To Win Match
New Zealand 97/100 | Draw 11/1 | England 6/5
While Williamson was out injured his understudy, Will Young, was named Player of the Series in India. In a batting line-up that also features Daryl Mitchell (ranked seventh in the world) and the emerging talents of Rachin Ravindra they need to find space for Young – or do they? However you dress it up, the Black Caps boast a phenomenally strong batting lineup.
While he may not be the force he once was, Tim Southee is still a phenomenal bowler. With 104 Tests to his name and 385 wickets, this is his final series before retirement. He will want to go out on a high. Keep an eye on him – he’s 15 scalps away from an incredible 400 wickets.
New Zealand look set to go into the game with four quicks on what is traditionally a seamer-friendly surface. With Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and Southee all seemingly certain to start the role of the fourth quick will go to either Nathan Smith or Jacob Duffy.
As strong as the New Zealand batting lineup is, so too is England’s. Root is currently the top-ranked batsman globally, while Harry Brook is at three and Ben Duckett at 12. Along with those players there are also the likes of Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley and skipper Ben Stokes who are capable of having major impacts on an innings.
England may be out of the running for the World Test Championship but that won’t stop them going hard at New Zealand when the sides square up for the first Test in Christchurch. Going hard is what Bazball is all about and England’s Kiwi coach Brendon McCullum won’t hold back just because he is on home soil.
Given they still get scheduled for five and three test series, England have played considerably more Tests than any other side in the World Test Championships. To put it into perspective, in the current cycle England have lost nine Tests, which is one more than South Africa have played in total. England’s nine losses come from 19 games, so unlike New Zealand, there can be no suggestions that they’ve not played enough of the format.
Verdict: New Zealand 9/10
Home ground advantage, playing with their tails up after the magnificent recent tour to India and bolstered by the return of talisman Kane Williamson, this Black Caps side should have too much for an England side who don’t have much to play for.
