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first

New coach, new captain etc for England but it looks like it'll be much the same players in the team (with Potts being the only possible newcomer). So it'll be interesting to see what McCullum et al can do with them. Pope batting at 3 looks like a big gamble.

I think New Zealand will win this series unfortunately but who knows!

New Zealand got beaten by an England B/C/D team over the weekend. So they've had a pretty tough game to get them prepared against some in form county cricketers.

The England lads have prepared well with some T20 Blast cricket although there had been loads of county championship cricket so they can't say they are undercooked this time.

Team announced as Crawley, Lees, Pope, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Foakes, Potts, Leach, Broad, Anderson. Been saying it on the county cricket thread but Brook should be in there at 5 with one of Bairstow or Foakes at 7. Pope shouldn't be at 3 but at least there is a plan with him, albeit one based on a hunch rather than evidence.

I'm not even going to get started on the openers! Although good luck to them both.

That top 3 is very concerning. Going to need plenty of runs from the middle order as the tail also looks weak.

Hopefully it's a competitive series. You'd think Broad and Anderson back and wanting to prove a point should mean our bowling is much improved at least. Never even heard of this Potts lad, but can't be any worse than Overton, who is not test standard.

Potts is quick but not rapid, more in the mid 80s sort of pace but he can crank it up to 90. He's been in terrific form this season though and is more of a hit the deck bowler so offers something different to Broad and Anderson. It means Stokes doesn't need to be the guy we turn to for a short bowling barrage if we go with that tactic at some point.

Can't believe Harry Brook has been left out. 800 runs at an average of 140 in the county championship this season.

Evening Arsenal 👍, looking forward to Test cricket for the summer until we get back to the green baise in the autumn...

Need a wicket

Hi all

Pre game predictions:

Crawley will look majestic in scoring 13 and be praised for an excellent innings
Pope will make a scratchy 7 and get bowled
Root will top score
Bairstow will get bowled
Stokes will be pulling his hair out as Southee runs through our top order
I'll be banging on about the fact that Ben Compton and Harry Brook should be playing
Leach will twirl away at 3.9 an over
Potts will bowl well without much luck
Jimmy and Broad will do their best to save us
Conway will be a thorn in our side
Southee will go mental with bat
We'll make Colin de Grandhomme look like 05 Ashes Flintoff

But England to win under the B'Mac 'n Stokes regime

NZ win the toss and bat

At lest I won’t be praying for rain by 11:30am

Jimmy opening the bowling and starts well.

Jimmy strikes, great catch by Bairstow.

Maiden for Jimmy....first up.

What a catch JB

Great start.

Perfect start.....sounds like a corker of a grab.

And again!

Two great catches from Bairstow

Jimmy again, JB again - at the second attempt!