NZ vs ENG, 1st ODI, Preview: Focus on Ben Stokes as teams return to 50-over format

Both the teams will look to grab the early advantage in the series.

Published - 24 Feb 2018, 13:10 IST | Updated - 24 Feb 2018, 13:10 IST

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England player Ben Stokes looks on in the nets during an England training session

England’s tour of New Zealand gets underway in a proper manner now as the teams set their sights on the World Cup next year. Both the teams were hammered by well-equipped Australia in the recently concluded tri-series in the shortest format. While they endure some troubles in the T20 format, they would prefer concentrating on 50-over cricket for now in order to find a settled combination for the marquee event. However, England will have to focus on their game first as all the focus has been on Ben Stokes who will return to the action on Sunday.

A lot has happened in the England camp since Ben Stokes was banned from playing by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) due to his alleged involvement in the brawl outside the bar in Bristol. They lost the Ashes down under after which they went on to trump the World Champions in ODIs with their fearless approach. However, the same approach brought to the fore a lot of questions in the shortest format after they failed to make it to the final of the tri-series against the New Zealand and Australia.

However, their limited overs outfit is far more settled now and a thumping victory over Australia in their own den must give them the confidence of beating the Kiwis as well.

New Zealand too are in red-hot form after whitewashing Pakistan in January and would be itching to continue in the same vein. Moreover, they are the toughest team to beat at home and the contest is expected to be a fascinating one. Though they would want to experiment with the line-up in this series which would give them the clear idea about their combination for the World Cup.

Seddon Park in Hamilton is known to dish out a slow surface which will aid the spinners from both the sides. The teams chasing the total has won 19 matches out of 32 ODIs played at the venue. Though the fearless England batsmen and small ground could make merry if the hosts miss their mark.

Team Combination

New Zealand

Ish Sodhi was recalled to the ODI set up for the first couple of ODIs after he troubled the visitors in the preceding T20 Internationals. He might come back into the contention straight away and partner the left-arm spinner, Mitchell Santner. The rest of the line-up looks similar to what faced Pakistan last month. The openers Colin Munro and Martin Guptill will be followed by the experience of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor after which the specialists follow. Also, Tim Southee and Trent Boult walk into the XI on any day for the Kiwis in any format.

Predicted XI: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

England

Ben Stokes is set to return to the playing XI after a long gap of almost five months with one of the middle-order batsmen to make way for him. England will also be bolstered in the bowling front with his return who struggled with injuries recently. Alex Hales might miss out after Jonny Bairstow did enough in Australia to retain his place in the team. The likes of Joe Root, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali also return to the squad after a decent rest which makes the visitors a strong unit.

On the pace-bowling front, there will be an issue though about playing David Willey and Tom Curran. However, the latter might edge out the former following his five-wicket haul in the last ODI against Australia.

Predicted XI: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran, Mark Wood

Head to Head

Played – 84 New Zealand – 41 England – 37 NR – 4 Tied – 2

Focus will be on

Martin Guptill (New Zealand)

Martin Guptill plundered 180 off 138 balls against South Africa at the same venue which was a day-night encounter. All the eyes will be on him as the team will once again hope a similar kind of performance from him. He was the highest run-getter in the T20I tri-series and is in excellent touch and he would love to continue in the same form. He is one man who can play long innings after getting his eye in and if that happens, New Zealand are most likely to take the lead in the series.

Ben Stokes (England)

No doubt he will be under the scanner in his first international outing after Bristol brawl. There should be no surprise if the crowd boos him after coming on the field but the all-rounder is strong lad as he loves to go against the odds. He is one of the most valuable players for England and will love to make the immediate impact with his performance. His presence with the bat in the middle order will only help them at any stage of the game. On the bowling front too it would be only a matter of time for him to come into his own.