Perched on a table just above where the England team are performing their warmup routine of ‘Pig’, I am feeling an acute sense of imposter syndrome.
Ollie Pope has just emerged from the tunnel, brandishing a fresh pair of wicketkeeping gloves, Brendon McCullum appears to be leading Gus Atkinson in a speedy yoga session, and Jacob Bethell is performing even more media duties. The England team appear to be in high spirits, as Harry Brook and Ben Stokes ponder over a green-tinged wicket. With the Test Match starting tomorrow, the England team seem calm and ready.
Wicketkeeper woes for England again
Nonetheless, the week leading up to the first of three Test Matches between England and New Zealand has been far from stress-free. The unfortunate news of wicketkeeper-batsman, Jordon Cox, who was set to make his debut in Christchurch on Thursday, fracturing his thumb during a net session in Queenstown, sparked an element of chaos in the England camp. Once again, England have been stranded without a reserve keeper. Once again, Ollie Pope will take the gloves and shuffle down the order to number six. This is not the first time this has happened. In fact, this will be the third time that Ollie Pope has been forced into the designated wicketkeeper position, having previously kept wicket in New Zealand in 2019, and in Pakistan in 2022. The oversight to not select a reserve keeper on these tours begs the question as to whether the triumvirate of Key, McCullum, and Stokes need to focus a little bit more on practical details, alongside their staunch mentality selections. It is expected that Durham’s Ollie Robinson will be called up for the second Test in Wellington, beginning on the 6th December.
Bethell at 3 is a brave move
As a result of the vice-captain’s move down the order to number 6, Jacob Bethell is set to make his debut at number 3, a surprise move due to the fact that Bethell is yet to score a first-class hundred, with an average of 25. Nonetheless, Bethell will also add an extra option of spin, alongside Joe Root, and frontline spinner, Shoaib Bashir. England’s selection of a frontline spinner comes as a slight surprise as well. With overcast conditions and a green wicket in Christchurch, one would assume that the part-time spin of Bethell and Root would suffice, with conditions perfectly suiting seam bowling. This methodology was clearly approved by the Black Caps, with Head Coach, Gary Stead and skipper, Tom Latham choosing to omit both Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner from the squad, (the highest wicket takers for New Zealand during their historic whitewash of India last month), choosing to play an additional batter, with Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra providing options for part-time spin.
Straight talking on spin from England Captain
Speaking to England Captain, Ben Stokes earlier today, I questioned him on the decision to play a frontline spinner: “Having a spinner is very important wherever you go. You never know how conditions will change over a long period of time”. He also stated that during their last tour of New Zealand in 2022, the match in Wellington provided a wicket that shares many similarities to the one about to be played on in Christchurch today. Whilst the wicket appeared to suit seam, it evolved into a wicket that offered a lot of turn and bounce by the end of Day 2. Stokes also recognized the value of having an outlet to provide the England quicks with a rest: “Even in spin friendly conditions, it is valuable to bowl spin to give seamers a break, and it’s a great opportunity for Bash to learn and progress as a spin bowler”.
With the Hagley Oval expected to be sold out for the first two days of this Test Match, the series could not be more finely poised. New Zealand come into the series as favorites on the back of their comprehensive thrashing of India, yet England will be keen to strike back after their disappointing tour of Pakistan in October. With talisman Kane Williamson returning to the side, displacing Will Young (the player of the series on the India tour), the Blackcaps are brimming with confidence. The stakes for New Zealand are far higher than for England, with a whitewash victory propelling their chances to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship, currently sitting narrowly behind Sri Lanka in fourth. New Zealand captain, Tom Latham, admitted earlier today that the rankings are “in the back of our minds”, but insisting that “it is not a distraction”. When asked about the World Test Championship ranking system, Stokes replied that “He is more focused on getting a result out of each game as they come”.
The addition of a third match this time round will ensure a series result, come the 18th of December, providing the rain stays away – a refreshing change after the agonizing 1-1 draw back in 2022. The first Test of the New Zealand summer promises to be a thriller, and with much on the line, both teams will look to take the game away from the other on day 1. For New Zealand, the chances are that the top order will attempt to subdue the English quicks with a patient display of defense, whereas England will come out swinging in a typically ‘Bazballian’ fashion, against a relatively new Kiwi seam attack.
