Blackcaps vs England: First Test Preview
Not much about this summer has felt normal for folks across Aotearoa and as the sun battles pesky rain, the first dose of Test cricket this summer arrives with Blackcaps hosting England at Bay Oval. Blackcaps have been on a weird journey this summer with a drawn Test series and ODI series win in Pakistan followed by a development excursion in India. Lots of Blackcaps were deployed throughout this tour and now the focus sharpens towards a funky day/night Test against the team who swept Blackcaps aside last year.
Despite the perception of Blackcaps in India, their recent pivot has many encouraging wrinkles. The drawn Test series in Pakistan didn't help Aotearoa in the World Test Championship as they are still ranked 8th with a 2-6-3 record. Pakistan are one spot ahead of the kiwis and the drawn series reflects this, flowing into a series against England that is not part of the WTC. Blackcaps will host Sri Lanka who are 3rd and two wins would bump Blackcaps up to a mid-table spot.
Blackcaps have played 23 Tests in Pakistan with a 2-13-8 record. Wins in Pakistan have been rare for Aotearoa Test teams dating back to 1955 and the last time Aotearoa drew a Test in Pakistan prior to this tour was 1984. Aotearoa then lost five of the next six Tests in Pakistan and managed one win. Positive results are not easy for Blackcaps in Pakistan and the same applies to Sri Lanka touring Aotearoa.
The ODI series win was fabulous as Blackcaps are currently the best ODI team in the world, ranked 1st in the World Cup Super League. Blackcaps are the only team with 14 wins and Pakistan are currently 4th, so defeating them in their backyard was an excellent result.
Blackcaps have made consecutive ODI World Cup finals and four consecutive ODIWC semi-finals. They have also made three consecutive T20 World Cup semi-finals with one final appearance. The WTC success is aligned with consistently solid Blackcaps mahi, although this England match up is extremely pesky considering three losses by 5+ wickets last year and the Aotearoa connection in England's set up.
While this Test series is not part of the WTC, Blackcaps once again inform kiwi cricket folk of its importance. Blackcaps rolled with their best players in Pakistan. They did not select their best ODI or T20I outfits against India, rolling out fringe batters who were in form slumps this summer and a group of seamers who were 2nd-3rd 11 kiwi cricketers. Blackcaps told us which leg was more important and despite this being a random Test series against England, it's obviously a massive series for Blackcaps and kiwi cricket fans.
Kyle Jamieson returns to the Blackcaps squad and Ish Sodhi is retained as the squad's spinner. Both selections set up an intriguing first Test at Bay Oval as the three Tests played in Tauranga all featured spinners in both teams. This is countered by the day/night vibes as the pink ball loves to move and groove.
Bay Oval is among the most spinniest pitches in Aotearoa, along with Seddon Park and Cobham Oval - all of which are in the wider Northern Districts region. Blackcaps have won Tests against England and Pakistan there, while the loss to Bangladesh came in favourable kiwi conditions for the tourists (Bangladesh then lost the second Test in Christchurch with plenty of swing/seam).
Mitchell Santner played two of the three Tests and Rachin Ravindra played the other Test for Blackcaps at Bay Oval. Michael Bracewell is now playing that role and selecting him would allow Blackcaps to play a seam unit of Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner and Jamieson (Blair Tickner's the depth guy).
The case for Sodhi's selection at Bay Oval is hindered by the pink ball factor. Apparently Jamieson will only play one Test - probably the first Test to take advantage of the pink ball. Bay Oval will offer Sodhi assistance, but he would also be useful at the Basin Reserve where runs flow and the deck usually offers kiwi bounce.
This little battle will inform folks about Southee's captaincy style. Under Williamson's captaincy, Blackcaps usually had a safe spinning all-rounder and a flush seam department. The first series with Southee featured Sodhi in the squad, plenty of overs for Sodhi and Sodhi's best mahi. Based off that small sample size, Southee may want a spin weapon in his team and this selection pocket could signal the greatest shift between these two Test captains.
Jamieson is not saviour. As you can see his Test figures have mellowed out with each year of his Test career...
2020: 159.2ov, 25w @ 14.44avg/2.26rpo
2021: 188.2ov, 27w @ 17.51avg/2.51rpo
2022: 179.2ov, 20w @ 28.35avg/3.16rpo
Jamieson has stacked up overs in Ford Trophy and Super Smash, showing is quality at that level with wickets (5w) in four of his five games played since returning from injury. Jamieson has taken 3+ wickets in just one of his last 12 innings and hasn't been snapping up the baggies of 4-5-6 wickets like he did at the start of his career. Jamieson didn't dominate domestic cricket in recent weeks either, which serves as a warning about him being a superhero saviour.
Tom Latham, Devon Conway and Williamson are the divine trinity of Blackcaps batting. Daryl Mitchell struggled in Pakistan but has built up plenty of run-scoring mana and should keep his middle-order spot. Part of the Blackcaps pivot was Conway replacing Will Young as opener and this sets up Young vs Henry Nicholls for another middle-order spot.
Nicholls played both Tests in Pakistan and was the worst Blackcaps batter not named Southee, Wagner or Henry. Nicholls averages 48 in Aotearoa and has scored at least one century in six consecutive years of Test batting. Nicholls is the safe option here and while he isn't a dominant Test force, Nicholls tends to find a score when he and Aotearoa needs it.
Young has been blazing in domestic cricket. Young also has six 50+ scores in 20inns of Test batting, averaging 40+ in First-Class and List-A cricket (80+ games in both) and has a strong case for being one of Aotearoa's best batting talents. Young wasn't an opener prior to his Blackcaps stint and his selection could come in his favoured #4 slot.
Nicholls is more likely to start at Bay Oval as Blackcaps have faith in their Test cricketers to suss out dips in form. Young is a delightful back up for this Test series and he may demand an opportunity with runs for the Aotearoa 11 in their warm up game against England.
Like the tour of India, this Test series vs England falls outside the contextual framework of WTC/WCSL. Unlike the tour of India, this Test series against England is headline status and the first celebration of Test cricket in Aotearoa this summer. Blackcaps are coming off an impressive Test series in Pakistan and despite the day/night status, Bay Oval may serve up a quirky kiwi cricket pitch for extra funk.
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