NZ vs ENG 2024/25, NZ vs ENG 1st Test Match Report, November 28th – December 2nd 2024
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NZ vs ENG 2024/25, NZ vs ENG 1st Test Match Report, November 28th – December 2nd 2024

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

England won the toss and chose to bowl first against… New Zealand

England won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first Test in Christchurch, on a green-colored pitch but under clear skies, with the prospect of a hot day on the field if New Zealand could cope with the early movement against the new ball can.

“Normally the wicket here gets better and better,” said Ben Stokes, England captain. “There’s a nice patch of grass on it so hopefully we can get something out of it with the new ball.”

He also confirmed a debut for Jacob Bethell, who will play at No.3 and whose cap was presented before the game by his Warwickshire – and now England – teammate Chris Woakes. Joe Root also received a commemorative cap from James Anderson to mark his 150th Test.

Bethell’s opportunity came after Jordan Cox pulled out of the series with a hand injury and was earmarked for his own debut as wicketkeeper – a role that will now pass to Ollie Pope. “It’s never nice to see a young, talented kid get injured, but I’m really excited for Bethell to get a chance today,” Stokes added.

With Cox absent, Durham’s Ollie Robinson has been officially added to the England squad and is expected to arrive in the country on Saturday after his passport extension led to a postponement of his departure date.

It is England’s second tour of the country in successive calendar years, following a memorable season in early 2023 that ended 1-1 following New Zealand’s one-run win in the second Test in Wellington. However, they have not won a series in the country since 2008.

“We always try to progress the game so it’s great that it’s a three-game series this time,” Stokes said. “If the results are like last time, hopefully we have a winner.”

Tom Latham, New Zealand’s captain, confirmed he would have also bowled first but was optimistic about his team’s prospects after their magnificent 3-0 series win in India earlier this month. Nathan Smith will make his debut as a seam bowling all-rounder, while Kane Williamson returns from a groin injury at number 3.

“If you bat well in the first session, it can get a little easier. The audience is right behind us, which we obviously appreciate. It’s a great time for New Zealand cricket at the moment. Every time someone makes their debut, it’s a special time. I’m really happy for him.

The teams will compete for the newly minted Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, which was brought onto the pitch before national anthems by Deb Crowe, sister of former New Zealand captain Martin, and her grandson Tim Harvey, alongside Michael Atherton and Graham Thorpe, former teammate and captain.

“It’s great to be playing in this series,” Stokes said. “Two legends of the game, for both New Zealand and English cricket and around the world. It’s special to commemorate them in this series, to be a part of it.”

New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham (Capt), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Will O’ Rourke.

England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ollie Pope (week), 7 Ben Stokes (captain), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Brydon Carse, 11 Shoaib Bashir.

Andrew Miller is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket

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