Warming the Bell - New Zealand in England

New Zealand is touring England again (last in 2013) and is setting on revenging the home draw to them and the 2-0 away loss.  So what has changed since those results?  It's fair to say, quite a bit.  The Blackcaps are on a role having gone unbeaten in series in the past 15 months,, and beating Sri Lanka 2-0 at home, a team that was the last team to beat England in England in a series.  So realistically the omens are pointing to a  very interesting series.  The quantum shift in our fortunes suggest that New Zealand have a good chance of stealing a result in the series.

So what of this English tour there?  Well it appears the Gods could smile on us even more.  The tour is a two test series at Lords and Leeds and at that time of year the pitches should be seamer friendly.  Yes I know that should favour our twin opening attack, but let's not forget the English bowlers will also be used to those conditions.  So where will the difference lie in determining a result?  If one looks at the New Zealand team it's fair to say 3 through 7 are a formidable proposition.  Does England have the same firepower? Looking at the recent 5 test series in England versus India one would say 3 and 5 (Ballance and Root) have serious firepower, and with Bell getting the occasional scores, they look solid.  But apart from that they are weak.

New Zealand will relish playing at Lords, the so called home of cricket (I'd wager the Basin has a better rap)?  Firstly May weather will dictate the game.  The deck will be well grassed and it will probably stay that way throughout so a four pronged seam attack is the go.  And New Zealand can go into a game with four quality seamers now, debatable England can.  So that should swing in our favour.  And I'm picking Leeds won't be much different.  The key for me is how well our rooky openers adapt to those decks.  If they can give us a solid start, like in Wellington recently, then we have a good chance of batting England out of the match and the luxury of bowling them out under pressure.

If we win both matches we move ahead of Pakistan and threaten England in the Test Rankings.  With series in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Australia, then home series versus Pakistan and Australia, come March 2016 we should be threatening the top three in the world!! (and get 5 match test series)