England tour of New Zealand 2019

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England have dropped Jonny Bairstow from the Test squad for New Zealand, while handing first call-ups to Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley. Bairstow, who averaged 19.45 in Tests this summer, was named in the T20I squad, along with a host of new faces that includes Somerset opener Tom Banton and Pat Brown, the Worcestershire slower-ball specialist.

With Ben Foakes overlooked for the New Zealand tour as well, the decision to leave out Bairstow means Jos Buttler is set to take over as England's first-choice Test wicketkeeper on a tour that falls outside the World Test Championship but which has been earmarked as an important stepping stone for England ahead of their trip to South Africa in December.


"This feels like an opportunity for Jonny to reset," Ed Smith, England's national selector, said. "I think he'll come back stronger from this. He does drop out of the Test squad for these two Tests in New Zealand, which are not part of the World Test Championship, and I predict he'll come back stronger for having had a bit of time away from the Test set-up."

The New Zealand series comes too soon for James Anderson, who recently confirmed his desire to play on despite a calf injury limiting his Ashes involvement. England instead looked to one of Anderson's younger Lancashire team-mates as a seam-bowling option, with Saqib Mahmood included for both legs of the tour.

Of the XI that beat Australia at The Oval earlier this month to secure a 2-2 series draw, Bairstow is the only omission. Jason Roy, who opened the batting in three Tests against Australia before moving down to No. 4 and then being left out to accommodate another allrounder, also misses out, with Surrey team-mate Ollie Pope preferred as a middle-order batting option.


Sibley is rewarded for a breakthrough season in which he has scored 1324 Championship runs - more than anyone else in the country - for Warwickshire, while Crawley, 21, has risen quickly to prominence since his Kent debut at the end of 2017. Jack Leach continues as the lead spin option for the two Tests at the end of November, and with Moeen Ali having confirmed his break from the format, Lancashire legspinner Matt Parkinson is called up for the first time.

Parkinson is also in the T20I squad, from which several regular white-ball picks have been rested in the wake of England's draining World Cup summer. Buttler, Roy, Moeen, Joe Root and Ben Stokes were all overlooked for the five-match series, as the selectors look to candidates from the next generation ahead of next year's T20 World Cup.


Alongside 20-year-old Banton, who finished second in the Vitality Blast run charts and who has attracted global franchise interest for his talent, Brown, whose 31 wickets helped Worcestershire to lift the title last year, and the Lancashire pair of Parkinson and Mahmood, England have called up Somerset allrounder Lewis Gregory for the first time. There is also a return for Sam Billings, who missed the World Cup with a shoulder dislocation.

Sam Curran, uncapped in T20Is, was preferred to David Willey as a left-arm option, while there was no place for Liam Plunkett, who last week expressed his unhappiness at missing out on a central contract.

England T20I squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince

England Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes

[Admin]

Oct 27, SunNew Zealand XI vs England, 1st T20 Practice Match
Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
England won by 6 wkts1:00 AM
12:00 AM GMT / 12:00 PM LOCAL
Oct 29, TueNew Zealand XI vs England, 2nd T20 Practice Match
Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
1:00 AM
01:00 AM GMT / 01:00 PM LOCAL
Nov 01, FriNew Zealand vs England, 1st T20I
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
1:00 AM
01:00 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Nov 03, SunNew Zealand vs England, 2nd T20I
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
1:00 AM
01:00 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Nov 05, TueNew Zealand vs England, 3rd T20I
Saxton Oval, Nelson
1:00 AM
01:00 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Nov 08, FriNew Zealand vs England, 4th T20I
McLean Park, Napier
5:00 AM
05:00 AM GMT / 06:00 PM LOCAL
Nov 10, SunNew Zealand vs England, 5th T20I
Eden Park, Auckland
1:00 AM
01:00 AM GMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL
Nov 12, Tue - Nov 13, WedNew Zealand XI vs England, 2-day Practice Match
Cobham Oval (New) , Whangarei
10:00 PM (Nov 11)
10:00 PM GMT (Nov 11) / 11:00 AM LOCAL
Nov 15, Fri - Nov 17, SunNew Zealand XI vs England, 3-day Practice Match
Cobham Oval (New) , Whangarei
10:00 PM (Nov 14)
10:00 PM GMT (Nov 14) / 11:00 AM LOCAL
Nov 21, Thu - Nov 25, MonNew Zealand vs England, 1st Test
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
10:00 PM (Nov 20)
10:00 PM GMT (Nov 20) / 11:00 AM LOCAL
Nov 29, Fri - Dec 03, TueNew Zealand vs England, 2nd Test
Seddon Park, Hamilton
10:00 PM (Nov 28)
10:00 PM GMT (Nov 28) / 10:00 AM LOCAL

[apm51054]

Lose 2nd warm up game by 8 wickets both taken by Mahmood and Parkinson

[Admin]

First Twenty20, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
New Zealand 153-5: Taylor 44, Jordan 2-28
England 154-3: Vince 59, Santner 3-23
England won by seven wickets; lead series 1-0
Scorecard
James Vince ensured England began their winter tour of New Zealand on a high with a seven-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 in Christchurch.

Vince struck a fine 59 off 38 balls as England reached a target of 154 with nine balls to spare in Chris Silverwood's first game as head coach.

Ross Taylor made 44 in New Zealand's 153-5, with Chris Jordan taking 2-28 and debutant Pat Brown 1-30.

The second game of the five-match series is in Wellington on Sunday.

England, who have rested several first-choice players, made the most of winning the toss, with New Zealand unable to find any fluency with the bat.

Although New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner impressed with 3-23, England were always in control of what proved to be a simple run chase.

Vince has been a source of frustration throughout his international career, often criticised for making attractive starts but not converting them into match-winning scores.

With key players such as Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler missing the T20 series, Vince is among those given a chance to impress before next year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

He arrived with England 37-1, after an out-of-sorts Dawid Malan was caught at third man, and looked sharp, driving crisply and offering support to a set Jonny Bairstow.

Vince reached his maiden T20 international half-century from 33 balls and looked as though he would lead England home as he hit strike bowler Tim Southee for a towering straight six in the 15th over.

However, with 32 needed for victory he tamely chipped a full toss from Santner to Martin Guptill in the deep to end a 54-run partnership with captain Eoin Morgan.

Vince's dismissal may have briefly raised New Zealand's hopes but Morgan went on the attack before finishing the match with six over mid-wicket.

England's Sam Curran bowled Martin Guptill to claim his first T20 wicket
Batting was tricky on a slow pitch, but New Zealand were left to rue their sluggish start at the Hagley Oval.

They could muster only seven runs from the opening three overs, with brothers Sam and Tom Curran taking the pace off the ball.

Guptill's uncomfortable stay was ended when he dragged Tom Curran on, while a mixed Colin Munro innings saw him hit two sixes before being easily caught at mid-wicket.

The hosts stuttered along. The odd boundary was followed by scrambled singles, and it was not until the 14th over, when Taylor and Mitchell came together, that there was any urgency in the batting.

Mitchell drove the bowlers straight while Taylor was more leg side, with the two sharing a 56-run partnership until Taylor was well caught by Bairstow in the final over.

The England bowlers simply got to grips with the pitch quicker than the New Zealand batsmen. Brown impressed on debut, using his variations well in the final overs, while Jordan was accurate.

It was a pleasing start for former bowling coach Silverwood, who took over from Trevor Bayliss in October.

'Some people bat like accountants - but not Vince'
England captain Eoin Morgan on Test Match Special: "We're very proud of the way we played. The game was won and lost in the first innings.

"James Vince really was exceptional. He's very easy on the eye when he plays well, but on a wicket that doesn't necessarily allow the shots that he played to be played, it just shows how classy a player he is."

England batsman James Vince on TMS: "There are some world-class players not here, but it gives me and some other guys a great chance to stake a claim with the World Cup next year.

"I don't think there are many spots up for grabs, so it's going to be a tough one to break into. Hopefully it will be nice to get a run of games."

Ex-New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney on TMS: "Some people bat like accountants, but Vince doesn't at all.

"There was a lot to be gained - and England gained a lot more than New Zealand from the day. All the England bowlers can be relatively satisfied with how they've started this series."

England bowler Steven Finn on TMS: "That's the James Vince that I'm so used to bowling at in domestic cricket. He is an outstanding player, there is no doubt about that. He's a class player.

"There's always a cloud over his head, which is slightly unfair because I know how good a player he can be.

"If he can replicate how he plays for Hampshire in this series that will bear him in good stead."

[Admin]

Second Twenty20, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand 176-8: Neesham 42 (22), Guptill 41 (28), Jordan 3-23
England 155: Malan 39 (29), Jordan 36 (19), Santner 3-25
New Zealand won by 21 runs; series level at 1-1

Chasing 177, England slipped to 3-2 after eight balls before being bowled out for 155 despite Dawid Malan's 39 and Chris Jordan's 19-ball 36 late on.

The returning Jimmy Neesham made 42 off 22 deliveries and Martin Guptill 41 in New Zealand's 176-8, with Jordan taking 3-23 and Sam Curran 2-22.

The third game of the five-match series is in Nelson at 01:00 GMT on Tuesday.

England, who have rested several first-choice players, restricted the Black Caps to what felt like a below-par total, despite dropping five catches, after winning the toss.

Although the pitch had more pace than the one in the series opener in Christchurch and the square boundaries were short, it never felt like England were in control of the chase.

New Zealand spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi were impressive, taking a combined 5-62 from eight overs.

After handing debuts to three players in the seven-wicket win on Friday, England gave Lancashire pace bowler Saqib Mahmood his first cap in place of Tom Curran.

Mahmood, bowling in the powerplay and death overs, finished with 1-46 from four overs.

Having conceded 15 from his first over, he fought back well in his second by having Tim Seifert caught behind attempting to ramp.

Mahmood's final two overs, the 17th and 19th of the innings, went for 11 and 15 respectively, although he regularly found the block hole.

Fellow seamer Pat Brown, who took 1-33 on debut in the series opener, conceded 32 from two overs.

After not bowling or batting in the first game, Lewis Gregory struck with his first ball in international cricket as he nipped one back to bowl the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme, who made 28 from 12 balls.

While not new to international cricket, it was only Sam Curran's second T20 international appearance and he was again impressive in taking 2-22.

England will be disappointed with the quality of their fielding, however. Three of the five dropped catches were fairly routine, with James Vince spilling two simple chances and an extremely tough one.

Jimmy Neesham hit four of the 12 sixes in the New Zealand innings
Guptill, who made two from seven balls in the first T20, showed glimpses that he was finding rhythm again during his 28-ball innings.

Strong down the ground and through the on side, he gave New Zealand's innings impetus at the top of the order, something that was missing on Friday.

All-rounder Neesham had not featured in a T20 international since January 2017, but his impressive 50-over World Cup this summer - when he scored 232 runs and took 15 wickets - earned him a recall.

Based on Sunday's display, New Zealand have to find a way to get him into their side regularly.

Particularly strong on the leg side, left-handed Neesham also played one gorgeous inside-out shot over extra-cover off Mahmood that demonstrated his undeniable quality.

His contribution was integral to the Kiwis posting a target that proved comfortably beyond England.

England captain Eoin Morgan: "We were poor with the bat and in the field. We dropped a number of catches, although that probably didn't cost us the game. Our batting cost us the game - it was a beautiful wicket to bat on.

"We were in the game for a long time and considering we were way off the pace that's encouraging with a young inexperienced side.

"A lot of things can happen between now and the next game. Our mindset is important. It's important to make mistakes. The important part is learning from them."

New Zealand captain Tim Southee: "It was a better performance in all three areas. We knew England would go hard till the end and we saw how deep they bat with Chris Jordan.

"We executed things a little bit better. This is a different size ground and so is Nelson again on Tuesday. There's always subtle changes to grounds and then your plans.

"We're looking to continue to improve, in all three areas. You can never really play the perfect game but it's about the brand of cricket we want to play."

Man of the match Mitchell Santner: "It's nice to get a few poles. It was more of a complete performance today.

"We talked about being up a little bit more in the field. When they're backing the bowlers up it makes it that much easier. As a bowling group, it's a tough ground, so we had to adapt our plans."

England bowler Steven Finn on BBC Test Match Special: "It was a chaseable target but to lose five wickets in the first 10 overs is a pretty hard place to come back from. England were always one wicket behind.

"Putting down easy chances, and misfields, is a window into how the team is really getting on. New Zealand, on the other hand, were clinical."

[Admin]

Third Twenty20, Saxton Oval, Nelson
New Zealand 180-7: De Grandhomme 55 (35), Guptill 33 (17), T Curran 2-29
England 166-7: Malan 55 (34), Vince 49 (39), Ferguson 2-25, Tickner 2-25
New Zealand won by 14 runs; lead 2-1 in series


Chasing 181, England were 139-2 with 31 balls remaining and seemingly cruising towards victory before they lost 5-10 in 18 balls.

Colin de Grandhomme made 55 in New Zealand's 180-7, with Tom Curran taking 2-29 and Matt Parkinson 1-14 on debut.

The fourth game of the five-match series is in Napier at 05:00 GMT on Friday.

With England looking set for victory, captain Eoin Morgan was caught at deep mid-wicket off the final ball of the 14th over.

Sam Billings was then run out second ball by a brilliant piece of fielding from Colin Munro before James Vince picked out mid-off to fall for 49.

Lockie Ferguson dismissed Lewis Gregory and Sam Curran in the 18th over and England never recovered.

England's chase started perfectly as Tom Banton, on debut, and Dawid Malan took 25 off the first two overs.

Banton played a glorious off-drive before lofting Ferguson over mid-wicket for a mighty six. The 20-year-old Somerset opener was soon bowled, attempting to ramp, but his 10-ball 18 was a glimpse of his undeniable talent.

Malan batted beautifully for a 34-ball 55. He was strong all round the wicket, with a number of superb cover drives, before he clothed a filthy full toss from Ish Sodhi to Martin Guptill at deep mid-wicket.

Malan's dismissal gave Vince impetus as he was struggling at less than a run a ball before three fours and a six in four balls kick-started his innings and England's chase.

They looked to be cruising towards their target after partnerships of 63 and 49 respectively between Malan and Vince, and then Vince and Morgan.

However, the collapse that followed ended England's hopes of taking a series lead.

New Zealand's total, after winning the toss, was built around the power of Guptill and De Grandhomme.

Guptill took a liking to Saqib Mahmood, who struggled with his line on his second appearance, in a blistering 17-ball 33 before Tom Curran took a fine catch over his shoulder at deep extra cover in the swirling wind.

De Grandhomme came to the crease in the next over after Mahmood held Munro at short third man off Tom Curran.

De Grandhomme also found Mahmood, who went for 1-49 from four overs, easy to score off as he hit two fours and a six in the seventh over.

The imposing all-rounder did struggle against the leg-spin of Parkinson, despite hitting one glorious inside-out cover drive for six.

Tim Seifert was bowled attempting to reverse sweep as Parkinson finished with 1-14 from two overs, while De Grandhomme holed out at long-on off the impressive Tom Curran.

But Ross Taylor hit 27 off 24 balls, Jimmy Neesham 20 off 15 and Mitchell Santner 15 off nine as New Zealand posted a target beyond England for the second successive game.

England captain Eoin Morgan: "That's one that got away from us. We were in control in the whole chase before we went three or four down.

"The lack of experience may have cost us. The game plan remains the same - everything we do is about positive, smart, aggressive cricket. It's a must-win game in Napier."

New Zealand captain Tim Southee: "As long as Morgan was in they had a sniff, especially with James Vince in and playing well, but we knew if we kept taking wickets it would get tough.

"There are still areas we need to improve on but it's nice to win games like that, that can go either way at the halfway point and during the second innings."

England bowler Steven Finn on BBC Test Match Special: "Those five wickets in three overs ripped the heart out of England's reply.

"The outfielding was good, the bowling performance was good. Up until the point where they lost those wickets, they were in control. But it was a bit of a capitulation at the end."

[Admin]

Did actually see the latter end of this one Parkinson could quite easily have had six wickets took some stick but boundary was short on the leg side.

Fourth Twenty20, McLean Park, Napier
England 241-3: Malan 103* (51), Morgan 91 (41)
New Zealand 165: Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47, Jordan 2-24
England won by 76 runs; series level at 2-2
Dawid Malan hit the fastest T20 century by an England batsman as the tourists crushed New Zealand by 76 runs in Napier to level the five-match series with one game remaining.

On an astonishing night, Malan struck 103 from 51 balls to become the second England player to make a T20 ton.

Captain Eoin Morgan made 91 from just 41 balls as England posted their highest T20 total of 241-3.

Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson took 4-47 as New Zealand were dismissed for 165.

The final match takes place in Auckland on Sunday at 01:00 GMT.

In a brutal display, Malan reached three figures from just 48 balls, hitting a ragged New Zealand attack for nine fours and six sixes.

He and Morgan put on 182 runs - the highest stand for England in a T20 international - in just 12.2 overs.

Alex Hales is the only other England international to make a T20 century, having made an unbeaten 116 from 64 balls against Sri Lanka in 2014.

New Zealand could not match England's hitting as they were dismissed with 19 balls remaining, with all five of England's bowlers claiming at least one wicket.

England were 18-1 in the early stages of the match but that was a distant memory by the time Morgan was dismissed in the final over.

Napier might be a small ground but Morgan and Malan produced a stunning display of hitting to power England to their match-winning total.

No bowler was allowed to settle. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi had his final over smashed for 28 by Malan while Blair Tickner, so economical in the third T20, was taken for 50 from his four overs.

The two came together in the eighth over and Morgan showed his intent as he dispatched his sixth ball for six. Helped by New Zealand's poor discipline, the two plundered the bowling - Morgan hit straight while Malan went square.

They never looked troubled, their hard hitting allowing the ball to evade the fielders. Malan's half-century came from 31 balls, while Morgan's, brought up just three balls after Malan, was from 21. From there, the pace only accelerated.

Dot balls were a rarity in the final few overs as Malan moved smoothly towards his century. His sixth six of the evening, brought up off New Zealand's premier bowler Trent Boult, took him to a superb century.

It looked as though Morgan would match him as he swiped the third ball of the final over for six, but he holed out in the deep to fall nine runs short.

The England captain had said at the toss that he would have bowled first. As he left the field, he may have been relieved that the decision was taken out of his hands.

New Zealand had the chance to clinch a series victory and, having dismissed Jonny Bairstow cheaply and trapped Tom Banton lbw just as his innings began to fire after opting to bowl, they were in a strong position.

However, their discipline crumbled as Malan and Morgan attacked, with even the returning Boult unable to stop the boundaries from flowing.

They made a frenetic start with the bat, racing to 49-0 inside the first four overs as Martin Guptill hit Chris Jordan out of the ground, but the innings stuttered along.

Only five players reached double figures and stand-in captain Tim Southee was the top-scorer as he hit out from the number eight spot.

England's fielding was not at its best, with Pat Brown dropping two chances off Parkinson, but ultimately it was enough to take the series into a deciding match.

England batsman Dawid Malan, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's not often in your career everything comes off, it was a lot of fun out there.

"I felt rusty in the first game of the series but it's felt smoother and smoother. I said this morning that I felt I had got rid of the rust and thankfully it clicked here.

"Morgs came out and changed the momentum of the game and I piggy-backed that."

England bowler Steven Finn on Test Match Special: "It was a professional performance from England. They managed to turn the screw when needed.

"Dawid Malan takes pride in being able to pace his innings, judge who to attack and when to attack them and he did that really well today."

England captain Eoin Morgan: "It was quite a clinical performance. Myself and Dawid have played for a long time together at Middlesex and we know each other pretty well.

"It was enjoyable, we had a lot of laughs out there. It was a beautiful wicket to bat on."

New Zealand stand-in captain Tim Southee: "That can happen in Twenty20 cricket, in two days time we've got another chance to go out and win the series.

"You have to go out and believe when you're chasing a target like that, we got off to a good start but whenever we looked like getting away they took wickets."

[Admin]

Fifth Twenty20, Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand 146-5: Guptill 50 (20), Munro 46 (21)
England 146-7: Bairstow 47 (18), Santner 2-20
England 17, New Zealand 8 in super over
England won by nine runs in super over; England won series 3-2


In a repeat of July's World Cup final, the scores were tied at the end of a wildly unpredictable game in Auckland.

New Zealand plundered 146-5 from 11 overs, and it took Chris Jordan hitting 12 off the final three deliveries to take the game to a super over.

Jonny Bairstow, who earlier struck 47 off 18 balls, and captain Eoin Morgan scored 17 off England's six deliveries, before Jordan limited New Zealand to eight.

It was a remarkable finish to a rain-delayed game that contained a staggering 29 sixes in 24 overs.

While England, who won the World Cup final by virtue of scoring more boundaries, held their nerve in admittedly less pressurised circumstances, New Zealand will take little comfort from once again missing out by the thinnest of margins.

If the two-Test series which starts on 21 November comes close to matching the excitement on offer at Eden Park, supporters from both sides can have no complaints.

There were several moments around which this game hinged: Bairstow's three sixes in a row off Ish Sodhi; Jordan's four off the final delivery to tie the scores; and Morgan's stunning catch over his shoulder as he ran back from cover to remove Tim Seifert from the fourth ball of the super over.

But Jordan's nerveless display with the ball deserves particular praise, given the batting pyrotechnics which had gone before.

On a pitch that offered the bowlers no assistance, and on a ground with boundaries so short that mis-hits frequently cleared the rope, his yorkers restricted Seifert and Martin Guptill to a two, a four and two singles.

England's celebrations may not have matched those at Lord's on 14 July, but they can be rightly proud of the manner in which they pulled off an away series win with a squad featuring six T20 debutants.

Victory in the Tests would cap an impressive first series for new England coach Chris Silverwood.

Jonny Bairstow hit five sixes and two fours in his 47, then scored eight off three balls in the super over
Bairstow bullies New Zealand after Guptill goes large
That Guptill's 19-ball fifty, Colin Munro's equally savage 46 off 21 deliveries and Seifert's 39 off 16 will go down as footnotes in this memorable match says much for the excitement that followed.

Man of the match Bairstow was almost solely responsible for leading England's pursuit, which veered between probable and unlikely amid a barrage of brutal hitting and clumps of wickets.

Requiring more than 13 runs an over from the beginning, England lost Tom Banton, James Vince and Morgan in slipping to 39-3.

But Bairstow, pummelling the short, straight boundaries, added 61 in four overs with the resourceful Sam Curran before he became the first of three wickets to fall in four balls.

Sam Billings and Tom Curran kept England afloat - just - but three runs and the departure of Curran off the first three balls of Jimmy Neesham's last over left new man Jordan needing 12 off three.

No bother. He swatted a full toss over long-off for six, scampered a two, then swung to fine leg for four to tie the scores. Given what took place four months ago, perhaps it was no surprise.
England captain Eoin Morgan on BBC Test Match Special: "It's absolutely remarkable. We didn't expect to play much cricket today and it's turned out to be an epic end to a series where there wasn't much between the two sides.

"To win it in such fashion with a young, inexperienced side in the long term will pay huge dividends for us."

England batsman Jonny Bairstow: "It was manic. The way they came out and put on that total was very, very impressive. It was a pretty imposing total but we thought we had a chance.

"We don't want to keep making a habit of super overs. It just shows how close the sides are. It sets up a fantastic Test series."

England bowler Chris Jordan: "A few of us have played T10 cricket so the mood was very calm the entire way through. I just tried to keep a clear mind.

"I'd bowled a super over before in Sharjah against Pakistan, so it was more or less going through processes and letting what will be will be."

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "It was fitting that the last match of this series should end in a super over.

"It's been as difficult to separate these two teams now as it was in the World Cup final - but this time, England's victory was emphatic."

New Zealand captain Tim Southee: "The shorter the game, the harder the side can go. It would have been nice to have one more run there somewhere but it wasn't to be.

"It's been a good series throughout - it has ebbed and flowed. It will be good to get the whites back on."

[Admin]

Tour match, Cobham Oval, Whangarei (day three of three):
New Zealand XI 302-6dec & 169-8: Archer 3-34, Curran 3-42
England 405: Buttler 110, Pope 88, Denly 68; Kuggeleijn 3-46
Match drawn

[Admin]

v

Bay Oval Mount Maunganui



Bay Oval (also known as Blake Park) is a cricket ground in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand.[1] In June 2019, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that the Bay Oval would host its first ever Test match in November 2019, becoming the ninth test venue in the country.[2]

First known as Blake Park,[3] it held its first List A match in 1987/88 Shell Cup when Northern Districts played Central Districts. During the 1980s and 90s, large holiday crowds flocked to the ground to watch one-day matches,[4] with the ground playing host to a total of 26 List A matches between 1987/88 and 2001/02 seasons.[5] Northern Districts Women played two matches there in the 2004/05 State League.[6]

The Bay of Plenty Cricket Association later constructed a new cricket oval at Blake Park, the Bay Oval, which held its first senior match in the 2008–09 State Twenty20 with Northern Districts playing Otago. A further Twenty20 match was held there during that competition, while the following season three matches in that format were played in the 2009–10 HRV Cup, while two were held in the 2010–11 HRV Cup.[7]

Four Twenty20 matches were held there in the 2011–12 HRV Cup, along with two 2011-12 Ford Trophy matches. Northern Districts Women are scheduled to play a match there in December 2011 in the Action Cricket Cup. The Bay Oval is also permitted to host first-class cricket.[4]

Bay Oval hosted its first ODI on January 28, 2014 between Canada and Netherlands as part of the 2014 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

In October 2014, the ground hosted the first two ODIs of the home series against South Africa, but was not used for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.



One thing New Zealand has is picturesque cricket grounds Christchurch, Mount Maunganui, Hamilton all fantastic venues

[apm51054]

England win toss and toss

[lancsdes]

Nov 18, 2019 12:56:59 GMT Admin said:

v




"One thing New Zealand has is picturesque cricket grounds Christchurch, Mount Maunganui, Hamilton all fantastic venues"


Queenstown on South Island supposed to be great too despite planes landing behind ground.


Primary school friend lived there for 15 years before moving to Christchurch before to my amazement , coming home and living in Nottingham last year. She and her son, who played cricket  for New Zealand under 18s , watched a day of our crucial championship match with Warcks in Aug. 2011 at Aigburth.


Topically. , re saving planet, I think everyone should do some foreign travel. However, bucket lists are the refuge of people who lack imagination, not the reverse. Once you have done a certain amount of foreign travel, with a bit of imagination, you can be anywhere. All life is in my local pub.


Think about your global footprint. If you've always wanted to watch cricket in Aus ( as I did) then go. If you've been, then you don't have to go everywhere else

[Admin]

ngland 241 for 4 (Stokes 67*, Pope 18*) v New Zealand

England's Test team came to New Zealand seeking a fresh start after the angst and drama of the Bayliss era. There are few more tranquil locales in which the longest format can unfold and, on a sedate opening to life as a Test venue at Mount Maunganui, a succession of English batsmen gave notice that they were prepared to adhere to the traditional disciplines favoured by the new head coach, Chris Silverwood.

While England's innings was perhaps lacking in definitive statements, there were encouraging signs aplenty from a revamped top order. In keeping with the team's new mantra, Rory Burns and Joe Denly both compiled watchful half-centuries, from 135 and 136 balls respectively, while Dom Sibley, the debutant opener, was party to a 52-run opening stand as England made a useful start in benign conditions.

That none was able to go on will give New Zealand satisfaction after a day of manful toil from their four seamers. Pre-match suggestions were that this pitch would be accommodating to batsmen and it looks as the Bay of Plenty will live up to its name; Kane Williamson is foremost among the home XI unlikely to miss out given similar opportunity.

And while the English rank and file did their level best, there was disappointment for the captain, Joe Root, who was only able to muster 2 from a laboured 22-ball stay. A typically punchy fifty from his deputy, Ben Stokes, ensured England would retain hope of building a match-defining position on day two.

Recent white-ball encounters between these two sides have been marked by their explosive potential, but Test rhythms quickly asserted themselves at the Bay Oval. Colin de Grandhomme's medium pace applied an effective tourniquet as England were kept to a scoring rate well below three an over, and only while Stokes was at the crease and flexing his tattooed biceps during the evening session did pulses go much above resting rate.

Having lost two wickets in quick succession shortly before tea, Stokes and Denly took some time to retrench before swelling their fourth-wicket stand to 83. Denly reached his fourth fifty in as many Tests with a crisp cover drive off Trent Boult, then began to open up as he attacked the under-utilised spin of Mitchell Santner, lofting over extra cover and then depositing a straight-driven six down the ground.

His previous Test innings, opening the batting at The Oval in September, saw Denly fall six runs short of a maiden hundred; he did not get that close this time, but may again rue a chance missed after falling to the second new ball for 74, fencing at Tim Southee as he angled a delivery in from wide of the crease.

While New Zealand were admirably persistent, their bowlers' efforts were undermined by several notable lapses in the field - the most glaring of which came a few overs before the close, as Stokes was gifted a life having thrashed Boult for fours down the ground, through midwicket and then cover. The next delivery found his outside edge, only to burst through Ross Taylor's hands at slip and disappear for a fourth consecutive boundary.

New Zealand might also have removed Burns before he had established himself, failing to review for caught behind after a half-hearted appeal in the fifth over. Burns put that behind him to help see off the new ball and take England to a promising position at 113 for 1, despite rarely looking fluent. However, Root was unable to take advantage of coming in with the shine long gone, taking 21 balls to get off the mark and then falling tamely to Neil Wagner's next delivery, steering an edge to second slip.

Wagner pounded the pitch manfully, engaging in an entertaining tussle with Denly and striking Burns a blow on the helmet that seemed to contribute to the opener losing his composure. Twice Denly pulled Wagner for two fours in an over, but in between times the bowler had the better of things, seeing edges fall short of gully and slip.

Burns also edged Southee between first and second slip on 37, with Taylor and Tom Latham unmoving, and then survived a marginal lbw appeal on umpire's call when New Zealand did turn to the DRS. He went to his fifty in Boult's following over, clipping off his legs for a sixth boundary, before finally succumbing to de Grandhomme via a thin edge to the keeper.

It was also de Grandhomme who made New Zealand's initial breakthrough, a teasing away-nibbler finding Sibley's outside edge after the new man had compiled 22 from 63 balls in his maiden outing. If it was a regulation dismissal for an opener, drawn into an off-stump push and well held by Taylor at first slip, Sibley had at least made New Zealand work hard for it, leaving the ball well and giving England an ideal start after Root had won the toss and chosen to bat.

Having come into the game with a reputation for obduracy, Sibley promptly clipped his first ball in Test cricket to the midwicket boundary; but he was soon living up to his billing, absorbing another 22 deliveries before producing his second scoring shot.

The Burns-Sibley axis soon settled into an unhurried groove, in keeping with the relaxed atmosphere on the grass banks for those fans attending Bay Oval's Test debut. Both captains took the view that the pitch would be good for run-scoring, despite a greenish tinge, and that was borne out. Burns had an escape on 10, HotSpot confirming a thin outside edge to a regulation Boult outswinger, while Sibley was forced to dive for his ground to complete a quick single but otherwise the openers were untroubled, as New Zealand found some gentle swing but little pace from a docile surface.

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New Zealand 144 for 4 (Nicholls 26*, Watling 6*) trail England 353 (Stokes 91, Denly 74, Burns 52, Southee 4-88) by 209 runs

England's bowlers struck telling blows during the afternoon and evening on day two in Mount Maunganui, as they strove to get the better of a New Zealand side that has been close to unbeatable on their own patch. Kane Williamson made a polished half-century but when he became the fourth wicket to fall, late in the evening session and with his side still more than 200 runs behind, England were in the ascendancy.

Sam Curran was the bowler to strike, his second wicket of the day, and the closing stages saw New Zealand battling to avoid further losses as Jofra Archer tested the middle of the pitch in fading light. England's total of 353, their highest in the first innings of an away Test since Melbourne 2017-18, was underpinned by Ben Stokes' 91 but came accompanied by a sense of missed opportunities; however, their application in the field ensured it was New Zealand nervously casting around for a candidate to deliver a significant statement with the bat.

While New Zealand's bowlers deserved immense credit for dragging the tourists back after the slog of day one, they were aided by England reverting to type during a morning collapse of 4 for 18 in 21 balls. Tim Southee provided the spark, extracting Stokes when he seemed hell bent on a third century in his last five Tests - though even here, with the batsman advancing malevolently to try and flay through the off side, came the hint of an unforced error.


England subsequently lost their last six wickets for the addition of 76 runs, Southee and Neil Wagner claiming five of them. New Zealand might have wrapped up the innings before lunch, only for Jos Buttler to counterpunch effectively during a ninth-wicket rearguard with Jack Leach.

Still, with Stokes joining Joe Denly and Rory Burns in failing to convert half-centuries and England falling short of the 400-run mark that had been touted as par on a docile Bay Oval pitch, the stage was apparently set for New Zealand's more-accomplished accumulators to show the visiting side how it's done. That was not quite how things panned out, as two teams that have been impossible to separate in the white-ball formats this year found themselves in another gripping tussle.

The key wicket, indisputably, was that of New Zealand's captain, Williamson. Although England managed to remove both openers, and Ross Taylor eventually lost patience against a sustained bouncer attack from Archer and Stokes, the sight of Williamson ticking along to an 84-ball half-century would have reassured home supporters that all was well.

However, the very next ball, delivered by Curran, sent a ripple around the ground and forced wholesale re-evaluations of what might be expected from the rest of this Test. Williamson was left reeling by unexpected bounce from a length - clear indication of some unforeseen variability in the surface - as the ball ballooned off his glove and Stokes plunged forward to gratefully take the catch at second slip.

It was Curran, too, who made the opening incision after New Zealand had begun their reply midway through the afternoon session, winning an lbw decision against Tom Latham in his first over; replays suggested an inside edge but the batsman chose not to review.

Latham's opening partner, Jeet Raval, rarely looked convincing during his time at the crease, eventually falling to his fourth risky heavy at Leach after a 54-run stand with Williamson. Taylor then top-edged Stokes to deep midwicket before the demise of Williamson left New Zealand looking expectantly to Henry Nicholls, a man who has averaged more than 60 since the start of 2018. Nicholls was shaken by a hefty thump to the helmet from Archer in the penultimate over of the day, but was cleared to continue after an examination from the physio.


Things had looked much brighter for New Zealand after a productive start to the day. Stokes and Ollie Pope extended their overnight partnership to 74 before Southee intervened with three wickets in 11 balls. Although initially held back, once Southee had pried out Stokes he harnessed the conditions expertly to rip through England's middle order.

Stokes picked up regular boundaries as he moved into the 90s, only for Taylor to brilliantly atone for dropping him on day one. With New Zealand having shifted their cordon wide, Taylor had to react instinctively to a chance flying through regulation first slip but clung on one-handed high to his right.

Operating in the high 120s kph but showing just why New Zealand's attack is so adept when there is a hint of swing on offer, Southee struck twice more in his next over. Pope, who successfully reviewed an lbw decision in the third over of the morning, played some eye-catching shots to move past his previous Test best of 28, made on debut against India in 2018, but was lured into flashing at a delivery that left him enough to clip the edge through to BJ Watling.

Curran was then bamboozled by a full inswinger, opting to review despite ball-tracking showing that the delivery would have crashed into middle and leg stumps. Archer negotiated the hat-trick ball uncertainly, and then fell in the following over as Trent Boult found his outside edge. From the relative comfort of 277 for 4, England had stumbled into trouble.

With Leach nearly running out Buttler off the first ball he faced, England were in serious danger of folding. But Buttler hinted at his destructive capabilities when casually lofting Southee back down the ground, then launching Boult high over long-off for six in the last over before lunch. His stand with Leach had yielded 52 valuable runs when Buttler picked out Mitchell Santner at deep point - perhaps partly deceived by the fact Santner had left the field to sign autographs and only hurdled the boundary boards to return to the field of play as Wagner ran in to deliver the ball.

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New Zealand 394 for 6 (Watling 119*, Santner 31*) lead England 353 (Stokes 91, Denly 74, Burns 52, Southee 4-88) by 41 runs

BJ Watling embodies many of the traits that make New Zealand such an accomplished Test side. Skilful but unflashy, hard-working and unflappable under pressure, impressive as an individual but wedded to the team's cause. The going has been tough in Mount Maunganui's maiden Test, but it was no surprise that Watling got going in response to leave New Zealand on top at the end of day three.

England have not won a Test in this part of the world in more than a decade, and although they began the day with designs on a first-innings lead, Watling's unbeaten, 298-ball effort left them in no doubt as to the size of their challenge if they are to put one over on the No. 2-ranked side. A century stand between Watling and Colin de Grandhomme ground down the resolve of England's attack, who could only manage two wickets in the day - one of them coming via Joe Root's occasional offspin.

Watling did give up one chance, dropped at slip on 31 by the usually reliable Ben Stokes, but otherwise applied himself adroitly in conditions that lent themselves to his preferred mode of unobtrusive accumulation. He brought up his eighth Test hundred, and second in consecutive innings, with a leg-side nurdle halfway through the evening session, and briefly allowed himself a moment in the sun as the first man to reach such a milestone at Bay Oval. Then it was back on with the helmet and on with the job at hand.



By that stage, Watling and Mitchell Santner had taken New Zealand into the lead, and they were able to extend their partnership through to the close as England endured a long, hot day in the dirt. While Santner faced numerous uncomfortable moments in the face of a peppering from Stokes, he dug in for more than 100 balls to further stymie England.

There were questions about Root's tactics, having opted not to use Jofra Archer at the start of the day and then delaying taking the second new ball. Stokes was curiously ignored during the afternoon session, too, and he seemingly underscored the point by taking a wicket with his first delivery when called on after tea


BJ Watling celebrates his eighth Test century Getty Images
England's frustrations were epitomised by Archer, who occasionally threatened to produce the fire-breathing form of his debut home summer - at one point sending the speed gun above 150kph - but remained wicketless after the DRS overturned an lbw decision against Watling late in the day. Archer was also convinced he had trapped Watling shortly after he had reached a 149-ball half-century, only for England to burn their second review as ball-tracking adjudged it to be going over the stumps.

New Zealand's sixth-wicket partnership, which eventually realised 119 runs, began in watchful fashion, after the dismissal of Henry Nicholls had left them 197 for 5. But Watling and de Grandhomme turned the screw during the afternoon as they extended their association into three figures and Root shuffled through his options.

Some occasional signs of low bounce - notably when Nicholls was given out lbw against Jack Leach only to successfully review - were not enough to unsettle Watling, who again found a valuable ally in the more assertive de Grandhomme. Their rapid century stand at Colombo's P Sara Oval in August set up a series-levelling win against Sri Lanka in New Zealand's last Test outing, and the pair were soon setting the tone again here.

De Grandhomme took 14 balls to get off the mark, before taking up the cudgels. He was briefly troubled by Sam Curran's inswing after lunch, but responded with a brace of fours when the bowler overpitched. He then took on Archer's short stuff, hooking for six with two men back and bringing up a 73-ball half-century with a pull for two off the same bowler. He was on 62 when Rory Burns could not cling on to a rasping chance in the gully, Burns suffering a split thumb in the process.

Having claimed the key wicket of Kane Williamson on the second evening, and seen Nicholls struck on the helmet by Archer in the closing exchanges, England's ambition would have been to chisel out a couple more New Zealand batsmen during the first hour - in the end, that was as many as they could manage in the day.

Just 11 runs came from the first eight overs, delivered by Curran and Stuart Broad, and Archer's introduction did little to alter the course of proceedings beyond the loss of a review when seeking another lbw verdict, this time against Nicholls. New Zealand's fifth-wicket pair were happy to tick over, and it wasn't until Root decided to investigate the possibilities of spin that things livened up.

First Leach won a leg-before decision against Nicholls, only for DRS to show that the impact was fractionally outside the line of off stump. Root then brought himself on from the other end, saw Watling dropped at slip by Stokes from his second ball, and trapped Nicholls in front with his fourth. For England's captain, that was about as good as it got.