England will look to wrap up the series in Wellington this week when they face New Zealand in the second Test at the Basin Reserve.
Ben Stokes’ side return to the scene of their famous one-run defeat in 2023, but they should be buoyed by the confidence of an eight-wicket win over the Black Caps in Christchurch.
The Kiwis cost themselves a chance of victory in the field with eight dropped catches, but will hope their spinners can play a bigger role in Wellington - just as they did in their recent 3-0 series win in India.
- KANE WILLIAMSON - PLAYER OF THE MATCH
- HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIP - ENGLAND
England Set To Name Settled Side
England could name an unchanged team after getting most of the big selection calls right last week.
Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson has now joined the squad after being called up to replace injured Jordan Cox, but Ollie Pope impressed with the gloves and appeared to revel in the number six position.
After making only 55 runs in five innings at number three in Pakistan, Pope looked more comfortable coming in down the order and made a valuable 77 in the first innings.
Alongside centurion Harry Brook, he helped turn a precarious position of 71-4 to 319-5 before he fell to a highlight-reel catch from Glenn Phillips.
Brydon Carse was preferred to Ollie Stone in the pace department and delivered player-of-the-match figures of 10-106, while Shoaib Bashir took four first-innings wickets after being picked ahead of fellow spinner Jack Leach.
Chris Woakes justified his selection too with three crucial second-innings wickets, including that of star Kiwi batter Kane Williamson, and he could keep his place ahead of Matthew Potts.
Spinners Could Play More Of A Role
The Black Caps look likely to make a couple of changes as they bid to bounce back at the Basin Reserve on a pitch that could offer more assistance to spinners than Hagley Oval did.
Sixteen wickets fell to spin in last year’s Test there against Australia with Phillips taking five and Rachin Ravindra one for New Zealand.
They look likely to be joined in the attack by slow left-armer Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in the Kiwis’ second Test win in Pune.
The 32-year-old’s experience could prove crucial and his batting ability down the order might provide the balance the Black Caps lacked in Christchurch.
The surface at the Basin Reserve usually has a tinge of green and encourages seam bowling early on before offering more turn as the match progresses.
Williamson A Wise Choice In Award Betting
Kane Williamson was the home side’s most impressive batter in Christchurch and, had the Kiwis held their catches, his 154 combined runs across his two innings could have been a match-winning contribution.
Williamson has made plenty of those down the years and his enduring class makes him a solid pick to win the player of the match award in Wellington.
The 34-year-old has won 11 such awards in 103 Test appearances to date, including the prize when the Black Caps clinched that dramatic one-run victory over England at the Basin Reserve in 2023.
New Zealand Openers Are Under Pressure
New Zealand's opening partnership struggled in the first Test, with Tom Latham and Devon Conway both failing to make significant contributions.
The pair managed stands of four and three in Christchurch, with the second innings seeing Latham nicking off for one before Conway’s miscue on eight was well caught by Gus Atkinson.
The Black Caps openers are without a 100-run partnership since England’s last tour in 2023 and have posted fewer partnerships in double figures (seven) than single (nine) this year.
England’s dynamic duo of Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett are averaging just below 50 for the first wicket and look more likely to lay a solid foundation than their Kiwi counterparts right now.
KANE WILLIAMSON - PLAYER OF THE MATCH
HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIP - ENGLAND
