We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report for England vs New Zealand Match
Out of the last 10 Tests played at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium in London, only three have ended in a draw. Although the venue hasn’t seen a high-scoring innings by Test-match standards of late, 4 hundreds and one double-hundred has been scored in the last three games.
Time: 2 June, 3.30 PM IST
Probable England & New Zealand Playing XIs
Probable XI for England: Zak Crawley, Harry Brook/Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (wk), Craig Overton, Jack Leech, James Anderson, Stuart Broad
Although Trent Boult has joined the New Zealand squad, he is unlikely to be available for the opening game. Meanwhile, Henry Nicholls is nursing an injury and remains in doubt.
Probable XI for New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Will Young/ Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner/Trent Boult
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Power Players for Today’s Match
Joe Root will remain a hot pick in fantasy leagues. He scored 289 runs in the three Tests against West Indies a few months ago. In his last five Tests against New Zealand, he has added 478 runs at 43.
James Anderson has bagged 29 wickets in his last five outings at Lord’s. However, when he bowled against New Zealand at the same venue in 2021, he could manage only 2 wickets.
England will know the importance of dismissing Kane Williamson early. In 12 Tests against them, he has slammed 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries.
It was a stellar Test debut for Devon Conway as he piled on 306 runs in 2 Tests, including the highest score of 200 against England last year. Currently, he averages 63.91 in Test cricket.
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Smart Picks for Today’s Match
Kyle Jamieson’s nagging line and disconcerting bounce has always kept him amongst the wickets, across conditions. He has already bagged 66 wickets in 14 Tests. He can also add handy runs down the order: he has collected 351 runs at 24 including a fifty.
Tim Southee’s style of bowling will always find assistance on the English wickets. In addition to conventional swing, he is also capable of reversing the old ball. When he last played at Lord’s in 2021, he finished with figures of 6 for 43 in the first innings.
Like always, there will be plenty of expectation from Ben Stokes with both bat and ball. In 6 Tests against the Kiwis, he has added 476 runs at 43.27 and picked 6 wickets.
Towards the end of the Indian T20 League, Jonny Bairstow showed glimpses of his hitting ability. He has also slammed two centuries in his last 4 Tests.
When New Zealand beat England in the second Test at Birmingham last year, Matt Henry walked away with the Player of the Match award for picking 3 wickets each in both innings.Furthermore, when South Africa toured New Zealand earlier in the year, he single-handedly won the match for his side by bagging 9 wickets and scoring 58* with the bat.
Regardless of the conditions, expect Neil Wagner to take the field and run in all day, trying to outfox the batters. He rarely disappoints fantasy players.
Form Concerns
Zak Crawley will be hoping for a switch in fortunes as he approaches a new season. He has been dismissed for a single-digit score on 11 occasions in his last 10 Tests.
England & New Zealand Match Preview
The two-match series will provide an ideal opportunity for both teams to kick start their Test cricket season on a high. In their last Test series assignment, New Zealand drew 1-1 with South Africa at home. England, though, were beaten 2-1 by the West Indies in the Caribbean.
That said, let’s not disregard the fact that the tourists did manage to emerge victorious 1-0 on their previous tour of England in 2021.