New Zealand vs England, 1st T20I: Match Prediction, Preview & Probable 11

Deadline: November 1, 2019 at 6:30 AM IST

Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Pitch report

This will be the first T20I at the Hagley Oval since its entry into international cricket in 2014. Thus far, it has been a paradise for the batsmen, with six totals in excess of 300 runs and an individual highest score of 175 in ODIs. Expect a high-scoring thriller.

Teams

Probable XI for New Zealand: Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert (wk), Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi

Probable XI for England: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dawid Malan, James Vince, Eoin Morgan (c), Joe Denly, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Patrick Brown

NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.

Fantasy team

We have opted for a fantasy team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.

You can also check players’ performances in the last 5 matches. Tap on the players’ images to get the data while making your fantasy team.

Note: You can now select 1-4 wicketkeepers, 1-6 batsmen, 1-6 all-rounders, 1-6 bowlers.

Wicketkeepers: Jonny Bairstow (vc), Sam Billings

Batsmen: Colin Munro (c), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Eoin Morgan

All-rounders: Colin de Grandhomme, James Neesham, Sam Curran

Bowlers: Lockie Ferguson, Adil Rashid

Players to watch out for

Colin Munro blasted an unbeaten 107* off 57 in the second warm-up T20 against England earlier this week, helping New Zealand XI chase down a massive target of 189 runs with 9 balls to spare. It does not come as a surprise that he ranks No. 3 in ICC T20I Rankings for batsmen.

England have Jonny Bairstow at the top. He scored an unbeaten 78 including 6 fours and 4 sixes in the first warm-up match. He has a decent T20I record, having amassed 513 runs with a strike rate of 130.2.

James Neesham continued his good form in the 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), having scalped 11 wickets and playing good knocks at critical intervals.

All eyes will be on Eoin Morgan, the World Cup-winning captain. His next aim will be to lift the World T20 next year in Australia.

Match prediction

The last time England and New Zealand locked horns was in the final of the World Cup 2019. We know the result and how the fans reacted to it.

Having said that, New Zealand’s record against England in the shortest format is disappointing, having lost 5 of 15 matches. England, at No. 2, are ahead in the race in the ICC Rankings as well.

Going by the numbers, England have the clear edge. However, England have rested their key players such as Jason Roy, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Chris Woakes, among others. This fact might as well give some respite for the home team.

Squads

New Zealand: Tim Southee (c), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner

England: Eoin Morgan (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), 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

Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket