After losing by eight wickets in Christchurch, New Zealand will have a must-win position in the second Test match against England at Wellington, which begins on Friday.
Although Kane Williamson’s 93 was a strong contribution in the first innings and Daryl Mitchell’s 84 was a valiant effort in the second, the hosts struggled in both innings of the first Test at Christchurch, scoring 348 and 254.
The Black Caps’ bowling assault was unable to stop England’s aggressive batting strategy.
Senior players like Williamson and Mitchell will be expected to score more points, but Tom Latham’s leadership will also be essential for the team to recover.
The New Zealand team
Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Devon Latham, Tom Blundell, and Will Young.
The New Zealand playing 11 against England in the 2nd Test match of the 2024 England tour to New Zealand
Devon Conway and Tom Latham are the openers.
In the last game, Devon Conway and Captain Tom Latham weren’t playing at their best since they couldn’t nullify the new ball and didn’t cause any problems for the scoring. If New Zealand is to recover, they will need to be crucial.
Conway has amassed 607 runs in 8 games and averages 37 against England. You can count on him to pounce on any sloppy deliveries and give you a solid start at the top. Latham’s total versus England is 777 runs.
All-rounders and middle-order batsmen: Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, and Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson didn’t appear to be out for long when he returned to the test matches. The Kiwi’s number three will want to duplicate his feat after scoring fifty in both innings.
Rachin Ravindra will want to regain the form he shown in India, but he won’t be pleased with his performance in the most recent game as the number four squandered his wickets after gaining starts.
After a tough 84, Daryl Mitchell is still a force to be reckoned with in the middle order. On a ground that is bowler-friendly, his capacity to counterattack and dominate under trying circumstances will be essential.
Glenn Phillips will be crucial in halting the run flow with his rapid runs and useful off-spin.
Tom Blundell will keep improving as a wicketkeeper. With his left-arm spin in Wellington, Mitchell Santner is expected to replace Nathan Smith in the starting lineup for the second test.
Bowlers: Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, and Tim Southee
In the second test, Tim Southee and Matt Henry will spearhead New Zealand’s fast-bowling attempts. Both will seek to enhance one another, and they can be a formidable force in Wellington thanks to their capacity to extract seam movement and exert constant pressure.
On a fast-paced Wellington track, Will O’Rourke, a new pacer with strong bounce and pace, will try to surprise England’s hitters.
