New Zealand vs England, 1st T20I, Christchurch: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

With less a year left before the T20 World Cup, New Zealand will host England for a 5-match T20I series. The wounds of that World Cup final, played less than four months ago, are still raw, and New Zealand will want to avenge that fateful night at Lord’s.

Both sides have rested key players. New Zealand have left out Kane Williamson (for the entire series; Tim Southee will lead) and Trent Boult (for the first two matches). England, on the other hand, are without Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, and Jofra Archer.

Despite Williamson’s absence, however, New Zealand do have the ideal batting line up for 20-over cricket: an explosive opening pair in Colin Munro and Tim Seifert, two men with the ability to strike in a sustained fashion, and a cohort of all-rounders; and Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson will be supported by Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, two of the most miserly bowlers in the format.

England, on the other hand, have brought with them an entire legion of cricketers who shone in the Vitality Blast. While Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow are still around, all eyes will be on Somerset’s Tom Banton, who has created quite a stir in the English circuit. The bowling will be headed by the Curran brothers and Adil Rashid.

All in all, the teams are evenly matched, but New Zealand have a more experienced unit.

Head to head

England hold a 10-5 lead here including 3 out of the last 4 matches. They also lead 5-2 on New Zealand soil.

Key players

Colin Munro (New Zealand): Munro smashed a hundred in England’s tour match leading into the series. Always dangerous at the top, New Zealand will bank on him to provide them with the ideal start.

Tom Banton (England): With 549 runs at 161, Banton was the find of this year’s Vitality Blast. He might have failed in the two tour matches, but given his talent, England are likely to back him to the hilt.

Likely XIs

New Zealand: Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (wk), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.

England: Tom Banton, Jonny Bairstow (wk), James Vince, Eoin Morgan (c), Joe Denly, Sam Billings, Lewis Gregory, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Pat Brown.

Prediction

New Zealand to win narrowly.