Big picture: Southee’s pomp is under threat from 3-0
From whiteness to whiteness? This would be quite a humiliation for New Zealand, after their exploits in India – although there is still time to save some pride. Although they have suffered defeats at home to Australia on several recent occasions, they have been two-Test series. Only twice have they lost three out of three in New Zealand: against Australia In 1999-2000and England In 1962-63,
We’re not there yet, but it’s been a disappointing series for Tom Latham’s side, with their performance marred by dropped catches in Christchurch and an uncertain future despite England being fielded in ideal seam-bowling conditions in Wellington. Had to run away from the game. , As is New Zealand’s way, the reaction has been measured ahead of the third Test, with the return of Will Young, not the result of selective axing, but of allowing Devon Conway time the birth of their first child,
Young was player of the series in India and perhaps he can help them rediscover their charm from that tour. While their shock 3-0 win kept alive hopes of another World Test Championship appearance, they are now over, and the feeling of a team in transition is likely to continue. Only Latham, Conway, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee Has been involved against England. Despite averaging only 21.44 in Tests this year, Conway could make a comeback, but Southee is already in the departure lounge after hinting that this series will be his last.
It’s not the farewell Saudi would have expected, despite the romantic notion of bowing out to the same opposition he had when he started. He made his debut in Napier about 17 years ago The match coincided with England’s last Test series win in New Zealand, but there was no doubt that Southee’s innings of 77 off 40, after claiming five wickets, would have helped. Many neutrals will be hoping he can produce some impressive performances in his last appearance at his home ground, Seddon Park, where the Pavilion End has been temporarily renamed the Tim Southee End for this match.
For England, while there may be a feeling of “job done” after taking the series with one to play, there is a clear incentive to end a up-and-down year in Tests with a 10th win from 17. The talk around the team has been about rebooting and retooling for the upcoming challenges – namely India at home next year and the Ashes in Australia after that – but they are pushing into this game with Ben Stokes Every challenge needs to be accepted as it comes.
And against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, more than five months before their next assignment, England’s final encounter of 2024 has the potential to remain in the memory. can do jack crawley End your bizarre brouhaha against New Zealand? Desire jacob bethel Produce the definitive performance that says he is here to stay in the Test team? Is Chris Woakes Quietly becoming a reliable overseas option at the age of 35? This may be a dead rubber in the old sense, where even WTC points would be insignificant, but both sides still have points to prove.
form guide
new zealand LLWWW (Last five Tests, most recent first) England WWLLW
In the spotlight: Tim Southee and Jack Crawley
Tim Southeerecord of this year (15 wickets at 61.66) certainly suggest that the time has come, but perhaps the announcement should have been placed closer to the curtain call. He has been a passenger in the seriesRepeatedly faced the onslaught of England’s batsmen and was forced to bat at number 11 at the Basin Reserve, where he suffered the added infamy of being the last wicket in Gus Atkinson’s hat-trick. Southee’s record for New Zealand speaks for itself, but he probably won’t mind that his stats do the talking (in a good way) for the last time.
jack crawley He has experienced more ups and downs than a toaster in a lift during his time as an England player, and has long learned to stay level. Whether he even knows that he averages 10.15 in 10 Test matches against New Zealand, in five different series dating back to his debut at Seddon Park in 2019, is debatable – and there is no doubt that England Will not include this in his thinking. Heat. But just for his own satisfaction, he would definitely like to put on a glove matt henryWho has dismissed him four times in this series without giving any runs in 19 balls.
Team News: Youth for Conway
Young will get a place as an opening batsman – who has batted at No. 3 recently – while New Zealand may also opt to bring in Mitchell Santner as a frontline spin option in place of Nathan Smith.
New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham (c), 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner/Nathan Smith, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry , 11 Will O’Rourke
The England players arrived in Hamilton on their own on Wednesday and were not due to train until Friday. Woakes has been ruled out of the third Test in a row, while Matt Potts is coming in for his second appearance of the winter.
England: 1 Jack Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jacob Bethel, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ollie Pope (wk), 7 Ben Stokes (c), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Matt Potts, 11 Shoaib Bashir
Pitch and conditions: Green from the start
There has been considerable rain in the build-up – New Zealand’s training was cut short after 30 minutes on Thursday – and the pitch has been largely kept under cover. But a brilliant Friday meant the pitch was opened up to bright blue skies, and with a pleasant weekend forecast, the pitch is likely to be ripe. Seddon Park has been a stronghold for New Zealand, having won seven of their last nine Test matches there. Recently, against South Africa in February, the ground saw three scores of less than 250, but the hosts managed to easily chase down 267 in the fourth innings. Weather may also play a role during the Test and there is a possibility of rain on the third day.
Statistics and General Knowledge
New Zealand have not lost a Test at Seddon Park since being beaten by South Africa by nine wickets in 2012.
Kane Williamson averages 94.26 on the field, with six centuries – including a career-best 251 against West Indies in 2020.
England have played two Tests in Hamilton: a high-scoring draw in 2019 and a 189-run defeat in 2008, which led to Steven Harmison and Matthew Hoggard being dropped in place of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
After losing 2–0 to Australia at the start of the year, New Zealand could equal their worst sequence of five consecutive defeats at home in 1955–56.
Joe Root needs 114 runs to become the fifth player to score 13,000 runs in Tests. Gus Atkinson is two wickets short of 50 runs.
Citation
“Whatever Test match you play for New Zealand, it’s another opportunity to showcase your skills to the best of your ability. We certainly don’t need any inspiration for what we’re trying to do. The crowd we’ve got “We know we haven’t played up to our potential in the last few games, but hopefully we can perform well for the fans. We really appreciate their support.” Tom Latham
“seventeen [Tests] A lot happens in a year when you add in the other cricket, long hard work but a really good year. Played some good cricket, got some exceptionally talented players who showed that they are capable of delivering big performances on the biggest stage, which is playing for your country. So overall, really happy.” ben stokes
Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick
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