England vs New Zealand: 2nd Test.

• Match: 2^{nd Test} Match.
• Teams: England vs New Zealand.
• Venue: Edgbaston,Birmingham.
• Time: 3:30 pm IST.

 

• Preview: From Devon Conway’s 200 on Lords’ debut to Ollie Robinson’s suspension the Lords Test was full of happening things. But in the end, both the teams settled for a draw as England lacked the X-Factor to chase down the target in the last day. Now both the teams move to Edgbaston for the 2^nd Test with the series on the line.

 

• Pitch Report: The wicket at Edgbaston is a bit on the greenish side which indicates that it will be seam friendly with the seamers being in the game throughout the game. The batsmen need to survive the first hour of play with the new ball to adapt to the playing conditions. Generally, it is about winning the toss and bat first type of wicket with the team winning the toss has won 5 out of the 7 matches played at this venue. Also, the pinners should come into play in the fourth innings as the pitch gets more worn out.

 

• Weather Report: The second Test shouldn't see many interruptions due to rain, with just a minimal chance of showers on Day One and Day Five. The weather should be pleasant, with an average temperature of 23 degrees celsius.

 

• Last 3 H2H Record: (Players in current squad).

 

1. Eng vs Nz at Lords’, Jun 02-06,2021. (Match Drawn).

1^st Innings: Nz: 378/10.

Devon Conway: 200.

Henry Nicholls: 61.

Mark Wood: 3 wickets.

James Anderson: 2 wickets.

 

2^nd Innings: Eng: 275/10.

Rory Burns: 132.

Root: 42.

Southee: 6 wickets.

Jamieson: 3 wickets.

 

3^rd Innings: Nz: 169/6 declared.

Latham: 36.

Ross Taylor: 33.

Broad: 1 wicket.

Wood: 1 wicket.

 

4^th Innings: Eng: 170/3.

Sibley: 60.

Root: 40.

Wagner: 2 wickets.

Southee: 1 wicket.

 

 2. Eng vs Nz at Bay Oval, Nov 21-25, 2019. (Nz won by an innings and 65 runs).

1^st Innings: Eng: 353/10.

Rory Burns: 52.

Tim Southee: 4 wickets.

Wagner: 3 wickets.

 

2^nd Innings: Nz: 615/9 dec.

Watling: 205.

Santner: 126.

Colin de Grandhomme: 65.

Williamson: 51.

Sam Curran: 3 wickets.

Jack Leach: 2 wickets.

 

3^rd Innings: Eng: 197/10.

Rory Burns: 31.

Sam Curran: 29.

Wagner: 5 wickets.

Santner: 3 wickets.

 

3. Eng vs Nz at Seddon Park, Nov 29- Dec 3,2019. (Match Drawn).

1^st Innings: Nz: 375/10.

Latham: 105.

Mitchell: 73.

Watling: 55.

Taylor: 53.

Broad: 4 wickets.

Woakes: 3 wickets.

Sam Curran: 2 wickets.

 

2^nd Innings: Eng: 476/10.

Root: 226.

Rory Burns: 101.

Pope:75.

Wagner: 5 wickets.

Southee: 2 wickets.

 

3^rd Innings: Nz: 241/2.

Taylor: 105.

Williamson: 104.

Woakes: 1 wicket.

Sam Curran: 1 wicket.

 

 

• Common Players from both:

Eng: Root, Broad, Anderson, Rory Burns.

Nz: Williamson, Watling, Latham, Southee, Wagner.

 

• Venue wise stats
• Highest Run Getter:

Joe Root: 481 runs (9 innings).

Rory Burns: 144 runs (2 innings).

              (Currently no player from Nz in the record book as Nz last played on this ground 20 years ago).

• Highest Wicket Taker:

Anderson: 44 wickets (21 innings).

Broad: 35 wickets (16 innings).

 

• Last match observation at this venue:

1. Team winning the toss and elected to bat first.
2. 37 wickets fell in the match out of 40. Pacers took 24 wickets compared to spinners who took 13 wickets. But 9 of those 13 wickets came in the 3^rd and 4^th innings. (3^rd-3 wickets, 4^th- 6 wickets).
3. Stuart Broad picked up 6 wickets in that match.
4. The spinner bowling last on this pitch took 6 wickets.
5. Rory Burns scored a 100 and Joe Root scored a 50 in that match.

 

• Probable Xi:

England: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Ollie Pope, Daniel Lawrence, James Bracey (wk), Craig Overton, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson/ Jack Leach.

(Robinson has been suspended indefinitely so Craig Overton is a likely starter. Also, Jack leach is expected to play so either of Wood or Anderson misses out.)

 

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c)/Will Young, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Ajaz Patel, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner.

(Williamson is nursing an elbow injury so Will Young is expected to play with Latham leading. Santner has been ruled out of the Test series so Ajaz Patel is slotted to play. Also, Boult is expected to play at the expense of Southee or Wagner. Bracewell is likely to come in place of Jamieson with Mitchell replacing Grandhomme.)

 

• Fantasy Team:

Wk: Watling.

Batsmen: Burns, Root, Latham, Conway

All Rounder: Bracewell.

Bowler: Broad, Boult, Anderson/Wood, Leach (if bowls second), Southee.

 

• Safe C/Vc: Root, Broad, Latham.
• Differential C/Vc: Leach, Southee, Burns.
• Risky C/Vc: Conway, Ajaz Patel (if he bowls second), Taylor.

 

• (Final comments and disclaimer: I will be going with a bowler as a captain or vice-captain as I believe more wickets will fall in the last 2 days. Also, England are the favourites to win if Williamson doesn’t play so C/Vc could be from same side. Spinner bowling last in this innings will be a great pick too.)

 

Stay tuned for more updates…