Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

England lost last night to the mighty Kiwis in a warm up game.

Revenge in full for their controversial WC defeat.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKO46951

Not a familiar England side.

Blimey, there was a warm up before this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKO46950

England and NZ squads.

New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (c), Trent Boult (games four and five), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games one, two and three), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner.

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Jonny Bairstow, 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.

1am Friday morning this kicks off. Christchurch.

Can't say I am enthusiastic with England's line up of unknown quantities, the bowling attack has no familiarity to it. Parkinson, Mahmood and Brown are genuine number 11 bats, so they really need to be clever with their bowling on small New Zealand boundaries. Then again if they don't perform, it's not a complete right off for next years World Twenty20 when boundaries in Australia are normally large.

I'm not convinced the justification for this glut of T20 games, that the WC follows, stands up with the selection of an almost entirely new side. It will not make these games preparation for the WC, but more a look at strength in depth. These selections always look weird in years to come.

England timing the chase well, and cruising to victory. Good knock from Vince, well supported by Captain Morgan.

Quite a lot to spare. Vince making a claim for a spot against a good attack (I'd guess Root's position is vulnerable).

Arthur Crabtree wrote:I'm not convinced the justification for this glut of T20 games, that the WC follows, stands up with the selection of an almost entirely new side. It will not make these games preparation for the WC, but more a look at strength in depth. These selections always look weird in years to come.

Probably more of a Cricket New Zealand decision, easier to sell 5x T20i matches in spring than 2x T20is and 3x ODIs initially planned. Locals said the Auckland Day/Night test was not as well attended as thought and NZC took a hit money wise.

Denley is out the series.

Mahmood makes a debut.

New Zealand: 1 Colin Munro, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), 4 Colin de Grandhomme, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Jimmy Neesham, 8 Mitch Santner, 9 Tim Southee (captain), 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Lockie Ferguson

England: 1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Dawid Malan, 3 James Vince, 4 Eoin Morgan (captain), 5 Sam Billings (wicketkeeper), 6 Lewis Gregory, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Saqib Mahmood, 11 Pat Brown

NZ bat.

Better go and do some work.

Looks a good score for NZ. Nightmare figures for Brown. NZ have won their last five games at this ground says cricinfo.

Two down for England early doors.

Bit of a pasting in the end.

Still not convinced with the new look England bowling unit. Sam Curran is just southern Ben Coad, Pat Brown overdoes it with the slower deliveries and should be spearing it in. Prefer Lewis Gregory's bowling action, but is he really better than David Willey? Though I like how Parkinson can get the ball to turn and bowls with more control than Rashid did in his early career.

Well I guess this really is a chance to try out some new prospects ...not too bothered with results. Just as well as they look like getting hammered again here.
Mahmood has gone round the park - actually out of it sometimes - though he's just nabbed a wicket ...due to a bad lbw decision but he won't mind that
Likely to be chasing north of 180 I think...won't be easy with only five batsmen . And that is including Billings...

Would have liked to see more than two overs from Parkinson. Quite a good start from him , I thought.

171/6 with one to go...could have been a lot worse . Tom Curran to finish - he's been the pick of the bowlers.