CRICKET
Our Prediction: Kiwis will win 2nd Test
England and New Zealand clash in the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham from today.
England got off to a good start under Ben Stokes winning the first Test at Lord’s and are leading the series 1-0.
The victory was made possible thanks to some brilliant bowling and the class of Joe Root.
Root created history by becaming the second Englishman to reach 10,000 Test runs.
In the process, he led England to the third-highest successful run chase ever at Lord’s.
Team News
Kane Williamson has also been ruled out after testing positive for COVID-19.
Hence Tom Latham will lead the team.
All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme is out of the series with a heel injury.
In his place, Hamish Rutherford, plays for Leicestershire, could come in to open.
The seasoned Henry Nicholls is set to return to the side.
England will probably go in with an unchanged XI for the second Test.
Jack Leech has been declared fit and will be available to play after completing the seven-day concussion recovery period.
Head-to-Head Test Record
Overall – 108
ENG Won – 49
NZ Won – 12
Draw – 47
Trent Bridge Pitch report
Bright weather is predicted through the week.
The captain winning the toss might bowl first as the pitch has a green tinge to it.
The pitch might ease in the latter half of the Test so batting will become much easier.
The average first innings score here in the past five Tests is 273.
Trent Bridge is the pitch where Australia got all out for 60 in 2015.
So, it’s a place where pace bowlers always fancy their chances.
Current form
Expected key players for the match
Kyle Jamieson is a real danger man for England.
He has taken 16 wickets in three Tests in England at an average of 17.06.
He triggered England’s remarkable collapse on day one at Lord’s.
Devon Conway will also play a vital role.
He was batting quite well in the second innings at Lord’s before getting out.
Devon has a spectacular record against England, having scored 306 runs in two Tests last year.
For England, Joe Root and Ben Stokes are expected to shine with the bat and Stuart Broad with the ball.
New Zealand: 1. Tom Latham (c), 2. Hamish Rutherford, 3. Will Young, 4. Devon Conway, 5. Henry Nicholls, 6. Daryl Mitchell, 7. Tom Blundell (wk), 8. Kyle Jamieson, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Matt Henry/Neil Wagner/Ajaz Patel, 11. Trent Boult
Who will win?
New Zealand were 270 for 4 wickets when reports last came in.
This puts NZ in a strong situation.
New Zealand has a potent seam attack comprising Boult, Jamieson and Southee who can wreak havoc in English conditions.
NZ is also the World Champion in Test cricket and we expect them to come back strongly in this Test.
Our Prediction is a draw or a win for New Zealand in the second Test.