England in New Zealand: Nick Compton selected as Alastair Cook's opening partner for tour match in Queenstown
Last Updated: February 27, 2013 6:33am
Nick Compton was retained as Alastair Cook's opening partner for England's warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Queenstown.
Somerset batsman Compton made his England debut in the series win over India before Christmas, opening alongside skipper Cook in all four Tests.
Yorkshire's Joe Root, seen as an alternative to Compton at the top of the order, remained at number six - the position at which he made his Test debut in India.
England's XI for the four-day fixture - their only match before the first Test against New Zealand starts at Dunedin on March 6 - was also notable for the absence of rested frontline pace pair James Anderson and Steven Finn.
Graham Onions and Chris Woakes could therefore both put their name forward as a possible third seamer, a position currently occupied by Stuart Broad.
England lost the toss and were put in on a glorious morning at the Queenstown Events Centre ground.
England: A Cook (capt), N Compton, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, J Root, M Prior (wkt), C Woakes, S Broad, G Swann, G Onions
Nick Compton
