First Test: England v New Zealand preview
Thursday 21 May 2015 10:42, UK
England captain Alastair Cook is expecting a tough test from New Zealand in the first match of their two-Test series which starts at Lord's on Thursday.
The Black Caps lost 2-0 on their last trip to England two years ago but Brendon McCullum's side have won four and drawn two of their six Test series since then.
In the 2013 series opener at Lord's, they were competitive until a second-innings collapse saw them skittled out for 68, with Stuart Broad taking 7-44 in a match England won by 170 runs.
"It was a great series for us, but obviously over the last two years, they have made huge strides under Brendon McCullum," Cook said.
"They are a very, very dangerous side. We are aware of that."
Cook is now working alongside interim coach Paul Farbrace following the departure of Peter Moores after the appointment of Andrew Strauss as the ECB's director of cricket.
There has also been more controversy over Kevin Pietersen following the batsman's omission for the foreseeable future and Cook is now keen to move on.
"This thing has gone on for 15 months now, and we've got to start looking forward," he said.
"We have to really focus on what is important to us now - and for me, that is leading the players out at Lord's trying to win a Test series."
Cook will have his sixth opening partner at Lord’s, since Strauss called time on his playing career, in Adam Lyth - and a debut is likely too for Durham fast bowler Mark Wood.
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New Zealand have won just four of their 52 Tests in England and only two series - in 1986 and 1989 – and McCullum is predicting a hard-fought battle in the 100th Test between the sides despite the hosts’ off-field problems.
"They are obviously going through some challenges - we've been there as well and understand what every team has to go through - but they are still stacked full of world-class players," he said.
"In their own conditions, they will be a tough proposition, and we are by no means thinking we have got them.
"We know we'll have to play extremely good cricket."
Under McCullum, New Zealand have become renowned for an aggressive approach but the skipper insists there is more to their game than being 'gung-ho'.
He said: "We earn the right to get ourselves into a position to be instinctive and aggressive. It's all well and good trying and ending up 50 for eight; you have to earn the right then you can be entertaining from there."
New Zealand, with Tim Southee taking seven wickets, thrashed England during their recent run to the World Cup final, where the Black Caps lost to co-hosts Australia.
"Cricket captivated our country in that World Cup," said McCullum.
"Yes, the results were great but I think it was the manner in which we played the game and the spirit which we played in. That resonated with our public and people around the world, too.
"It would be silly of us to try not to feed on the back of that momentum.
"It is a different form of the game and we have to earn the right again. We created some memories that will last a lifetime."
England (possible): Cook (capt), Lyth, Ballance, Bell, Root, Ali, Stokes, Buttler (wkt), Broad, Wood, Anderson.
New Zealand (possible): McCullum (capt), Guptill, Latham, Williamson, Taylor, Anderson, Watling (wkt), Craig, Henry, Southee, Boult.
Umpires: S Ravi (Ind) and M Erasmus (Rsa); Third umpire: R Tucker (Aus); Match referee: D Boon (Aus).
Watch the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s, live from 10am on Thursday on Sky Sports 2 (channel 403).
