New Zealand bowl in 29-over match
Thursday, 19 June 2008
England produced a near-perfect performance in the opening match of the series at Chester-le-Street, the highlight of which was Kevin Pietersen's debate-provoking switch-hitting. Now, though, they have to start all over again at Edgbaston, in a match shrunk to 29 overs per side by rain, and the challenge for this developing team is to string a series of ruthless performances together, according to website cricinfo.
Although there were a few exasperated gasps from the bowling fraternity when Pietersen turned himself into a left-hander, twice launching Scott Styris over the off side (or should that be leg side?), MCC quickly came out to say they had no issues with the improvisation. It was at Edgbaston, too, that he first brought out the shot, against Muttiah Muralitharan during the Test match in 2006, so the odds are favourable for a repeat performance.
England have been forced to make one change with Ryan Sidebottom dropping out due to a back strain, handing Dimitri Mascarenhas a chance. However, their biggest challenge appears to be the weather and although the steady drizzle that has hung around since early morning has slowly moved away, the forecast isn't too promising for the rest of the afternoon.
New Zealand's tour is going from bad to worse and a number of their players are clearly struggling to raise themselves for the final stages of the trip. It doesn't help that they are still without Jacob Oram, who is also doubtful for the third match in Bristol with his hamstring injury. However, a shortened game which brings the sides closer together is probably their best chance of registering a win, despite the heavy defeat in last week's Twenty20.
Grant Elliott, the allrounder who made his Test debut against England in Napier, makes his first ODI appearance as New Zealand try to give themselves an extra bowling option. Elliott was due to be playing in the Surrey Leagues this weekend, so it's something of a step up for him. James Marshall, out of form at No. 3, has made way so the middle order will all move up one place.
England: 1 Luke Wright, 2 Ian Bell, 3 Kevin Pietersen, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Paul Collingwood (capt), 6 Owais Shah, 7 Tim Ambrose (wk), 8 Dimitri Mascarenhas, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson
New Zealand: 1 Brendon McCullum, 2 Jamie How, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Daniel Flynn, 6 Grant Elliott, 7 Gareth Hopkins (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Kyle Mills, 10 Michael Mason, 11 Tim Southee
Although there were a few exasperated gasps from the bowling fraternity when Pietersen turned himself into a left-hander, twice launching Scott Styris over the off side (or should that be leg side?), MCC quickly came out to say they had no issues with the improvisation. It was at Edgbaston, too, that he first brought out the shot, against Muttiah Muralitharan during the Test match in 2006, so the odds are favourable for a repeat performance.
England have been forced to make one change with Ryan Sidebottom dropping out due to a back strain, handing Dimitri Mascarenhas a chance. However, their biggest challenge appears to be the weather and although the steady drizzle that has hung around since early morning has slowly moved away, the forecast isn't too promising for the rest of the afternoon.
New Zealand's tour is going from bad to worse and a number of their players are clearly struggling to raise themselves for the final stages of the trip. It doesn't help that they are still without Jacob Oram, who is also doubtful for the third match in Bristol with his hamstring injury. However, a shortened game which brings the sides closer together is probably their best chance of registering a win, despite the heavy defeat in last week's Twenty20.
Grant Elliott, the allrounder who made his Test debut against England in Napier, makes his first ODI appearance as New Zealand try to give themselves an extra bowling option. Elliott was due to be playing in the Surrey Leagues this weekend, so it's something of a step up for him. James Marshall, out of form at No. 3, has made way so the middle order will all move up one place.
England: 1 Luke Wright, 2 Ian Bell, 3 Kevin Pietersen, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Paul Collingwood (capt), 6 Owais Shah, 7 Tim Ambrose (wk), 8 Dimitri Mascarenhas, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson
New Zealand: 1 Brendon McCullum, 2 Jamie How, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Daniel Flynn, 6 Grant Elliott, 7 Gareth Hopkins (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Kyle Mills, 10 Michael Mason, 11 Tim Southee