ENG vs NZ Match Preview
England has implemented several modifications to the squad that participated in the T20 series, with the aim of refining the team for the ODI World Cup. The most significant addition is that of Ben Stokes, who had previously announced his retirement from the format last year. However, it is possible that his role will be restricted to that of a batsman.
Harry Brook will not be participating in this series, but the return of Jason Roy and Joe Root will bolster the batting lineup. England's batting depth remains a considerable asset.
England was the pioneer of the "attack at all times and at all costs" approach in ODI cricket, which could prove crucial once again, particularly with the World Cup taking place in India, where high-scoring games are common.
Gus Atkinson, who made an impressive debut in the T20 series, has retained his position in the squad. He will be joined by Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, and Brydon Carse in the seam attack, while Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali are the two quality spinners.
The ability to take wickets in the middle overs, with Wood and Rashid, will be the key to success in this battle.
Similar to the hosts, New Zealand has implemented certain modifications to their squad for the upcoming marquee event commencing in October. Henry Nicholls will be included in the team and is expected to open the batting. His recent commendable performances in the ODIs and Test matches have instilled confidence in the team, and they will rely on him to deliver a substantial innings.
Will Young is another proficient player in the top order, while Tom Latham, who will also lead the team in the 50-over format, will play a crucial role in the middle order. New Zealand boasts a plethora of all-rounders in their lineup, akin to England, which provides them with the flexibility to adapt to varying conditions.
The pace attack will be bolstered with the return of Trent Boult, who will join the other seamers who featured in the T20s. However, Ish Sodhi has been omitted from the squad, leaving Mitchell Santner as the sole quality spinner. The absence of a front-line wrist-spinner in the squad is a potential weakness that could prove detrimental to New Zealand's performance.
Weather Report
The weather is expected to be a bit cloudy with temperatures between 20-25 degrees Celsius.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sophia Gardens isn’t the easiest to bat on. There is a covering of grass that will help the seamers get plenty of movement from the seam. The batsmen will have to play cautiously in the first half. The surface does even out gradually and gets easier to bat on under the lights. A score of around 240 is a par score.
Notable stats
Dawid Malan: Underrated Batter
Dawid Malan has batted well in this calendar year. He has scored 314 runs in 6 innings at an average of 62.80 and a strike rate of 89.71. He does not often get the limelight he deserves but he is someone that can make a big impact.
Team News
Both teams have a fully fit sqaud at their disposal.
ENG vs NZ Probable 11
ENG Playing 11
- Johnny Bairstow
- Jos Buttler (C)
- Joe Root
- Jason Roy
- Ben Stokes
- Sam Curran
- Moeen Ali
- Liam Livingstone
- Mark Wood
- Reece Topley
- Chris Woakes
NZ Playing 11
- Tom Latham (C)
- Devon Conway
- Henry Nicholls
- Glenn Phillips
- Mitchell Santner
- Daryl Mitchell
- Trent Boult
- Tom Southee
- Matt Henry
- Finn Allen
- Lockie Ferguson
Dream11 Prediction
We are backing England to win this match. They have a solid record against New Zealand in recent ODIs. On the other hand, the visitors have a relatively weaker batting line-up when compared with England and are likely to struggle against its solid bowling attack.
Top Picks
Joe Root: Joe Root has an excellent record against New Zealand. He has scored 932 runs against them at an average of 54.82 and a strike rate of 90.57.
Reece Topley: Reece Topley is coming off a successful stint in the Hundred, where he was the leading wicket-taker for Superchargers with 13 wickets. The conditions in Cardiff are well-suited for his style of bowling.
Tom Latham: Latham is a dependable batsman in the middle order. He has scored 3762 runs in ODIs at an average of 35.49.
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: J Buttler, J Bairstow, T Latham
Batters: J Root (VC), J Roy
All-rounders: S Curran (C), D Mitchell, M Santner
Bowlers: T Boult, M Wood, R Topley
