NZ has bigger prize in mind as T20 series opens

The New Zealand team preparing for tomorrow's T20I against England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch...
The New Zealand team preparing for tomorrow's T20I against England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Photo: Getty Images
Did someone mention the World Cup?

Hush now. That is not the best way to start a media conference these days.

The country is still coming to terms with the All Blacks' premature departure from the Rugby World Cup at the hands of England.

Then there was that tense all-nighter in July when the Black Caps went so very close to upsetting England and winning the Cricket World Cup final.

That dream was snatched away on a boundary countback after the match and super over were tied.

But the World Cup being referenced was the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia next year.

And the Black Caps start their preparation in earnest this afternoon with a match against England at Hagley Oval.

Experienced seamer Tim Southee is captaining the team in the absence of Kane Williamson, who has been sidelined with a hip complaint.

It is up to Southee and his charges to help rescue some pride for the nation.

"There is a big focus on the T20 World Cup [during the next 12 months] and there is a lot of T20 cricket between now and then," he said.

"I guess it started in Sri Lankan and will continue into this series.

"It is important - any series you play for your country is a very important one.

"But obviously with the T20 World Cup in mind there is a few things that need to be worked out between now and then."

England is resting the likes of Jason Roy, Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, so there are new faces in the squad.

Pace bowlers Pat Brown and Saqib Mahmood and legspinner Matt Parkinson are far from household names, while Lewis Gregory and Tom Banton represent a new breed of batsman who are not happy unless they are belting every single delivery to or over the rope.

"England has brought quite a young [squad] and they're inexperienced in a way. But they have performed well in the domestic and county circuit and it is a chance for them to press their case."

The Black Caps have plenty of power throughout their order, too. Colin Munro and Colin de Grandhomme are as destructive as anyone in the world.

Tim Seifert and Jimmy Neesham can hit a long ball, and Martin Guptill will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing one-day World Cup.

Ross Taylor's role will be to anchor the innings and make sure a decent total gets posted.

It is five-game series. There is also a five-game series and a three-game series against India and Australia respectively to look forward to.

By the end of the summer the Black Caps should have a very good understanding of where they sit in the T20 power rankings.

NZ v England T20

Christchurch, today, 2pm

Black Caps: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee (captain), Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.

England: Tom Banton, Jonny Bairstow, James Vince, Eoin Morgan (captain), Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Pat Brown, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson.

 

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