Embattled England face rising force NZ

May 21-25, 2015
Start time 11am local (1000 GMT)

Whatever dramas and controversies are floating around either England cricket or the world game - and at the moment there are plenty in both - there is something reassuring about the first Test of the English season. Whether Alastair Cook, Paul Farbrace and Andrew Strauss - captain, stand-in coach and new director of cricket - will be reassured come the end of the match is a moot point, but after all the off-field shenanigans at least the action moves back to the field.

And it is an intriguing contest between teams currently moving in opposite directions. The recent update of the Test rankings had England and New Zealand swapping places; the home side down to the fifth, the visitors up to third. However, New Zealand's rise is even more significant than that: a year ago they were seventh, which is the position England will occupy if they lose this series. Much has changed since the last meeting between the teams in 2013.

The current crop of England cricketers are trying to look to the future but are often handed the hospital pass of needing to bat away questions about Peter Moores' sacking, Kevin Pietersen's continued banishing or something Colin Graves may or may not have said. New Zealand, meanwhile, are still regularly asked about their uplifting World Cup campaign and the glow, albeit dampened somewhat by defeat in the final, remains as does an air of confidence around the squad.

Although this is a return to Test cricket they promise to retain the attacking brand of cricket instilled under Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson, led so strongly by the captain himself. It will be a challenge in early season English conditions, not least because a core of the Test side have arrived late from the IPL, but McCullum has always been clear: cricket is a game to enjoy and play to provide entertainment. The English public would love that to be shown by their team, too, although right now Cook would take a victory any which way.

(last five matches, most recent first)
England LWDWW
New Zealand WWWDL

The match-up between the two new-ball attacks will go a long way towards deciding the series. James Anderson remains an outstanding bowler but can't forever shoulder the burden he currently does and Stuart Broad was inconsistent in the West Indies. In the opposition, Tim Southee and Trent Boult now have two years' further experience from when the teams last met in 2013 and are as compelling a duo as their England counterparts. They also benefit from the right-arm, left-arm combination. Opening the batting could be hazardous in this match.

Kane Williamson and Gary Ballance are both destined for prolific international careers and, given the strength of the two new-ball pairings, the No. 3 batsmen of both teams had better not get too comfortable in the dressing room. Williamson is more advanced in his career than Ballance and since January 2014 has averaged over 70 in Tests. Ballance, though, has taken to the five-day game like a duck to water: four hundreds in his first 11 outings including a show of notable resilience to put a poor World Cup behind him with runs in the Caribbean.

Adam Lyth will be England's 666th Test cricketer - and has no qualms about the number of his cap - so becoming the sixth opening partner for Cook since Strauss' retirement in 2012. Mark Wood may also be handed a debut in place of Chris Jordan as England aim to add greater cutting edge to their pace attack.

England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Adam Lyth, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Ben Stokes, 8 Jos Buttler (wk), 9 Mark Wood, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson

Martin Guptill all but assured himself a recall, for his first Test since Headingley 2013, with his 150 against Worcestershire and is set to open alongside Tom Latham as Hamish Rutherford misses out. McCullum always likes a specialist spinner so Mark Craig's place is secure leaving the third frontline quick as the final question mark. The suggestion is that Matt Henry will make his debut, preferred to the workhorse Neil Wagner, who would be able to consider himself unfortunate to miss out

New Zealand 1 Tom Latham, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Brendon McCullum (capt), 6 Corey Anderson, 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Mark Craig, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult

Last year, Mick Hunt's Test pitches produced two wonderful matches: Sri Lanka earned a draw nine wickets down and India, having had the toughest of conditions, secured a famous victory. On both occasions the side bowling first wasted helpful conditions; the pitches rarely break up so if the ball does swing or seam it must be taken advantage of, although McCullum suggested the surface felt dry "underneath the top". The weather forecast suggests five dry days with mild (by English May standards) temperatures.

"Cricket in New Zealand captivated our country in that World Cup. 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."
Brendon McCullum hopes to retain the World Cup vibe