New Zealand vs England: First Test talking points and second Test selection thoughts

When England raced to their target of 104 inside 13 overs to complete a convincing eight-wicket victory in the first Test against New Zealand, they also continued an impressive run in winning the opening Test of every away series in the Brendon McCullum era.

As the two sides now head to the Basin Reserve in Wellington - the setting of the incredible one-run victory by the Kiwis in 2022 - the challenge now is for Bazball to earn an unassailable 2-0 lead and a much-needed series victory on foreign shores.

England will not be expecting such a charitable performance from their hosts this time around, the Kiwis dropping eight catches in the field and surrendering a strong position with the bat to lose a grip of the game over a topsy-turvy day one and two.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s cricket writer Dom Harris assesses the first Test and looks forward to what should be a scintillating second Test this week.

Ben Stokes leads from the front

The absence of Ben Stokes for the home series against Sri Lanka and the first Test in Pakistan, both as a player and leader, was clear to see.

Even when he did return from injury during the 2-1 defeat to Pakistan, we witnessed an uncharacteristically subdued captaincy, albeit understandably given events his family faced back home.

But during the first Test in Christchurch, Stokes looked some way back to his best which unsurprisingly reflected in a positive England performance.

With bat in hand at number seven, Stokes scored a measured 80 as a supporting act to centurion Harry Brook, who took centre stage to help lay the platform for the first-innings lead and then later enjoyed a predominantly watching brief from the non-striker’s end as Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse smashed quick-fire runs.

Stokes did look a little rusty with ball in hand, conceding 19 runs from his first two overs, but it was in the field where his creativeness had a more telling impact.

On the first day, he threw the ball to Shoaib Bashir, who conjured four wickets despite a pitch offering very little for the spinner and adapted to conditions to recognise the effectiveness of the short ball.

Jacob Bethell and Brydon Carse star

Harry Brook got the headlines for his stunning 171, but almost the expectancy of such brilliance means the performances of two of England’s newer stars are worth bringing to the fore.

Jacob Bethell could not have asked for a much better Test debut than scoring a 37-ball 50 in the second innings – including the winning runs – as the gamble to chuck a novice red-ball player in at number three showed positive early signs.

The 21-year-old is quickly establishing himself as an England regular across all formats, displaying power striking down the ground and a confidence in pulling the short ball which makes him a seemingly natural fit to Bazball.

Brydon Carse may not be a young pup like Bethell, but at the age of 29 has provided a huge boost when England’s pace bowling department needed it most.

Despite an ordinary record in county cricket and a betting ban which saw him miss the majority of the 2024 season, Carse has been the standout bowler this winter and repaid the faith in the selectors with 19 wickets in three Tests, including a 10-wicket haul in a player-of-the-match performance against New Zealand – the first England quick to do so in 16 years.

His knack for hitting the wicket shorter of a length and pushing batters deeper in the crease was identified as a major asset for the Test arena, whilst his ability to more than hold a bat alongside Gus Atkinson has been a major positive for England looking ahead to the Ashes next year.

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Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes show value

The position of Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes in the side was perhaps considered under most scrutiny.

Pope, who is highly regarded as a leadership figure in the group, has struggled for consistent form and his frantic technique to bat at number three has often been questioned.

In Christchurch, Pope was asked to take the gloves and subsequently shift down the order to number six, scoring a much-needed half century to turn the game in England’s favour on day two.

Having survived a testing spell by Will O’Rourke at the start of his innings, his score of 77 – denied a possible century in spectacular fashion by Glenn Phillips – has prompted debate around his long-term role in the middle-order.

However, the return of first-choice wicketkeeper Jamie Smith would see that unlikely.

Woakes has been unable to shrug off talk about his underwhelming record away from home in Tests.

He has arguably also been a victim of unnecessary criticism in the wake of James Anderson's seemingly abrupt retirement as England look to the future yet continue to select the 35-year-old.

Going wicketless in his 20 overs in Christchurch and looking rather unthreatening would have done little to help his cause.

However, the experienced all-rounder showed immense character during the second innings late on day three to help England establish a dominant position.

His figures of 3-59, including a highly-skilled set-up to remove the key man Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell in consecutive deliveries with the hosts still trailing by 18 runs, was a timely reminder of the quality he can still bring to this England side.

Zak Crawley woes

One of the few players who will feel disappointed with their contribution to the first Test victory is Zak Crawley, who only scored one run across his two innings – the fewest runs by an England opener in Tests since Michael Atherton’s pair against South Africa in 1999.

Crawley looked uncomfortable against the seaming ball, with his fluency which has seen him establish an exciting complimentary partnership with Ben Duckett and register a number of eye-catching centuries often overshadowed by a run of inconsistency.

However, without a back-up opener in the squad and no clear alternatives banging the door down domestically – Warwickshire’s Rob Yates and Durham’s Ben McKinney have been mentioned – there is no indication England will not persist with the Kent man and give him more time to showcase his undoubted quality.

Keep a winning formula?

The injury to Jordan Cox on the eve of the first Test meant England were forced to change their plans at the last minute.

Durham’s Ollie Robinson has joined the squad as a frontline wicketkeeper and could make his Test debut in Wellington but given the performances of Bethell and Pope that would be highly doubtful.

Stokes did pull up during mid-over on the fourth day which did raise concerns around a recurrence of his hamstring injury - but the captain has declared himself fully fit to play the second Test.

Bashir’s four wickets did no harm in his battle to be England’s primary spinner with Jack Leach and would be expected to keep his place in the team as a result.

Any changes England are likely to make is the rotation of their quick bowlers, with Matthew Potts and Olly Stone eagerly waiting in the wings.

Potts, who took 9-68 in his last innings with a Kookaburra ball, would be the favourite to join Durham team-mate Carse in the side, coming in for Woakes or Atkinson who may be rested.

The second Test gets underway on Thursday, December 5 at 22:00 (GMT).

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