8 Nov 2024

Black Caps expect England to stick to attacking ways

6:19 am on 8 November 2024
Neil Wagner of New Zealand appeals successfully as James Anderson of England is caught behind by Tom Blundell and New Zealand beat England at the Basin Reserve, 2023.

The Black Caps expect England to continue their attacking matchplay in the test series. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Black Caps expect England to stick to their attacking brand of cricket when they face them in the upcoming home test series despite Ben Stokes's team crashing to defeat in Pakistan.

New Zealand, rejuvenated after a 3-0 whitewash of India, face England in three tests starting on 28 November in Christchurch.

England lost 2-1 in Pakistan, putting their aggressive test batting approach, which has been dubbed 'Bazball', under the microscope.

Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan said 'Bazball' had met its match against Pakistan but New Zealand skipper Tom Latham was not convinced the tourists would change their game in New Zealand.

"They've got an attacking brand that they like to play and I'm sure it will be no different in terms of how they like to approach it," Latham said after arriving back from India.

"We're looking forward to it. It'll be a great challenge."

New Zealand's 3-0 sweep of India has revived their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final, three years after they claimed the inaugural title.

The Black Caps lie fourth in the race behind Australia, India and Sri Lanka. England are sixth.

Latham said it was a "big carrot" for New Zealand to perform against England but they were not focusing on the future implications.

"If we're able to play some good cricket then those sort of things take care of themselves," he said.

"But for us it's just about enjoying our cricket as much as we can.

"(It's) completely different conditions, we're against a completely different team. We're going to have to, again, be at our best, so yeah, it's another exciting opportunity."

-Reuters

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