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Hoping they pick Robinson over Overton as he's a much more exciting bowler, and is handy enough with the bat.

Balance of the side is tricky with no Stokes.

I can't see why broad and Anderson won't play all the games. They don't play odis and they won't be asked to play county cricket.

Incidentally, here's the latest on Archer.

@englandcricket
Jofra has been reviewed by a medical consultant in respect of his right elbow soreness. He will now proceed to surgery tomorrow.

Test matches will be close. Nzl are currently 2nd best team and have pace bowlers to excel in England.

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Last time New Zealand won a test series in England was Summer 1999.

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draw

2-0 nz.

This NZ pace bowling lineup is probably the strongest in the world especially in these cold weather conditions.

Foakes is out of the squad unfortunately. Sam Billings and Haseeb Hameed have been called in.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2161170

Should be an exciting test series. Both sides strength is their bowling attack. Home advantage has substantially declined in recent years.

That's a shame for Foakes, I wonder if Bracey will get the nod as he was originally in the squad or whether we'll go for the player with more international experience in Billings?

They might even give Pope the gloves but I hope they don't, just let the kid bat.

I know they want to rotate but Anderson and Broad should really play both of these tests against NZ. It's been a cold and wet month so despite the improving weather over the next few days, I wouldn't be surprised if we went with 4 seamers and no Leach in the absence of Stokes and Woakes.

Sounds like Bracey will play as WK with Billings as WK cover, and Hameed taking Bracey's spot as top 3 cover.

What an opportunity for Brace then. Trying to think of the last player from Gloucestershire who got called up to the England test team. Jack Russell maybe?

Bracey*

yeah changed my mind, we will get shafted

Trent Boult missing is good news for us especially with such an inexperienced batting line up. They've still got dangerous options with the ball though and plenty of experience with the bat.

Early news suggests the line up could be Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Root, Pope, Lawrence, Bracey (wk), Robinson, Leach, Broad, Anderson.

Pope and Lawrence are an exciting duo battling for one spot so if one of them can show some form then that'll be good news for the side with Stokes returning.

Could do with a real all-rounder though Root can bowl a bit. Bracey doesn't seem to be vastly experienced as a wicket-keeper, but we'll see....

The guys who played IPL should be available considering it got cancelled so long ago. I know it may have already been agreed but we could really use Woakes in the team in the absence of Stokes and surely he'd have loved to have played these 2 tests?

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Morning all. On holiday this week and this is my one and only whole spare day. Plans today = cricket 🏏

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NZ win the toss and bat, looks like a glorious day for it.