New Zealand to bat first after winning toss against England
LONDON : New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat in the first test against England at Lord's on Thursday.
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New Zealand include Boult as they bat against England at Lord's
New Zealand included the recently-arrived Trent Boult in their side for the first Test at Lord's on Thursday as captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat against England.
England vs New Zealand: Ben Stokes backs coach Brendon McCullum to make England feel '10 feet tall'
Ben Stokes has said Brendon McCullum was already making England's players "feel 10 feet tall" ahead of the first Test against the coach's native New Zealand at Lord's starting Thursday. The series opener of a three-match contest will be England's first since new Test captain Stokes, himself born in New Zealand but brought up in Cumbria, in England's northwest, succeeded Joe Root as skipper. It will also be England's first game following the appointment of former New Zealand captain McCullum as their Test coach, with the new leadership duo bidding to revive the fortunes of a team who have won just one of their last 17 matches at this level and gone over 12 months without a red-ball series victory. They now face a New Zealand side that under Kane Williamson, McCullum's successor as captain, became the inaugural World Test champions by defeating India in the final at Southampton last year, shortly after they completed a 1-0 campaign triumph away to England. For all the talk of a fresh start, England had just one debutant in fast bowler Matthew Potts when they named a familiar-looking XI on Wednesday.
England vs New Zealand: New Captain Ben Stokes Wants England To 'Feel Free Under His Captaincy'
New England captain Ben Stokes said he wanted everyone in the side to "feel free" under his leadership as James Anderson and Stuart Broad were recalled for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's starting Thursday. Stokes has taken over as skipper from Joe Root, with England on a woeful run of one win in 17 Tests. But the all-rounder told reporters at Lord's on Wednesday: "There's been a lot of talk about a 'reset', which is a word I don't like. "I just see it as a completely blank canvas. I just want everyone to feel free under my captaincy.
Ben Stokes says every England player has ‘blank canvas’ under his captaincy
Ben Stokes insists every England player will be handed a “a blank canvas” when he begins his captaincy reign at Lord’s this week.
New skipper Ben Stokes wants England to feel 'free' as Stuart Broad and James Anderson recalled
Ben Stokes said he wanted everyone in the side to "feel free" under his leadership as James Anderson and Stuart Broad were recalled for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's starting Thursday. Stokes has taken over as skipper from Joe Root, with England on a woeful run of one win in 17 Tests. But the all-rounder told reporters at Lord's on Wednesday: "There's been a lot of talk about a 'reset', which is a word I don't like.
Anderson, Broad in McCullum's first England squad; Brook, Potts called up
James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been recalled in Brendon McCullum's first England squad to take on New Zealand in a three-Test series next month, with Harry Brook and Matthew Potts receiving their first call-ups.
1st Test: New Zealand excited to face off against old skipper Brendon McCullum as England coach
Brendon McCullum will be a "massive asset" in the English dressing room and the coach's aggressive mindset should fit hand-in-glove with captain Ben Stokes, New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls said. Named England head coach last week, former New Zealand captain McCullum will plot the downfall of his old team in the three-Test series starting at Lord's on June 2. England have won only one of their last 17 Tests, but Nicholls described McCullum as a man who could put the swagger back into English cricket.