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.
Brendon Maccullum Sport News
Stokes backs 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.
'Door open' for Test return, says England's Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali said he is open to playing Test cricket again under new England coach Brendon McCullum. The 34-year-old quit the long format last year with 2,914 runs and 195 wickets from 64 Tests but still plays an important role in England's limited-overs sides. Moeen said McCullum, who was put in charge of the Test team last month, had sounded him out about a potential red-ball return. "Baz (McCullum) messaged me asking if I was 'in'," Moeen was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper after being awarded an OBE for his services to cricket.
'Door open' for test return, says England's Moeen
LONDON : All-rounder Moeen Ali said he is open to playing test cricket again under new England coach Brendon McCullum.
Ben Stokes Backs 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.
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.
Lord's Scorecard Shows England 7/1 During Test Run Ahead Of First New Zealand Test, Leads To Hilarious Reactions
England begin their journey in Test cricket under new captain Ben Stokes and new head coach Brendon McCullum against New Zealand on Thursday as the two teams meet in the first Test at Lord's in London. The Three Lions are looking to come out of a major slump in cricket's longest format, which eventually led to a change of guard as long time captain Joe Root stepped down post losses to Australia and West Indies.
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.