England's Stuart Broad returns for first Test against New Zealand

Stuart Broad on Wednesday for this week's first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, reuniting his strike partnership with veteran James Anderson.Broad, who has 566 Test wickets, will lead the attack alongside 40-year-old Anderson, England's all-time leading bowler with 675 dismissals and seamer Ollie Robinson.Skipper and all-rounder Ben Stokes, who will lead England in the country of his birth for the first time, will be the fourth seam option with spinner Jack Leach completing the bowling attack for the day-night encounter beginning Thursday.The 36-year-old Broad missed the 3-0 Test series win over Pakistan in December following the birth of his child.

The first match of the two-Test series is expected to begin on time despite a national state of emergency in New Zealand caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.But the storm has meant The Bay Oval wicket has remained covered for much of the build-up, something that normally favours the side bowling first, however Stokes was uncertain how it would play."Watching Test matches in New Zealand in the past, I don't think you can look too much into the wickets here when they're green like that," he said."The two-day practice game we played (last week in Hamilton), the wicket was very green, had a lot of grass on it, and it played very, very true."So I don't know how much effect it'll have really -- I just hope I lose the toss," he joked.

Read AlsoNew Zealand paceman Blair Tickner to make Test debut against England

New Zealand captain Tim Southee has confirmed paceman Blair Tickner will make his Test debut against England at Mount Maunganui on Thursday but said selectors will wait until the morning of the match to finalise the team.

Stokes said the team had managed to practise under