England won the toss and chose to bowl in the first Test against New Zealand. In the early overs, New Zealand lost an early wicket with Conway being dismissed for 2. England’s Chris Woakes opened the bowling, and the pitch was described as slightly green. Ollie Robinson was added to England’s Test squad for the tour of New Zealand, replacing Jordan Cox who suffered a thumb injury.
The article also highlighted the contrasting moods of the two teams, with New Zealand coming off a successful tour of India and victory in the T20 World Cup, while England faced criticism for their performance in Pakistan. Ben Stokes, who had a tough trip to Pakistan, appeared refreshed ahead of the Test match.
Debutant Jacob Bethell was praised for his confidence and work ethic, and the teams were announced for the match. New Zealand included Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, while England featured Ben Stokes as captain. The article also mentioned the absence of spinners in England’s lineup and the inclusion of Ollie Pope as wicketkeeper.
Overall, the article provided a brief overview of the key events leading up to the first Test match between England and New Zealand, setting the stage for an intriguing cricket contest.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
