New Zealand Eyes Batting Improvement in Crucial Test

Only 21 months ago, New Zealand won a thrilling Test against England by one run in Wellington, leveling the series 1-1. Now, after a defeat in Christchurch, the hosts face a similar situation and aim to make a statement.

New Zealand's batting and fielding need improvement, with Devon Conway and Tom Blundell averaging 23.43 and 15.88, respectively. The hosts dropped eight catches and gave Harry Brook five lives in the first Test. However, Kane Williamson's return was a positive, scoring two half-centuries. New Zealand has a 23-win record in 68 Tests at the Basin Reserve.

England, following their strong performance in Christchurch, aims to bury past ghosts in Wellington. Harry Brook's big hundred, Brydon Carse's maiden ten-wicket haul, and half-centuries from Stokes, Pope, and Bethell led the victory.

Details:

• Date: Dec 6-10, 2024
• Venue: Basin Reserve, Wellington
• Weather: Sunny, green pitch

Teams:

• New Zealand: No changes, Conway, Latham (C), Williamson, Ravindra, Mitchell, Phillips, Blundell (wk), Smith, Southee, Henry, O'Rourke
• England: Unchanged, Crawley, Duckett, Bethell, Root, Brook, Pope (wk), Stokes (C), Woakes, Atkinson, Carse, Bashir

Tom Latham's comments:
"We've got to be better and will certainly try our best. Maybe that's something that needs to be reviewed."