After an enthralling, exciting and exhilarating tour, New Zealand’s final game in England this summer comes at Old Trafford this evening, as the sides play a one-off T20 international.
With the 2016 World T20 in India less than a year away, both teams will want to secure a victory, and have reflected this by making minimal changes to their strong ODI squads.
England have removed the Overton twins and James Taylor from their ODI squad, and added Hampshire batsman James Vince and Essex left-arm seamer Reece Topley, but it is eminently possible that their playing XI will be unchanged from that which won the final ODI.
The @englandcricket T20 squad! #EngvNZ pic.twitter.com/p0YoDjjsQj
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2015
New Zealand’s squad now includes Worcestershire all-rounder Colin Munro, who may find a spot in the side, and both Andrew Mathieson and Ben Wheeler are expected to miss out, despite good showing in the ODI series.
For England, selection should be straightforward. Unless Jason Roy, the NatWest T20 Blast’s leading run-scorer in 2014, is discarded in favour of Vince, the only selection dilemma will be a toss up between Sam Billings, David Willey and Reece Topley for the final position in the side. Willey, a capable batsman, could fill the number seven position, which would allow Topley to slot into the side and see Billings miss out. However, if the batting is strengthened by leaving the Kent man at number seven, it looks as though there will be a straight choice between Willey and Topley for the left-arm seamer’s role.
“We’ve come here to win. It’s going to be a great game and hopefully we can end the tour on a high and leave with a smile on our faces.”
– Martin Guptill
New Zealand have a few more choices to make. Despite batting at number three in the ODI team, Kane Williamson has tended to open the batting in T20Is for the Black Caps. If he continues in that role, Brendon McCullum may drop down the order, thus paying the price for his poor ODI form. Furthermore, the option of Munro, who has been in indifferent form for Worcestershire in this season’s T20 Blast, with just 86 runs in his six innings, would potentially see either Ross Taylor or Grant Elliott left out.
Stunning day in Manchester @emiratesOT and @LancsCCC proud to be hosting the NatWest IT20 tonight. #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/OBE0fHlFoz
— daniel gidney (@GidneyDaniel) June 23, 2015
Depending on conditions, both Mitchell Santner and Nathan McCullum may play; given that Lancashire have often used three spin bowlers – Stephen Parry, Aaron Lilley and Steven Croft – in their games at Old Trafford this season, that seems very plausible.
Having won seven of the eleven T20Is between the sides, England will be confident going into the game, and with skipper Eoin Morgan needing just 30 to overtake Kevin Pietersen at the top of the list for most runs by an Englishman in International Twenty20 cricket, it could be a night where records tumble in Manchester.
Probable XIs for England vs New Zealand
England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Sam Billings, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Steven Finn, Reece Topley.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum (c), Colin Munro, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan.
