ENG vs NZ Dream11 Team Prediction: Both the teams would be looking to start the series in an affirmative manner in Christchurch.
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The first T20I of the forthcoming England’s tour of New Zealand will be played tomorrow at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch tomorrow.
Given all that the world has witnessed in a match involving England and New Zealand this year, the five-match T20I series is likely to be tightly-fought series. Albeit in a different format, the series will be the first time both the team will meet after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 final.
With the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 scheduled to be played in Australia next year, both the teams will be looking forward to strengthen their combination with respect to the showpiece tournament.
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Team Prediction
Team News
England are playing without tried and tested names such as Joe Root and Jos Buttler. Their 15-member squad comprises of as many as six uncapped players, each one of whom is likely to get a nod in the series.
England have confirmed that all-rounder Sam Curran and fast bowler Pat Brown will make their T20I debut tomorrow. With batsman Joe Denly getting slightly injured during training, there’s a chance of all-rounder Lewis Gregory also playing his first match in England colours.
New Zealand will take the field without their regular captain in Kane Williamson. A plethora of all-rounders in the Playing XI will give captain Tim Southee enough bowling options for tomorrow.
Probable Playing XI
England squad
1) Dawid Malan 2) Jonny Bairstow 3) James Vince 4) Eoin Morgan (c) 5) Sam Billings (wk) 6) Joe Denly / Lewis Gregory 7) Sam Curran 8) Adil Rashid 9) Chris Jordan 10) Tom Curran 11) Pat Brown
New Zealand squad
1) Martin Guptill 2) Colin Munro 3) Tim Seifert (wk) 4) Ross Taylor 5) Colin de Grandhomme 6) Daryl Mitchell / James Neesham 7) Mitchell Santner 8) Tim Southee (c) 9) Lockie Ferguson 10) Scott Kuggeljein 11) Ish Sodhi
Top Four
England – Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, James Vince, Eoin Morgan
New Zealand – Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Ross Taylor
Big-hitters
England – Eoin Morgan, Sam Billings
New Zealand – Colin de Grandhomme, Daryl Mitchell / James Neesham
Death bowlers
England – Chris Jordan, Tom Curran, Pat Brown
New Zealand – Lockie Ferguson, Scott Kuggeljein
Pitch conditions and Toss Prediction
In what will be the first T20I at the Hagley Oval, it is expected to be a one-sided contest in the batsmen’s favour. The flat surface in addition to short boundaries will assist the batsmen to play the big shots in the first match of the series.
Since no T20I has been played at this venue, it is difficult to predict the outcome at the toss. However, the batting-friendly surface of the pitch is likely to force the toss-winning captain to elect to bat first.
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Wicket-Keepers
I have included a couple of wicket-keeper batsmen for the first match. In England vice-captain Sam Billings and New Zealand top-order batsman Tim Seifert, I have two promising T20I batsmen for this match. While Billings has a T20I strike rate of 142.08, Seifert strikes at 141.29 in T20Is.
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Batsmen
England opening batsman Jonny Bairstow put on display stellar form in the first warm-up match in Lincoln. Chasing a 173-run target, Bairstow scored an impressive 78* (45) with the help of six fours and four sixes to seal the chase in the penultimate over.
England captain Eoin Morgan is my second batsman for this match. Expected to bat at No. 4, Morgan has the game and experience to succeed in T20Is in New Zealand.
England will have to make a decision between picking one out of Dawid Malan or Tom Banton as Bairstow’s opening partner. While both of them were among the runs in the Vitality T20 Blast this year, Malan might get the nod because of his praiseworthy T20I record. If you want to pick both the English openers, you can do so in place of Morgan.
New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill is my only specialist batsman from the home team. In 33 home T20Is, Guptill has amassed 1,277 runs at an average of 44.03 and a strike rate of 146.27 including a century and 11 half-centuries.
ENG vs NZ Dream11 All-rounders
Uncapped England all-rounder Sam Curran also finds a place in my squad. The 21-year old cricketer has it in him to contribute across departments. Other than his bowling skills, the southpaw played vital innings for both Kings XI Punjab and Surrey after getting promoted in the batting order in this year’s Indian Premier League and Vitality Blast respectively.
In six T20Is this year, New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has scored 186 runs at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 151.21 including a couple of quickfire half-centuries.
The 33-year old cricketer has also made full use of his batting promotions this year. With Williamson not playing and James Neesham last playing a T20I in 2017, expect New Zealand to bat de Grandhomme in the Top five tomorrow.
ENG vs NZ Dream11 Bowlers
England pacer Chris Jordan’s prospects of bowling in the death makes him a crucial player for Dream11 aspirants. Considering his skills, Jordan might also fetch you some points while batting down the order.
In 14 matches in the Twenty20 Cup this year, pacer Pat Brown dismissed 17 batsmen at an average of 24.76, an economy rate of 8.12 and a strike rate of 18.2. Picking Brown in your fantasy team might be a brave call for some but it is also an outcome of a budget constraint. Since you have an extra half credit, you have the choice of playing all-rounder Lewis Gregory provided he plays tomorrow.
In six T20Is as captain, New Zealand’s Tim Southee has picked 11 wickets at an average of 11.27, an economy rate of 5.63 and a strike rate of 12. Hence, the 30-year old pacer is an automatic choice in this team.
In his limited T20I career, Lockie Ferguson has dismissed 10 batsmen at an average of 13.50, an economy rate of 7.10 and a strike rate of 11.4. Playing in his own conditions, Ferguson will be confident of sending back the English openers with the new ball.
Noteworthy stats
1) Having scored 445 runs in 10 matches at an average of 55.62 and a strike rate of 157.24 including a century and two half-centuries in the Indian Premier League this year, Jonny Bairstow would be eager to play his first T20I since then.
2) Both Tom Banton and Dawid Malan have been among the best batsmen of England’s Twenty20 Cup this year. It is Malan’s T20I record which makes him the better option among the two. In five T20Is, Malan has scored 250 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 150.60 including four half-centuries. In the two T20Is that he has played in New Zealand, he has scored a half-century in both of them.
3) In 30 home T20Is, Tim Southee has picked 37 wickets at an average of 25.24, an economy rate of 8.60 and a strike rate of 17.5.
Dream 11 Disclaimer
All our selections are based on in-depth and astute analysis of the players partaking in the match, pitch report and a perusal of other reasoning. Please incorporate a slew of factors while crafting your own side with this article serving as a guide to the match and players.
