NZ given a test of their confidence

June 12, 2015
Start time 1300 local (1200GMT)

One swallow does not make a summer and neither does one score of over 400 mean England have cracked the one-day code. But they have laid down a marker for how they insist they will play the game going forward. How New Zealand, the World Cup finalists, respond to their thrashing at Edgbaston will be fascinating and give another view into the world of Brendon McCullum.

McCullum grinned when it was put to him that things were looking good after one ball of the first match - when Jason Roy fell - but of greater significance was what happened after New Zealand had hit back to reduce England to 202 for 6 after 30 overs. Trent Boult was allowed to bowl out before the batting Powerplay and New Zealand's attack was significantly short of either form, experience or skill - or perhaps a combination of all three - to close out the innings.

Eoin Morgan termed England's performance as "close to perfect" so it will be a case of more-of-the-same. And therein lies, arguably, the biggest challenge facing Morgan after a match of such dominance. Backing up the opening victory with the second match at The Oval will bring different pressures now there is far greater expectation. But if they are true to their word, England will keep on swinging.

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England WWLLW
New Zealand LLWWW

Jos Buttler took the headlines and Joe Root set the platform at Edgbaston, but Adil Rashid produced an all-round display as impressive as either of them. Firstly his role in the record 177-run seventh-wicket stand showed his skills with the bat then, most tellingly, he gave his legspinners and googlies a rip to take 4 for 55. He won't often have the luxury of 400 to bowl against, and how Rashid responds with the ball when the pressure is really on remains to be seen, but England have bought into the value of searching for wickets throughout an innings.

Chasing 409 there was only one way New Zealand could play, but Brendon McCullum's slog against Steven Finn, despite already taking two boundaries in the opening over, did seem a swipe too many given the damage McCullum could do if he batted 20 overs. And then there are his tactics of rarely entering a holding pattern in the field which, in the absence of Tim Southee, could have done with re-evaluating at Edgbaston. He has a huge amount of credit built up, but back in New Zealand his game plan, both personal and team-wise, continues to provoke debate. Will he concede an inch to try and level the series?

There would seem little need for England to change their XI after such an overwhelming display. David Willey, the left-armer, was released back to Northamptonshire for Thursday's NatWest T20 Blast match although remains available for selection.

England (probable): 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Sam Billings, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Steven Finn

Corey Anderson will again miss out but Tim Southee is expected to return, perhaps at the expense of Mitchell McClenaghan unless New Zealand decide they want four quicks and leave out Nathan McCullum.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Brendon McCullum (capt), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Mitchell Santner, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent Boult

The Edgbaston pitch was lauded as ideal for one-day cricket and The Oval has a reputation of producing good limited-overs wickets, too. The first T20 match of the season produced 455 runs, albeit with a short boundary to one side. The weather has warmed up with temperatures in the high 20s expected, although there is a chance of a thunderstorm and then some rain later, which may bring Duckworth-Lewis into the captains' thinking.

"Obviously it is not going to happen every week but it is something we definitely want to try and do. We'll take that approach into every match and then see where we're at."
Joe Root on England's new-found freedom

"Tim's shown he's one of our best one-day bowlers and it would be great to have him back and bowling at his best. With Trent, hopefully we can get the ball swinging and take some early wickets."
Kane Williamson on the importance of Southee's return