England seek positive start to summer against resurgent New Zealand

Alastair Cook and Paul Farbrace have a task on their hands to lift England from their string of poor performances © Getty

As the football season in England dwindles to a finish, the focus of the British Isles will shift to the impending three-month summer of cricket that will culminate with the all-important Ashes series. But before England can shift their focus to Australia, Brendon McCullum and his resurgent New Zealand side pay a visit for a two-match Test series that begins with a Test at Lord's.

England, shrouded in the aftermath of another long-drawn out controversy involving Kevin Pietersen's snubbing, have to bounce back quickly following a below-par show in the Caribbean last month. The two Tests however offer them a chance to put the latest of management relatedfiascoesbehind them as they look to prepare for sterner tests ahead.

New Zealand's Test side have enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the last 15-months and are unbeaten in six series, a stark contrast to the team that was dismissed 2-0 the last time they were in England in 2013. After recording their best ever year of Test cricket in 2014, Brendon McCullum and Co. arrive on English shores on the back of a home series win over Sri Lanka followed by a run to the final of the World Cup. If ever there was a chance to pip England in England, it is now.

Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Date: May 21, 2015
Time: 10:00 GMT, 15:30 IST
Weather: Partly Cloudy, with a high of 21 degree Celsius and a 30% chance of rain
Team News:
England:

Having named only a 12-man squad for the Test match, England's selection of the playing eleven should be fairly straightforward. Following Jonathan Trott's retirement, Yorkshire opener Adam Lyth will open the batting with Alastair Cook. Durham seamer Mark Wood may however have to wait for his debut if England stick with Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes.

Probable XI: Alastair Cook (c), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Butler (wk), Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

New Zealand:

The Black Caps have several players jetting in straight from the IPL. Despite missing out on warm-up games, the new ball attack of Tim Southee and Trent Boult will find the muggy conditions in England to their advantage. Coach Mike Hesson mentioned earlier in the week that both pace-bowling all-rounder Corey Anderson and off-spinner Mark Craig will play. Matt Henry's performance in the tour warm-up may help him just pip Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner. Martin Guptill's 150 against Worcester has added to Hesson's selection quandary for he'd have to sit out one of Tom Latham or Hamish Rutherford to make place for Guptill.

Probable XI: Tom Latham, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, BJ Watling (wk), Mark Craig, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

Stats and Trivia:
- New Zealand have won only four Tests in 52 attempts in England

- This will be New Zealand's 100th Test against England since the first match in Christchurch in 1930.

Quotes:

"It's a completely different format, there has been a lot of cricket since. They are a dangerous side in their own conditions and leading into a big summer for them they'll want to start on the right note."

- Tim Southee on what he'll carry forward from his spell of 7/31 against England in the World Cup.

"We are going to have to be brave, take the odd gamble here and there, and if we play good cricket, we can start changing people's opinions on the team and start getting people talking about cricket again, which is what we all play for."

- Ian Bell on the upcoming summer of Test cricket amidst another Kevin Pietersen controversy.

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