Event of the Day: New Zealand versus England
Our event of the day is Day One of the 1st Test Match of England’s tour of New Zealand under lights at Eden Park. After winning the ODI leg of the tour in the final and deciding game, the England squad will have some confidence heading into today. However, it is also the first time the players will have donned their whites for a Test match since the chastening Ashes series defeat to Australia. It is a big event for New Zealand as well though; as this game reflects the first time a Day/Night Test match has been played on their home soil. It will be interesting to see how this change in timings and ball colour reflects in the cricket played, and in the attendances, with the hope that people will pour into the stadium after work.
For New Zealand’s squad there was some good news with Ross Taylor being fit to play after missing the last ODI through injury. Mitchell Santner does miss out though after needing surgery on a knee injury. Once again all the talk for England is about the importance of Ben Stokes’ inclusion in the Test match team for the first time since the English summer. However, it might be another returning all-rounder who makes the headlines as Chris Woakes makes his return to the Test match squad fresh off the back of a Man of the Series performance in the ODIs. With this only being a two match series, a strong start is needed from both sides in order to get a stranglehold of the series, who will get it? Find out today!
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the round 1 AFL match between Richmond and Carlton at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Richmond return to the ground where they won their 11th Premiership title in the Grand Final back in September and will be looking to start their season strongly. In women’s cricket a number of different series continue as Sri Lanka face Pakistan, India play Australia and the West Indies continue their tour of New Zealand with another T20. In the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Super Sixes stage, home team Zimbabwe face the UAE and the 3rd Test Match on Australia’s tour of South Africa begins in Cape Town. The NBA’s Detroit Pistons travel to Houston to play the Rockets whilst the WGC Dell Technologies Match-Play has its second day. The NCAA’s Sweet 16 stage has four matchups as Loyola Chicago face Nevada, Texas A&M face Michigan, Kansas State play Kentucky and Florida State take on Gonzaga. In the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche take on the Los Angeles Kings, the Nashville Predators play the Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Jose Sharks play against the Vegas Golden Knights. The NRL’s third round kicks off with the Storm against the Cowboys whilst in the Super League, Widnes Vikings take on the Salford Red Devils. The ATP and WTA Miami Opens go into their second and third days respectively and it is the Gymnastics World Cup Day 2. Finally, the 2018 China Cup begins as Wales take on China.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by England Cricket; BlackCaps