Key occasions
Welcome to the first ODI between New Zealand’s Girls and England
Adam Collins
One sequence ends; one other begins – fashionable cricket is not any sport for end traces. After Heather Knight’s aspect simply gained the T20s 4-1 – ought to’ve been a clear sweep, they botched the chase within the loss – it’s again to the 50-over fare at an attention-grabbing time within the cycle, at roughly the midway mark of the four-year cycle.
I point out that off the highest as that is how nationwide groups arrange in ODI cricket nowadays – finally, it’s all about having the proper gamers ready to the proper ranges by the point the quadrennial competition rolls round, 18 months from now in India.
Dealing first with England, they’ve gained seven of their 11 ODIs for the reason that final World Cup in early 2022, the spotlight a 2-1 residence victory towards the Australians final summer season. Considerably depleted throughout the first leg of the tour as a consequence of commitments in India on the Girls’s Premier League, they’re again to (roughly) full power right here. On paper, they’re the far stronger crew. They’ll, nonetheless, be with out legspinner Sarah Glenn who was concussed whereas fielding within the ultimate T20 win.
As for the hosts, who’ve been dreadful at international tournaments over the past decade, however in fairly good nick of their residence ODIs throughout this ICC Championship Cycle – i.e. for the reason that final World Cup, the place they did not make the semis at residence. It’s unclear whether or not their famous person captain Sophie Devine has recovered from her quad pressure – we’ll discover out on the toss shortly. Sometimes, to noticeably push England, they want her firing.
I’ll go away it there for the second – extra ideas after the toss with the primary ball due at 11pm BST. Drop me a line any time.