Cricket tips: Big guns return to boost England ahead of New Zealand series

07:25 · SUN February 25, 2018

Cricket expert Richard Mann thinks the return of several of Eoin Morgan's big guns mean England have all bases covered ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand.

Recommended bets: New Zealand v England ODI series

5pts England to win the series at 8/13

2pts Joe Root top England series batsman at 9/4

1pts Tom Curran top England series bowler at 6/1

0.5pts England to win series 5-0 at 12/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

England's tour of New Zealand gets underway in Hamilton on Sunday with the first of five One Day Internationals.

Despite failing to qualify for the recently concluded Trans-Tasman T20 Tri-Series, England's 50-over cricket has been outstanding since Trevor Bayliss took over as head coach, a recent 4-1 thumping of Australia proving a perfect post-Ashes fillet for the Three Lions.

In truth, a shock semi-final defeat at the hands of Pakistan in last year's Champions Trophy was a rare low point for this 50-over team and with the likes of Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow available for selection again, captain Eoin Morgan has a strong squad at his disposal.

Further strengthening Morgan's hand is the potential return of Ben Stokes.

Stokes has been absent since September following a disturbance outside of a Bristol nightclub but he joined up with the squad last week and is understood to be in serious contention for Sunday's game, his all-round capabilities allowing England the luxury of a sixth frontline bowler.

Stokes' possible return could mean Alex Hales is the man to miss out having been shunted down to number three in the recent Australia series and failing to stamp his authority.

Bairstow and Jason Roy look set to continue their promising opening partnership with Root, who enjoyed a fine series against the Aussies, back at first drop.

Root was excellent in making 226 runs at an average of 75.33 in that series and following a recent break to recharge his batteries, he makes plenty of appeal in the England Top Series Batsman Market at 9/4.

A middle order of Morgan, Jos Buttler, Stokes and Ali is a formidable one and the skipper will have been buoyed by his strong return to form in the last T20 against the Kiwis.

Liam Plunkett's enforced injury absence is a loss to the tourists, the Yorkshire quick has been so impressive with the white ball over the last two years and will leave Tom Curran with big shoes to fill.

His five-wicket haul against Australia in Perth would suggest he's up to the job, though, and with Mark Wood and Woakes forming a potent new-ball pairing, New Zealand's free-scoring opening batters, Martin Guptill and Colin Munro, might not find things quite as easy as in the recent T20 games.

Adil Rashid's role in this England side should not be underestimated with the leg-spinner giving Morgan a genuine wicket taking option in the middle overs, something that has been crucial in staling their opponents' potency in the latter overs.

Although expensive, he took ten wickets from five games against Australia and should prove key again, though Moeen Ali continues to do a good job, too, giving the attack plenty of variety.

While Rashid's importance has been noted, he has been well found in the Top Team Series Bowler Market at 2/1.

With Plunkett's absence already noted, the wholehearted Curran should now enjoy a good run in the side and his exploits against Australia suggest that 6/1 about him leading the England wickets chart is a touch big.

The home side have enjoyed plenty of success in this format recently, too, and didn't lose a single game in whitewashes of the West Indies and Pakistan.

It is probably wise to take those results with a pinch of salt, though, as the West Indies were shorn of a number of key players and Pakistan appeared woefully underprepared, a point that was made by their coach Mickey Arthur afterwards.

Still, Guptill and skipper Kane Williamson enjoyed solid series' against Pakistan and it will be fascinating to see the latter match up against Rashid's leg-spin in the middle overs.

A class act, Williamson uses his feet superbly against the spin and enjoyed plenty of success against Rashid when these two sides met in England in 2015, scoring 396 runs in the 3-2 series defeat at an average of 79.20.

The captain and glue of the batting order, if his side are to compete with this England team he will need to find his very best form to protect the likes of Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme lower down the order.

The latter is a dangerous player who has the potential to hurt England at the death but we're expecting England make plenty of inroads and the Kiwi lower order doesn't have the same depth that the tourists can call upon.

With England rating the superior side on paper, the 4/7 about a series win for the Three Lions looks well worth taking and the 12/1 on offer for a 5-0 series whitewash might well be worth a minor interest, too.

New Zealand v England: Stat attack

Joe Root averages 61.45 in ODI's against New Zealand with a highest score of 106 not out, markedly higher than his overall career average of 50.91. Root is 5/2 to be the Top Series Batsman for England.
Adil Rashid has taken 36 ODI wickets at an average of 26.97 since the start of 2017, a big improvement on his overall career average of 31.78. Rashid is 2/1 to be Top England Series Bowler.
Martin Guptill has enjoyed a fine run of form in ODI's since the start of 2017, making 694 runs an average of 57.83, up on his overall career average of 43.75. Guptill is 5/2 to be Top New Zealand Series Batsman.
England have won their last five ODI series' and are 8/13 to extend that winning run with victory in this five-match contest.
Kane Williamson's ODI average currently stands at 46.52, with a highest score of 145 not out. That average rises to an impressive 57.46 against England. Williamson is 9/4 to be Top Zealand Series Batsman.
Trent Boult has taken 113 ODI wickets at an average of 24.27 but his record against England is less impressive, taking eight wickets at 31.37. Boult is 2/1 to be Top Series Bowler for New Zealand.
New Zealand haven't lost a match in this form of the game since October 2017 and have won on each of their last eight outings, recording series whitewashes over the West Indies and Pakistan. The home side are 6/4 to win the forthcoming series against England.