Cricket: Key battles to shape New Zealand v England ODI series

15:16 · SAT February 24, 2018

Cricket expert Richard Mann takes a look at the key head-to-head battles ahead of the forthcoming ODI series between New Zealand and England.

Trent Boult v Jason Roy

A left arm inswing bowler who can touch speeds of 90mph, Trent Boult is a throwback to the great Wasim Akram and boasts an impressive international record in all three forms of the game.

His ODI numbers are, naturally, very good but not so against England. Eight wickets in five games at an average of 31.37 doesn't stand well next to his overall record and he didn't enjoy the best of times in the recent Trans-Tasman T20 Tri-Series. With England's intimidating batting line up looking as strong as ever, it is vital that Boult makes early inroads with the new ball if the home side are going to compete.

Chief on his hit list will be Jason Roy, England's opening batsman who illustrated his immense talent when stroking a majestic 180 against Australia at Melbourne in January. When on song, there are few more destructive top-order batsmen in the international game but as can often be the case with Roy, his form tailed off after that blockbuster innings and England will be keen for him to add some consistency to his game in this series.

Should he do so, England can expect some rapid starts and with that middle order waiting in the wings, such a situation would spell big danger for New Zealand. Their best chance? Boult to get the new ball talking. One of Roy's strengths is his minimal movement at the crease, with a beautifully still head a major factor to his success. However, his lack of foot movement when driving can leave him vulnerable to the moving ball and expect Boult to test the inside and outside edge of Roy's bat if there is any lateral movement on offer early on.

Trent Boult's battle with Jason Roy could be key

Adil Rashid v Kane Williamson

Former teammates at Yorkshire, Kane Williamson had the wood over Adil Rashid when New Zealand and England met back in 2015, amassing 396 runs at an average of 79.20 in the five-match series.

Williamson's excellence against spin was one of the traits that saw him fast-tracked into the New Zealand set-up at an early age and his nimble footwork was a feature of his success in that aforementioned series, often gliding down the wicket, meeting the ball on the half-volley and driving Rashid inside-out over extra cover.

Rashid didn't have many answers throughout that series but backed by Eoin Morgan's outstanding captaincy, has since revelled in his role as the middle-overs strike bowler and the freedom he has been allowed has seen him enjoy once of his most productive spells yet in an England shirt.

Still, his recent decision to make himself unavailable for red-ball cricket for club and country has drawn plenty of debate and there will be added pressure on him to perform in the coming months. For his part, Williamson has plenty of worries of his own and with the Kiwis heavily reliant on himself and Martin Guptill, he knows that he must bat long if the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme is to have free rein in the death overs.

Jos Buttler v Tom Latham

A mismatch at first glance, a heavyweight against a middleweight. A box-office wicketkeeper-batsman with another IPL contract in the bag opposing an unheralded former opener, a nudger and nurdler who doesn't hit sixes and has lost his place in New Zealand's T20 team.

But don't take Tom Latham lightly. This is a very smart cricketer who has added solidity and consistency to a number five slot that had previously proved very troublesome for the Kiwi batting line up. Four ODI hundreds, only one less than Jos Buttler and from considerably fewer games, is an indication of what he offers and a fine average of 48.57 in the Asia tells you how well he plays spin.

A brilliant sweeper, he will prove a key man for the home side in the middle overs against the threats posed by spin duo Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali.

Tom Latham guided New Zealand to victory

Tom Latham in action

Buttler's career average of 37.63 is slightly higher and his hundred against Australia at Sydney in January was an innings of the highest order. That unbeaten ton was his only century in this form of the game since the start of 2017, though, and his average in that time is only 32.50, a fair dip on his overall numbers.

He endured quiet time of things in the recent Trans-Tasman T20 Tri-Series and will be keen to find his destructive best with more regularity - a fixed batting position would surely go some way to solving that problem - as England build towards the next World Cup.

While not able to offer the same level of fireworks, Latham knows he is the bridge between an imposing New Zealand top order and some potentially dangerous late hitters, so how he handles England's potent spin attack will prove key.

With pressure on both players, how well they perform could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the series.