Welcome to the 1st ODI between New Zealand’s Women and England

Adam Collins

One series ends; another begins – modern cricket is no sport for finish lines. After Heather Knight’s side easily won the T20s 4-1 – should’ve been a clean sweep, they botched the chase in the loss – it’s back to the 50-over fare at an interesting time in the cycle, at roughly the halfway mark of the four-year cycle.

I mention that off the top as this is how national teams set up in ODI cricket these days – ultimately, it is all about having the right players prepared to the right levels by the time the quadrennial festival rolls around, 18 months from now in India.

Dealing first with England, they have won seven of their 11 ODIs since the last World Cup in early 2022, the highlight a 2-1 home victory against the Australians last summer. Somewhat depleted during the first leg of the tour due to commitments in India at the Women’s Premier League, they’re back to (more or less) full strength here. On paper, they’re the far stronger team. They will, however, be without legspinner Sarah Glenn who was concussed while fielding in the final T20 win.

As for the hosts, who have been dreadful at global tournaments over the last decade, but in pretty good nick in their home ODIs during this ICC Championship Cycle – i.e. since the last World Cup, where they failed to make the semis at home. It’s unclear whether their superstar captain Sophie Devine has recovered from her quad strain – we’ll find out at the toss shortly. Typically, to seriously push England, they need her firing.

I’ll leave it there for the moment – more thoughts after the toss with the first ball due at 11pm BST. Drop me a line any time.