KIWIS PUT OLD PALS ACT ON ICE

NEW ZEALAND will put their chummy relationships with England on ice in Auckland as they try for a rare Test win over some of their mates from the cricket world. Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson is good pals with fellow Yorkshire team-mates Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, going for coffees and chats with his opposite number during the one-day series. Fast bowler Neil Wagner won the county championship last summer at Essex with England opener Alastair Cook and got on well with the record-breaking batsmen. But those friendships are to be shelved at Eden Park as they try to steal the upper hand in the first day/night Test in New Zealand.

Wagner said: “Going around the world and playing with these guys and then against them, you make some good friends and then you have to put that aside, have a good battle and have a beer afterwards.

“Cooky is a great lad, I loved spending time with him in the Essex changing room. He’s a top man and I’m looking forward to going back.

“It will be quite an interesting battle with him and then afterwards we can sit down, have a laugh and talk about it. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Essex and to win the Championship was very special.”