Seams like a tough test ahead for England man
WOAKES SET FOR PITCH BATTLE IN NZ
ENGLAND seamer Chris Woakes is preparing for a difficult time on flat New Zealand pitches with a ball less helpful to his skillset if he is given the nod in next week’s first Test.
It is thought Woakes and Sam Curran are vying to bowl alongside Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Jack Leach in a five-man frontline attack against the Black Caps in Mount Maunganui.
Neither Woakes nor Curran significantly advanced their cause on the second and final day of their drawn warm-up against a New Zealand XI, who responded to England’s 376 for five declared with a total of 285 for four.
Curran collected the scalp of Jakob Bhula for 61 but was more expensive than the wicketless Woakes, while the standout performance came from
Finn Allen, who amassed a classy 129-ball century before retiring out.
Woakes revealed there was not much movement on offer in Whangarei for England’s fast bowlers with a ball that softened quickly
– and he is expecting that to be a running theme in the two-Test series against the Kiwis. He said: “It was a reasonable run out. The most important thing is realising what you’re going to come up against conditions-wise and also getting overs in the legs for the bowlers.
“It was a pretty flat pitch. A couple nipped with the new ball and after that it hasn’t really done much all day. “You look at it at the start of a game and it was very, very green, but if anything it just held it together and made it carry even better.
“I think that’s what we’re expecting: good surfaces, they’ll start green and just get better and better.
“I don’t generally see pitches out here that deteriorate too much. It will be hard work with the Kookaburra ball but we’ll just have to find a way.” Woakes and Curran ended the Ashes in the England side but only because Stokes’ injury to his right shoulder meant he played as a batsman only in the series-levelling win over Australia at The Oval.
Now, Stokes’ availability as an allrounder means England are set to choose between Woakes and Curran, who was originally slated to miss out at the Cobham Oval but was drafted in because of Saqib Mahmood’s migraine.
England’s initial selection of Woakes and not Curran could be seen as an indication of their preference, but the World Cup winner insists he is not thinking like that.
Woakes said: “The make-up of the team is more than likely going to go back to the way it was. I suppose there’s one slot there.
“I wouldn’t think I’m a nose ahead. I think it’s a dangerous place to be as a player, especially when it could go either way.”