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The second Test of the three-match series between New Zealand and England will commence on December 5, 2024, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. After a dominant 8-wicket win in the first Test in Christchurch, England will be aiming to seal the series with another victory. Meanwhile, New Zealand will look to bounce back and use the home conditions to level the series.
Match Details
- Event: England tour of New Zealand, 2024
- Fixture: 2nd Test Match
- Date: December 5–9, 2024
- Venue: Basin Reserve, Wellington
- Start Time: 3:30 AM IST
Teams Preview
New Zealand Preview
New Zealand will be under pressure after a lackluster show in Christchurch, especially with their batting faltering under England’s pace attack. Captain Tom Latham will need his side to regroup and capitalize on familiar conditions at the Basin Reserve.
The opening pair of Latham and Devon Conway will need to provide a solid start, especially after Conway’s failure in the previous match. Kane Williamson remains the cornerstone of New Zealand’s batting, and his 93 in the last game will boost the team’s confidence. Contributions from the likes of Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Tom Blundell will also be crucial.
In the bowling department, Tim Southee and Matt Henry will lead the attack, aiming to exploit the pace-friendly conditions in Wellington. Nathan Smith showed promise in Christchurch and will look to support the pace duo. The spin options, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra, will need to be tactical as spinners tend to have minimal assistance on this wicket.
New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:
Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, William O’Rourke
England Preview
England are riding high on confidence after an 8-wicket victory in the first Test. The team performed as a cohesive unit with strong contributions from both batters and bowlers. Captain Ben Stokes will look to replicate the same intensity to secure the series.
The top order, led by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, needs improvement after a lukewarm outing in the last match. The middle order, featuring Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ollie Pope, will be key to England’s batting success. Brook’s brilliant 171 in Christchurch has set the tone, while Root and Pope showed their class with valuable contributions.
England’s bowling lineup is in prime form, with Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Chris Woakes exploiting the conditions effectively. Shoaib Bashir’s 4-wicket haul in the last game was instrumental in dismantling New Zealand’s batting. The combination of pace and spin makes this attack well-rounded and dangerous.
England Predicted Playing XI:
Ben Stokes (c), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir
Key Players to Watch
| New Zealand | England |
|---|---|
| Kane Williamson | Harry Brook |
| Tim Southee | Brydon Carse |
| Rachin Ravindra | Shoaib Bashir |
Pitch Report
The Basin Reserve pitch in Wellington offers plenty of assistance to fast bowlers, especially in the first two days when there’s moisture on the surface. As the game progresses, batting becomes easier, but the deteriorating wicket in the final stages favors bowlers again.
- Average First Innings Score: 318 runs
- Bowler-Friendly Conditions: Early seam movement and bounce.
Toss Prediction: The team winning the toss is likely to bowl first, taking advantage of the conditions.
Weather Report
- Conditions: Clear skies with minimal cloud cover.
- Temperature: 12°C to 16°C during the day, dropping to 9°C at night.
- Rain Probability: 0%.
- Wind Speed: 6-8 km/h from the southeast.
Fantasy Team XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Batsmen | Tom Latham, Joe Root, Ollie Pope |
| All-rounders | Ben Stokes, Rachin Ravindra |
| Bowlers | Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Shoaib Bashir, Brydon Carse |
| Wicketkeeper | Tom Blundell |
Winning Prediction
The Basin Reserve’s conditions favor fast bowlers, and both teams have quality seamers to exploit the pitch. England’s balanced lineup and momentum give them an edge, but New Zealand’s familiarity with home conditions makes them formidable challengers.
Prediction: New Zealand to Win
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