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Interesting to see that NZ have thrashed the Poms over at Mt Maunganui Tauranga by an Innings and 65 runs.
Watling (205), Santner (126), DeGrandhomme (65) contributed to a huge score of 600 plus declared and then Wagner followed up his 3 for in the first England innings with a 5 for in the 2nd.
The Kiwis will be more than a nuisance opposition for us in the 3 Test series upcoming especially with their bowling attack of Boult, Southee, Wagner, Ferguson, DeGrandhomme & Santner and well led by Williamson who is also a very good batsman along with Taylor.

That is a staggering result, Beas.
When Kane Williamson was out for 51, NZ was 4-127 and a long way behind England's 353.
I wonder how many Test teams have reached 600 after losing their fifth wicket before 200 (the Kiwis were 5-197).
I think the Black Caps have their best chance of winning in Australia since their 2-1 series victory in 1985-86.
In my opinion, this is a better NZ team because the mid-80s outfit depended largely on Richard Hadlee taking a bundle of wickets (33 of a possible 56 in that series).
England might (inadvertently) do Australia a favour if they're more competitive when the Second Test starts in Hamilton on Friday.

Another case of the English being lions at home but lambs away. A little bit of revenge for the Kiwis after the happenings in the World Cup. Alarming how different the potency of the English bowling attack changes when you give them a Kookaburra ball as opposed to a Duke. Also might partially explain why Anderson and Broad are such world beaters in the UK but struggle somewhat in the Southern hemisphere.

I agree with your sentiments about Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad struggling in the southern hemisphere, Mike.
Anderson (at 37 years of age) has stayed in England for this series (a good one for him to miss).
NZ has reached 600 nine times in their Test history - eight of them this century.
Given the Black Caps posted 624 against us at the WACA in 2015 and 9-534 there in 2001, I reckon it's a good thing we're playing them at the new stadium!

You have to respect the Black CaPs in all forms of International Cricket.Very unlucky in the ODI final.Just handing the Poms a massive innings defeat.
They will push the Aussies over here.It's time for a 5 test series V Nz.Think the Aussie fast bowlers will just tip the series Australias way.

NZ play their pitches well though and they're hard to beat over there but they can struggle with extra bounce over here
Will be hard fought as usual

and if you take the Duke away from England they are absolute shite

Spot on guys, the Kiwis do punch above their weight in cricket (not rugby tho where they would have more registered players than Aus despite the population difference) and England are just a side (bar Ben Stokes) when you take away their Duke balls and swing bowler friendly pitches.

You have to go back to around 2005 .When the Aussies smacked the Poms in the first Ashes test at Lords.And they replied with a two run win in the second test.History tells us England will struggle to bounce back from this massive first test spanking. Unless Stokes stars with bat+ball.

big day for joey root tomorrow; at least he won't have the pleasure of batting with Buttler in the England top six.