-
England on drift
-
Pitch may be flat
-
Buttler 4/15.00 for top bat
England v New Zealand
Friday 1 September, 18:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports
England v New Zealand team news
England won game one with ease in Durham. They restricted the Kiwis to 139 for nine and then rattled off the target with six overs to spare.
But we still expect changes. Are England learning anything new about Adil Rashid at this stage? Probably not so Rehan Ahmed might get a game instead.
Gus Atkinson may also come into contention with Sam Curran one to sit out. Luke Wood on his home ground and man of the match Brydon Carse are likely to be asked to put performances together back-to-back.
With Dawid Malan scoring an easy fifty, Jos Buttler may move himself up to No 3 for a hit as they continue with Jonny Bairstow and Will Jacks in the opening slot.
Possible XI: Bairstow, Jacks, Buttler, Brook, Malan, Livingstone, Moeen, Ahmed, Carse, Wood, Atkinson
New Zealand's performance with the bat was curious. Finn Allen hit three consecutive balls for six and then they scuttled back into their shell, not even busting seven an over.
As expected, Glenn Phillips was the stand-out batter but he had little to beat. The likes of Tim Seifert and Mark Chapman looked lost. Mitchell Santner at No 7 is a not a great look.
Having lost Jimmy Neesm New Zealand have limited options to make their batting more attractive to bettors. There is still much to like about their bowling, though, on an Old Trafford surface which takes turn.
Probable XI: Conway, Allen, Seifert, Phillips, Mitchell, Chapman, Santner, Milne, Sodhi, Southee, Ferguson
England v New Zealand pitch report
Old Trafford was a good, flat track for batters in The Hundred. Originals busted 160 twice and would have made it three but for rain in an early game. The final match saw a used wicket, though, and it was a real slog in the slow sense of the word. Surely there's a fresh pitch for this one?
In the Blast this season four out of six first-innings saw 170 busted, including a 190 and 200. Given England's rate of more than ten an over in Durham they threaten a par line in the low 170s.
England v New Zealand match odds
It's a bit odd that England are bigger and New Zealand shorter for game two despite a comprehensive gulf opening opening up between the two. We doubt the market is nuanced enough to recognise that New Zealand's spinners keep them honest in Manchester.
We hope, then, that the tourists will have been improved for the run in Durham. If they can get first use of this Old Trafford wicket, they should bat with more aggression and inflict some damage.
On that rationale, they can trade much shorter from a starting point of 2.8415/8. It could be a drift, however, by the break if they bowl first.
England v New Zealand player bets
Buttler may have some appeal at 4/15.00 for top England bat but we couldn't argue it's the wrong price given we don't know where he's batting. Bairstow is 11/43.75. For New Zealand, Phillips is into 7/24.50 from 6/17.00.
With the ball, Curran at 4/15.00 and death duty has appeal. Likewise Adam Milne at the same price for the Kiwis.