Another eagerly awaited Test series kicks off this week, with England heading to New Zealand for two Tests over the next fortnight. While the current India vs Australia series was looked forward to by cricket fans because of its clash between the two top-ranked sides in cricket, this series is anticipated for different reasons. Not least of which are some of the faces who will feature in the English camp.
Brendon McCullum, New Zealand’s most influential cricketer in the past decade, will be at the helm of the visiting side over the next fortnight. As England’s head coach, McCullum has led the team to astronomical heights.
How will they perform back on Kiwi soil? Can England continue their entertaining style of cricket against a weakened New Zealand side, or will the Black Caps have the last laugh this time? We preview the England tour of New Zealand with expert tips on the first Test match and try to predict the scenario of the second Test.
| Tournament: | England Tour of New Zealand 2023, Two Test matches |
| Venue: | Mount Maunganui and Wellington, New Zealand |
| Date: | Thursday, 16 February to Tuesday, 28 February 2023 |
Here’s a look at the 1st Test odds from New Zealand bookmakers for those who want to make a betting prediction for NZ vs ENG ahead of this Test series kicking off on Thursday:
It’s not often in the past decade that a Test team has come to New Zealand and is the favorite to win, but that’s exactly the mantle England will hold heading into the first of two Tests this Thursday. The visitors are marginally ahead at 2.10 (11/10), while New Zealand are slightly behind at 2.62 (13/8). By far the least likely outcome, courtesy of both teams’ positive intent in Test cricket and the pink ball being used in this day-nighter, is a draw at 5.00 (4/1).
Many sportsIn-play modeLive streaming25+ sportsSuperb bonusesEasy to useVIP programLive gamesMany bonusesMany bonuses24/7 supportMobile appsLive bettingMany sportsFast payoutsAs members of the Commonwealth, England has a long history of touring New Zealand. The side first brought a cricket team here in 1883 and has traveled these ways a further 28 times since. Notably, England have not won a series, or even a Test match, in New Zealand since 2008, and that is a good chance to earn from high-odds UK bookies.
Traditionally, England are the dominant side in Test matches, however. A total of 110 Tests have been played between the two nations, with England winning 55, New Zealand claiming 12, and the rest ending in draws.
Here are the five most recent meetings between New Zealand and England across all formats of cricket:
England have had the better of the results between these two sides over the past 12 months, most notably sweeping New Zealand 3-0 in the last Test series they played, which was seven months ago in England.
After winning the World Test Championship in 2019-2021, New Zealand cricket predictions have turned to guesses because of the fall from grace in Test cricket. Since winning the final in June 2021, the Black Caps have only won two Tests against South Africa and Bangladesh at home. Most recently, they played a Test series in Pakistan which ended in a 0-0 draw after two matches, despite New Zealand being the better side. They’ll be heartened by their gritty performances overseas but will already be looking ahead to the next World Test Championship cycle as they seek to rebuild.
England has been almost the exact opposite to New Zealand, making it easy to predict England’s cricket results. Less than a year ago, they were in atrocious form, having won one of their last 17 Tests. Enter: Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. The Kiwi duo took over as coach and captain of England, and since then, they’ve won nine of their past 10 Tests. Most recently, they swept Pakistan 3-0 in Pakistan, in what was one of the most impressive and entertaining Test series of all time. Despite their surge of form, England are out of contention for this year’s WTC final as well.
Those who want to place an online cricket bet or two are in luck, because our experts have the top cricketing betting picks for you. Here are our best NZ vs ENG 1st Test betting tips:
As much as we’d love to see New Zealand get a win here (yours truly is a Kiwi), this one is more than likely going England’s way. Not only are the English in hot form, having won 9/10 and recently done what New Zealand couldn’t – getting three wins in Pakistan – but New Zealand are fronting a significantly depleted team as well. With weak fast bowling stocks courtesy of Kyle Jamieson’s injury, Matt Henry’s unavailability, and Trent Boult being off-contract, New Zealand will be forced to bring in one of Jacob Duffy or Scott Kuggeleijn. Neither have played at the Test level before and will likely be easy pickings for the in-form English batters.
Add to this the fact that New Zealand conditions and English conditions are relatively similar, and a bet for England to get their first win on Kiwi soil since 2008 is a strong prediction at 2.10 (11/10).
Speaking of excellent bets, the best offshore bookies are offering a combined bet on the performance of Kane Williamson and James Anderson. Williamson has consistently been New Zealand’s best in Tests and is coming off a superb unbeaten double ton in Pakistan. Batting in front of a home crowd in Mt Maunganui, Williamson is a great chance of scoring a fifty in the first innings.
Add to this Jimmy Anderson taking two wickets, and you’ll get a return of 3.25 (9/4) if the prediction is right. The veteran fast bowler has 675 Test wickets to his name and is bowling better than ever at age 40. With 15 wickets in his past four Tests, including an impressive eight overseas in Pakistan, Anderson will likely thrive in the New Zealand conditions. It would be expected that the fast bowler gets at least two wickets in the first innings with the pink ball rather than an anomaly, making this a great bet.
For those who are after some higher return cricket Test betting tips, our expert picks suggest taking the following NZ vs ENG prediction:
Three times in the past three years, Kane Williamson has scored double-centuries. The Tauranga native loves to score big, and batting on his home ground, there’s every chance that he’ll stand tall and be New Zealand’s top run scorer. Particularly if New Zealand are set with a big total to chase.
Speaking of men who stand tall in this New Zealand side, a big shift will be required from Neil Wagner with the lack of a full-strength fast bowling attack. Wagner has stood up when needed time and time again for the Black Caps, and there’s every chance he’ll do so in this Test when the Kiwi bowling is looking weak.
A fascinating series will play out over the next fortnight, with a Kiwi-led English side in excellent form heading to New Zealand to play a diminished Black Caps side. We say the visitors will take the cake here in the first Test, but plenty of great cricket bets are still to be made. Please tune in for our cricket predictions for the second Test, which also kicks off late next week.
