Cricket's controversial pink ball will feature in the upcoming Plunket Shield season here in New Zealand. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A national state of emergency won't stop the day-night cricket test between New Zealand and England going ahead at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui this afternoon.
The Black Caps have only played three pink-ball test matches - losing twice to Australia in the inaugural test in Adelaide in 2015 and again in Perth in 2019.
The only win was against England - an innnings and 49 run victory at Auckland's Eden Park in 2018.
The Black Caps may have beaten England in the one and only day night test the two sides have played - but that was five years ago.
Under new captain Ben Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum England have won nine of their last 10 tests including steam rolling New Zealand 3-nil in last year's series in England.
However the tourists have lost five of their six day-night tests - which explains why the English are not big fans of the pink ball format - among them England's all time leading test wicket taker James Anderson.
James Anderson. Photo: LINDSEY PARNABY
"Being slightly older (40) I'm a bit of traditionalist, I like the red ball game - that's how test cricket should be played for me. I've grown up watching that - but it's not really down to us and whether we like it or not. We get told it's a day-night game and we've got to play it," said Anderson.
Preparing an international cricket pitch has posed a few problems for Bay Oval turf manager Jarod Carter - but surprisingly rain hasn't been one of them.
"We had about 130 or 140 millimetres (of rain) so it wasn't as bad as the rest of the country so we were quite lucky there but it's been windy, very windy, and that's been the biggest challenge," said Carter.
The wind meant keeping the covers on the pitch to stop the rain getting posed a few problems.
"We got in a lot of extra weight. We parked five pieces of machinery on the covers (to keep them down) and we also got in a lot of heavy shipping rope to make sure the covers weren't flapping... and there we no leaks."
Carter said the lack of sunlight on the pitch was a worry too, but he was able to take the covers off yesterday and is confident it's in good shape.
Some sunshine was much welcomed by ground staff for the Bay Oval pitch. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
While England have a full squad to pick from the Black Caps have a shortage of fast bowlers after both Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry were ruled out.
Jamieson who'd only just made a return after seven months out with a back injury, has been ruled out with a recurrence of a stress fracture in his back, while Henry is awaiting the birth of his first child.
New Zealand Cricket decided not to call up Trent Boult, who's taken over 300 test wickets but resigned from his central contract last year to play in T20 leagues around the world.
Blair Tickner will make his test debut. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019
Skipper Tim Southee says only time will tell if it was the right call - the inference being he was keen for Boult to join them.
"New Zealand Cricket made the decision to back the guys that are contracted and playing domestic cricket , so it will be interesting to see how that pans out...and we had to box on," said Southee.
It means pace bowler Blair Tickner will make his test debut, along with either Jacob Duffy or Scott Kuggeleijn.
England captain Ben Stokes says they know a bit about the trio already.
"I played for Canterbury a few years ago and played against Tickner. He's big fellah, runs in and hits the deck hard so we've seen a bits and bobs of them.
"As always we've also got footage available for the players to look at if they want to. Some players like to do that, some players don't," said Stokes.
The architects of 'Bazball' - England coach Brendon McCullum (left) and England skipper Ben Stokes. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A draw is the least likely outcome in this match - despite the way the weather's been.
All up 20 pink ball tests have been played internationally none of them finishing in a draw.
And with England on a roll playing their aggressive 'Bazball', they go into the series as firm favourites.
-RNZ
