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New Zealand v England 2nd Twenty20

2008-02-06

New Zealand v England
Date: Thursday, 7 February
Start: 0600 GMT (day-night match)
Venue: Lancaster Park, Christchurch
BBC Coverage: Live on 5 Live Sports Extra, BBCi and the BBC Sport website

England will look to build on their impressive start to their tour when they take on New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international on Thursday.

England won the first match by 32 runs and will seek an emphatic victory in Christchurch to dent the hosts' morale.

"Putting them under pressure was our aim," said wicket-keeper Phil Mustard.

"I wouldn't say they're there for the taking because they're a very good one-day side, but we've got a young team who really want to perform."

It's always a goal to play Test cricket, that's number one in my priorities but we have a Twenty20 and one-dayers coming up
Phil Mustard

England are expected to name an unchanged line-up for the day-night match as they attempt to claim consecutive Twenty20 international wins for the first time against major opposition.

That will give Durham wicket-keeper Mustard another chance to impress with the bat as one of England's openers.

The left-hander, who is battling against Tim Ambrose for a place in the Test side, scored 20 off 13 balls in England's win in Auckland on Tuesday and is confident of being able to build on that performance.

"We had a couple of warm-up games down in Canterbury and I got the basics right and last night I was able to capitalise on that and made a few runs," said the 25-year-old.

 

"It's always my goal to do well in an England shirt, but I'm going to go out and enjoy my cricket and hopefully I can get a few runs as well - the runs will come.

"It's always a goal to play Test cricket, that's number one in my priorities but we have a Twenty20 and one-dayers coming up. I'll take every game but then hopefully get a chance in the Test series."

Daniel Flynn has replaced Jacob Oram in New Zealand's squad after the experienced all-rounder suffered a tight hamstring while bowling in the opening match in Auckland.

Daniel Flynn Flynn captained New Zealand Under-19s at the 2004 Youth World Cup

Left-hander Flynn, 22, will go into the match in good form after smashing 149 for his district side on Wednesday.

"This is a great chance to introduce another exciting youngster," said selection manager Sir Richard Hadlee.

"His innings on Wednesday was at better than a run-a-ball and as a left-hander he will fit beautifully into our middle order at number six or seven."

Oram, who top-scored for the Blacks Caps, wanted to play as a batsman only at Lancaster Park.

But the management did not want to risk exacerbating the injury ahead of the five one-day internationals, which start in Wellington on Saturday.

New Zealand are already without regular captain Daniel Vettori because of an ankle injury but he hopes to be fit for the match this weekend.

 

New Zealand (from): B McCullum (capt/wkt), J Ryder, R Taylor, J How, P Fulton, S Styris, D Flynn, K Mills, T Southee, J Patel, C Martin, P Hitchcock, M Mason.

England (from): L Wright, P Mustard (wkt), I Bell, K Pietersen, P Collingwood (capt), O Shah, D Mascarenhas, G Swann, S Broad, R Sidebottom, J Anderson, R Bopara, A Cook, J Tredwell, T Ambrose, C Tremlett.

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