New Zealand v England First Test Tips & Betting Preview

New Zealand v England Test Match series, first game (of two)
Thursday February 16 - Monday February 20, 2022 (1am UK)
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

New Zealand v England First Test Betting Tips

We might see some disruption during the opening day of this day/night pink ball Test, but the rest of the game looks as if it could get away relatively unscathed.

Fingers crossed, because we know that the loss of a day will not deter Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum from chasing a victory. In fact, it may well make things even more entertaining.

I don’t see much beyond an England victory. While New Zealand are still the reigning world Test champions, they are a team on the slide and are struggling for bowlers at present. England, meanwhile, are riding the crest of a wave.

They are 6/4 with bet365 to win this short and sharp series, while they are a best price of 8/5 with betvictor to win this opening fixture. I would be taking both prices.

New Zealand v England Betting Tips

England to win the series - 6/4

Graham has England to come out on top in this two-game series

New Zealand v England Betting Tips

England to win the first Test - 8/5

The travelling side can get off to a winning start

Ollie, Ollie, Ollie, Oy, Oy, Oy!

Ollie Robinson was England’s leading seamer in Pakistan, taking an impressive nine wickets on spin-friendly pitches. He will get far more out of the surfaces in New Zealand.

Ladbrokes have the new ball quick at an appealing 5/4 to take over 2.5 wickets in the first innings of the first Test.

This will be only Robinson’s 15th Test appearance, with his first in June 2021 yielding seven wickets against New Zealand at Lord’s. Fingers crossed, he repeats that here.

New Zealand v England Betting Tips

Ollie Robinson over 2.5 wickets - 5/4

Robinson is fancied to shine with the new ball

Brook and Williamson amongst value for series leaders

This could be a challenging series for the batters, with the pink ball zipping around under the lights at the best of times. If there is a bit of added moisture knocking around, then good luck.

But these two players are good enough to overcome such issues and prosper.

First of all, former Kiwi captain Kane Williamson oozes class, and his form over the last few months has been outstanding across all formats. His last 10 innings, dating back to late November have seen him post scores of 61, 94 not out, nought not out, 200 not out, 36, 41, 26, 85, 53 and 43.

That double hundred came in a December Test draw in Pakistan.

Bet365 have him at 5/2 to be New Zealand’s top series scorer, while the same 5/2 price is on offer for him to be their top scorer in the first innings in the Mount over the next few days.

New Zealand v England Betting Tips

Kane Williamson Top NZ series batsman - 5/2

Williamson is fancied to have a good series

New Zealand v England Betting Tips

Kane Williamson Top NZ First Test Batsman - 5/2

Williamson is fancied to get off to a strong start in the first game

I do expect England’s top order to fair better than New Zealand’s, and there are two prices with bet365 which stand out for their top series batter.

You can’t ignore the 11/2 shot on man of the moment Harry Brook to be England’s series leader.

New Zealand v England Betting Tips

Harry Brook Top England Series Batsman - 11/2

Brook is fancied to shine again here

The Yorkshire batter, who will bat five, scored three centuries against Pakistan just before Christmas and was player of the series. He scored 80 in an ODI against South Africa late last month and crashed 97 in a warm-up game in New Zealand last week.

Joe Root (even money) leads the market, but another price I would be considering for this market is Ollie Pope, the number three who is a juicy 13/2 to be England’s top series batter.

New Zealand v England Betting Tips

Ollie Pope to be top England series batsman - 13/2

Pope could find runs in New Zealand

He didn’t have a shabby series in Pakistan by any means, posting scores of 108, 60 and 51 across the three matches.

A bit of stake spreading would be my plan here.

Weather update from the Mount 😬 #NZvEng pic.twitter.com/lbnDEkNui0
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) February 13, 2023

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