Shane Jurgensen: It will be a great battle to watch between the two groups of fast bowlers

SM Hussain: New Zealand's bowling coach is expecting a tough series against England despite his side being the reigning World Test champions

When New Zealand last toured English shores in 2021 they won the two-Test series 1-0 thanks to a thumping eight-wicket victory at Edgbaston.

They are the current World Test champions and according to pundits of the game, favorites to win the Test series against their hosts. But the Black Caps' bowling coach, Shane Jurgensen, reckons it will be a close encounter.

"It’s certainly always difficult to play Test cricket no matter where you play, even more difficult playing away from home, so this will certainly be a tough series playing against England in England," Jurgensen tells The Cricketer.

"It will be a really good challenge for us to adapt to conditions, match scenarios, and make the adjustments against England, so I certainly think it will be closely fought."

Jurgensen is pretty satisfied with New Zealand’s preparations for the Test series, which began at Lord's, the home of cricket, on June 2.

^{New Zealand are the reigning World Test champions [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]}

"Our preparation for this England series included two warm-up games, one against Sussex and the second game against a very strong county XI.

"It has been good for us as a unit to get used to English conditions again. It has given us valuable physical and mental preparation leading into this Test series that’s quite specific for Test cricket."

Despite a seven-wicket defeat against the First Class Counties XI, on paper, the New Zealand team looks a more settled side compared to England. It will be the first three-Test series for Black Caps in England since 2008.

And with both teams possessing good bowling attacks, it will be interesting to see which team’s pace battery outshines the other.

"Both teams have some success in recent times, with the bat and ball. It will be a tough battle with an extra incentive of being played over three Tests, so there will be a lot of adjustments that need to be made not only in each Test match but also throughout the series," Jurgensen says.

"It will be a closely fought battle once you start mentioning names like Broad and Anderson. We know how good they are in their own country. 

"For us, our New Zealand pacers, it will just be making necessary adjustments playing in England – using the different ball [and] different surfaces, so I certainly think it will be a great battle to watch between the two groups of fast bowlers."

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