England pick James Anderson and Stuart Broad for first Test in New Zealand

GEORGE DOBELL IN MOUNT MAUNGANUI: The pair, who go into the match having claimed 997 wickets in Tests when they have played together, have not appeared in the same side since the fourth match in the 2021/22 Ashes series in Sydney

James Anderson and Stuart Broad will play an away Test together for the first time since January 2022 when England begin their series against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Thursday. 

The pair, who go into the match having claimed 997 wickets in Tests when they have played together, have not appeared in the same side since the fourth match in the Ashes series in Sydney. That means they did not appear together in seven consecutive away Tests.

But while previous England regimes have shown some reluctance to pick two men whose combined age amounts to 76, Ben Stokes, the current England captain, has made it clear he is interested only in picking the best side available for the next match. Broad and Anderson are also expected to share the new ball.

"The team we have picked, especially with the ball, has the bases all covered, especially in these type of conditions," Stokes said. "It's our best XI."

^{Ben Stokes has confirmed England's XI for the first Test against New Zealand [Getty Images]}

^{Stuart Broad and James Anderson will both play at the Bay Oval [Getty Images]}

England have also decided to play a specialist spinner, in Jack Leach, despite the pitch having spent several days under cover and having a green hue. Ollie Robinson is the third seamer. 

Stokes himself did not play in the warm-up match and did not bowl during training on Tuesday. And with some doubt over Stokes' ability to perform his usual role as a bowler - not least his ability to inject some pace and short-ball aggression into the attack - there might have been a case for picking another quick bowler in the side for the sake of variety. Olly Stone bowled with decent pace in the warm-up match and is the quickest bowler in this squad. 

But Stokes insists he will be able to bowl in the Test as required. 

"Warm-up games are something I don't feel the need to do anymore to get ready for a game," he said. "I've had the last two days off bowling, but I will have a trundle the day before the game. It's just making sure I get in everything I need to before we start. It will be similar to Pakistan, picking the moment when it will be best to get my overs in."

There are no surprises in the batting line-up. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley continued to open the batting, with Ollie Pope at No. 3 and then Joe Root, Harry Brook and Stokes himself filling the middle order. Ben Foakes retains the gloves. 

Despite vast quantities of rain over the last few days, groundstaff at the Bay Oval reckoned the outfield was fit for play on Tuesday. With the forecast improving, they are hopeful the game should both start on time and see enough play to ensure a win for one side or another. 

England have not won a Test in New Zealand since 2008 and have never won a day-night Test outside England. The last time they played in Mount Maunganui, in 2019, New Zealand won by an innings and 65-runs. Their only previous day-night match in the country, in 2018, saw New Zealand win by an innings and 49 runs.

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