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'It always seems to be exciting' – England skipper on newfound Black Caps rivalry

November 13, 2019

The tourists play two Tests against the Black Caps starting November 21.

With England and the Black Caps preparing for their next encounter, Test captain Joe Root hailed the competitive rivalry established between the two sides in recent times.

In what's already being described as the best game of 50-over cricket in history, the Black Caps fell on the wrong side of a technicality in this year's World Cup final, losing on a boundary countback after a tied super over at Lord's.

What's more, the two sides couldn't be separated in the recent Twenty20 series, with the fifth and final match again tied, the Black Caps again losing in a super over.

Now heading into a two-match Test series, England skipper Root outlined why his side's recent contests with the Black Caps have been ones to remember.

"Whenever we play New Zealand, it always seems to be exciting cricket," he said.

"One of my greatest pleasures is playing against New Zealand, because the games always seem to be a fantastic Test match, one day games, Twenty20s.

"When you look at the last couple of times we've played against each other, it's always been toe-to-toe, good hard cricket, played in the right way, and made for great viewing.

"I expect exactly the same from these two Test matches."

Having risen to third in the world in Test matches, Root also broke down why the Black Caps are a side to be feared over five days.

"They know how to get the best out of their own players.

"Kane [Williamson] is a very good captain. They've got some senior players that are very established and know their roles in the team.

"[Trent] Boult, [Tim] Southee, [Neil] Wagner, [Colin] de Grandhomme even now have been around the Test arena for a long time, and it's a settled bowling lineup too.

"There might be someone like [Lockie] Ferguson in and around the side too who might give them slightly different. But they all know their roles, they know how to perform here, all very clear as a bowling group how they're going to take 20 wickets.

"Similarly, they've got class players like Kane and Ross Taylor, who over a long period of time, Tom [Latham] as well at the top of the order, have proven that they can score big runs."

The Black Caps' series with England begins on November 21 at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.

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