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New Zealand unchanged for 2nd England TestBy Greg Stutchbury ,Reuters WELLINGTON -- New Zealand will stick with the same team that drew the first Test against England and are likely to ask the tourists to bat in the second Test if they win the toss, captain Brendon McCullum said on Wednesday.
March 14, 2013, 12:00 am TWN “I don't think New Zealand pitches break up a great deal and if there is any advantage it's on day one,” McCullum told reporters on a sun-drenched Wellington day. “I think that's probably a trend with New Zealand pitches at the moment. “We've seen some huge runs scored domestically, even on wickets that are four, five, or even six matches old. “I wouldn't expect this one to break up a great deal. Then again if you cop a decent swinging day, then you can knock the top off reasonably quickly.” McCullum's reasoning is based on the Basin Reserve wicket likely to offer a bit more bounce than they experienced in the drawn first Test in University Oval. By bowling first he would take the ball out of the hands of James Anderson and Steven Finn in favorable conditions. Both were particularly impressive in the limited overs series last month when they bowled back of a length and restricted New Zealand's attacking shots.
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