New Zealand and England are set to renew their rivalry, this time in Test matches, after the two sides were seen in close finishes in the limited cricket in the recent past.

The first of three-match series gets under way in at Mount Maunganui on Thursday, where the two cricketing giants will test their mettle in the longest format.

England have dominated New Zealand in both ODIs and Twenty20s. They defeated the Kiwis in the controversial World Cup final as the winner was decided by virtue of having hit more boundaries after the Super Over also ended in a tie.

In the recently concluded T20 series, once again New Zealand were on the receiving, when they were defeated 3-2 in the series-deciding Super Over in the last match of the five-match series.

Both the one-day decider and T20 series needed tie-breakers to find a winner and there will be no shortage of mutual respect when the rivals face off again.

On paper, there again appears to be little to separate the teams, with New Zealand second in the Test rankings and England third.

But England skipper Joe Root is painfully aware that his team underperformed when it lost a two-Test series in New Zealand last year after underestimating the Black Caps’ bowlers on their home turf.

Pacemen Trent Boult and Tim Southee bundled the tourists out for 58 in the first innings of the opening Test as England tried to play what Root described as “fast forward” cricket.

England’s skipper said his team would be taking a more measured approach this time, with batsmen placing an emphasis on protecting their wickets.

“We have to be prepared to play some attritional cricket at times,” he said.

“We have to try to bat longer... it would be nice to get used to batting for 120 overs more regularly, especially in the first innings.”

The series will not count towards the World Test Championship, giving new England coach Chris Silverwood room to experiment in his first Test series in charge.

He is expected to hand opening batsman Dom Sibley his debut, partnering Rory Burns, with Root moving down to fourth in the order.

New Zealand will take the opportunity to blood speedster Lockie Ferguson, who has already excelled in limited overs internationals and was described as “an extreme talent” by short-ball specialist Neil Wagner.

Agencies