Black Caps v England Test Series Preview - What's real? And who will win?

In this episode of the show, we preview the Test series between the Black Caps and England, which starts on 28 November at Hagley Oval, plus welcome Jamie to the Top Order team.

We discuss the venues, the build up, the key matchups and give our series predictions as we bounce around a huge number of topics and questions facing both sides. Which New Zealand side is real, the one that lost four consecutive Tests against Australia and Sri Lanka? Or the first team ever to win 3-0 in India? And what about England - are they more likely to score 800 or collapse in a Bazball heap? Can Latham and Conway outpoint Crawley and Duckett? Will Joe Root and Harry Brook carve up the Black Caps again? Why did England bring three spinners on the tour? Will the Black Caps send Tim Southee out on a high? Or will they extend his Test career into a World Test Championship final? And much more!

We'll be back again a few days with a review of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between India and Australia, as well as a recap of the IPL mega auction. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including conversations Mike Hesson, Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world.

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Thanks for listening.

0:00 Intro and welcome to Jamie Barker

2:20 Venues, dates and World Test Championship permutations

5:50 The build up - contrasting form for the two sides

7:10 Which NZ team is real? The 3-0 v India or 0-2 v Sri Lanka?

10:40 Will England's confidence be dented by the Pakistan series?

16:30 Squads - any surprises or question marks?

22:45 Jordan Cox injury - how will that impact England's lineup?

29:00 Why have England picked three spinners in the squad?

31:40 England's seam attack in transition

35:25 Rehan Ahmed

38:10 Key matchups - Duckett & Crawley v Latham & Conway

46;10 Do England already have one eye on the Ashes?

50:15 Series predictions

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