MOUNT MAUNGANUI: New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson’s long wait for a Test debut continues after he was overlooked on Wednesday for the side to face England in the first game of the two-match series at the Bay Oval here.

England opening batsman Dom Sibley, however, will make his Test debut on Thursday as the tourists stuck with the same side that played a three-day warm up game against New Zealand ‘A’ in Whangarei.

Top order batsman Joe Denly has also been included after he played in the three-day match to prove his fitness following an ankle injury that kept him out of the Twenty20 series, which England won 3-2.

England also picked Jofra Archer, but the decision not to include Ferguson has meant that fans will not see a showdown between the two express bowlers.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson told reporters they had decided to stick with the tested pace trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner for the match, with Mitchell Santner named as the sole spinner.

Ferguson, who has played 36 One day Internationals and eight T20 Internationals, could still make his debut in the second game at Seddon Park in Hamilton next week.

After inspecting the wicket with head coach Gary Stead, Williamson said they had decided to stick with the established trio for the first Test match at the venue, with Ferguson being released to play for Auckland.

“You always consider those options and, as we know, he’s an extremely exciting talent but he’ll be released to go and play a bit more cricket then join back up with us in Hamilton,” Williamson said. “The three we’ve gone with are guys that have been in the group for a long period of time and performed really well for us.”

Southee, who had reportedly been most under pressure to hold his place ahead of Ferguson’s express pace of 150kph-plus (95mph-plus), Boult and Wagner have helped New Zealand win six of their eight Tests at home over the last two years.

England captain Joe Root said he was looking forward to Archer playing his first Test overseas after he proved a handful for Australia’s batsmen during the Ashes in England.

“He makes it look ridiculously easy with his action and the way he approaches the crease,” Root told reporters. “But to be able to bowl at that pace for a period of time is a skill in itself, and he needs to understand that.

“One thing I have learned is that he has a huge hunger for wickets. He wants to be in the game, and once you get the ball in his hand, it can be very hard to get it off him. It’s a great trait.”

Meanwhile, Williamson said he was pleased to see the back of the controversial boundary countback rule, which gave England victory over his side in the World Cup final earlier this year.

England won their first 50-over World Cup title in July after the scores at the end of the final and a super over were tied. Eoin Morgan’s side hit 26 boundaries to New Zealand’s 17.

The International Cricket Council scrapped the rule last month, with teams now due to play super overs until a winner is found.

“It was hard to take,” Williamson said. “But at the same time, despite not agreeing how they would decide on a result, it was already in place.

“It’s not really a surprise [the rule was changed]. I genuinely think that no one ever thought that was going to happen and it did.

“For it to actually happen is a pretty scary thing. It’s not really cricket and I think both teams appreciated that.

“It was a fantastic game to be a part of and a really competitive match. I think everyone has played hundreds of games of cricket and never had one decided quite like that.”

The recently completed Twenty20 series against England was decided by a super over, with the tourists clinching a 3-2 victory with their win in the fifth game at Eden Park.

Williamson missed that series to rest a hip injury.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019