Bunker down - the Barmy Army and the English cricket team have arrived in New Zealand. Many will be expecting the test series, at least, to be a one-sided affair. But the English pack a punch in the abbreviated forms of the game as well, and the Black Caps can expect a torrid couple of months. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi assesses the tourists.
THE FRONT LINE
Kevin Pietersen might be missing from the one-day squad but he is bound to make an impact during the test series, even if it is just by flicking off a profanity-laced text message undermining the captain.
The South Africa-born right-hander will combine with countryman and former Otago batsman Jonathan Trott in a fearsome top order which also features Alistair Cook, who just happens to be English.
Their South Africans are just that much better than our own BJ Watling, Neil Wagner, Colin Munro and Grant Elliott. Get immigration on the phone.
THE HEAVY ARTILLERY
Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel have to form what is the deadliest trio in world cricket at the moment. But James Anderson, Steven Finn and Stuart Broad will not offer much reprieve for the struggling Black Caps top order.
Anderson is the most experienced of the three, with 288 test wickets at an average of 30.39. He is unplayable in the right conditions and has added more consistency to his game in the latter half of his career.
Broad's ability with both the bat and ball means England is a much stronger team when he is in the XI.
Finn, who played four games for Otago last summer, is a tearaway quick. He relies on pace and bounce, rather than seam or swing, and has made a promising start to his test career with 70 wickets. Now he just needs to learn to stop knocking the stumps out of the ground during his delivery stride.
THE SAPPERS
Joe Root has been tipped to open the test batting by former captain Michael Vaughan. Imagine the headlines: Root rooted to the crease. Root rooted out. The mind boggles.
The 22-year-old right-hander made his debut for England in the fourth test against India and impressed with a composed innings of 73 and an unbeaten 20 in his second dig.
The Yorkshire professional has made a promising start to his first-class career with 2108 runs at an average of 39.03, including four hundreds.
Jos Buttler, with two Ts, is another player you might not have heard much about. The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has had tremendous success in one-day cricket at county level. He strikes the ball cleanly and has an aggressive mindset. In 53 one-day games, he has scored 1650 runs at an average of 56.89 and a strike rate of 119.13.
England tour
The itinerary
February 4: v New Zealand XI, twenty/20 warm-up, Cobham Oval, Whangarei
February 6: v New Zealand XI, twenty/20 warm-up, Cobham Oval, Whangarei
February 9: 1st T20, Eden Park, Auckland
February 12: 2nd T20, Seddon Park, Hamilton
February 15: 3rd T20, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
February 17: 1st ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton
February 20: 2nd ODI, McLean Park, NapierFebruary 23: 3rd ODI, Eden Park, Auckland
February 27-March 2: v New Zealand XI, four-day warm-up game, Queenstown Events Centre
March 6-10: 1st test, University Oval, Dunedin
March 14-18: 2nd test, Basin Reserve, Wellington
March 22-26: 3rd test, Eden Park, Auckland
