Black Caps

New Zealand came unstuck at the first hurdle on their African tour, losing to Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Harare today.

The Black Caps will offer a glimpse of the future when they begin their three-match one-day international series against Zimbabwe in Harare tonight (NZ time).

New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has been included in a 16-strong one-day squad named today to tour Zimbabwe next month, but will miss the South African leg.

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum has committed himself to New Zealand Cricket for another year.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum may have played his 254th and last one-day international.

The deciding fifth one-day international between New Zealand and England starting tomorrow night will likely come down to who has the bowling savvy to brave a series onslaught that has yielded 2688 runs, an average team score of 336 and a run rate of 7.26.

England plundered New Zealand's bowling attack to record their highest one-day international chase and level the five-match series 2-2 heading to Durham on Saturday.

Trent Boult's injury has come at the same time he has reached new highs in the ICC World Player Rankings.

In an indication of the quantum steps one-day international cricket has taken of late, New Zealand had the equivalent of an open wicket practice chasing England's 302 with three wickets and six balls to spare at the Aegas Bowl.

Tim Southee steamed in off his full run at New Zealand training and looks set for a one-day international return in the second match of the series against England starting at midnight (NZ time).

A Jenga tower doesn't fall with the removal of one or two blocks, but the New Zealand cricket team will be conscious of keeping up maintenance on their one-day international structure after consecutive heavy losses in the World Cup final to Australia and the first match of the England series.

Left-arm orthodox all-rounder Mitchell Santner, and possibly left-arm pace bowler Ben Wheeler, could become New Zealand's 184th and 185th one-day international cricketers tonight.

New Zealand expect a new-look England squad to match their aggressive style of cricket in the five-game one-day series, captain Brendon McCullum says.

Otago is on the hunt for a new coach after Dimitri Mascarenhas was yesterday appointed the New Zealand team's fulltime bowling coach.

Former English all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas has been appointed New Zealand's bowling coach full-time in the wake of the team's encouraging test series in England.

New Zealand's 199-run second test win to level the series with England produced theatre which has enhanced the country's status on the international cricketing stage.

New Zealand bowled with fire and fielded superbly to crush England by 199 runs in the second test and level a gripping two-match series at 1-1.

Corey Anderson has been ruled out of the second test against England at Headingley with a sore back, and Luke Ronchi is expected to debut in his place.

New Zealand will draw confidence from one of their best fighting victories of recent years when they seek to level the test series against England at Leeds.