By BV Swagath
The opening day’s play of the first Test at the University Oval in Dunedin between New Zealand and England was washed out without a single ball bowled due to heavy rain. The toss did take before the rain had arrived with the Kiwis winning it and asking England to bat first.
For England, Graeme Swann has been ruled out with the series with an elbow injury. So the visitors have gone in with Monty Panesar in their XI. The Kiwis have given debut to left-handed batsman Hamish Rutherford and 32-year-old Bruce Martin who is a left-arm spinner with a tremendous first-class experience.
New Zealand: Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, Brendon McCullum (C), BJ Watling (WK), Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Bruce Martin
England: Alastair Cook (C), Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root, Matt Prior (WK), Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Monty Panesar, James Anderson