Four members of New Zealand's top five posted fifties as the World Test champions got their tour of England going by making 342 for 3 against Sussex at Hove on Saturday. (May 21)
Tom Latham, Will Young, Michael Bracewell and Tom Blundell all reached the landmark before retiring in order to let their teammates have time in the middle after Friday's opening day of this four-day game was abandoned without a ball bowled due to a wet outfield.
Before them three members of New Zealand's squad -- batsman Henry Nicholls, seamer Blair Tickner and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen tested positive for Covid-19. The trio are now undergoing five days of isolation.
"To get out there, on a nice surface, for all the guys to get a good hit and some time under their belts is always nice," Luke Ronchi, New Zealand's batting coach, told reporters.
Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, left out of England's squad for the first two Tests of a three-match series on fitness grounds, get through 18 overs. "It's those challenges you want to face when you first arrive," said Ronchi.
"For our guys to come from home to here, to face that and get through that challenge is what we're after," he added.
New Zealand are also currently missing captain Kane Williamson, who is at home awaiting the birth of his second child, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) contingent Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Daryl Mitchell.
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