KEY POINTS:
England comfortably cleared the first hurdles on their cricket tour of New Zealand yesterday, cruising to successive wins over Canterbury to complete their competitive preparations for the International Twenty20 series.
After easily preventing the domestic State Shield cellar dwellers overhauling their 295 on Saturday, the tourists loped to their victory target of 219 yesterday with seven wickets and 43 balls to spare.
Test and one-day opener Alastair Cook may have been the biggest beneficiary with a timely, unbeaten 138 off 140 balls, possibly enough to see him lead off in the first Twenty20 game against New Zealand in Auckland tomorrow.
Considered a dogged, technically correct opener, Cook followed his brisk 51 on Saturday with a commanding century which included 20 fours and two sixes.
It appeared far from the bludgeoning, boundary-laden blitz needed for the Twenty20 format but the tall left-hander seemed to feel he made a point, raising his fist to an impressed dressing room when he cleared the ropes for the first time.
The acknowledgement of his century was far less enthusiastic, and the only time Cook was animated was when he received a blow on the left knee from Ryan Burson when on 119.
Captain Paul Collingwood, who clipped 40 off 48 balls, admitted Cook's double this weekend had posed an interesting selection conundrum.
"He's starting to hit the ball a lot harder. He's hit a six, he hit two. He's backing himself a lot more," Collingwood said. "He could obviously adapt, he's a quick learner.
"There's a few [selection issues] to be honest. Wrighty's [Luke Wright] come in and played really well."
Other than whether Cook warrants an increasing workload, the decision of which allrounders miss out appears the other pressing issue.
At least one of the quartet of Dimitri Mascarenhas, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and Wright are destined to be a spectator in Auckland.
Wright profited most against a struggling Canterbury side, smashing 42 off 15 balls yesterday before taking three for 35 off eight overs yesterday. Peter Fulton's limp demise for seven off 19 heralded the arrival of the evergreen Chris Harris but the applause had barely subsided before he was traipsing back for a golden duck after edging Collingwood on to his stumps.
Collingwood could not complete his hat-trick but that milestone was immaterial as the skipper was satisfied England had completed a solid, injury-free workout before heading to Auckland.
- NZPA
