As the cricketing world's focus turns to the Champions Trophy in England and Wales, Andrew Alderson picks a Curiosity XI worth setting the alarm for

New Zealand's cricketers celebrated their one-day series over England by spraying champagne at one another like Formula One drivers, but the team need a pitstop to assess their one-day form before the Champions Trophy.

Martin Guptill's 189 not out, the highest score by a New Zealander in one-day internationals, led the visitors to 359 for three in the second match of the series.

When it comes to age at cricket's Champions Trophy this month, New Zealand is the Dad's Army.

Martin Guptill scored 189 not out, his second century in 48 hours, as the Black Caps eased to an 86-run win, taking the three-match series over England.

New Zealand might have been swept 2-0 by England in the away test series but looking at early Ashes intelligence data, Australia can expect much the same.

NZ needs cricketing respect and they won't gain that on a diet of short form success alone, writes Mark Richardson.

Test cricket continues to serve up a cocktail of technical and psychological torment to New Zealand's batsmen, regardless of the team's belief they are preparing meticulously.

The great old game of cricket is doing itself a massive disservice by allowing the bowlers with the bent arms to lead a new epidemic of wrong - and New Zealand is not exempt.

It seemed appropriate Martin Guptill should bring up his third ODI century, and the first by a New Zealander at Lord’s, with a pull shot.

Martin Guptill produced the first ODI century by a New Zealander at Lord's to give the visitors a five-wicket win in the first match of three against England.

New Zealand can thank former Australian wicketkeeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist for the acquisition of Luke Ronchi.

Ian Butler could play cricket in one of two destinations tomorrow.

New Zealand's batting is sometimes like watching the opening credits to the cartoon Danger Mouse. A fuse is lit on a big black bomb which, at some point, you know is going to explode.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of apathy towards the New Zealand cricketers are always exaggerated.

If you compiled a New Zealand XI of players-who-never-took-themselves-too-seriously, Tony Blain would surely be skipper.

Dejected captain Brendon McCullum and bittersweet strike bowler Tim Southee reflected on letting a prime opportunity slip. Yes, it would have been the third highest chase in 127 Lord's tests but, with more than five sessions to spare, it somehow seemed realistic.

The cricketing duel between NZ and England extended throughout the third day but the 123-run third wicket partnership between Trott and Root did its best to break a series deadlock.

Andrew Alderson joins Cameron McMillan from London to discuss the opening day at Lord's in the first test between New Zealand and England.

Since January 2011, New Zealand has played eight test series and two one-off tests against Zimbabwe. Six of them have been two-test series. Their only three-test series have been at home against South Africa and England.

James Anderson was on the verge of taking his 300th test wicket this week (298 before the start of last night's first test). His numbers put him among the truly great England bowlers.